NBA All-Star 2013: Paul Pierce Deserves To Play In All-Star Game

Feb 26, 2012; Orlando, FL, USA; Eastern Conference forward Paul Pierce (34) of the Boston Celtics prior to the start of the 2012 NBA All-Star Game at the Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

The fact that Paul Pierce hasn’t been selected to take Rajon Rondo’s spot to play in the All-Star game is almost shameful. A player who is a ten time All-Star, still a vocal and emotional leader of his team, and hasn’t lost a significant part of his game due to age should have the privilege to play on the Eastern Conference All-Star team. Of course, this leads to the debate on whether fans should be voting, but beside that point, Erik Spoelstra, who will be coaching the East, would be making a huge mistake if he doesn’t select Pierce to fill the final spot on the roster.

Pierce, who has stepped up his game in Rondo’s absence, has two triple-double and three double-double’s in the last eight games. Now, even though thats a small sampling, he’s been doing this his entire career, along with coming up big in the clutch this season. Being an All-Star should be more than just being a popular player who, even though is having a horrible season, like Dwight Howard, still gets in. The idea of being an All-Star caliber player is being a team player, one who lifts his team to victories, one who comes through when his team needs him, and being a complete game changer on both ends of the court.

Certainly, I don’t have a problem with 95% of the selections for both rosters, but to say that Luol Deng deserves to be on the team more than Paul Pierce is absurd. I understand the Chicago Bulls are having a great season without Derrick Rose, but there is no comparison between the two players. Pierce, in my eyes, embodies what all players should model themselves after. A player who does whatever it takes to win, never gives up during a game, even if it’s a game that takes three overtimes to decide a victor, and a player who defines what his team is all about.

When it comes to fans voting, it’s always been a controversial topic and will be until there is a way to resolve this issue. The fact is, some players who are on small market teams are less likely to make it to the All-Star game because they will be less votes for that player. For Pierce, he’s not a Kobe or a LeBron who is nationally beloved, and maybe that’s due to his age or the fact that not many people are Celtics fans outside of New England. Whatever the reason may be, players like Pierce deserve to play in the All-Star game and if they aren’t voted in, the coaches from all 30 teams should have a say in who fills out the roster.