The coaches got it right and voted Luol Deng to the 2011-2012 Eastern Conference All Star team as a reserve. Luol will join Derrick Rose, who was named a starter last week, on the team. The Bulls really deserved two players on the All-Star team. The Bulls are 22-6 and have the best record in the NBA.
Luol will make his first All-Star appearance of his career. Luol is averaging about 38:00 minutes a game in 21 games this season. Luol's numbers back his selection scoring 16.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. Luol is also shooting 43.9% from the field, 37.1% from 3PT, and 75.8% from the free throw line. Luol Deng's value to Bulls and Coach Tom Thibodeau goes far past the numbers. Luol plays the most minutes on the team and takes the toughest defensive assignments. Luol has stepped up over the last 2 seasons and become the consistent number two scoring option for the Chicago Bulls. Deng is currently playing with a torn ligament in his left wrist that caused him to miss 7 games this season. Deng decided to fore go surgery and play with the injury.
It's good the Bulls got 2 All Stars on the Eastern Conference team. If Joakim Noah did not have such a slow start to his season he possible could have made it as a reserve as well. The All-Star game will be hosted in Orlando on February 26, 2012.
Eastern Conference Starters
Derrick Rose (CHI), Dwayne Wade (MIA), Lebron James (MIA), Carmelo Anthony (NY), Dwight Howard (ORL)
Eastern Conference Reserves
Roy Hibbert (IN), Paul Pierce (BOS), Chris Bosh (MIA), Deron Williams (NJ), Andre Iguodala (PHI), Joe Johnson (ATL)
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