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So Drummond made it last year, and as the team progresses, eventually we hit 'Multiple All-Star' territory. So who will the next All-Star be?

Reggie Jackson was in the conversation last year and it wouldn't have been an outlandish choice. One more year of chemistry with the guys and if they come out like they ended the year with Tobias in the lineup, he could definitely get it.

Gotta be RJ, ideally we will see his offensive numbers drop a bit with a full season of Tobias (and a hopefully improved SJ), but his defense pick up.

That should get him into the ASG.

I'm going with KCP since shooting guard talent isn't as deep as point guard talent around the league. To accomplish this, KCP would need to score 18+ points on 44%+ FG and 37%+ 3PT.

Gotta be reggie. He's already so close.

I wussed out and took Reggie - it will be a hurdle with Wall, Kyrie, Thomas, and Lowry (not to mention others like Kemba, Teague and Rose in New York - if he plays well, the media will be all over that). I thought about KCP, Stanley or an outside player (I think by the start of 2017-18, we'll have made a trade for an All-Star), but at least for this year, Reggie's our best bet.

It's crazy that only one player from the 2016 ASG left the Eastern Conference, with Pau going to the Spurs. Two switched teams, which will alter their chances to some degree.

Starters
G Dwyane Wade Miami Heat->Chicago Bulls
G Kyle Lowry Toronto Raptors
F LeBron James Cleveland Cavaliers
F Paul George Indiana Pacers
F Carmelo Anthony New York Knicks
Reserves
F/C Chris Bosh Miami Heat (will he play again?)*
G John Wall Washington Wizards
F Paul Millsap Atlanta Hawks
G DeMar DeRozan Toronto Raptors
G/F Jimmy Butler Chicago Bulls**
C Andre Drummond Detroit Pistons
G Isaiah Thomas Boston Celtics
FC Pau Gasol Chicago Bulls->San Antonio Spurs*
C/F Al Horford Atlanta Hawks->Boston Celtics**

So who won't make it again this year?

In my mind its either Reggie or someone not on the roster. No indictment on the other players but I don't think any of them are all star material.

I thought Reggie had a case last year, but do understand why they went with Isaiah too. As dark as it sounds, there's always a chance somebody on that list gets injured which could open up a spot for him.

If Wall doesn't make the Playoffs again, he shouldn't be an All Star. That's crap! Thomas I believe is good because he's a good player and went to the Playoffs as a good seed. Tired of people saying Cousins is better than Drummond. I get it, he's a super talent. But he's not better than Drummond. Drummond is a younger and took his team to the Playoffs before Cousins ever did and all Cousins does is ruin the lockerroom with his antics. With that said, I'd love to have him play PF for us

Here's the pool of players that I think could contend for AS spots:
Brook Lopez-20.6/7.8 last year I don't think the Nets will be anything to write home about, but he's their best player by far
Kristaps Porzingis-14.3/7.3/1.9 blocks as a rookie. His hype is already insane.
Derrick Rose-16.4/4.7 asts/2.7 reb. Any resurgence he has will be amplified by the NY fanbase and media
Jonas Valanciunas-12.8/9.1/1.3 because he's so much better than Andre Drummond, amirite boiz!?
Rajon Rondo-12.2/11.9/6.2 If he leads the league in assists again, on a more high profile team that is playoff bound, with uncomplementary players?
Kyrie Irving! 19.6/4.7/3 I had to double check to see that he didn't make it last year. I worry for any snubbed PGs chances, now that Irving is a champion as well as an Olympian, he's got a higher profile
Kevin Love! 16/9.9/2.4 Hey, he was one of the best in the league just a few years back. You never know.
Jeff Teague-19.8/7.5/3.4/1.5 I don't know anything about this guy, and I should. It stems from my hatred of a girl I know named Teague, who was a Cavs/LeBron fan, who was such a narcissist that she bought a Teague jersey just because it had her name on it. I thought, **** that, **** her. She's getting married to my former best friend, and I hope they have ugly kids.
Giannis Antetokounmpo- 16.9/7.7/4.3 It's gotta be his year, right? He's becoming a fan-favorite, league-wide.
Khris Middleton-18.2/4.2 ast/3.8 reb We like him a lot. The fans would never vote him in, but would the coaches if the Bucks put it together?
Jabari Parker-14.1/5.2/1.7 obviously would have to improve, and is third in the pecking order on his own team, but he was a #2 pick for a reason and it's something to keep an eye on.
Dwight Howard-13.7/11.8/1.6 blcks The center position is weak, man. If he even maintains those numbers...if he sheds the cancer label...if he passes the eye test again?
Kemba Walker-20.9/5.2 ast/4.4 reb/1.6 steals Their team had 48 wins last year. They didn't do much to get better, lost Al Jefferson and Jeremy Lin and Courtney Lee, but that could just turn Kemba into a star if he keeps the ship afloat.
Nicolas Batum-14.9/6.1 rebs/5.8 asts What the hell, I like the guy. He's well-rounded.
Goran Dragic-14.1/5.8/3.8 What will happen now that he's the man in the backcourt for the Heat? There were some who went public suggesting he could be a league leader in scoring with Wade gone.
Hassan Whiteside-14.2/11.8/3.7 He got paid. Will he now get recognition? It's hard to argue against those stats.
Bradley Beal-17.4/3.4/2.9 Another one of those players that could put it all together and have a huge scoring season.

and I'm leaving out every big man on the Magic roster because I think they will statistically cannibalize each other.

So alright. Reggie doesn't just have to beat out every guard that already made the team last year, but also Rose, Rondo, Irving, Teague, Kemba, and sort of Giannis. It's too much of a numbers squeeze.

Voted for Stanley.
He has the easiest path because a) the top talent (LeBron, Durant, Carmelo) will have aged out by the time Stanley is a polished starter, b) SF is a top heavy position and there is a large, unimpressive middle class c) Kawhi Leonard won't leave the Spurs anytime soon, so long-term, Giannis and Ben Simmons are the only other young SFs in the East that seem like sure-fire All-Stars, and Wiggins and Barnes seem West-locked, as well.

Alexander wrote:Jeff Teague-19.8/7.5/3.4/1.5 I don't know anything about this guy, and I should. It stems from my hatred of a girl I know named Teague, who was a Cavs/LeBron fan, who was such a narcissist that she bought a Teague jersey just because it had her name on it. I thought, **** that, **** her. She's getting married to my former best friend, and I hope they have ugly kids.

Funny stuff. Sad for you, but a good read.

Voted for KCP. Reggie is in a loaded position

KCP for me too. I support the arguments already mentioned.

This was the voting for 2016 EC guards

1 Dwyane Wade (Mia) 941,466
2 Kyle Lowry (Tor) 646,441
----------------------------------
3 Kyrie Irving (Cle) 580,651
4 Jimmy Butler (Chi) 564,637
5 DeMar DeRozan (Tor) 444,868
6 John Wall (Was) 368,686
7 Derrick Rose (Chi) 302,389
8 Jeremy Lin (Cha) 195,920
9 Isaiah Thomas (Bos) 153,642
10 Reggie Jackson (Det) 76,688

2015
1. John Wall (Was) 886,368
2. Kyle Lowry (Tor) 805,290
---------------------------------
3. Dwyane Wade (Mia) 789,839
4. Kyrie Irving (Cle) 535,873
5. Jimmy Butler (Chi) 455,756
6. Derrick Rose (Chi) 379,994
7. DeMar DeRozan (Tor) 159,123
8. Jeff Teague (Atl) 83,900
9. Lou Williams (Tor) 82,135
10. Giannis Antetokounmpo (Mil) 55,014

2014
1. Dwyane Wade 929,542
2. Kyrie Irving 860,221
-----------------------------------
3. John Wall 393,129
4. Derrick Rose 359,546
5. Ray Allen 250,909
6. Rajon Rondo 174,654
7. Lance Stephenson 148,382
8. DeMar DeRozan 131,228
9. George Hill 129,533
10. Deron Williams 126,423

2013
1. Dwyane Wade 1,052,310
2. Rajon Rondo 924,180
---------------------------------
3. Deron Williams 449,791
4. Kyrie Irving 445,730
5. Ray Allen 326,186
6. Monta Ellis 123,096
7. Raymond Felton 105,340
8. Jrue Holiday 103,146
9. Jason Terry 88,708
10. Paul George 80,060

"Fans vote on the starters for the game, selecting three frontcourt players and two guards from each conference. Prior to 2013, fans selected two forwards and one center instead of generic frontcourt players.

NBA coaches vote for the reserves for their respective conferences, none of which can be players on their own team. Each coach selects two guards, three frontcourt players and two wild cards, with each selected player ranked in order of preference within each category. If a multi-position player is to be selected, coaches are encouraged to vote for the player at the position that is "most advantageous for the All-Star team", regardless of where the player is listed on the All-Star ballot or the position he is listed in box scores. If a player is unavailable for the game due to injury, the NBA commissioner selects a replacement for the roster. If the replacement is for a fan-selected starter, the all-star coach chooses the replacement in the starting lineup, and is not limited to the commissioner's addition to the roster."

So basically, two of Lowry, Wade, Wall, Irving are going to start. If Wade declines and has a terrible beginning to his season, Butler (if treated as a guard and not a forward), could ascend.

My guess is that Lowry and Irving start next year, with that Canada vote (and Olympic exposure) sustaining Kyle and championship bump (and also Olympic exposure) helping Kyrie.

The coaches will then have the ability to pick two to four more guards. My guess is that Giannis and Butler are locks.

That leaves Wade, Wall, DeRozan, Rose, Rondo, Teague, Kemba, and our boys Jackson and KCP fighting for two spots. It doesn't look good for either of them. DeRozan is an incumbent and an Olympian. Wade is an incumbent and just went home to his hometown, another major market. et cetera.

and it's going to stay this way. Only Wade and Lowry and Rondo are over 30. When Lowry and Wade stops starting/making ASGs, Wall and Irving will still be around.

It's just such an uphill battle as the East has a lot of great, young guards. ~*IF*~ Giannis and Butler are characterized as forwards it might help our cause.

If the Pistons have a historical season for the franchise, led by Reggie/KCP/Drummond, I can see the coaches rewarding them and Stan by voting all three in. Winning will be the deciding factor in whether or not our young guards make the game, though. There are too many players with >= statistics and positional ambiguity means they could all be point guards.

SJ

My vote goes toKCP. I really believe he is closer than lots of you do.

eddh0713 wrote:My vote goes toKCP. I really believe he is closer than lots of you do.

He could become one as soon as next season. The moment his shot starts dropping, momentum takes over and that's how you become a star. It's a confidence and repetition thing, he has the potential if that shot drops at a higher clip, he'll become lethal

RJ for me. I think it's much too early to write SJ's chances off, but the question is "next." Pistons need to progress as a solid PO team, but if they do he has a solid chance. Success breeds success.

KC³333