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Nuggets' Anthony not named All-Star starter, but returns to practice court

By Aaron J. Lopez, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published January 22, 2009 at 12:08 p.m.
Updated January 22, 2009 at 5:29 p.m.

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Does Carmelo Anthony deserve to be an NBA All-Star starter despite missing 12 games this season?


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It was a good news, bad news kind of day for Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony.

After learning that he was not selected as a starter for next month’s NBA All-Star Game, Anthony spent about a half hour shooting jump shots and working on his ball-handling at the team’s practice court.

The workout was Anthony’s first since breaking a bone in his right (shooting) hand on Jan. 5.

"It’s feeling a lot better," he said. "I was surprised to be able to go out there and do what I did today. It’s just motivation now."

Though X-rays taken Thursday showed that the bone is healing quicker than expected, Anthony still is targeting next Friday’s game against Charlotte for his return.

"I’m still looking at the 30th," he said. "I don’t want to try to push it."

Anthony, averaging 21.1 points and 7.3 rebounds this season, has missed the past seven games. His absence likely hurt him at the All-Star ballot box.

Anthony led Phoenix forward Amare Stoudemire by about 10,400 votes on Jan. 12, but Stoudemire and Tim Duncan of San Antonio were named as the Western Conference starters Thursday.

The Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard — who leads the NBA in rebounds, blocked shots and double-doubles — got a record 3,150,181 votes to lead this season’s All-Star team, released Thursday.

Miami’s Dwyane Wade (2,741,413) and Detroit’s Allen Iverson (1,804,649) will be in the East’s backcourt, alongside reigning All-Star MVP LeBron James of Cleveland (2,940,823) and Boston’s Kevin Garnett (2,066,833), who beat New Jersey’s Yi Jianlian for the starting nod by 253,004 votes.

Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers (2,805,397) was the West’s top vote-getter, and will be joined at guard by New Orleans’ Chris Paul (2,134,798). At center, Yao (2,532,958) will start for the sixth time, along with forwards Duncan of San Antonio (2,578,168) and Stoudemire of Phoenix (1,460,429).

The All-Star Game will be played Feb. 15 in Phoenix.

"I was behind (Stoudemire) anyway from the beginning, then I took the lead and now he’s back on top," Anthony said. "It is what it is. He’s in Phoenix. It’s his All-Star Game. If I was the starter, I probably would have gave him the starting spot anyway."

Anthony could still be named to his third All-Star team as a reserve by a vote of Western Conference coaches. The reserves will be announced next Thursday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

Comments

  • January 22, 2009

    2:49 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    jbowen43 writes:

    Stoudemire takes off too many plays and fouls out too much. Carmelo is a better player. Remember that Stoudemire coulda been a nugget.

  • January 22, 2009

    2:58 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    RandimThoughts writes:

    How lame is Amare. He needed to create vote4amare.com to pass up Melo. The only thing funnier than that is people actually considering LeBron as an MVP. The "King" needs to learn how to do more than dunk to be an MVP. We will take playoff wins over an allstar snub any day.

  • January 22, 2009

    4:06 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    vinnyg79 writes:

    Amare is nothing but a cry baby that flat out quits games. I'm sure everyone saw the egg he layed in Boston. I'm just glad he's in Phoenix and not in Denver.

  • January 22, 2009

    4:15 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    303JRfor3 writes:

    i agree.. Amare just wants the national spotlight more then to win games. Me Carmelo and all the other Nuggets fans would take a championship for denver over an allstar game anyday.

    LeBron can dunk and thats it. sure he can make SOME jumpers but i defanantly wouldnt want him to take the last shot. NO WAY!

    i am really excited to see melo back on the court with healthy elbows and a healthy shooting hand..

  • January 22, 2009

    5:32 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    denversportsfan writes:

    Hurry back Melo we need you! One good thing about him missing some time is that his elbow has had time to heal.

  • January 23, 2009

    4:32 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    lsider writes:

    melo is better than stoudemire, but james is the most valuable player other than d. howard or kobe. if he did develop a consistant shot and became a better 1 on 1 defender, he'd be better than jordan. i can't be absolutely sure, but he probably averages closer to a triple double than anyone in the nba for the last three years. i guess that says enough about the all he can do is dunk argument. SO QUIT HATING! what is he 23? he'll go down as one of top 3-5 of all time on his current pace. quite possibly #1.

  • January 23, 2009

    9:41 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    jbowen43 writes:

    James could be better than Jordan, but never better than Wilt, or Magic.

  • January 23, 2009

    3:58 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    jersey writes:

    Comparing LeBron to "Air", "Magic", "Wilt", "Larry Legend" or "Dr. J" is like comparing apples to oranges. I don't know how old you guys are and whom you have seen, and I mean no disrespect, but I'm 57 and have been following this game religiously since the age of 9. I've seen em' all! Each and everyone of them were great in their own right and more importantly elevated the games of their teammates to heights they wouldn't have reached had it not been for their greatness. The sad thing for "Wilt" for example was he was born too early. In the year he scored 100 against the Knicks he AVERAGED 50 Pts. and 35 Rebounds a GAME!!! Even with the cost of living being what it is now compared to back then they would have to open up Fort Knox to pay him!

  • January 24, 2009

    6:02 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    lsider writes:

    i think lebron should shock the world and come sign with the nuggs in 2010 or 2011 when he's a free agent. between him,melo,chauncy,nene,anderson,kleixa and jr smith we'd win 70 games a year and win every championship. to reply to someone saying wilt was better than lebron, if james played back then he would have dunk'd all over everybody it really helped that he was taller than all the other players. here's my top 5 as it stands today:
    jordan
    bird
    kareem
    magic
    wilt

  • January 25, 2009

    3:55 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    jersey writes:

    Isider: No Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, Dr. "J" or Nate "Tiny" Archibald just to name a few on your list? Ahh, the sweet essence of youth. You don't know what you missed!