Paul Pierce the lone Celtics All-Star

By Gary Dzen

February 9, 2012

1 minute to read

By Gary Dzen, Globe Staff

Celtics forward Paul Pierce was the lone Boston player named as a reserve to the NBA’s Eastern Conference All-Star team today, his 10th selection in his 14-year career. TKevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo, and Ray Allen did were not named All-Stars after making the team last season.

Garnett is a 14-time All-Star who has been selected to every All-Star game since 1998-99. Allen has made 10 All-Star teams, and he said before tonight’s game that he would not participate in the 3-point contest during All-Star weekend if he was not selected for the game.

Rondo has missed eight games during this short season, making it more difficult for him to be selected.

“Rondo to me is an All-Star and would have made it,” said Celtics coach Doc Rivers.

Rivers said that he understood the selection process was different during this short season, but he thought the league should have let some more games play out before the teams were picked.

“I think it’s too soon,” said Rivers. “I was sitting on my couch when they announced the starters and I was floored. I didn’t even know they started the voting. I’m serious. I honestly did not know. … I think we could have waited at least another week to do the subs.”

Derrick Rose, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, and Dwight Howard are the starters for the East. Chris Bosh, Luol Deng, Roy Hibbert, Andre Iguodala, Joe Johnson, Pierce, and Deron Williams were named reserves today.

Tim Duncan is a notable name absent for the Western Conference, who will start Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul, Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin, and Andrew Bynum. The Western reserves are LaMarcus Aldridge, Marc Gasol, Kevin Love, Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker, and Russell Westbrook.

On Pierce’s selection coming on top of Pierce passing Larry Bird in scoring earlier this week, Rivers said, “Going in front of Larry, to me that’s enough. I don’t know if you need another thing in a week. To make the All-Star team as well, that’s the cherry on top.”