Deron Williams: I don't deserve to be in All-Star Game

If the NBA All-Star teams were based on performances since the new year began, Deron Williams might accept the honor without hesitation.  But, based on his play over the course of the season, the Brooklyn Nets point guard doesn't think he should be headed to the mid-season showcase in Houston.

"No," an unblinking Williams said when asked if he was having an All-Star season.  After he was asked to elaborate, he simply stated:

 "I just think there's people playing better than me."

Since the ball dropped in Times Square, the three-time All-Star has been on a tear, averaging 19.5 points, 8.3 assists and shooting almost 47% from the field heading into Tuesday night's game against the Raptors.

For the season, he is averaging 16.8 points and 7.7 assists and is currently the third leading vote getter among the Eastern guards.

With Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade almost assured of starting spots for the Eastern Conference, Williams should be named as a reserve.

The All-Star Game takes place Feb. 17 at the Toyota Center in Houston.

The All-Star starters will be announced Thursday night on TNT.

Rajon Rondo stashes lip balm in sock and still gets chapped

When you play a team called the Heat, you've got to expect a little lip cracking and Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo didn't forget to bring his chap stick to Wednesday night's game against Miami.

Rondo was spotted pulling a stick of lip balm out of his sock during the second quarter of the Celtics' 115-111 overtime loss to the Miami Heat in Game 2 of the NBA Eastern Conference finals, rubbing a little on his lips, then stashing it back in his knee highs.

It was hard to figure out what chapped Rondo more, his lips or the the calls by the referees.

Rondo did his part to keep the Celtics from cracking by playing every second of the 53-minute game and finishing with 44 points and 8 rebounds and 10 assists.  He scored all 12 Boston points during overtime.  The Celtics players and their coach, Doc Rivers, still weren't satisfied with the calls that went against them.

Asked about a non-call after he was hacked by Dwyane Wade in OT, Rondo could not even be soothed by his historic night.

"It's lind of irrelevant," he said.  "We lost."

The Celtics fell behind in the series, 2-0, and face a crucial Game 3 when they return to Boston.

They make the moisturizer to soothe chapped lips but is there a stick big enough to ease the pain of losing?