Chris Bosh frontrunner to replace Rajon Rondo as All-Star starter


Sun Sentinel
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra had yet to give it any thought.

After all, he had only known he was the coach of the Eastern Conference All-Star team for a few minutes. His first decision is whether to start center Chris Bosh in the game Feb. 17 in Houston. He leaned toward having three Heat starters, with Bosh joining LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

The last team to have three All-Star starters was the Los Angeles Lakers, who had Magic Johnson, A.C. Green and James Worthy in 1990.

"I've only given this thought for the last nine minutes," Spoelstra said. "But I will tell you this, unequivocally, that my loyalties are first and foremost always with the Miami Heat."

A spot in the starting lineup became available when Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo was lost for the season because of a knee injury. The other starters are New Yorks Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony and Celtics center Kevin Garnett.

If Bosh starts, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade would start in the backcourt, while Bosh would join 'Melo and KG in the front court. Not exactly the ideal fellow starters for Garnett- 3 Heat players and Mr. Honey Nut Cheerios. Then again there's no guarantee that KG will be on the East squad, because as far as we know he could have been traded to a Western Conference team like the Clippers by then. Needless to say the All-Star game lost a bit of it's luster for Celtics fans once Rajon Rondo went down for the year. In addition, after getting snubbed as a reserve, Paul Pierce was not chosen to replace Rondo. That call went to Brook Lopez.

Related: Clippers are trying to trade for Kevin Garnett