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There is an opening on the Eastern Conference All-Star team as it was announced Sunday that Celtics guard Rajon Rondo was lost for the season with a torn ACL. Hawks coach Larry Drew made a case for Al Horford or Josh Smith to be named his replacement. “No doubt about,” Drew said before Sunday’s game against the Knicks when asked if he thought his two stars should get the call. “I think both of my guys have been overlooked. It’s unfortunate what happened to Rondo but certainly my guys should be in strong consideration.” Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Al Horford, Josh Smith, Larry Drew, All-Star 

Matt Bonner was in line at a local deli not long ago, preparing to do the thing he does second-best — put together a primo sandwich — when the sub artiste stopped him mid-order. The man behind the counter interrupted to boast he’d just joined the Twitter movement bent on getting Bonner, the flame-haired Spurs’ forward, into the NBA’s annual 3-point contest. “He told me he had ‘hashtagged’ me,” the social media-shy Bonner said. “So I had to look up what ‘hashtag’ meant.” The campaign — #LetBonnerShoot — began as a joint venture between Bonner’s younger brother, Luke, and his friend Dave Hartley, bass player for the indie rock band War on Drugs. San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Matt Bonner, All-Star 

When Hartley first broached the possibility of starting an Internet drive on his behalf, Matt Bonner didn’t think much would come of it. “My first thought was, ‘War on Drugs is a great band, but they’re not U2,’?” said Bonner, 32. In short order, the grassroots effort spread like digital wild fire, attracting support from names as varied as New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan, actress Eva Longoria and members of the musical group Arcade Fire, another Bonner favorite. Last week, the movement went mainstream, with Luke Bonner granting an interview to NBA TV, and his older brother talking with ESPN during the national broadcast of Saturday’s Spurs- Dallas game. San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Matt Bonner, All-Star 

However he gets in, and however he’s dressed, participating in the 3-point contest would be a lifelong dream come true for Bonner. “From a selfish, egotistical, personal angle, this is it for me,” Bonner said. “I’m never going to make the All-Star team. I always get looked over for the dunk contest. For me, the 3-point contest is what I do. It’s what I hang my hat on in the NBA. “So it would be great to participate, even if I go 1 for 25, just to be able to say I was selected as one of the best shooters in the league.” San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Matt Bonner, All-Star 

The Mavericks will be without an All-Star representative next month in Houston, but owner Mark Cuban is certain that Nowitzki missing the showcase event for the first time since 2001 will be a one-time thing. “I don’t have any doubt,” Cuban said when asked if Nowitzki would be an All-Star again. “There’s no doubt in my mind at all.” Dallas Morning News

Dallas Mavericks, Mark Cuban, All-Star 

Mark Cuban hopes to bring an All-Star Weekend back to Dallas in the not-too-distant future. That’s Dallas, not Arlington. Cuban said he wouldn’t try to join forces with Jerry Jones to host an All-Star Game at Cowboys Stadium again despite it being a tremendous success in 2010. A crowd of 108,713 packed the $1.2 billion stadium that night, setting a world record for attendance at a basketball game. “I wouldn’t do it there again,” Cuban said. “That was a one-off. Been there, done that. “It’s hard to repeat that. It’s hard to get people excited a second time. The second act’s a lot harder.” ESPN.com

Dallas Mavericks, Mark Cuban, All-Star 

Are you disappointed, or how disappointed, are you on not being named to the All-Star team? Josh Smith: Not as disappointed as people think. I mean I got my hopes up last year thinking I was going to make it, probably a couple of years before that too, but it ever happened. It’s not a surprise to me. All I can do is keep playing my game. Keep doing what I’m doing to keep this team positive and successful and not worry about anything else. Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Josh Smith, All-Star 

What do you think about the fact that there are no Hawks on the team? Josh Smith: Now that is a devastation. To have two people … that probably aren’t going to make the playoffs that are on the All-Star list, I feel that one of us should have made it, me or Al. I’ve seen stranger things happen. I can’t really worry about it or scratch my head on decision that the coaches made. It is what it is. Hopefully, me and Al (Horford) can take out our frustrations on the Eastern Conference teams from here on out. Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Josh Smith, All-Star 

Jim Eichenhofer: Monty, asked about Greivis Vasquez not picked as All-Star: "I’m sure Greivis isn’t whining about it. I’m sure he wants wins more than that" Twitter @Jim_Eichenhofer

New Orleans Hornets, Greivis Vasquez, All-Star 

Ronnie Brewer: no disrespect on who made it but i think @JR Smith, Was very deserving of getting an all star selection. Great player & teammate. Twitter @RonnieBrewerJr

New York Knicks, Ronnie Brewer, JR Smith, All-Star 

KC Johnson: Thibodeau, while acknowledging others, stumping for Boozer as All-Star replacement if one is needed. #Bulls Twitter @KCJHoop

Chicago Bulls, Carlos Boozer, All-Star 

Paul George locked his jaw as if he was about to take his defender off the dribble. He gave a hard look as if trying to determine where the offensive player was going with the ball, when he showed a side of him rarely on the display. “I don’t want to be cocky in any way, but I knew this is the level I could play at,” George said. Indianapolis Star

Indiana Pacers, Paul George, All-Star 

“I’ve always been confident in myself,” George said. “I should be able to make it back to another game.” Indianapolis Star

Indiana Pacers, Paul George, All-Star 

Jody Genessy: Jefferson: "I think my name should be in the (All-Star) mix, too." Any All-Stars on Jazz? Al: "I think the whole team should make it, man." Twitter @DJJazzyJody

Utah Jazz, Al Jefferson, All-Star 

Jody Genessy: Al Jefferson's approach to being an All-Star: "If it happens, I'm thankful. If it don't, I'll get some rest. That's the way I look at it." Twitter @DJJazzyJody

Utah Jazz, Al Jefferson, All-Star 

Jeff McDonald: Matt Bonner says making 3-pt contest would be tops for him. "I'm never going to be an All-Star, and they won't let me in the dunk contest." Twitter @JMcDonald_SAEN

San Antonio Spurs, Matt Bonner, All-Star 

Mary Schmitt Boyer/Jodie Valade: #Cavs coach BScott clarifies comment on whether Irving should make All-Star team: "Does he deserve to make it? You damn straight.'' Twitter @PDcavsinsider

Cleveland Cavaliers, Byron Scott, Kyrie Irving, All-Star 

Stefan Bondy: Joe johnson thinks he deserves an all-star spot: "Definitely, if they're going to keep doubling and tripling me as hard as they doing." Twitter @NYDNInterNets

Brooklyn Nets, Joe Johnson, All-Star 

Thibodeau said Deng "should almost be a lock" for All-Star, said most coaches take team record into consideration. "I think coaches will look at what a guy brings to the team overall," Thibodeau said. "Have they done it consistently? And then some guys it’s a buildup too. I thought two years ago Luol deserved to make it and didn’t but then he made it last year." Sulia

Chicago Bulls, Luol Deng, All-Star 

Crawford is averaging 16.7 points off the bench and has the third-highest true shooting percentage of his career (54.6 percent). The top teams in the league often flirt with putting three members of their team in the All-Star Game, and the Clippers currently sit a half game behind the Thunder for the best record in basketball. With Paul and Griffin being voted into the All-Star Game, could Crawford find his way onto what should be a loaded Western Conference team? "Absolutely," Griffin declared. "He's got to be the leading scorer off the bench in the NBA. He's been as big a part of this team as anybody. He should be an All-Star." “I absolutely think he's Sixth Man [of the Year], and he should be an All-Star this year," teammate Chauncey Billups said after the game. "I really do. If you look at the role that he's playing on our team and we're one of the best teams in basketball, so it's not like he's just playing well and it doesn't matter. He's making a huge effect on a good team. CBSSports.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Blake Griffin, Jamal Crawford, All-Star