Ah, the All Star game. It's been awhile since any Denver Nugget has been represented in the event. Carmelo Anthony was the last player to represent the Nuggets in the big game, while Kenneth Faried was the most recent participant in the festivities, taking part in both the Rising Stars Challenge and the Dunk Contest. Emmanuel Mudiay and Nikola Jokic will represent the squad in the upcoming festivities, while I have a sneaking suspicion that Will Barton will participate in the Dunk Contest. That being said, it feels a little light, like there should be more star power represented.
The selection of the "best" players in the NBA has long been corrupted by the fan vote and by limited roster size. Many will say "power to the people" and "Old timers who have played a long time deserve to play." I disagree wholeheartedly. The NBA All-Star game should be used as a platform to feature the best players the world has to offer, not as a popularity contest where guys like Kobe Bryant can play as putridly as possibly and still be a featured member of the team.
Not only has Danilo Gallinari been ousted from the festivities by a certain Mamba, but Damian Lillard and Gordon Hayward will also not participate as of now. Even Dirk Nowitzki would have been a much better selection than Bryant, partially because he just did this in front of the Mamba.
Also, the roster size in the NBA is 15 players. Not 12. 15. Forcing NBA fans and coaches to craft a 12 man roster of the conference's best players, especially in the West, is a travesty.
Here's what I would do to fix the system: I would ask the coaches to pick the 6 best guards and the 9 best forwards/centers. That would provide a higher likelihood for less deserving players being voted in as starters. Kobe Bryant would likely have sat this all-star game had the coaches voted for the best players.
Then, I would ask the fans to vote for the best 2 guards and the 3 best forwards/centers from that pool of players. By limiting the pool of players the audience can vote for, the vote will be less diluted.
Here's who I would have voted for in the Western Conference (I will leave the East up to the experts):
Guard 1 - Stephen Curry
This is an obvious choice, and one that everyone should be okay with choosing. Curry has been the best player in the league. He deserves this slot.
Guard 2 - Russell Westbrook
Westbrook is the unquestioned 2nd best guard and makes almost as much of an offensive impact as Curry (according to RPM). He's a top 5 player in the league, no questions asked.
Guard 3 - James Harden
Regardless of his defensive ineptitudes, he is an incredible offensive player. Of the players who average 25 points and 6 assists, James Harden is one, and Steph Curry is the other. The All-Star game is meant for offense, and the best offensive players deserve to be there. More on this later.
Guard 4 - Chris Paul
He's had a down season for sure, and it's not likely to stop here as Paul is getting older, but Chris Paul is still a top Point Guard in this league and deserves to be recognized as such. He's still 4th in RPM among PGs and 7th overall.
Guard 5 - Klay Thompson
Here's where things start to get interesting. Klay has had a worse season RPM wise, but he's playing a huge part of the best team in the league, and he still takes over, even with Steph Curry on the squad.
Guard 6 - Damian Lillard
Largely viewed as the biggest snub in the West, Lillard becomes the biggest benefactor in the roster expansion. The 5 above players all deserve to be in the big game, but Lillard is 0.7 ppg away from joining Curry and Harden as the only players to average 25 and 6. He's been a major player in the West for years now, and he should be recognized as such after being left off the roster last year.
Now for the forwards and centers. 9 guys in this category so there will be more room for certain guys.
Forward 1 - Kawhi Leonard
With all due respect to Kevin Durant and Paul George, Kawhi Leonard is now the 2nd best SF in the league, and is closer to a 1B to LeBron James' 1A. He has been incredibly efficient on a high usage rate, and has remained the NBA's best defender.
Forward 2 - Kevin Durant
One of the NBA's best scorers, Durant also pairs with Westbrook as a leader of a top team in the West. The Thunder are a two headed monster with various role fillers. Both Westbrook and Durant deserve it.
Forward 3 - Draymond Green
The second most important player on the best team of the league deserves to be featured in the All Star game. Russell Westbrook is the only other player to average 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists. RPM values him as the 4th best player in the NBA. He deserves it for sure.
Forward 4 - Demarcus Cousins
This year, it isn't a question of whether Demarcus Cousins is deserving of an all-star bid, but whether he's the best big man in the game. The Sacramento Center has put up gargantuan numbers in January, keeping his squad firmly in the playoff chase. Cousins can be inefficient times and a whiner all the time, but that shouldn't stop anyone from thinking that he's going to be an All Star for many years to come.
Forward 5 - Anthony Davis
Regardless of how his team has done, Davis has still been the all-around beast, just a little bit less so. The list of players to average 22 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 1 steal is still population: AD. He's a monster, and deserves another All Star bid.
Forward 6 - Lamarcus Aldridge
Here's where the rankings start to get a bit dicey. The above 5 players are shoe ins, but the next four, including Aldridge, aren't automatic. Aldridge is the 2nd option on a Spurs team that has only lost to the Warriors in its last 3000 games or so. Aldridge's numbers are down, but his role on the defensive juggernaut that the Spurs have created is vital, and he still averages about 16 and 9. The winning on the Spurs gets him in here.
Forward 7 - Dirk Nowitzki
The big German snags a spot here. He certainly deserves it, and the video above still attests to that. Dirk still leads a playoff caliber Dallas team, one that is inexplicably giving about 20 minutes off the bench per game to the trio of Raymond Felton, JJ Barea, and Devin Harris. How, you might ask? Two answers: Rick Carlisle is a top 2 coach in this league, and Dirk Nowitzki's presence makes it happen.
Forward 8 - Gordon Hayward
A name that many didn't likely expect, Hayward has been the engine of the Utah Jazz for quite awhile now, and it's time he sees some recognition. Players like him are overshadowed by people who vote in Kobe Bryant. Hayward's numbers put him in a category consisting of only All Stars, and they are better than Aldridge's. Hayward doesn't get the face time he needs, but with roster expansion, he grabs a spot.
Forward 9 - Danilo Gallinari
Here's the horse in our race. If Gordon Hayward deserves the nod, then Gallinari deserves the same treatment. The two players are so incredibly close to each other stat wise that they could probably trade places and some fans wouldn't know the difference. Gallinari has been the life blood of the Nuggets this season, and he has been a wonderful #1 option in the month of January, averaging 23.5 points on 44.5% shooting, elite numbers on a rebuilding team.
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Here's how the team looks ordered by First 5, mid 5, and last 5:
Curry/Westbrook/Leonard/Durant/Green
Paul/Harden/Aldridge/Davis/Cousins
Lillard/Thompson/Hayward/Gallinari/Nowitzki
The snubs after this process are much less prevalent than before. Blake Griffin and Deandre Jordan were left off the list, Griffin because of his hand/altercation, and Jordan because he's great at one thing and doesn't have a major impact anywhere else. Tim Duncan was considered, but he is now a true fifth option in San Antonio, and while he has a high impact on defense, his job is made easier by Danny Green and Leonard. Also, it was hard to leave Karl Anthony-Towns off this list. He has been an elite player in Minnesota, but seeing as they have more star power than Denver and cannot win more games, I left him off in favor of Gallo. In the backcourt, Tyreke Evans gets a shout out, but he can't really touch any of the first six candidates.
I realize some people will balk at this suggestion, but I personally believe that the All Star voting process needs a retooling. Kobe Bryant has lived a long and prosperous career, while winning five Championships and scoring 81 points in a single game along the way.
Let the young guys get the spotlight. Let guys like Hayward and Gallinari have their moment. Kobe has had plenty of those. He's good.
