CELTICS GREEN BLOG by and for boston celtics fans: The NBA is Bad at Keeping Secrets

The NBA has been building up to tonight's big announcement of the All Star Reserves. Tune in before the Celtics/Magic game to find out who were selected as reserves. There is only one problem with that marketing... The names of the reserves are all over the internet right now. In case you missed the names at any one of the dozens of sites announcing the scoop, Here are this year's reserves as chosen by the coaches:

Eastern Conference
Rajon Rondo (Celtics)
Derrick Rose (Bulls)
Paul Pierce (Celtics)
Chris Bosh (Raptors)
Gerald Wallace (Bobcats)
Joe Johnson (Hawks)
Al Horford (Hawks)

Western Conference
Deron Williams (Jazz)
Chris Paul (Hornets)
Pau Gasol (Fakers)
Kevin Durant (Thunder)
Dirk Nowitski (Mavericks)
Zach Randolph (Grizzlies)
Brandon Roy (Blazers)

Now, if the NBA isn't pulling one over on everyone and leaking the wrong information just to teach everyone a lesson, every one of these players is from a team with a .500 or better record. Three all stars will be making their debut in the yearly classic: Rajon Rondo, Derrick Rose and Deron Williams.

I'm happy to see Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo make the team. Both very much deserve to be there. I'm ok with Ray not making it because even though he has been solid for the Celtics this season and the most reliable, leading the team in minutes played, he has struggled with his shot.

I do think this was a snub of Perk though. I would take Perk over Horford every time. Perk has been having a great season. Both players have appeared in all of their teams' games. Horford has a slight edge in some stats while Perk has the edge in others. Perk: 12.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 2.1 blocks, 63% FG%. Horford: 13.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.3 blocks, 57.5% FG%

But the thing that sets Perk apart from every center in the East, aside from Dwight Howard, is his defense. You can't go just by stats to determine a player's worth. Perk may not get the points on the team, but when a player scores, chances are that Perk set the screen to get them open. Perk may not get the rebound, but chances are that he used his muscles and size to box out the opponent so that a teammate could get it. I guess at least I can take some solace in the fact that it was Horford and not Noah who made the team over Perk.
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