Just announced on TNT, Chauncey Billups and his backcourt mate Rip Hamilton were named reserves to the Eastern Conference All-Star team for the third consecutive year. Rasheed Wallace got his wish and was not selected, in fact no center reserve was selected for the East.



UPDATE: (Via Detroit News)

“I am excited. I’m geeked,” Hamilton said. “It just tells you what kind of success we’ve had as a team. And it’s a great opportunity going with Billups again. I feel like we kind of came in together and we’ve accomplished a lot together. I just feel blessed.”

Billups and Hamilton combined are averaging 36.9 points a game, fourth best among guard combinations in the league.

“I would be surprised if they didn’t make it,” coach Flip Saunders said. “I think they’ve clearly been one of the most productive combos in the league, as far as how they’ve played this year. They’ve both been very consistent and our team continues to be one of the elite teams in the league. I think they should be rewarded for that.”

Also selected as Eastern Conference reserves were Toronto’s Chris Bosh, Washington’s Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison, Boston’s Paul Pierce and Atlanta’s Joe Johnson.