With all the campaigning and jostling for All-Star roster spots going on throughout the NBA, fans would think players are running for political office. And though starters have already been announced, reserve spots are still up for grabs. Reviewing all the players who look to be contenders to fill out each conference’s roster, Utah’s own Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer have a strong case for being selected.

When looking at the guards from the Western Conference in contention for a spot on the team, you have perennial favorites Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, and Steve Nash. Deron Williams, Baron Davis, Brandon Roy, Chris Paul and Tony Parker round out the group.

It is a deep crop of guards this year, but when looking at the faves, it’s tough to argue with Kobe because he is playing extremely well and well on the way to leading the not-so-long-ago struggling Lakers to the playoffs. His 27.4 points and five assists per game speak for themselves. Iverson is also contributing big numbers at 27 points and 6.9 assists per game. If looking at who means more to their team though, it can be argued that Deron is much more important to the Jazz, than Iverson would be to the Nuggets. Denver has another All-Star in forward Carmelo Anthony.

Breaking down the numbers, only Steve Nash with 17.5 ppg and 12.1 apg and Chris Paul with 21 ppg and 10.4 apg, have better overall stats than Deron’s 19.3 ppg and 9.2 apg.

Even with their averages, Deron still has advantages over the two. While Paul might score points per game, Deron has the best shooting percentage of those three with a very efficient 52 percent from the field. He is also coming off a year in which he led his team to the Western Conference Finals, a feat that neither Nash nor Paul were able to achieve. And while Nash may average more assists than Williams, he also records more turnovers.

Roy can make a case, though he and Williams have similar numbers, based on the strong play of his team which has caught the eye of the league this season. Fans and media alike assumed the Blazers would be cellar-dwellers without Greg Oden roaming the paint, but thanks in large part to the play of Roy, the Blazers are right in the thick of things in the West. Tony Parker’s solid numbers of 19.6 ppg and 6.2 apg are difficult to argue especially when he’s the floor leader of the defending NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs.

It will be tough for Williams to crack the roster as a young point guard but the Texas native has a solid chance to suit up in New Orleans. Not only is he known throughout the league as an up and coming talent, he has established himself as one of the premier point guards in the NBA. Don’t be surprised to see D-Will weaving through traffic on February 17.

Now comes the forward position in the Western Conference, which has been gobbled up by fan favorites Tim Duncan and Carmelo Anthony in the starting lineup. Duncan is averaging 19.6 ppg and 11.2 rpg while Anthony helps lead the Denver Nuggets attack with 25.5 ppg and seven rebounds. Boozer matches up well against both players with his numbers of 22.5 pointes per game and 10.8 rebounds per game. His is also 10th in the league, ahead of both Duncan and Anthony, with a sizzling shooting percentage of 55 percent.

Other forwards among consideration for a reserve spot are Dirk Nowitzki, Amare Stoudemire and Josh Howard. Dirk’s numbers at 22 points and 8.4 rebounds are not as strong as Boozer’s, while Stoudemire has more points per game than Boozer with 22.7, but less rebounds with 9.2. Howard made the All-Star team last year as a late selection but his numbers this year of 20.6 points per game and 7.5 rebounds may not be enough to get him to the ‘Big Easy.’

Boozer was also selected as an All-Star last season, but was unable to play due to injury. His numbers put him with the best forwards in the West, not to mention the NBA. If he is selected yet again, he would be the first two-time selection to the game since Stockton and Malone left the Jazz. And Jazz fans can bet that Williams and Boozer will continue to be in contention to be selected to All-Star games for years to come.
~ By Mattson Newell