All Star injury replacements

[Lurker]

Melo & Josh Howard are named by Stern to replace Yao & Boozer.  The coach (D'Antonio) gets to pick Yao's replacement as starter.

Carmelo Anthony is going to the All-Star game after all.
The NBA's leading scorer was picked by commissioner David Stern on Friday as an injury replacement and will make his first All-Star game appearance on Feb. 18 in Las Vegas.

Stern also added Dallas forward Josh Howard to the Western Conference team. He needed to replace Houston center Yao Ming and Utah forward Carlos Boozer, who will be unable to play because of injuries.

Anthony averages an NBA-high 30.8 points, but wasn't voted in by the fans and then wasn't chosen as a reserve by West coaches. He was undoubtedly hurt by missing 15 games when Stern suspended him for his role in the brawl at Madison Square Garden in December.

But Stern said he would not consider Anthony's penalty when deciding whether to consider him for a replacement spot.
 
Howard also is a first-time All-Star, giving the team with the NBA's best record two players in the game. Phoenix and San Antonio, the Mavericks' closest pursuers, each have multiple All-Stars. Howard is averaging 19.6 points and 7.3 rebounds.

Stern may still have one more pick to make. Denver's Allen Iverson, bothered by a sprained ankle, has talked recently of skipping the game if necessary. Seattle's Ray Allen or Utah's Deron Williams would be the likely candidates if another guard is needed.

[Rolando Blackman]

Hey Lurker!
   
The only thing surprising to me about Carmel getting in the ASG is that it was Stern who put him there!  Otherwise, it was just another case of getting rewards despite bad behavior, a la Shawne Merriman of the S.D. Chargers (although I will be the first to say that the steroids one takes are worse than the nose one breaks).  No one gets more second chances than a sports superstar - thank God for the 22nd Amendment!  LOL
   
-RB
Shaq #1