2019 All-Star Weekend (Feb 15-17, Spectrum Center, Charlotte)

Post #1 » by **THE J0KER** » Sat Dec 22, 2018 10:07 am

Denver Nuggets didn't have any all-star player since 2011, despite Nikola Jokic arguably deserved it in 2017 and 2018. But this season he is locked, only the injury can prevent him to play, so the only question about Jokic is will he be a starter or not. His only competition on the center spot on the West is Anthony Davis, which raw numbers this season is better so far than any other NBA player (not just centers). But of course, Jokic has some chances for starter role because he is team-leader in PTS REB AST STL of the Western Conference leading team, while AD Pelicans are #13 on the West right now.

4+ weeks of injury pause is enough to kill all 2019 ASG hopes of Gary Harres or ex-AS Millsap on stars stacked West. But that can only help Jamal Murray chances as our only 2nd candidate. After a cold start of the season, his game rising in December (19.0—5.5—6.5). But Murray is young, under the radar player, not enough familiar with casual NBA fan outside Colorado and Canada, so I think he will face a similar problem which Jokic faced last season. Denver record will be very helpful for Jamal, but don't forget that last season only Harden represented Houston.

I don't see any Nuggets will participate in the slam dunk contest nor 3pt shootout, but maybe Jokic will compete once again in Skills challenge.

In Rising Stars Challenge game, I see Monte Morris playing for Team-USA rookies/Sophomores. It would be blasphemy if some this season way worse players gets an advantage over ex #51 pick Morris only because of the hype which some youngster didn't justify so far (Fultz, Josh Jackson, DSJ, Monk, Bamba, Bridges... etc).

Talking about Nuggets participants of 2019 all-star game I say Jokic is locked and Murray has some chances, but if Denver stays #1 on the West until end of the January, Nuggets head coach Mike Malone will also represent Denver on ASG! A couple of Nuggets starters are injured right now, and all Warriors and Oklahoma key players are healthy, but Malone arguably has some chances.

Here is my 2019 all-star game selection:
WESTERN BACKCOURT STARTERS: Curry, Harden
WESTERN FRONTCOURT STARTERS: James(C), Durant, Nikola Jokic
WESTERN BACKCOURT BACKUPS: Westbrook, Lillard, Jamal Murray
WESTERN FRONTCOURT BACKUPS: Davis, George, Gobert, Towns
WC TEAM CAPTAIN: LeBron James, COACH: Mike Malone
-EASTERN BACKCOURT STARTERS: Irving, Oladipo
-EASTERN FRONTCOURT STARTERS: Antetokounmpo(C), Leonard, Embiid
-EASTERN BACKCOURT BACKUPS: Kemba, Simmons, Butler, Lowry
-EASTERN FRONTCOURT BACKUPS: Vucevic, Griffin, Drummond
-EC CAPTAIN: Giannis Antetokounmpo, COACH: Nick Nurse

Rising Stars game:
TEAM-USA: Fox, Mitchell, Tatum, Kuzma, Allen (JJJ, Collins, Ball, Young, Bagley, Wendell, Monte Morris)
TEAM-WORLD: Simmons, Bogdanovic, Doncic, Markkanen, Ayton (SGA, OG Anunoby, Osman, Okobo, Okogie, Kleber, Kurucs)

nayyyyyyyyo09 · Post #2 » by **nayyyyyyyyo09** » Sat Dec 22, 2018 10:55 am

I love the lineups you’ve created but you forgot about DSJr. I think he must be on Team America.

Post #3 » by **THE J0KER** » Sat Dec 22, 2018 11:35 am

DSJ already missed 10 games, and Morris is way more efficient. The problem will be if Malone shutdown Morris minutes in January.

Post #4 » by **NuggetsWY** » Sat Dec 22, 2018 2:01 pm

When selecting your team, never forget the two most important things:
Media attention rules
Small markets lose

nayyyyyyyyo09 · Post #5 » by **nayyyyyyyyo09** » Tue Dec 25, 2018 2:13 pm

Not gonna lie, I really want MPJ to participate in the 3pt contest. Even if he’s out this whole season, I bet he’d win the 3pt contest. My mans can shoot and I just want a little glimpse of what’s to come. ROY2020

Post #6 » by **NuggetsWY** » Tue Dec 25, 2018 10:33 pm

SlayOrNay wrote:Not gonna lie, I really want MPJ to participate in the 3pt contest. Even if he’s out this whole season, I bet he’d win the 3pt contest. My mans can shoot and I just want a little glimpse of what’s to come. ROY2020

Well, I'd like to see Porter in the slam dunk and the 3pt contest but he's not playing in any of them if he isn't playing and it's too late now even if he started playing with our next game. Sorry. Have to wait for next year.

nayyyyyyyyo09 · Post #7 » by **nayyyyyyyyo09** » Tue Dec 25, 2018 10:45 pm

NuggetsWY wrote:
SlayOrNay wrote:Not gonna lie, I really want MPJ to participate in the 3pt contest. Even if he’s out this whole season, I bet he’d win the 3pt contest. My mans can shoot and I just want a little glimpse of what’s to come. ROY2020

Well, I'd like to see Porter in the slam dunk and the 3pt contest but he's not playing in any of them if he isn't playing and it's too late now even if he started playing with our next game. Sorry. Have to wait for next year.

There isn’t any detail given on the selection process actually, but it is participation by invitation only. Leading me to believe that since MPJ is on an NBA Contract, he is eligible for an invite.

skywalker33 · Post #8 » by **skywalker33** » Wed Dec 26, 2018 1:38 am

Wouldn’t that derail any opportunity to win next years ROY award ?

nayyyyyyyyo09 · Post #9 » by **nayyyyyyyyo09** » Wed Dec 26, 2018 10:19 am

skywalker33 wrote:Wouldn’t that derail any opportunity to win next years ROY award ?

I think if that’s the case, MPJ shouldn’t go for it. But if he can still compete for ROY next year and win the 3pt contest this year that would be awesome.

U hova · Post #10 » by **U hova** » Wed Dec 26, 2018 7:57 pm

skywalker33 wrote:Wouldn’t that derail any opportunity to win next years ROY award ?

i don't mean to be rude but who cares about the ROY award...

Post #11 » by **NuggetsWY** » Wed Dec 26, 2018 10:25 pm

U hova wrote:
skywalker33 wrote:Wouldn’t that derail any opportunity to win next years ROY award ?

i don't mean to be rude but who cares about the ROY award...

Everyone that's not from a small market.

Post #12 » by **NuggetsWY** » Thu Jan 3, 2019 1:24 pm

Jokic seems like a lock for the All-Star game (according to general board posting).
Other Nuggets don't seem likely to make the game - seems appropriate.

Will any Nuggets be in any of the other All-Star Weekend Events?
It's not looking good.

Will Malone be the West head coach?

FilNugsFan · Post #13 » by **FilNugsFan** » Thu Jan 3, 2019 3:41 pm

This may be a long shot, but I'd like to see either Murray or Juancho compete in the 3-pt. contest.

Post #14 » by **NuggetsWY** » Thu Jan 3, 2019 4:07 pm

FilNugsFan wrote:This may be a long shot, but I'd like to see either Murray or Juancho compete in the 3-pt. contest.

Yeah, long shot, but remember that lots of the veterans avoid competing if they've been there before.

Just took a look at the leaders in 3pt shooting and was surprised to see Morris in the top-10 (of qualified nbr of shots). Wow! Surprised me.

Looking at that list from ESPN:

1. Seth Curry seems likely to compete, if selected
2. Jo Harris seems likely to compete, if selected
3. Davis Bertans seems likely to compete, if selected
4. Derrick Rose - not so sure, but maybe
5. Danilo Gallinari - not so sure
6. Bojan Bogdanovic seems likely to compete, if selected
7. Stephen Curry - not likely IMO
8. Malcom Brogdon seems likely to compete, if selected
9. Quinn Cook seems likely to compete, if selected
10. Monte Morris

14. Juancho Hernangomez
24. Malik Beasley

Then we have to consider any stars the league wants to add for publicity reasons and perhaps a few players that haven't taken enough 3pt shots to qualify.

Post #15 » by **THE J0KER** » Thu Jan 3, 2019 6:28 pm

For Jokic is the only question will he be a starter or not, but the knowing the role of the previous star-power in all-star voting I'm pessimistic about his chances to start ahead of A.Davis (Curry, Harden, LeBron, and Durant are locked). For the same reason, I'm pessimistic also about Murray chances to make ASG debut despite Denver #1 on the West, he is still 21y old under the radar player for casual NBA fan, even for coaches and media, and last season #1 ranked Houston, and probably this season #1 ranked Milwaukee also have only one all-star player.

But as I already pointed on that another thread related to this season all-star game, we have one unexpected serious contender to be an important part of 2019 all-star game - coach Mike Malone! For that happens, Nuggets must stay WC#1 in the next 3 weeks, and I have some feeling crucial will be our direct showdown vs Warriors in Pepsi Center on January 15.

nayyyyyyyyo09 · Post #16 » by **nayyyyyyyyo09** » Thu Jan 3, 2019 7:06 pm

I stand by my saying that MPJ would be FUN to watch in the 3pt shooting contest. We haven’t seen anything from him except a couple dunks and lots of shots. From those shots, you can tell he’s WET from 3. I think he should be invited and if he has to make the decision of going for it but not being able to get ROY next season, let him make the choice.

Post #17 » by **NuggetsWY** » Thu Jan 3, 2019 8:41 pm

My apologies to The Joker for starting another All-Star thread. I thought we had one and don't know how I skipped over this one. We should try to use existing threads whenever possible. My bad! :banghead:

Post #18 » by **THE J0KER** » Thu Jan 3, 2019 9:01 pm

NuggetsWY wrote:My apologies to The Joker for starting another All-Star thread. I thought we had one and don't know how I skipped over this one. We should try to use existing threads whenever possible. My bad!

OK, it is good training now for me to learn how to use some advanced mod options, like moving all posts from one thread to a similar one. :lol:

Post #19 » by **NuggetsWY** » Thu Jan 3, 2019 9:33 pm

THE J0KER wrote:
NuggetsWY wrote:My apologies to The Joker for starting another All-Star thread. I thought we had one and don't know how I skipped over this one. We should try to use existing threads whenever possible. My bad!

OK, it is good training now for me to learn how to use some advanced mod options, like moving all posts from one thread to a similar one.

I've only done that once and I screwed it up before I figured out how to fix it - not that I can remember exactly how I did it, because I had to backup and start over a couple of times. :lol:

Next time, I'm going to write down what I did. :nod:

Post #20 » by **THE J0KER** » Fri Jan 4, 2019 1:25 am

OK, this will be the only ASG2019 thread here.