BOSTONThe Boston Celtics will be well represented during All-Star weekend with a pair of starters in Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo.
However, the C's leading scorer Paul Pierce, was not among the seven reserves announced on Thursday.
This will be the first time Pierce has not been selected as an All-Starter since 2007.
"I was hurt that year," Pierce told CSNNE.com prior to the official announcement on Thursday. "If I make it, great. If I don't, I don't."
The last time a healthy Pierce was not selected was 2001.
While there's certainly a tinge of disappointment in not making the team, Pierce understands all too well that no All-Star berth means an opportunity for him to get some much-needed rest for what has to be an impressive run by the C's if they are to have any shot at having the kind of regular season to catapult them into a deep playoff run.
Pierce will use not being selected as added motivation for himself similar to how he -- even to this day -- is fueled to some degree by being selected as the No. 10 pick in the 1998 NBA draft when he was expected to be selected much earlier.
"I've been looked over my whole career," Pierce told CSNNE.com recently. "It just makes me stronger man; it just makes me stronger."
The Eastern Conference reserves, selected by the coaches: Chicago's Luol Deng and Joakim Noah; Cleveland's Kyrie Irving; Indiana's Paul George; Miami's Chris Bosh; New York's Tyson Chandler and Philadelphia's Jrue Holiday.
The Western Conference reserves were Golden State's David Lee; Houston's James Harden; Memphis big man Zach Randolph; Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook; Portland's LaMarcus Aldridge and San Antonio's inside-outside tandem of Tim Duncan and Tony Parker.