NBA Expert All-Star Picks: Forget fan vote, here's how lineups should look – CBSSports.com
The NBA All-Star Game is a time for the league’s best players to showcase their talent — not on defense, of course — and give fans something fun to watch and get excited about. Speaking of the fans, they have the power to vote their favorite stars into the starting lineup. Whether it’s fair or not, the truth is this doesn’t always work out ideally.
Who should be starting in the All-Star Game? Which players should make the 12-man roster for their respective conference? Our NBA experts share their thoughts on how their 2015-16 All-Star teams should look while also highlighting some of their more difficult decisions. We begin with the Western Conference.
Should Kobe be playing in the All-Star Game? Our experts are split. (USATSI)
Berger: As much as the East has improved from a competitive standpoint, the West remains impossible when it comes to picking All-Stars. And the West, of course, has the Kobe Bryant Problem. I could’ve let myself off the hook (and avoided leaving, say, LaMarcus Aldridge or Tim Duncan off the West squad) by simply judging Bryant on his performance this season — and leaving him off. But it’s sort of pointless, since the fans are going to vote him in anyway. And let’s face it, the All-Star Game is an exhibition that is meant to entertain the fans. So they get their Kobe fix, and I get to explain how only two Warriors and one Spur make my West All-Star team. I’ll show myself out now.
Moore: The starters are no-brainers; there’s no qualms to be had there. I wrote extensively on Draymond Green’s All-Star candidacy back in December, and he’s only gotten better since then, while one of the Warriors’ four losses came with him out of the lineup. He’s more of an obvious pick than Durant, to be honest.
Redick absolutely has to be on this list as he’s shooting 50 percent from 3-point range on 206 attempts, and the Warriors need to have more than two guys given their total dominance. Same with the Spurs, and Tim Duncan may be playing 20 minutes a night but they are a ferocious, dominant 20 minutes. LaMarcus Aldridge has only been OK while Duncan anchors the league’s best defense. He’s got to go. Nowitzki is shooting 45-40-90 from the field while Dallas has somehow managed its way to a mid-tier playoff seed. Cousins is dominant if inconsistent, to the point he’s got to be there.
You’ll notice Kobe Bryant’s absence. I’m fine with Bryant being there, these are special circumstances. But if we’re talking merit, if the fan vote were not a factor, Bryant should be appointed by a special assignment from the commissioner in recognition of his terrific career. It’s a special case, so make a special case, instead of punishing any worthy candidate. If we’re basing this on merit, I can’t reward a 35-percent shooter for a bottom-feeder team.
Harper: Not having anybody from the Grizzlies, not having Tim Duncan in the mix, and not having Damian Lillard were extremely tough decisions for me. As apathetic as the Rockets have been (and that includes James Harden), I still think Harden is a bit more deserving than Lillard, who is more deserving than Mike Conley. If Lillard hadn’t missed a few games, he probably gets on the squad for me. I figured I did Tim Duncan a favor by not including him, so that was my reasoning there. And yes, I have Kobe Bryant in the game, not because he’s a deserving All-Star, but because it’s acceptable to buy into sentimentality in the final year of this historic NBA career. It’s OK to have feelings, you guys.
Herbert: I hated leaving out Damian Lillard and Klay Thompson. Lillard has taken full advantage of being the undisputed No. 1 option in Portland, while Thompson has subtly improved again on the best team in the league. Harden’s sheer production outweighed his regression on defense and the Rockets’ overall blandness. Griffin’s ridiculous start outweighed the fact he hasn’t played since Christmas. I thought about snubbing them both, though.
Pandian: The reasoning behind the starters is pretty clear: they are the cream of the crop in the West. I’m putting Kobe Bryant in the game because although he hasn’t been playing like an All-Star, this is an exhibition game that is supposed to be fun. Plus with all of the hoopla surrounding his last season in the NBA, Bryant will bring that to the game.
Lillard has been balling as of late and the Blazers are knocking on the playoffs thanks to his strong play throughout the entire season. Dirk Nowitzki is always fun in All-Star Games and he continues to lead the Mavericks.
There’s no doubt Jimmy Butler belongs here. (USATSI)
Berger: The starters were pretty straightforward. I could easily make a case for having Bosh over Drummond, but just felt like Drummond’s numbers (aside from free-throw shooting, of course) were too overwhelming not to give him the nod in the frontcourt. I may be going all lifetime-achievement-award with Dwyane Wade, but have no qualms about it. Hassan Whiteside? The man is blocking FOUR SHOTS PER GAME! Think about that for a minute. So, yes, three All-Stars from the Heat and one from the Cavs. Why did LeBron go back to Cleveland, again?
Moore: Kyle Lowry has been phenomenal this season. I argued vehemently for John Wall over Lowry last year and while Wall is carrying the Wizards on his back this year, he’s not able to carry them very far given how bad they’ve been. Meanwhile, Lowry has re-engaged himself on the defensive end. Lowry gets the nod. Jimmy Butler was the first name, before even LeBron James, when I thought of Eastern Conference All-Stars. That’s how good he’s been, on both ends.
I don’t like any of the last frontcourt options, but Chris Bosh has been incredibly consistent for a team that is maddening to watch, let alone play with. He’s the defensive anchor for the team and without him, Hassan Whiteside is a highlight-making sieve as teams pass around him. I wanted to give the nod to Andre Drummond — his gravity offensively in the pick and roll opens up everything for Detroit — but his defense just hasn’t been good enough. He’s fine in the pick and roll, but just 28th percentile defensively in the post via Synergy Sports. He’s got to learn to balance his energy on both ends to be a dominant player there as well.
I wanted to start Carmelo, but his missed games and the Knicks’ fairly wild swings take a bit of the shine off. He’s still been fantastic, as has Thomas despite being solely an offensive player (due to his size). Gasol gets the nod here, mostly because I think it’s important he gets to be there with Kobe for his final appearance (after Commissioner Silver’s special appointment of Bryant, of course). Gasol’s consistent raw production for Chicago has helped keep the Bulls afloat despite the team being not great overall.
Harper: Toughest decision I had was the last guard spot. Reggie Jackson ultimately got the nod because I don’t believe the Pistons can be what they are without him this season, especially considering the injury Brandon Jennings is coming back from. Normally, I’d want Kyrie Irving in the mix there because he’s a ton of fun in an All-Star Game. His skill set is made to shine in an event like this, but the injuries and lack of time on the court were too much to overcome. The other tough decision was Isaiah Thomas of the Celtics. His scoring has been superb and he can be an overwhelming offensive force, but I’m also not sold on him being the more deserving All-Star over Avery Bradley. I think Dwyane Wade gets the slight nod over both guys in that respect, so I ended up with Wade and Jackson. It still feels like one of the guys left off at guard should be in this game though.
Herbert: There are so many good guards in the Eastern Conference. Usually, Kyrie Irving would take the spot I gave to Isaiah Thomas, but I didn’t even consider him because of all the games he missed. I chose Thomas over Reggie Jackson and Kemba Walker because of the way he’s carried Boston’s offense, but I wouldn’t argue with someone who went a different way. If Bradley Beal had been healthier, he might have been in the mix, too.
Pandian: Wall, Butler and Drummond have been phenomenal this season and deserve to be in the starting lineup. As for the bench, with the game being in Toronto, it will be a lot of fun to have both Raptors stars in the game and they are each having a phenomenal season. Isaiah Thomas, Paul Millsap and Carmelo Anthony are leading their respective teams, which are currently all in the playoff hunt. Dwyane Wade and Bosh are both having too good of a season to leave off the East All-Star roster.
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