NEW YORK -- Chris Paul and David West were picked for their first All-Star Game Thursday night, giving the hometown Hornets a pair of players for the event New Orleans will host next month.

Detroit, Phoenix and Washington also had multiple players chosen as reserves for the Feb. 17 game. Boston will only send two of its Big Three to the Big Easy. Paul Pierce was voted in by Eastern Conference head coaches to join starter Kevin Garnett, but Ray Allen fell short.

The Pistons' Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton are headed back for the third straight year, while the Suns will be represented by Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire. Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison also were recognized for their strong play, which has kept the Wizards in the middle of the playoff race despite the absence of injured guard Gilbert Arenas.

Toronto's Chris Bosh and Atlanta guard Joe Johnson were the other players picked for the East, which will be coached by Boston's Doc Rivers. Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki, the reigning NBA MVP, Utah's Carlos Boozer and Portland guard Brandon Roy were selected from the West.

Paul, Nash and Roy emerged from a crowded group of West guards to beat out the likes of Golden State's Baron Davis, Utah point guard Deron Williams, and Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili from the defending champion San Antonio Spurs.

Also missing out during the worst season of his career was Shaquille O'Neal, ending his streak of 14 consecutive All-Star selections. That tied the record held by Jerry West and Karl Malone.

Paul, the 2006 Rookie of the Year, and West have helped the Hornets to a 32-13 record, which led the Southwest Division entering the night. New Orleans could still get another representative, as Byron Scott will coach the West if the Hornets win their next game, or Dallas loses either of its next two.

Paul is averaging 20.8 points, 10.7 assists and a league-leading 2.6 steals. He has just one fewer steal (110) than turnover for the season. David West averages 19.6 points and 9.4 rebounds.

Garnett, LeBron James, Orlando's Dwight Howard, New Jersey's Jason Kidd and Miami's Dwyane Wade were voted by fans to start for the East. The West starters are Denver's Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson, the Lakers' Kobe Bryant, San Antonio forward Tim Duncan and Houston center Yao Ming.

Coaches were then required to vote for two guards, two forwards, a center and two players regardless of position. East coaches bypassed a natural center, picking Bosh, a power forward, at that spot.

Allen, averaging 18 points for a Boston team that began the night with an NBA-best 35-8 record, was perhaps the most noticeable omission in the East. Orlando was hoping for a spot for Hedo Turkoglu, averaging a career-best 19.4 points.


Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

EAST

Chris Bosh Toronto F
Caron Butler Washington F
Paul Pierce Boston G
Chauncey Billups Detroit G
Richard Hamilton Detroit G
Joe Johnson Atlanta G
Antawn Jamison Washington F



WEST

Steve Nash Phoenix G
Chris Paul New Orleans G
Dirk Nowitzki Dallas F
Carlos Boozer Utah F
Amaré Stoudemire Phoenix C
Brandon Roy Portland G
David West New Orleans F

The Coaches for each side are yet to be decided.

Doc Rivers will probably Coach the East though.

The West side is a difficult choice. Many of them could do it.

George Karl of the Nuggets
Avery Johnson of the Mavs

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! I wanted a Davis version of the sweeeeet jersey :( Guess ill get me some CP3 action instead.

Roy making it just doesn't sit well with me. If the season ended today, Portland would 9th out West. And he's only putting up 19/5/5. Baron Davis should have made it, IMO. Better record (however slightly), better numbers (22/5/8/2.5 spg). Even Williams would have a good case. Then that's forgetting F's like Howard and Marion.

Just seems to be an over-reaction to how much Portland have suprised people.

yeah but twentyfour it makes sense because roy has been bigger for portland than baron has been for golden state, regardless of numbers

good for joe johnson

Is anyone else watching Marion obliterate the Spurs? And he's not in the squad? unbelievable

Im just happy Baron didnt make it

Is there a WC point other than Nash that you don't hate ELG?

Byron Scott will coach the West.

haha

Obliterate the Spurs? Spurs won without Parker

Yeah ginobili flopping to 12 foul shots helped

But phoenix lost that one for themselves so its ok.

Centres are obviously out of fashion, particularly in the East. If one was picked, Bogut would've been half a chance.

Baron should be there, not entirely confident on who he should replace but he SHOULD be there.

Baron definately should be there as a SG. Moses, thank god they went for a PF in Bosh instead of a real C because Bogut is no all-star.

Deron Williams is very very unlucky to be behind CP3 and Nash, the PG position is definately a lot stronger in the West.

Fantastic to see David West being recognized, he's been huge for them the last 3 years.