As part of our weekly 5-on-5 with our good friends and True Hoop partner at CelticsHub, we examined which members of the Celtics deserve a spot among the Eastern Conference reserves for All-Star weekend later this month in Orlando. You might remember that Boston's entire Big Four got an invite last year in Los Angeles, but the team's early struggles make a similar group outing unlikely. So ...

Which Celtics will be named as All-Star reserves Thursday night?

 
* Chris Forsberg: Pierce and Rondo. You can really make the case for the entire Big Four to be named reserves again this year in a top-heavy Eastern Conference, but Pierce and Rondo are the two players that opposing teams worry most about. KG has been coming on strong and deserves consideration for his efforts at both end of the court, while poor Ray Allen probably gets overlooked despite his insane shooting percentages from the floor (50 percent) and beyond the arc (52.6 percent) through 20 games.

* Hayes Davenport: Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo. Pierce has pole-vaulted the other Celtics stars to become the team’s best player, and Rondo is the second-best point guard in the Conference (tied with Jeremy Lin). Garnett might get some consideration out of respect/fear, but while I feel like he actually enjoys All-Star Weekend more than most veterans, he should stay home in a Brookstone massaging foot spa.

* Brendan Jackson: Paul Pierce is a definite but I could see any number of the rest of the Big Four getting the nod as well. Of course, so many All Stars end up on the team based on reputation and career achievements so nothing would surprise me at this point.

* Brian Robb: Rajon Rondo and Paul Pierce. The point guard’s numbers are too impressive to ignore, despite his extended absence. Pierce will get the recognition he deserves for his recent stretch, playing as well as anyone in the league while sparking the turnaround of the C’s season. Garnett and Allen have a case, but the team’s slow start will keep them home.

* CelticsHub Reader Kevin Cote: Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo. Paul is a lock; he has been the catalyst that turned the talk in Beantown from ‘Will Danny blow it up’ to ‘How far can these guys go?’ Given his recent accomplishments and off-the-charts PER, Paul is the one certainty for the All-star game. Rondo is a question mark if only due his injuries and absence for much of the recent turnaround.

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