CLEVELAND (AP) -Once was too much for the Cleveland Cavaliers. But twice?
The team was outraged last week when guard Mo Williams, who has helped the Cavaliers get off to the best start in their history, was not chosen as a reserve for the NBA All-Star team in a vote by Eastern Conference coaches. LeBron James and his teammates felt Williams belonged and took his omission as disrespectful to him and Cleveland.
On Thursday, Williams was denied again, this time by commissioner David Stern, who picked Boston guard Ray Allen to replace injured Orlando guard Jameer Nelson at next week’s game in Phoenix.
The Cavs found the second rejection of Williams so absurd that they’re making up words to describe their feelings.
ail The Associated Press.
Cleveland will be represented by James, who was selected in fan voting, and coach Mike Brown and his assistants will coach the East squad.
But the Cavaliers, 23-0 at home and leading the Central Division by 12 1/2 games, feel their play in the first half earned them multiple selections along with Boston, Orlando, the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio.
“We felt like Mo is a big reason that we are where we are at this point in the season,” guard Daniel Gibson said. “It didn’t just affect him, it affected all of us. We’re just going to continue to use that as motivation. We’re going to continue to show that we are one of the premier teams in this league.
“We feel like in order to get respect, we have to gain it. We’re just going to go out and win games.”
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