Josh Howard Still Has a Chance

So Josh Howard isn't an All-Star, for now...

There is still a very real chance that the NBA league office selects Howard, as well as Carmelo Anthony, as injury replacements. Marc Stein agrees and explains why.

• Mehmet Okur: A definite possibility. With Boozer out, Stern may feel like the Utah Jazz need a representative at the game. Unfortunately for Okur, he isn't as good as the other options and with the coaches selecting Amare Stoudemire there is no need to select another center.
• Elton Brand: He's having another great season (21 and 9), but he hasn't been as good as last year, and his team has been far worse. A solid pick but not a sexy one.
• Manu Ginobili: He's actually been better than teammate Tony Parker this season, who is already on the All-Star roster. There's no way Stern takes a third Spur. Right?
• Zach Randolph: Same thing as Brand - great numbers (24 and 10) but on the Trailblazers. Also working against Randolph is the fact that he's Zach Randolph.
• Ray Allen: Did you know Ray Allen is averaging a career high in points at 26.6? Well he is, and he still won't make team. Not only does he play for Seattle, but it's unlikely he'll select a SG to replace a PF and C.
• Carmelo Anthony: The league leader in points at the break has never missed the All-Star game, and Anthony currently holds that title at 31.3. He's also the biggest name on the list. David Stern would have to be quite a dick to snub Anthony, who has never been named an All-Star.
• Josh Howard: He's the second best player on the best team in the league and is averaging 7 rebounds and almost 20 points a game. He's arguably the best defender on the list as well. Working against Howard: four of the players on this list have better stats and Stern may want to select PF's over SF's since that's who he is replacing.