Jan. 08--In Pau Gasol's four previous trips to the All-Star game, the big man got selected as a coach's reserve pick for the Western Conference.
That appears likely to change.
With 11 days left in fan voting, the NBA released its third returns on Thursday. And Gasol's lead over the fourth-place vote-getter in Eastern Conference frontcourt voting has widened.
"I'm really thankful and appreciative that the fans are voting me in and want to see me in the starting lineup, which I think is a huge compliment," Gasol said. "The four times that I've made it, it was because of the coaches' vote, so I've never really had the opportunity to be in the starting lineup. So we'll see. Right now I'm just thankful for all the fans that want to see me out there."
Vote early and often?
"Yes, and continue."
Gasol ranks second behind the Cavaliers' LeBron James with 527,582 votes. James has 971,299 votes. The Knicks' Carmelo Anthony is third with 456,186. But Gasol has a comfortable lead over the Heat's Chris Bosh, who is fourth with 354,609 votes.
"That's a huge compliment," Gasol said.
Jimmy Butler, virtually a lock to be a coach's reserve pick, sits fifth in the Eastern Conference backcourt voting. Derrick Rose is sixth and likely will miss his first All-Star game while healthy since 2012. That capped three straight All-Star appearances for Rose, one as a reserve and two as a starter.
