SPORTS WITH 3

The NBA All-Star game this season will be held in the home of the Houston Rockets and the Knicks will be well represented once the All-Star weekend rolls around.

This season the Knicks will be sending two players, Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler, to participate and play in the All-Star game. This is just another accolade added to the list for these two players since coming to the Knicks, as both players won gold medals in the summer Olympics and accolades after last regular season.

Anthony will be making his 6th All-Star game after being voted in by the fans to start the game this season and rightfully so. Anthony is having what some people believe to be an MVP-type season, averaging 29.4 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. Anthony has had his missteps this season but is deserving of the All-Star spot the fans voted him in for.

Joining Anthony in the starting lineup will be the Miami Heat Lebron James and Boston Celtics Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo. Rondo suffered an ACL tear and will be replaced on the roster by someone of commissioner David Stern’s choosing; he has not yet decided who will be taking that spot. Many Knick fans believe J.R. Smith should be given the last roster spot, but it would be a surprise if he is voted.

Smith is having an improved season from some stand points but is still not a consistent player like an All-Star should be. The fact the Knicks have two other representatives will hurt him as well; Stern will be inclined to include someone from a team not represented but worth giving a push to like Deron Williams, Joe Johnson or Brook Lopez of the Brooklyn Nets.

Chandler was not voted in by the fans, but coaches felt he has done enough to earn a spot on the All-Star team, the first in his 11 year career. Chandler does a lot of things for the Knicks that does not show up in the stat sheet as he is the anchor of the Knicks defense in the middle. On the season Chandler is averaging 11.7 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. It is about time one of the premier defensive centers in the NBA had his play recognized with an All-Star game appearance.

Along with Chandler, there were four other first time players selected for the bench of the Eastern Conference All-Stars; Indiana Pacers Paul George, Philadelphia 76ers Jrue Holiday, Cleveland Cavaliers Kyrie Irving and Chicago Bulls Joakim Noah. Rounding out the East’s bench will be Miami Heat Chris Bosh and Chicago Bulls Luol Deng.

There is a chance there will be other Knicks at All-Star weekend taking in some of the other festivities as there is a chance that James White will be participating in the Dunk Contest; participants in the Dunk Contest as well as the Three-Point Shootout, Skills Competition and Shooting Stars Competition will be announced at a later date.