Sorry Nuggets, it seems like you’ll have just one all-star at best.
The Nuggets haven’t had an all-star since Antonio McDyess in 2001, and they haven’t had two since 1988 (Fat Lever and Alex English).
On Thursday, that could change when the West all-star reserves are announced for the Feb. 19 game in Houston. The Nuggets have two strong candidates, forward Carmelo Anthony and center Marcus Camby. But because of the competition for the seven reserve spots and the loopholes for the West coaches, it’s doubtful both players will make it.
Let’s say there’s still a decent chance Camby or Anthony will get the nod.
The West starters, as chosen in fan voting, are guards Steve Nash of Phoenix and the Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, forwards Tracy McGrady of Houston and Tim Duncan of San Antonio and center Yao Ming of Houston, who is not deserving of the honor. Yao missed much of the season with injuries and benefited from Chinese fans voting via online ballots.
Coaches’ votes for reserves must be in Monday and results will be revealed Thursday. The coaches will be asked to vote for two guards, two forwards, a center and two wild cards.
Anthony has had a career season, averaging 25.4 points and scoring 37 or more points eight times heading into Saturday’s games.
Yes, he is deserving of being an all-star. But the problem is there is a long list of West forwards who are deserving. There were four reserve forwards selected for the 2005 All-Star Game in Denver, which meant the coaches selected two forwards as wild cards. Expect the same to happen this year.
Minnesota’s Kevin Garnett and Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki are locks to get spots, and Phoenix’s Shawn Marion and the Los Angeles Clippers’ Elton Brand are good bets for the other two. That scenario would leave out Anthony and Memphis’ Pau Gasol.
But the coaches could decide to list Nowitzki or Brand as a forward/center. That would take Camby and Utah’s Mehmet Okur from consideration at center but open a spot for a forward.
Anthony was in good shape to get an all-star nod until the Nuggets’ recent four- game losing streak. Now he might be surpassed by Gasol and Brand. Gasol entered Saturday’s game against Milwaukee averaging 19.8 points and 9.2 rebounds. Anthony is the popular choice, but Gasol would be the first Memphis player to be named an all-star. Turner Sports NBA analysts and former all-stars Magic Johnson and Charles Barkley said they would choose Gasol over Anthony.
“(Anthony) can make it, and we won’t be upset,” Johnson said. “Somebody’s going to be home upset.”
If the West coaches stay true to form, Anthony and Gasol will be left out and Camby or Okur will get the backup center spot. Injuries aside, no West center has played better than Camby. He is more deserving than Okur. Camby entered play Saturday averaging 15.4 points, 12.6 rebounds and ranking third in the NBA in blocks per game (2.93). But he has missed 20 games because of injury. Okur entered the weekend averaging 17.8 points and 9.5 rebounds and having started all 46 of his team’s games.
“(Camby) was the best center before he got hurt – better than Yao Ming,” TNT analyst and former NBA player Kenny Smith said. “Being injured penalizes him.”
It’s inevitable that deserving players get left off the all-star team. This year won’t be any different. Expect at least one Nugget to share some of that pain.
Chapman sparks drama
The beginning of the end of Wally Szczerbiak’s time with Minnesota started after a buzzer-beating 86-84 loss to the visiting 76ers on Jan. 22. There has been a long history of Szczerbiak and Garnett not getting along. After the loss to the Sixers, word is Wolves first-year scout Rex Chapman entered the locker room and openly questioned Garnett and Szczerbiak in front of their teammates about their ability to coexist.
Garnett was so irked by Chapman’s questioning that he put his street clothes on without showering and left the Target Center. The Wolves lost their next two games before Szczerbiak was traded to Boston.
Footnotes
Cleveland Cavaliers all-star forward LeBron James turned down an invitation to take part in the NBA’s slam dunk contest during All-Star Weekend. Because of a clause in the new collective bargaining agreement, however, an all-star is required to take part in an all-star Saturday event other than the dunk contest, if asked. So James has agreed to participate in the skills competition. … There have been rumors that former NBA coach Don Nelson could return to the bench as Golden State’s coach, where he once coached. Mike Montgomery is on the hot seat. In early January there were rumors Nelson could be Seattle’s next coach. … Numerous NBA personnel have spent time watching little-known Cal State Fullerton junior point guard Bobby Brown, including Grizzlies president Jerry West. The 6-foot-2, 170-pounder entered the weekend averaging 18 points and was shooting nearly 40 percent from 3-point range. … With four point guards on the roster, look for the Timberwolves to attempt to deal two of them. Expect recently acquired Marcus Banks to stay, because Minnesota is intrigued by him. The Wolves are open to trading Marko Jaric in the right deal. But Minnesota’s preference is to trade Anthony Carter and Troy
Hudson. … Word is Anthony’s close friend from Baltimore, Northeastern Junior College guard Tyler Smith, is considering Colorado State, Gonzaga, Washington, Southern California, Bradley and Arizona State.
Marc J. Spears can be reached at 303-820-5449 or mspears@denverpost.com. He can also be heard on ESPN 560 AM on Thursday at 4 p.m. on “Roundball Rap.”
