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[h1]Poor 'Sheed: Wallace is an All-Star[/h1] [h2]Despite his very public desire to have those four days off instead, forward picked to replace Garnett.[/h2] [h4]Chris McCosky / The Detroit News[/h4]
AUBURN HILLS -- Nazr Mohammed just laughed.
He was told that former teammate Rasheed Wallace had been picked to replace injured Kevin Garnett on the Eastern Conference All-Star team.
"Man, I know he's not happy," Mohammed said, laughing.
Wallace clearly wasn't overjoyed by the news, but he did appreciate the honor.
"It's something that's good for my kids," he said, in almost somber tones. "I guess once I get older and get out of the game, this is something they can look back on."
Wallace had campaigned hard to not be selected, preferring the four days off instead. He already had made plans to spend the four-day break some place a lot more tropical than New Orleans.
"We'll have to put those plans aside and move them to the summer," he said after Sunday's 113-87 victory over the Bobcats.
When told he was hand-picked by commissioner David Stern to replace Garnett, Wallace gave a wry smile and said, "It's a prestigious honor and a great pleasure."
It's the fourth all-star selection for Wallace, his second as a Piston. He will join teammates Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton, who also are reserves.
"Once he gets there he will enjoy it," coach Flip Saunders said. "Whenever you get selected to do something like that, you should feel good about it. It's an honor for him, but more than that, it is an honor for his family and for our organization."
Garnett has been shelved by an abdominal strain. Wallace, Saunders guessed, probably was next in line on the coaches' vote at the center position, which led to Stern's selection.
"I think it's great," Billups said. "We have three guys in the game and no other team can say that. That's a tribute to how good we are playing. 'Sheed is listed as a center now, and besides Dwight Howard (the East's starting center), you can't tell me there's another guy better than 'Sheed. He should have made it before being named a replacement."
Either Wallace or Toronto's Chris Bosh will get the start. That decision will be made by Boston coach Doc Rivers.
"The best thing about 'Sheed going is now he can help Rip win that 3-point shooting contest," Saunders said, referencing how Wallace has been egging Hamilton on in recent practices.
Wallace agreed.
"For sure I will be there to cheer Rip on," he said. "That's my teammate and he's been practicing hard to try and win that thing. I will be there for him."
The All-star Game is at 8 p.m. Sunday on TNT.
lmfao @ Sheed.
