The Western Conference's coaches should thank the voters for sparing them the most difficult decision they might have faced in picking this season's All-Star reserves, which will be announced Thursday. Because his track record is so much better than his performance this season, Dwight Howard is one of the trickiest All-Star cases in recent memory. But since fans voted the Los Angeles Lakers center into the starting lineup, West coaches won't have to determine whether Howard belongs.
They do have a handful of interesting choices, though. Based on a combination of this year's statistics and past performance, here's who would appear on my ballot. (Tom Haberstroh will pick East reserves tomorrow.)