LaMarcus Aldridge left off All Star team…for now

The All Star reserves were announced today and LaMarcus Aldridge once again found himself left off. The Blazers power forward, who’s averaged about 25 points and 10 rebounds per game in 2011 has been the subject of plentiful “should he or shouldn’t he?” debate lately, but will be heading home to Dallas, not Los Angeles during All Star weekend.

The Western Conference reserve forwards picked over him were: Pau Gasol (Lakers, Blake Griffin (Clippers), Dirk Nowitzki (Mavericks) and Tim Duncan (Spurs), who will play center. The reserve guards were Russell Westbrook (Thunder) Manu Ginobili (Spurs) and Deron Williams (Utah).

Aldridge said last week that he didn’t expect to make it and had already brought his plane ticket home.

Upon hearing the news today, Aldridge told the Oregonian’s Jason Quick, “I told you so. Didn’t I say that from the start?”

He added that his mother was going to take the news harder than he would, and that “you have to put Blake Griffin in. He plays in LA and people want to see him play.”

Andre Miller wasn’t quite as diplomatic.

“It’s all publicity and hype,” the guard told the Oregonian. “The league don’t appreciate the blue-collar workers”

Miller added that Griffin doesn’t make anybody on the Clippers better.

It’s not over yet, though. NBA commissioner David Stern still has to select someone to replace injured starting center Yao Ming, although no timetable has been set yet.