A.I. an All-Star, Melo out ... for now

Forward might be an All-Star fill-in; Iverson gets chosen

Aaron J. Lopez, Rocky Mountain News

Friday, February 2, 2007

This time, it was Carmelo Anthony who got sucker punched.

Optimistic about being invited to his first NBA All-Star Game, the Nuggets forward took a shot to the gut Thursday when he was not among the seven Western Conference reserves.

Anthony leads the NBA in scoring at 31.3 points a game, and his 15-game suspension for punching New York Knicks rookie Mardy Collins on Dec. 16 clearly hurt his standing with the Western Conference coaches who vote for the reserves.

"One incident like that is held over one person's head . . . life ain't fair," Anthony said before the snub became official. "We all know life ain't fair anyway, right?"

Said Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James: I don't think it's right, honestly. All-Stars should be selected by your play on the court. You shouldn't downfall a guy because he made a mistake. He's the leading scorer in the NBA, and he doesn't make the All-Star team. I'm not understanding that."

Anthony, a 2004 Olympian, still has a chance to get a ticket to Las Vegas as an injury replacement for center Yao Ming and/or forward Carlos Boozer.

"He's obviously disappointed, but optimistic," Anthony's agent, Calvin Andrews, said Thursday night. "We'll wait and see what happens."

Injury replacements will be named by NBA commissioner David Stern, who had a say in handing down Anthony's suspension more than six weeks ago. Anthony and Dallas forward Josh Howard are the leading candidates to fill the injury slots. There is no timetable for Stern's decision, and he likely will take his time to make sure Boozer definitely is out.

"I think there's an excellent chance that (Anthony will) be one of David Stern's replacements," said TNT analyst Steve Kerr, who also writes a regular column for Yahoo Sports. "I hope for his sake he makes it. He's earned it with the way he's played."

Said Nuggets coach George Karl: "I think the commissioner has been pretty tough-minded, but he also has not held grudges or been personal. . . . My feeling is it would be hard to find two guys more deserving than Carmelo."

While Anthony awaits another decision from the commissioner's office, the Nuggets can celebrate Allen Iverson's All-Star selection.

Iverson, acquired from the Philadelphia 76ers on Dec. 19, was named to his eighth consecutive All-Star Game.

He is the first Nuggets player to be selected since forward Antonio McDyess in 2001.

"It is an incredible feeling for me to be selected to the All-Star team by the coaches," Iverson said in a statement released by the team. "To know how much they respect my game means everything to me. I would like to thank my coaches and teammates for putting me in a position to succeed."

Karl knew it was a long shot, but he had hoped to see three of his players on the West roster when the All-Star Game is played in Las Vegas on Feb. 18.

Iverson ranks third in the NBA in scoring (28.9 points a game) and center Marcus Camby ranks second in rebounding (12.2) and blocked shots (2.97). The Nuggets' mediocre record (22-21) worked against Camby and Anthony.

Anthony is growing accustomed to watching other people enjoy the All-Star spotlight.

He was particularly bummed when the All-Star Game was played in Denver in 2005 but called the latest snub the most disappointing of all.

Anthony might have been lulled into a false sense of security when reports suggested coaches in the West still were in his corner after the fight.

Karl believes the 36-day layoff hurt Anthony more than the lapse in judgment at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Big men chosen ahead of Anthony were Boozer, Shawn Marion, Dirk Nowitzki and Amare Stoudemire - each of whom plays for first-place teams.

"For the last 30, 40 days, (coaches) have only seen (Anthony) play a few games," Karl said. "They've been watching these other guys have big games every week. It's human nature.

"When the guy who was the best player in the league for the first month of the season isn't there, you tilt yourself to the guy you're watching."

Phoenix coach Mike D'Antoni said he voted for Anthony.

"I like Carmelo," he said. "I think he deserved it."

Even if Stern gives Anthony an All-Star reprieve, the coaches' vote will not be soon forgotten. He stepped up his game after being snubbed last season and it could serve as motivation again this year.

"There's always little motivative ways to get guys ready to go for the second half," Karl said.

Drawing motivation from personal experience has been the norm for Anthony in his first four NBA seasons. His reputation has taken plenty of hits in that span, but Anthony has restored his name while improving his game each time.

The latest road to redemption began when Anthony accepted his suspension without a lengthy appeal, and he met with Stern in New York the weekend before he returned to the court.

"I did what I had to do," Anthony said. "I did my punishment."

On Thursday, opposing coaches doled out just a little bit more.

Trail Blazers at Nuggets

• When: 7 tonight.

• Where: Pepsi Center.

• TV/radio: Altitude; KKFN-AM (950).

• Starting lineups

Portland (20-27) Pos. Ht. Pts.

5 Ime Udoka F 6-5 8.7

50 Zach Randolph F 6-9 23.7

10 Joel Przybilla C 7-1 2.1

7 Brandon Roy G 6-6 14.9

1 Jarrett Jack G 6-3 12.2

Coach: Nate McMillan

Denver (22-21) Pos. Ht. Pts.

15 Carmelo Anthony F 6-8 31.3

30 Reggie Evans F 6-8 6.2

23 Marcus Camby C 6-11 12.2

1 J.R. Smith G 6-6 16.1

25 Steve Blake G 6-3 4.7

Coach: George Karl

• Injuries: Portland - G Sergio Rodriguez (sprained left ankle) and F Darius Miles (right knee surgery) are out; F Travis Outlaw (sprained right ankle) is questionable. Denver - F Kenyon Martin (right knee surgery) is out; G Allen Iverson (sprained right ankle) is questionable.

• Notes: Iverson reported less swelling in his ankle Thursday, but he remains a game-time decision. "He called and checked in," Karl said. "He said it's still sore but feeling better." Iverson was expected to return from Virginia, where he attended a funeral for his great-grandmother's husband. Clarence O'Neal, affectionately known as "Pops," played a big role in raising Iverson. . . . The Nuggets are 17-of-64 (26.6 percent) on three-pointers during the four-game losing streak. On the season, the Nuggets are shooting 32.4 percent on three-pointers, 28th in the NBA. . . . The Trail Blazers, who snapped an eight-game losing streak against the Nuggets on Wednesday, have lost six in a row at the Pepsi Center. . . . Portland needs one win to match its total from last season. With seven road wins, the Trail Blazers already have matched their total from 2005-06. . . . Portland is 4-3 against Northwest Division teams after losing 13 of 16 games in the division last season. . . . In Wednesday's 100-91 loss, the Nuggets matched their season-low with 13 assists.

lopezaa@RockyMountainNews.com