The Cavaliers were outraged last week when guard Mo Williams was left off the NBA All-Star team by the Eastern Conference coaches. In response they staged a protest in the only way they could, by issuing a series of loud complaints through the media for days on end.

But it reached a new level Thursday when NBA Commissioner David Stern replaced injured Orlando Magic guard Jameer Nelson with Ray Allen of the Boston Celtics, again slighting Williams.

"Ben Wallace was right when he called Mo originally being passed over for the All-Star game a 'shamockery,' " Cavs owner Daniel Gilbert said in an e-mailed statement. "But not naming him as the natural and obvious replacement for the unfortunately injured Jameer Nelson is stupidiculous, idillogical and preposterageous."

It is the second consecutive season Stern has used his power to insert Allen to the All-Star team as an injury replacement, and Allen will make his ninth appearance Feb. 15 in Phoenix.

The Celtics and the Magic will have three All-Stars on the team and the Cavs will continue to settle for just LeBron James, who was voted in by the fans, plus coach Mike Brown and his assistants.

"I don't think it's about fairness. It's such an unbalanced equation when you're talking about the All-Star Game and who is in it, what are the stipulations and how it's put together," Allen told reporters in Boston. "If this were Mo Williams they were talking about, I would be happy for him the same. It wouldn't make a difference. He's had a deserved year of making the All-Star team. So hopefully he has a shot again next year."

Stern did not offer an explanation. He does use the coaches' voting as a guide, but makes his own decision based on a lot of factors. It means this decision could start another round of controversy.

"I know Commissioner Stern has followed our team's success but maybe doesn't appreciate how important Mo has been to our team," Cavs General Manager Danny Ferry said. "We have had a great start. We have been really good on both ends of the court, have the top record in the league, and thus far have led the league in point differential all year long.

"Our players and coaches know how important Mo has been to our team's success. Regardless, we have done a great job of not getting distracted and staying focused on our team goals. I am confident we will continue to do so."

D-league representative: Guard Trey Johnson has been with the Cavs only three days but he's going to All-Star Weekend as a member of the NBA D-League 3-Point Shootout during the NBA Jam Session next Friday. Johnson shot 46 percent from 3-point range while playing in Bakersfield, Calif., before joining the Cavs. In addition, former Cavs center Lance Allred will return to defend his title in the D-League's second annual H-O-R-S-E competition. Allred secured the title last year when he hit a bank shot from his knees.

Another record: The Cavs game against the Knicks on Wednesday drew a 10.7 rating in Cleveland, setting another record for a regular-season game.

Mary Schmitt Boyer contributed to this story.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: bwindhorst@plaind.com, 216-999-5166