Westbrook may get jobbed tonight in All Star announcement

Originally Published: Feb 3, 2011 11:46 AM CDTI have felt for a long time that Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook would be named a Western Conference All-Star reserve.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 1:33 pm

By: News 9

Originally Published: Feb 3, 2011 11:46 AM CDT

I have felt for a long time that Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook would be named a Western Conference All-Star reserve. But the more people I talk with and the more research I do the less convinced I am that he will be named tonight during TNT’s pregame show around 6 pm EST. Deron Williams of Utah and Tony Parker of San Antonio could very well be the guards named with the athletic third year Thunder star left out. Manu Ginobli is a lock as he has been the key to San Antonio getting off to an amazing first half the season. I would have put Westbrook ahead of both Williams and Parker. But I live in OKC and am coming at it from a biased position. Just the facts, Jack. I’m not unlike other journalists who have watched certain players grow over a three year period and believe they are deserving. But this time I believe my feelings are justified.  It could be argued that it’s Westbrook more so than Kevin Durant (a Western Conference starting All Star forward) who has led the Thunders’ impressive first half. The ball is in his hands more, he distributes it well, has cut down on his turnovers, takes it to the hoop with authority, plays outstanding defense and has made plays in the clutch as OKC has excelled in close games.  Hopefully I am wrong. But on a night with Sam Bradford is battling N Suh for the Pepsi Rookie of the Year award, and Blake Griffin hopes to make his first All-Star game (a lock in my book), I’m afraid the local hue and cry is going to be that Westbrook got jobbed.  Best thing for Thunder? Maybe he’ll play extra hard in the second half the season to prove the coaches who made the selections wrong.                  Dean BlevinsOklahoma Sports