Now that the Super Bowl dust has settled, I’ve got some thoughts about the NBA All-Star selections made late last week. There are some notable snubs, as there are every year. In the East, Cleveland’s Mo Williams has had a huge hand in the boost to the Cavaliers’ NBA betting chances, but was passed over in favor of New Jersey’s Devin Harris, whose selection can’t really be argued either, other than the Cavs have a far better record. Boston’s Ray Allen is having a great year, but because of the strength of the swingman in the East (Boston teammate Paul Pierce, Atlanta’s Joe Johnson, Indiana’s Danny Granger), the veteran misses out.

In the West, some eyebrows were raised with the pick of Shaquille O’Neal, who is having a resurgent season in the desert. The fact that the game is held in Phoenix probably had a little to do with it, as Shaq is arguably the greatest ambassador the NBA has. However, Minnesota’s Al Jefferson is one of only three players in the league averaging 20 and 10. Also, Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant is putting up absurd numbers, but both of these young stars play on terrible teams, and the thinking is that they’ll have plenty more chances to make it to the All-Star game.