Traffic jam at NBA's guard position

If you think it's a rippin' shame Deron Williams won't be playing in this weekend's NBA All-Star Game and would like to file a complaint, get in line. He feels the same, though he's done a good job of keeping a low profile.

Still, it's hard to understand why someone that good isn't on the team. He's physical, smart, shifty, a good shooter, a decent defender, controls the tempo and leads his team. You can't ask for more than that.

Honestly, are there that many guards better than Williams?

Yes, maybe.

It's not his fault he's playing in a conference with great guards at every turn: Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, Tracy McGrady, Steve Nash, Chris Paul, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, Baron Davis, Jason Terry, Jerry Stackhouse, Brandon Roy. Talk about congestion. This looks like the Harbor Freeway at 5 o'clock.

The situation is reminiscent of a remark by musician Paul Simon, who once said he and band-mate Art Garfunkel would write something they thought was pretty good, maybe even great, and then Stevie Wonder would show up and take home all the Grammys.

Things can be crowded at the top.

Thus, in his third season in the NBA, Williams has been snubbed again. The first year, he didn't play enough minutes for consideration. Last year he probably deserved a shot. This year, what does a guy have to do? He's going for double-doubles almost every night. He annihilated his chief competition, New Orleans' Chris Paul, head-to-head this year.

Commentators rave. Opponents shudder. New York Knicks coach Isiah Thomas — himself a pretty fair guard, back in the day — said, "He's as special a player as we have in our league, and he's just going to keep getting better and better. He's a joy to watch, but he's hell to play against and coach against."

And still Williams can't make the A list.

The question being: Why not?

One explanation came nearly three weeks ago when it became obvious he wouldn't be voted onto the team. "I'm just in a small market, I guess," he told Jazz beat writer Tim Buckley. "We're gonna have less votes here. Utah, there is less population. There are less Jazz fans around the country, too. I think, than a lot of teams."

On the other hand, Karl Malone was on 14 All-Star teams, John Stockton 10.

They played in a small market, too.

If you're that much better than everyone else, you'll find your way.