BEIJING, Feb. 2 -- Someone told Shaquille O'Neal a few days ago that he wasn't selected for the National Basketball Association All-Star Game, an erroneous statement at the time only because the coaches' votes still hadn't been counted.

    Those votes are now in. And O'Neal is indeed out.

Miami Heat center Shaquille O'Neal shoots a free throw in the first half of their NBA basketball game in Miami, Florida, Dece. 13, 2007. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Ending his record-tying streak of 14 straight All-Star selections, the Miami Heat center was not on the list of Eastern Conference reserves released on Thursday for the Feb. 17 game in New Orleans. O'Neal will still be going to the All-Star festivities but only to host a couple of parties and appear at other events that weekend.

    "I think he's still an All-Star," Heat forward Ricky Davis said.

    The coaches who select the reserves didn't agree, nor did the fans who voted Orlando's Dwight Howard in as the East's starting center.

    For his part, O'Neal said he thought Howard's starting nod was well-deserved and that he wouldn't lobby the coaches for support on their ballots. And even if he was voted onto the team, O'Neal - who's averaging a career-low 14.2 points, still the second-best in the East among true centers behind Howard - may not have been able to play anyway because of a hip injury that has him out of the Heat lineup.

Miami Heat center Shaquille O'Neal (L) and guard Dwyane Wade enjoy a lighter moment on the bench during the second half of their NBA basketball game in Dallas, Texas, Jan. 4, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    O'Neal, Jerry West and Karl Malone are the only players selected to 14 straight All-Star games.

    Byron Scott of the New Orleans Hornets will coach the Western Conference at the game.

    After the Dallas Mavericks were beaten by the Boston Celtics on Thursday, the Hornets (32-13) clinched the best winning percentage in the West through Feb. 3, earning Scott the privilege of coaching the conference.

    Scott will become the first to coach the All-Star Game on his home court for 13 years.

    Scott will join Boston's Doc Rivers, who clinched head coaching honors for the Eastern Conference.

    With the game a little over two weeks away, talented guard Chris Paul and New Orleans teammate David West were among 14 players selected by the coaches as reserves for the contest.

    Joining Paul and West are Dirk Nowitzki of Dallas, Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire of Phoenix, Carlos Boozer of Utah and Brandon Roy of Portland.

    Eastern Conference reserves are Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton of Detroit, Chris Bosh of Toronto, Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison of Washington, Joe Johnson of Atlanta and Boston's Paul Pierce.

    (Source: Shanghai Daily)