All-Star Voting Slights Webber Despite Stats

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Washington’s Jimmy Lynam has raved about the performance of forward Chris Webber this season.

Apparently, his fellow coaches weren’t listening. Webber was left off the East All-Star team by the coaches. Atlanta’s Christian Laettner was selected ahead of Webber, even though he is averaging fewer points, rebounds, assists and blocked shots.

“I thought he was a shoo-in,” Bullets point guard Rod Strickland said of his teammate.

Orlando’s Anfernee Hardaway - a shoo-in by the fans - has a theory as to why Webber still hasn’t received his AllStar due. His reasoning would make filmmaker Oliver Stone proud.

“I think it’s the deal with Golden State and the attention that he’s had since he’s been in the league,” Hardaway said. “He’s a talented player who probably will never get the respect back that he deserves because of the thing he had with Don Nelson.”

There is more to it than that. Coaches like to reward players from winning teams, and the Hawks have won a lot more games than Washington.

Still, based on his statistics - 20.2 points, 10 rebounds, 4.5 assists and two blocked shots - Webber was the most glaring omission.

Campbell has trouble

The Los Angeles Lakers are playing some of the best basketball in the league.

Power forward Elden Campbell is not part of the surge. Campbell has failed to score in double figures in eight of the last 12 games and has averaged 5.2 points and 5.7 rebounds over the last four.

Shaquille O’Neal recently ripped unnamed teammates for getting their money and thinking the job was done - a barb believed to be directed at Campbell.

Coach Del Harris is frustrated.

“He’s just not playing well right now, not playing aggressively enough,” Harris said. “He’s in a slump.”

Hill triples again

Grant Hill posted his fourth triple-double of the season in Detroit’s 90-75 victory in front of a sellout crowd at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, N.J.

Hill had 22 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists for his third career triple-double vs. the Nets.

Asked about his 15th career triple-double, Hill said, “I guess it’s a big deal because it’s uncommon.”

Reserve Don MacLean scored a season-high 29 points in Philadelphia’s victory at Milwaukee.

Afterward, Bucks All-Star forward Vin Baker said some of his teammates aren’t giving their all and that if things don’t change quickly, the Bucks can forget about a playoff run.

MacLean, averaging just nine points, has scored 21, 24 and 29 points in the Sixers’ last three games.

Derek Harper, a late insert into the starting lineup, hit a key 3-pointer with less than 30 seconds to play as Dallas snapped Utah’s five-game winning streak.

The struggling Cleveland Cavaliers narrowly escaped setting a second straight franchise scoring low but did not escape the Heat in Miami’s 71-66 victory.

The Cavs scored 65 in Wednesday’s loss to the New York Knicks.

Mitch Richmond had 35 points and 13 rebounds and Kevin Gamble came off the bench to score 23, including 5 of 6 3-point attempts in Sacramento’s win over Denver.

Loy Vaught scored 25 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead the Clippers past the Warriors, despite 40 points from Golden State All-Star Latrell Sprewell.