Lakers’ Pau Gasol deserves to be All-Star

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When the reserves are announced for the 2009 All-Star team, Lakers forward Pau Gasol should be selected.

He is playing on a Lakers team that is tied with the Cleveland Cavaliers for the best record in the NBA at 28-6, and Gasol is a big part of that success.

He should join Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, who will be voted in by the fans.

The head coaches in each conference will vote to determine which players will be the reserves in their respective Western and Eastern Conferences. That announcement is set for Jan. 29.

Gasol will face some stiff competition at his position.

Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki and Phoenix’s Amare Stoudemire are also having tremendous seasons.

But Gasol is playing on the best team in the West. He has received 618,943 votes from the fans in the last balloting issued by the NBA, the sixth most among West forwards.

Gasol is averaging 17.8 points and 9.1 points.

Gasol was an All-Star in 2006, when he played for the Memphis Grizzlies.

He deserves to be selected again.

-- Broderick Turner