It's a team honor for All-Starring Iguodala

If ever an individual All-Star selection was a reflection on an entire team, it was the addition of Iguodala as a reserve to the roster of the 2012 Eastern Conference team.

Not to take away from Iguodala's fine individual performance, but if the Sixers had not emerged as a top-five team during the first third of the season, he would not be looking forward to making the first All-Star appearance of his 8-year career.

If the entire squad had not bought into Collins' "everyone accepts his role so that the sum becomes greater than the individual parts" philosophy, Iguodala would not have become the first Sixer picked as an All-Star reserve since Theo Ratliff in 2001.

If the Sixers were 10 games under .500 instead of 10 games over, it would rightfully be another season without All-Star recognition.

Winning changes things.

"It is a team honor," Collins said. "[Iguodala] has had a tremendous first part of this year. To get that kind of recognition is great for our organization. I hope the fans recognize that."

Iguodala's selection as a reserve is an important part of this.

Unlike Allen Iverson, who was so popular throughout his career that he was voted a starter in 2010 despite being a shell of his former self, Iguodala was never going to win the fans' vote.

LeBron James and Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat, Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks, Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic, and Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls will be the Eastern Conference starters, which is fine because that's who the voting fans wanted to see.

You always hope that a bit more of the true All-Star meaning goes into selecting the seven reserves. The coaches are asked to select two guards, two forwards, a center and two wild cards to complete their respective conference rosters.

In almost every instance, coaches stress the importance of team play and how team success always trumps individual achievement.

"History has always said, well, at least for as long as I've been around, that the coaches reward players who are on winning teams," Collins said. "When I've voted as a coach, those have always been the people that I've wanted to recognize.

"I feel good that the coaches reached out and rewarded a player on our team for the success that we've had here early."

Iguodala's selection is validation from the other coaches for the effort and teamwork that has led to the Sixers' success despite not having a true superstar.

The Sixers have only two players ranked in the league's top 30 in any of the three major statistical categories - Iguodala's 5.2 assists ranks 27th. Their leading scorer, Lou Williams, is ranked 45th at 15.7 points per game, and top rebounder Spencer Hawes' 8.3 is 27th.

But the Sixers rank second in scoring defense (87.15) and point differential (plus-9.27) and seventh in rebounding (43.15). They are fifth in assists (22.54) and tops in the league in assists-to-turnovers with a plus-2.12.

And no team plays with more energy and effort.

That's why the Sixers, who lead the Atlantic Division, could not be the only division leader without an All-Star representative. Everything they've achieved has been predicated on total commitment to team, and Iguodala is the most complete expression of that.

Separately, Iguodala being 81st in scoring (13.0) and 48th in rebounding (6.7) doesn't wow you. Truthfully, he's xhad better seasons statistically.

But coaches, as they should have, look a bit deeper thn the fans for the qualities of an All-Star player. Coaches know the value of working on the same page to achieve a goal.

The starters vote is the popularity contest. I have no problem with that because fans should get to see who they want.

I expect more from the coaches. They should look beyond the flash, dazzle and hype when voting on the reserves. You want the coaches to look at what is going on in that particular season, and make a reasoned decision as to who deserves to go to that particular All-Star Game.

Despite the lack of sizzle in his style, Iguodala is one of the league's more versatile players. He is your classic player who doesn't do anything great but does a lot of things really well.

That's the character of these Sixers. It's been like that since Collins took over in May 2010.

But last season, when they started out 3-13 and then spent the rest of the season digging their way back, the Sixers didn't deserve an All-Star choice.

Now, however, with a record among the top three in the East, they deserve an All-Star representative despite the fact that no player is posting huge numbers. The complete unit is just so much better.

"I'm just happy that it happened," said Iguodala. "I think timing can be everything.

"I've always thought I've had the skills, but it just came together. We've come a long way as a team. We've had slow starts the last couple of years and always had to fight back and struggle to get back into it.

"But this year shows that with some consistency everything has worked out. I wouldn't be here if it were not for my teammates. Now we're starting to get a little bit of respect."

Send email to smallwj@phillynews.com. For recent columns, go to www.philly.com/Smallwood.