<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">MINNEAPOLIS - Just like Mehmet Okur hoped, the Western Conference coaches fudged their definition of positions and chose a part-time center to be the backup to Yao Ming in the All-Star Game. They even cast their votes for a European power forward for the job. But it's Pau Gasol of Memphis, and not the Jazz's starting forward, who will be in Houston on Feb. 19. The news disappointed him, Okur acknowledged, because he had started to allow hopes of an electoral surprise to creep into his thoughts. "I thought I was there," Okur said after learning of the seven players chosen by Western Conference coaches to fill out the roster. "But it's all good. I'm happy for [Gasol]." Gasol's statistics are roughly equivalent to Okur's. The Grizzlies' star averages 19.5 points and 9.2 rebounds, to Okur's 17.9 and 9.3. Okur has better range, Gasol blocks more shots. But the biggest difference, Okur said, is not found in the stats, but in the standings. Memphis is 26-22 and a solid playoff contender. The Jazz are 24-25 and currently out of the playoffs. </div> <div align="center">Source</div>
Well, to me he was the best center (consistency wise) in the Western Conference till Yao returned..But there's too much talent out there and you can't really drop anyone in the current list to fit him in.
