for no reason I can imagine I was thinking about who would represent the west in the all-star game if there wasn't a lot of shift between now and the game there seem to be some 'locks' right now: Jokic Lebron Doncic Curry Dame Ja SGA and some very close to being locked: Paul George Sabonis Fox Markkanen and some that might be close to locks if they can return from injury: Zion Booker and the lurkers at the margins: Anthony Edwards Desmond Bane CJ Klay (coming on strong after a really bad first month) Kawhi Jerami Grant ? am I missing anyone? Anybody too high or two low in my order?
I'm glad you have Dame as a lock. I think he'll continue with his current/new approach to the game and make sure he imposes his will on the game. Even before he started doing this a few games ago he was one of three players in the second highest assist guy among the top ten scorers in the league behind Luka and Trey. Now he's the eighth best scorer in the league and only Luka has more assists per game among the players that are ahead of him. The starters at guard in the West will be Luka and Steph but as long as he stays on this trajectory or even what he was on five games ago, Dame will get the most votes for backup guard from the coaches. I know Ja and SGA are performing well but Dame is a perennial all star and coaches unlike fans take reputation and intangibles into consideration.
I heard that Anthony Davis is scheduled to come back right before the All-Star game so he would be a lock as well.
For about two weeks, Anthony Davis played like the best player ever. Otherwise, he was average to awful and now he's missed a bunch of games. He'll probably get voted in. But if he doesn't, the coaches should absolutely not pick him. The Lakers at 4 games below .500 do not deserve 2 All Stars.
Well only 12 players can make it. So if the close to being locked make it, then Zion and Booker can't both make it. Your first 12 should make it. But if AD gets voted in, the coaches have to choose between Sabonis and Fox. All of that said, I don't think Dame is an 100% lock. Coaches like to reward winners and there are a lot of teams ahead of us in the standings. Hopefully, we'll be 5th by the time coaches vote and then it's a no brainer AND Grant has a chance.
I think you misread coaches. They do reward winning but probably before that they give it to perennial guys and recognize intangibles, that's Dame. They didn't vote for him last season because he was obviously compromised, this season he isn't and before Ja or SGA gets in, the coaches will pick Dame.
Just remember that at least 6 all-stars from each conference have to be frontcourt players. Jokic and Lebron are obviously in, AD and Zion are both questionable due to games missed, and then Markkanen and Sabonis are next. If either AD or Zion aren't chosen, another frontcourt player must be selected; is there anyone in the west who would be ahead of Grant in that regard?
Shaedon will get to fly in the dunk contest. Non Blazer affiliates might wonder why Coach Billups hasn't found more playing time for his super rookie.
'they' might label Doncic a front court player in certain circumstances I wasn't aware it had to be 6 front-court players. That does make for some interesting math: that sure leaves plenty of uncertainty with both of those guys KAT may come back before the all-star game. According to injury report timeline he's the most likely. But he's also having his worst season as a pro. 21 points & 8 rebounds with career lows in PER and winshare/48. Strong case he isn't worthy even if healthy Paul George has been playing SG for the Clippers, but I'd bet they would call him a SF for the All-star game so then the 6 front court players: Jokic, Lebron, Sabonis, Markkanen, PG13, &? Sliding both PG13 and Doncic to front-court would be pretty slimey. If Zion, AD, and KAT can't go, and if Doncic is a guard, then yeah, Grant is a candidate. Aaron Gordon doesn't have the numbers; Ingram has missed too much of the season; Josh Giddey hasn't had a big enough impact. Kawhi could be the wild card though, but I'd wonder how much good will he has with the coaches
didn't Towns proclaim last summer he was the best PF in the NBA? Better then Giannis ?? Heck, I think Orlando's rookie already has a jump on him.
i dont think dame is a lock whatsoever. curry/doncic will get the starter nod. Ja is ahead of Dame from wins/stats. Think SGA/Fox are averaging similar numbers on similar or better teams as us while not having missed the time that dame did. think he's ahead of Booker for sure, but CJ is a possibility given team record to surpass Dame.
