Seeing past the snubbery not hard

By Mike Monroe

Every year, there is selective outrage about players perceived to have been unfairly left off the All-Star rosters.

This year is no different.

Basing the selections on fewer than 30 games didn’t help, and the fact there will even be an All-Star Game in a season that requires teams to play back-to-back-to-back is one of the dumber decisions that came out of the agreement that ended the lockout.

Here’s a look (through Friday’s games) at players we think had a legitimate right to wonder what the coaches were thinking when they picked the reserves for the Feb. 26 game in Orlando. We’re not asserting they should have supplanted players who were picked by the coaches; merely that their seasons have been All-Star-worthy.

Our list includes Spurs big man Tim Duncan, who had gone to every All-Star Game played during his career until this season.

Don’t laugh. His numbers this season are better than those he put up when he made it last season even though he’s playing a career-low 27.6 minutes per game.

Tim Duncan, Spurs

13.4 PPG; 6.8 RPG; 1.3 BPG

Why he deserved All-Star: Spurs record, second best in West; Numbers per 36 minutes (18.2 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 2.4 bpg) exceed those of Grizzlies center Marc Gasol, whom Duncan has outplayed in each of the three head-to-head matchups this season.

Why he got snubbed: It’s his career-low average of 27.6 minutes, not his in-game performance, that kept him off the All-Star roster.

Monta Ellis, Warriors

22.2 PPG; 6.1 APG; 3.2 RPG

Why he deserved All-Star: He’s the league’s No. 8 scorer, accounting for 22.4 percent of Warriors’ points; his 6.1 assists per game is a career high.

Why he got snubbed: He’s shooting just 43.4 percent, 26.8 on 3-pointers. Then there’s the Warriors’ record (9-14), eighth-worst in a 30-team league.

James Harden, Thunder

16.6 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 3.4 APG

Why he deserved All-Star: He’s got the second-highest player efficiency rating among all shooting guards (behind Kobe Bryant), and shouldn’t the team with the conference’s best record have three All-Stars?

Why he got snubbed: Too many top-notch guards in West; plus, in his role as sixth man, does he get an advantage by not matching up against starters?

Josh Smith, Hawks

15.9 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 2.1 BPG

Why he deserved All-Star: He remains a top shot-blocker and is having a career year on the boards; has enabled the Hawks to overcome the injury loss of All-Star Al Horford and remain, at 18-9, one of league’s best teams.

Why he got snubbed: It’s been suggested by’s Sekou Smith that Smith’s past problems with coach Mike Woodson influenced the coaches.

Kyle Lowry, Rockets

14.7 PPG, 7.6 APG, 5.7 RPG

Why he deserved All-Star: More than any Rocket, he’s the reason they entered the weekend tied for fourth place in the West. He’s averaging career-highs in assists and rebounds.

Why he got snubbed: His field goal percentages (40.5 overall, 37.1 on 3-pointers) and his 3.4 turnovers per game.

Brandon Jennings, Bucks

19.1 PPG, 5.4 APG, 1.6 SPG

Why he deserved All-Star: Few teams have been hurt more by injuries (Andrew Bogut, Luc Mbah a Moute) than the Bucks. Jennings has kept them in playoff hunt.

Why he got snubbed: His shooting percentages (42.2 and 35.3) and his reputation as a defensive liability.