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All-Star snub miffs Nuggets' Anthony

By Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published January 30, 2009 at 12:59 p.m.
Updated January 30, 2009 at 5:51 p.m.

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Carmelo Anthony practices with assistant coach Jamahl Mosley on Thursday. Anthony will return tonight after missing 10 games.

Photo by Preston Gannaway / The Rocky

Carmelo Anthony practices with assistant coach Jamahl Mosley on Thursday. Anthony will return tonight after missing 10 games.

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Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony was a bit miffed. But he's ready to move on after his All-Star stub.

"A little bit," Anthony told the Rocky Mountain News on Friday morning in his first public comments about whether he was disappointed in not being selected Thursday to the NBA Western Conference All-Star team. "But it ain't nothing I can control. It is what it is. I'm happy for Chauncey (Billups) making it, though."

Billups, a guard, was selected by Western Conference coaches as an All-Star reserve for the Feb. 15 game in Phoenix. But Anthony, after being selected the past two years, was left off after missing 10 games with a broken right hand.

"Of course," Anthony said when asked if he didn't make the team because of his injury. "I didn't think I did nothing wrong. My game didn't do nothing wrong. That's the only thing that could have (cost Anthony). It is what it is. There's nothing I can complain about."

Anthony, who has missed 15 of Denver's 46 games this season, will return tonight against Charlotte from his hand injury.

Anthony was named an All-Star injury replacement in 2006 and was chosen as a starter by the fans last season. He's now 0-for-5 when it comes to coaches choosing him as an All-Star reserve.

"I think Melo, in his own way, understands the injury probably was the major factor," Nuggets coach George Karl said. "It's a challenge now to kind of take on the coaches that aren't giving him the ultimate respect."

There isn't a single small forward on the West roster. There are five power forwards in San Antonio's Tim Duncan, Phoenix's Amare Stoudemire, Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki, the Lakers' Pau Gasol and New Orelans' David West.

"Melo is the best small forward in the Western Conference," Karl said. "I don't think anyone would question that. He was hurt. But he is still the best small forward in the West. I think the best small forward in the Western Conference probably should be in the All-Star Game."

If it were up to Karl, he would expand All-Star rosters due to fan voting sometimes costing spots for worthy reserves to be selected.

"My thing has always been expanding the rosters to 15," Karl said. "There's always two or three guys that you feel bad for. Melo is one of those guys and I think (Minnesota's) Al Jefferson is another one of those guys. I think (Cleveland's) Mo Williams has got to be disappointed today. And (New York's) David Lee."

Karl, though, was pleased to see Billups selected. The Nuggets (30-16) are 29-13 since the point guard first suited up after being acquired Nov. 3 from Detroit.

"I think basketball people understand that they see our success and they see the change in how we play," Karl said. "I give Chauncey a tremendous amount of credit, but I think (forward) Kenyon Martin should get a lot of credit.

"I think the culture change (of the Nuggets becoming more team and defensive oriented) was happening before Chauncey got there. I think the national media didn't think it was, but the truth was it was. Because of the culture change before Chauncey (arrived), he was able to turn it around faster."

With Anthony back tonight, Karl will return to the starting lineup he used before his injury. Anthony will start at small forward, with Dahntay Jones moving from small forward to shooting guard. J.R. Smith, who had been starting at shooting guard, will return to the bench.

Comments

  • January 30, 2009

    2:08 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    denversportsfan writes:

    Melo we need you more in games that count than in some NBA popularity contest where stats and true value to a team don't count. Take your anger out on the coaches, who are probably all in our division that didn't vote for you.

    We all here in Denver know you are an All-Star!

  • January 30, 2009

    3:11 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    arvada_mark writes:

    Melo is the best player on a 1st place team. That alone should have earned him a spot.

  • January 30, 2009

    3:42 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    primafacie writes:

    Yeah, Carmelo Anthony and about 20 other players. If they all made it, it wouldn't be an all-star team -- it would be an all-the-good-players-because-we-couldn't-decide-who-to-leave-out team.

    Kwitcherbellyachin and play a little defense for once, huh?

  • January 30, 2009

    3:49 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    ColoradoSportsFaninTexas writes:

    Melo got robbed....Pure, plain and simple.....The All-Star selection process is a joke....Both in voting by the fans, and by the coaches selections....

    George Karl's suggestion may be the best way to pick All-Stars, which is to expand the roster to 15 players....

    I think the best thing Melo can do now is to take his being snubbed, and take it out on the rest of the league...I dont think Melo is respected as much as he should be, and I think if he channels his disappointment into his floor game, than I think Coaches will take notice, and keep him in mind for next years All-Star game.....

  • January 30, 2009

    4:36 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Squatch writes:

    Missing 15 out of 46 games is huge. Chauncey was more deserving than Melo Right now. Take Chauncey away from this team for 15 game and see how they fair. Melo the All Star votes will come in time but sharpen your game and they cant deny you.

  • January 30, 2009

    4:38 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    FatTony writes:

    Not a big deal Melo. Championships count more than NBA allstar games. Work harder for that one instead.

  • January 30, 2009

    5:33 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    jbowen43 writes:

    Don't get mad Carmelo. Get even!

  • January 30, 2009

    9:18 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    dumbbobert writes:

    It seems to me like Melo still cares too much about individual awarads too much. He complains every time it doesn't go his way. He is the one who needs to grow up.