Pau Gaol was selected to the Western Conference All-Star team, as a member of the reserves. He'll join teammate Kobe Bryant in Phoenix, and the Lakers are one of three teams in the West to have multiple players represent them in the event this year.
Gasol's season averages of over 17 points, nine rebounds, and three assists aren't necessarily on their own worthy of an All-Star selection; Carmelo Anthony, for example, averaged over 21, seven, and three, and he didn't make it. But when you consider the fact that he can dominate at times, and that there's no way the Lakers would be among the teams with the best record in the league without him, his selection was a logical choice.
Shaquille O'Neal headlines the rest of the reserves in the West, which will include the Hornets’ David West, Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki, Spurs’ Tony Parker, Nuggets’ Chauncey Billups, and Blazers’ Brandon Roy. The only notable snub here was the Timberwolves' Al Jefferson, who has better numbers than Shaq, but plays on a team that's surged recently, but overall has a record of just 16-28.
The Eastern Conference reserves saw two more players from the Orlando Magic named, as Jameer Nelson and Rashard Lewis both were given a spot on the team to play alongside Dwight Howard. The Celtics’ Paul Pierce was selected, but Ray Allen was not. The Hawks’ Joe Johnson, Raptors’ Chris Bosh, Nets’ Devin Harris and Pacers’ Danny Granger round out the rest of the reserves in the East.
