Blake Griffin and Pau Gasol named as NBA All-Star reserves
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Clippers rookie sensation Blake Griffin and Lakers star Pau Gasol were named Thursday as reserves for the NBA All-Star game.
Other reserves picked for the West team are: Manu Ginobili (San Antonio), Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas), Deron Williams (Utah), former UCLA player Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City) and Tim Duncan (San Antonio).
Four Celtics were picked as reserves for the East squad: Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen, as well as Atlanta’s Al Horford and Joe Johnson, and Miami’s Chris Bosh.
Griffin, 21, a 6-foot-10 power forward from Oklahoma, has become a phenom in just half a season with his aggressive play and thunderous dunks. He’s second in the NBA in dunks with 110, behind Dwight Howard, and has 40 double-doubles this season. Griffin is averaging 23 points and 12.7 rebounds a game.
Gasol, 30, made his fourth All-Star team; he is averaging 18.4 points and 10.6 rebounds a game.
Former UCLA star Kevin Love, 22, was not named to the All-Star team. Love has 34 consecutive double-doubles this season and is leading the league in rebounding with 15.5 a game, while averaging 21.4 points with the Timberwolves. Charles Barkley said Love’s omission was a “travesty.”
Lakers forward Lamar Odom, who has been a consistent player all season, also missed his chance to make his first All-Star team.
The 6-10 Odom has played in the league 12 seasons. Lakers Coach Phil Jackson recently said Odom deserved to make the All-Star team. Odom is averaging 15.4 points and 9.6 rebounds this season.
The All-Star game will be played Feb. 20 at Staples Center.
-Barry Stavro
