<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">It's been some kind of week for Josh Howard. The fourth-year small forward celebrated the birth of his first child Wednesday night, only to be denied his first All-Star honor Thursday evening. "He got robbed," Mavericks teammate Devin Harris said. "No way he doesn't get on the All-Star team." Apparently, there was a way. The Western Conference coaches didn't deem Howard worthy of one of the seven reserve spots for the Feb. 18 All-Star Game in Las Vegas. The Mavs won't be without representation. Dirk Nowitzki, the team's leading scorer and rebounder, earned his sixth consecutive selection. If anything, Howard's snub adds even more weight to Nowitzki's MVP campaign. Many within the Mavs' organization were understandably outraged by Howard's omission. "I'm very disappointed that Josh was left off the All-Star team," coach Avery Johnson said. "We'll just keep focusing on winning a championship." The fiery small forward could still be selected by NBA commissioner David Stern as an injury replacement for starting center Yao Ming (Houston) or reserve forward Carlos Boozer (Utah). According to an NBA official, there is no timetable for Stern's picks. Regardless of whether Howard is eventually chosen, the slight underscores an apparent lack of respect for Nowitzki's teammates. Phoenix, Detroit, New Jersey, Houston, Miami and San Antonio each have multiple All-Stars despite trailing the Mavs (38-9) in the standings. Phoenix leads the way with three All-Stars -- Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion. New Jersey and Miami have losing records. "Josh Howard should be an All-Star, point blank," TNT analyst and NBA legend Magic Johnson said. The Mavs aren't sending two players to the midseason showcase -- at least for now -- for the fourth consecutive season despite winning 52, 58 and 60 games the previous three years and owning the best record this season. Howard's emergence as the team's second-best player -- the Pippen to Nowitzki's Jordan -- has helped the Mavs maintain elite status through a coaching change two years ago and a continual revamping of the roster. Nowitzki was surprised by Howard's absence. "I'm a little disappointed," he said. "He's having a tremendous year. He's really elevated his game."</div> Source
I don't think Howard has had a better season than any of the other Western reserves. Even Tony Parker and 3 Suns deserve to be there. The West is just loaded with talent. Luckily with injuries to Boozer and Yao, Howard's got a pretty good chance to make it. Maybe his bad game against the Bulls last week on National TV when he shot 4-20 hurt his chances.
Hollinger had a good article about this. Howard wasn't snubbed. It's a problem with the rules for voting in Allstar reserves. Coaches have to pick 2 guards, 2 forwards, and 2 wildcards. And since the conference is much deeper at forward than guard, some less deserving guards can get more votes than some forwards.
close to 20 points and 7 rebounds a game should of got him In. One would hope Stern votes him In. I don't see how he can't honestly. If he doesn't then this just proves that there is no possible way Dirk shouldn't get MVP this season. To lead his team to the best record with not other all-stars says It all.
^^ Exactly. 9 losses in 3 months with 38 wins and only ONE NBA All-star on the team? MVP Unanimous. If not then to hell with it all.
Yeah, I was thinking of the same thing. If Howard doesnt get chosen into the all star game, Dirk must win the MVP by a landslide and Avery should win Coach of the year.
<div class="quote_poster">durvasa Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Hollinger had a good article about this. Howard wasn't snubbed. It's a problem with the rules for voting in Allstar reserves.</div> Yeah I read that, it made a lot of sense, the system is flawed, its not that the coaches didn't want Howard there. I disagree with the arguement that Dallas deserves 2 or 3 All-Stars because of their record. That doesn't even make sense and takes away from what Howard has done this season. Howard should be an All-Star simply because Howard should be an All-Star, period. In the past some players have gotten on the team because of that flawed philosophy, but it's wrong, there's no way Szczerbiak should've been an All-Star because Garnett's team was winning. Josh will get in, this is the easiest decision Stern has had to make since deciding Ewing should go to the Knicks (just kidding ). I think picking between Carmelo and Randolph is going to be a tough decision for him, I know he's going to go with Melo because it'll please the fans, but he won't like it.
I think Josh Howard has been playing great, but the West has a lot of really good forwards. Maybe he'll replace Boozer or something.
