KeepItNBA All-Star Reserve Selections

Setelah NBA fans di seluruh dunia melakukan voting untuk memilih pemain inti (starter) untuk NBA All-Star Games 2012, kini saatnya para pelatih NBA memilih para pemain cadangan (reserve) untuk melengkapi NBA All-Star Team 2012 yang akan bermain di Orlando, Florida,  pada 24 Februari 2012 mendatang.

Hasil seleksi para pelatih NBA akan diumumkan hari Kamis, tanggal 9 Februari 2012, pukul 19.00 waktu Amerika Serikat bagian Timur. Setiap pelatih dari 30 tim NBA akan diberi kesempatan untuk memilih 14 pemain, 7 pemain dari masing-masing Eastern dan Western conference dengan komposisi seperti berikut: 2 guard, 2 forward, 1 center dan 2 pemain dengan posisi yang tidak ditentukan. Sebagai catatan, pelatih tidak diperkenankan untuk memilih pemain dari timnya sendiri.

Memprediksi siapa yang akan terpilih sebagai All-Star reserve selalu menjadi kegiatan favorit follower NBA, dengan mencoba untuk membaca pikiran para pelatih atas siapa saja yang dianggap pantas terpilih sebagai pemain All-Star berdasarkan prestasi individu dan prestasi tim selama bergulirnya pertandingan NBA musim ini.

Berikut adalah All-Star reserves pilihan kontributor KeepItNBA:

Ichank Nasution,
KeepItNBA contributor

East All-Star Reserves

G - Brandon Jennings - Milwaukee Bucks Stats: 19.3 points, 5.3 assists, 1.6 steals, 2.2 turnovers, 2.3 3-pointers, 19.9 PER Team: 10-18 (8th) Remark: Never before an All-Star, having a career year & is the best player for the 8th seeded Bucks team despite having Andrew Bogut injured long-term and Stephen Jackson not contributing as hoped.

G - Deron Williams - New Jersey Nets Stats: 20.4 points, 8.6 assists, 2.0 3-pointers, 19.5 PER Team: 8-18 (11th) Remark: Perennial All-Star and one-man show in a Nets team lacking offensive talent with Brook Lopez out since preseason. Despite team struggles, only 3 games behind 8th seeded team.

F - Andre Iguodala - Philadelphia 76ers Stats: 12.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.8 steals, 18.7 PER Team: 18-7 (3rd) Remark: Leader and most well rounded player on a balanced young Sixers team that is playing great basketball on both ends of the floor.

F - Chris Bosh - Miami Heat Stats: 19.5 points, 7.8 rebound, .511 FG%, 20 PER Team: 19-6 (2nd) Remark: 3rd option in Miami behind James and Wade, but is still putting up All-Star numbers.

C - Roy Hibbert - Indiana Pacers Stats: 13.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.9 blocks, .509 FG%, 19.9 PER Team: 17-7 (4th) Remark: Having career year and is the most efficient player and defensive anchor in one of league’s surprisingly top teams, especially on the defensive end.

F - Paul Pierce - Boston Celtics Stats: 18.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.0 steals, 21.2 PER Team: 14-10 (7th) Remark: After slow start due to injury, has played like a true All-Star as a do-it-all player for Boston. Has stepped up with Rondo and Allen absent due to injuries.

G - Joe Johnson - Atlanta Hawks Stats: 18.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.8 turnovers, 18.2 PER Team: 16-9 (5th) Remark: Most efficient and primary scorer for 5th place Hawks team and having a strong bounce back season after dissapointing year last year.

West All-Star Reserves

G - Russell Westbrook - Oklahoma City Thunders Stats: 22.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 2.0 steals, 22.6 PER Team: 20-5 (1st) Remark: Second best player for team with the best record in the league. Putting up excellent statistics across the board.

G - Tony Parker - San Antonio Spurs Stats: 18.2 points, 7.7 assists, 1.1 steals, 21.1 PER Team: 17-9 (3rd)(11th) Remark: Has had to step up with Manu Ginobili injured and aging Tim Duncan, and is the Spurs’ main offensive threat and playmaker.

F - LaMarcus Aldridge - Portland Trailblazers Stats: 23.7 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, .514 FG%, 1.0 steals, 24.6 PER Team: 14-11 (5th - 4-way tie) Remark: One of the biggest All-Star snubs last year, he has improved on an already fantastic season last year. Is undisputed leader and best player in Portland with retirement of Brandon Roy.

F - Dirk Nowitzki - Dallas Mavericks Stats: 17.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 18.8 PER Team: 14-11 (5th - 4-way tie) Remark: Based on the year thus far, Dirk should not make it. But, after winning a championship with a historical MVP-of-the-ages performance, it's hard to see him not being selected due to reputation and Dallas needing a representative.

C - Marc Gasol - Memphis Grizzlies Stats: 15.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.1 steals, 2.2 blocks, 19.5 PER Team: 12-13 (11th) Remark: Has stepped up with injured Zach Randolph, being a force down low offensively and defensively while putting up excellent stats across the board in a career year.

F - Kevin Love - Minnesota Timberwolves Stats: 25 points, 13.6 rebounds, 1.8 3-pointers, 25.4 PER Team: 13-12 (10th) Remark: A replacement All-Star last year, is improving on his stellar play and making the Timberwolves relevant now.

F - Danilo Gallinari - Denver Nuggets Stats: 17 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.2 steals, 1.6 turnovers, 20.0 PER Team: 17-9 (3rd) Remark: Primary scorer for balanced Denver team that is the #1 offensive team in the league.

Rangga Sobiran,
KeepItNBA contributor

East All-Star Reserves

G - Joe Johnson - Atlanta Hawks
Stats: 18.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.8 turnovers, 18.2 PER
Team: 16-9 (5th)
Remark:
Johnson is having his usual season leading the Hawks in scoring and keeping the Hawks in the playoff mix. Another All-Star berth for Johnson.

G - Ray Allen - Boston Celtics
Stats: 14.9 points, 2.8 assists, 2.6 3-pointers, .500 FG%, 16.8 PER
Team: 14-10 (7th)
Remark:
Ray Allen is having his most efficient season shooting the ball (.500 from the field, .526 from the three point line and .900 from the free throw line) and he’s turning 37 this year. This might be the last chance we’ll see Ray Allen shooting those smooth jump shots on All-Star Sunday. This pick is a tribute to Allen’s awesome 16-year career

F - Luol Deng - Chicago Bulls
Stats: 16.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals, 1.7 turnovers, 16.2 PER
Team: 22-6 (1st)
Remark:
The Bulls is the best team in the East and Luol Deng is as important as Derrick Rose. Deng does everything for the Bulls from scoring, rebounding, playing defense. He's also been coming up big in the 4th quarter on both ends of the floor for the Bulls. Deng lead the Bulls in minutes played and ranks 4th in the league behind Kevin Love, Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard. That shows how integral Deng's role is on the success of the Chicago Bulls this season.

F - Chris Bosh - Miami Heat
Stats: 19.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, .511 FG%, 20 PER
Team: 19-6 (2nd)
Remark:
People can criticize Bosh all they want with his decision last season in joining the Heat to play behind Lebron and Wade, but Chris Bosh is still the best PF in the East. People forgot that he’s a 20-10 machine in Toronto who led that team to a couple playoff runs, and he made sure to remind us that he can still turns it on when he needs to like when Wade was out with injury last month.

C - Amar'e Stoudemire - New York Knicks
Stats: 18.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.1 steals, 17.1 PER
Team: 10-15 (9th)
Remark:
Honestly, I'm having problem finding a center in the East this year that has been playing on an All-Star level. This is why I think I need to pencil in Stoudemire as the East’s reserve center. He’s having a mediocre season for his standard, but he’s still one of the best big man in the East and I don’t mind him in as a reserve.

F - Paul Pierce - Boston Celtics
Stats: 18.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.0 steals, 21.2 PER
Team: 14-10 (7th)
Remark:
The Celtics is slowly declining, but Paul Pierce remains constant. At 35, Pierce is putting up 18-5-5, carrying most of the Celtics scoring load and playmaking duty while Rondo was out injured.

F - Andre Iguodala - Philadelphia 76ers
Stats: 12.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.8 steals, 18.7 PER
Team: 18-7 (3rd)
Remark:
The Sixers finally playing well buying into Doug Collins’ collective system, and Iggy really thrived as a leader through demonstrating excellent perimeter defense and unselfish brand of basketball to his young teammates.

West All-Star Reserves

G - Russell Westbrook - Oklahoma City Thunders Stats: 22.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 2.0 steals, 22.6 PER Team: 20-5 (1st) Remark: Westbrook is considered to be a top 5 PG in the league, but this year his assist number is down and he ranks second in the league for the most turnover per game (4.2). Despite that, Westbrook is still one of the most explosive scorer in the league. His one two-punch with Durant is the next best thing after Lebron-Wade.

G - Tony Parker - San Antonio Spurs Stats: 18.2 points, 7.7 assists, 1.1 steals, 21.1 PER Team: 17-9 (3rd)(11th) Remark: The Spurs just keep coming back every year despite Duncan’s age and Ginobili’s injuries, and Tony Parker deserves some of those credits. Parker is leading the team in scoring and is having his best season as a ball distributor with career high in assist.

F - LaMarcus Aldridge - Portland Trailblazers Stats: 23.7 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, .514 FG%, 1.0 steals, 24.6 PER Team: 14-11 (5th - 4-way tie) Remark: His snub last year was a travesty. This year, with Brandon Roy being retired, Aldridge takes full responsibility of the team. So far he’s putting up All-Star numbers, and the Blazers is still in the playoff picture. He should make it this year.

F - Kevin Love - Minnesota Timberwolves Stats: 25 points, 13.6 rebounds, 1.8 3-pointers, 25.4 PER Team: 13-12 (10th) Remark: The Wolves is finally a .500 team and Love plays an important role in that. He continues to dominate in crashing the boards and even increase his scoring average.

C - Marc Gasol - Memphis Grizzlies Stats: 15.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.1 steals, 2.2 blocks, 19.5 PER Team: 12-13 (11th) Remark: The younger Gasol is developing into one of the best center in the league with bigger role filling in for the injured Zach Randolph. The reserve center spot could easily be gone to Nene since the Nuggets is having a much better season than the Grizzlies, but Nene keeps injuring his heel.

F - Al Jefferson - Utah Jazz Stats: 18.5 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, .511 FG%, 21.5 PER Team: 13-11 (9th) Remark: Big Al has posted bigger numbers in the past, but the difference is that this time he is winning. Although the Jazz is still far from securing a playoff spot, with the way Big Al is playing the Jazz should be relevant all season.

F - Kevin Martin - Houston Rockets Stats: 19.3 points, 2.7 assists, 1.7 turnovers, 18.0 PER Team: 14-11 (5th, 4-way tie) Remark: I’m torn between choosing Kyle Lowry or Kevin Martin. Both along with Luis Scola have been doing a great job leading the Rockets to winning record; especially Lowry who’s having a career year (15 ppg, 8 apg, 6 rpg, 2 spg). But I’ve picked Westbrook and Parker for the two reserve guard spots so picking another PG doesn’t make sense unless I’m David Kahn. So I am going to go with Martin who’s been a borderline All-Star for years but can’t keep himself out of injuries. *All statistics based on games played through February 7th, 2012