SALT LAKE CITY - As early as Monday morning, Jazz forward Carlos Boozer held out hope he might find he way onto the Western Conference All-Star team.
He can stop waiting.
Monday afternoon, the NBA announced it had chosen Los Angeles Clippers big man Chris Kaman, and not Boozer, to replace Portland's Brandon Roy on the All-Star team.
Coincidentally, Boozer and Kaman will meet tonight when the Jazz visit the Clippers in L.A.
"It would be an honor to represent the Jazz in the All-Star game, represent my family," Boozer said before Monday's practice. "But if not, I'll go to (Mexico) and have some fish tacos."
Boozer said he had tentative plans to visit Cabo San Lucas during the All-Star break.
Boozer's teammate, Deron Williams, was named to his first All-Star team last month.
The game will be played Sunday in Dallas, Williams' adopted hometown.
"I think (Boozer) should be in," Williams said. "Personally, I don't see who else could make it over him."
Now on an eight-game winning streak, the Jazz have climbed into the No. 3 spot in the Western Conference standings.
Williams said he thought the Jazz's recent success might have helped Boozer's chances.
He acknowledged the No. 1-ranked L.A. Lakers have two All-Stars and the second place Denver Nuggets also have two.
"We have one," he said.
Western Conference starters Kobe Bryant, of the Lakers, and Carmelo Anthony, of the Nuggets, are fighting injuries and may yet pull out of Sunday's game.
'ROWDIES' TRYOUTS: The Utah Jazz are searching for 72 of the team's loudest, rowdiest fans to populate the new "Jazz Rowdies" section inside EnergySolutions Arena.
The free auditions, open to fans of all ages, will be held on tonight at 8:30 p.m. at the Gateway Megaplex Theatres in downtown Salt Lake City.
The Jazz game at the Los Angeles Clippers will air live on the big screen while team management will personally select the loudest fans cheering for the Jazz. Fans are encouraged to dress up and bring props for the audition.
The group will debut on Feb. 22, and "Jazz Rowdies" will receive free tickets in the designated arena section for eight games during the remainder of the 2009-10 season.
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