I was going to use the espn "expert" picks for the poll options, but I decided to take out Bogdanovic and add Ingram and Tatum
I could see Kuzma or Mitchell doing it.
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/22441917/experts-picks-every-all-star-weekend-event-nba
Spoiler:
Experts' Picks: Rising Stars
RISING STARS
WINNER RISING STARS
MVP
Micah
Adams USA Kyle Kuzma
Kevin
Arnovitz World Jamal Murray
Ian
Begley USA Ben Simmons
Nick
DePaula World Ben Simmons
Jeremias
Engelmann World Ben Simmons
Chris
Forsberg World Ben Simmons
Andrew
Han World Lauri Markkanen
Baxter
Holmes World Ben Simmons
Tim
MacMahon World Joel Embiid
Bobby
Marks World Bogdan Bogdanovic
Dave
McMenamin USA Joel Embiid
Kevin
Pelton World Ben Simmons
Marc
Spears USA Dennis Smith Jr.
Brian
Windhorst World Buddy Hield
Michael
Wright World Ben Simmons
Royce
Young USA Donovan Mitchell
Ohm
Youngmisuk World Ben Simmons
RISING STARS
WINNER RISING STARS
MVP
Micah
Adams USA Kyle Kuzma
Kevin
Arnovitz World Jamal Murray
Ian
Begley USA Ben Simmons
Nick
DePaula World Ben Simmons
Jeremias
Engelmann World Ben Simmons
Chris
Forsberg World Ben Simmons
Andrew
Han World Lauri Markkanen
Baxter
Holmes World Ben Simmons
Tim
MacMahon World Joel Embiid
Bobby
Marks World Bogdan Bogdanovic
Dave
McMenamin USA Joel Embiid
Kevin
Pelton World Ben Simmons
Marc
Spears USA Dennis Smith Jr.
Brian
Windhorst World Buddy Hield
Michael
Wright World Ben Simmons
Royce
Young USA Donovan Mitchell
Ohm
Youngmisuk World Ben Simmons
https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-all-star-weekend-2018-ranking-every-player-in-the-rising-stars-challenge/
Spoiler:
RANKING EVERY PLAYER IN THE RISING STARS GAME
1 Joel Embiid
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS C
2017-18 stats: 23.7 points, 11.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists
Pretty easy one here, since Embiid is the only player in the game who's also an All-Star (and a starter, at that). His ceiling is also higher than any other player in the Rising Stars game, provided that he can stay healthy, so he easily claims the top spot.
2 Donovan Mitchell
UTAH JAZZ SG
2017-18 stats: 19.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists
It's certainly close between Mitchell and Ben Simmons, but what Mitchell has shown us over the last few weeks has been truly extraordinary. Forget projecting him into the future, he's already proven that he can carry a potential playoff team offensively -- something rookies and second-year players can't often do.
3 Ben Simmons
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS PG
2017-18 stats: 16.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 7.3 assists
It really comes down to this between Simmons and Mitchell: It's really hard to name something obvious that Mitchell CAN'T do on the court, whereas Simmons' flaw is glaring. The 6-foot-10 point guard has been great this season and is a borderline All-Star, but the fact that he can't shoot -- like, at all -- takes him down a notch.
4 Jayson Tatum
BOSTON CELTICS SF
2017-18 stats: 13.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists
Despite some recent shooting struggles, Tatum has been consistent all year on both sides of the ball for the Celtics, who have been the top team in the Eastern Conference for most of the season. He's the fourth-best player in the Rising Stars game right now, and the 19-year-old has plenty of potential still to be unfurled.
5 Jamal Murray
DENVER NUGGETS PG
2017-18 stats: 16.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists
Murray has really come into his own over the past few months, and is proving to be an explosive scorer capable of dropping 30 on any given night. He needs to work on his consistency and defense, but the Nuggets are a tremendous offensive team when he's got it going.
6 Jaylen Brown
BOSTON CELTICS SG
2017-18 stats: 14.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists
Brown certainly isn't a perfect player, but he has fit into the Celtics system with an increased offensive role due to Gordon Hayward's absence. His near-40 percent 3-point shooting has been a pleasant surprise.
7 Brandon Ingram
LOS ANGELES LAKERS SF
2017-18 stats: 16.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists
The jury's still out on what kind of player Ingram will become, but right now he's a pretty good scorer who you can plug into most starting lineups in the NBA. He's played well when running the point with Lonzo Ball out, which has showcased a playmaking ability we hadn't consistently seen before.
8 Dario Saric
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS PF
2017-18 stats: 14.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists
Often an overlooked member of The Process, Saric has been great for the Sixers this season. He's averaged almost 15 points per game while shooting nearly 40 percent 3-pointers and pulling down seven rebounds per game. You know what you're getting from Saric on a nightly basis, which is important for a young team.
9 Kyle Kuzma
LOS ANGELES LAKERS PF
2017-18 stats: 15.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists
Kuzma still lacks development in other areas, but he's proven that at the very least he's a heat-check scorer off the bench. As he starts to implement more playmaking on offense and hopefully starts to play better defense, his ceiling could keep rising.
10 Dennis Smith Jr.
DALLAS MAVERICKS PG
2017-18 stats: 14.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.9 assists
He's incredibly inefficient and he frustrates Rick Carlisle to no end on some nights, but there's no denying Smith's game-changing ability. He needs to work on shot selection and limiting turnovers, but the potential is definitely there to be the Mavericks' franchise point guard for years to come.
11 Lauri Markkanen
CHICAGO BULLS PF
2017-18 stats: 15.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Markkanen's quick development has been a great surprise for the Baby Bulls. He's done what everyone thought he could do -- shoot -- but his offensive versatility and rebounding are already ahead of schedule.
12 De'Aaron Fox
SACRAMENTO KINGS PG
2017-18 stats: 11.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists
Fox has seen an uptick in production since the Kings traded away George Hill -- a clear sign that the team now belongs to the young point guard. His shooting has been terrible, but his quickness and ability to get to the rim could one day approach elite levels.
13 Kris Dunn
CHICAGO BULLS PG
2017-18 stats: 13.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 6.3 assists
Dunn has come into his own with increased playing time and responsibility for a young Chicago team. He's still not shooting the ball well, but he's proven that he can do other things on the court that make his team better.
14 Bogdan Bogdanovic
SACRAMENTO KINGS SG
2017-18 stats: 11.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists
Bogdanovic has come on since becoming a starter in Sacramento. He's already proving to be a good shooter (46 percent from the field, 40 percent from 3), but also has playmaking ability that has started to come out more recently. At 25 years old, his potential for improvement isn't quite as high as some of the other guys on this list, but he's already a good player.
15 Domantas Sabonis
INDIANA PACERS C
2017-18 stats: 12.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists
After shooting two 3-pointers per game last season with the Thunder, Sabonis has taken his game inside the arc and appears to much more comfortable. He's a talented low-post scorer and rebounder, but his value would skyrocket if he were able to extend his range out beyond the 3-point line.
16 Buddy Hield
SACRAMENTO KINGS SG
2017-18 stats: 12.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists
Hield has been asked to be a bench scorer for the Kings for most of the season, and he's been pretty good. He's making over two 3-pointers per game and shooting 43 percent, which borders on elite. There are still questions about the rest of his game, but it appears at the very least he's going to be in the league a long time because of his shooting ability.
17 John Collins
ATLANTA HAWKS PF
2017-18 stats: 10.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists
Collins is a stat machine when he's in the game, an incredibly active rebounder who can finish around the rim (evidenced by his 58 percent field-goal shooting). He's beginning to stretch his range out to the 3-point line, which adds intrigue to his offensive game. He's a solid shot-blocker, but he still struggles defensively.
18 Taurean Waller-Prince
ATLANTA HAWKS SF
2017-18 stats: 12.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists
Prince showed some offensive flashes last season, but hasn't really taken the step forward this season that the Hawks were hoping that he would. His per-36 minute numbers are nearly identical to last season, although he is shooting 3-pointers better at 37 percent.
19 Dillon Brooks
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES SF
2017-18 stats: 9.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Brooks was a dominant scorer in college and has been solid for a struggling Grizzlies team, shooting 45 percent from the field and 37 percent on 3-pointers. The potential may not be as high as other players, but Brooks would be a consistent rotation player for most teams in the league.
20 Frank Ntilikina
NEW YORK KNICKS PG
2017-18 stats: 5.2 points, 2.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists
It's still very early to judge Ntilikina as a player, but he's shown flashes of being a solid playmaker with strong defensive potential. His shooting has been atrocious, so it's tough to rank him highly on this list.
1 Joel Embiid
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS C
2017-18 stats: 23.7 points, 11.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists
Pretty easy one here, since Embiid is the only player in the game who's also an All-Star (and a starter, at that). His ceiling is also higher than any other player in the Rising Stars game, provided that he can stay healthy, so he easily claims the top spot.
2 Donovan Mitchell
UTAH JAZZ SG
2017-18 stats: 19.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists
It's certainly close between Mitchell and Ben Simmons, but what Mitchell has shown us over the last few weeks has been truly extraordinary. Forget projecting him into the future, he's already proven that he can carry a potential playoff team offensively -- something rookies and second-year players can't often do.
3 Ben Simmons
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS PG
2017-18 stats: 16.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 7.3 assists
It really comes down to this between Simmons and Mitchell: It's really hard to name something obvious that Mitchell CAN'T do on the court, whereas Simmons' flaw is glaring. The 6-foot-10 point guard has been great this season and is a borderline All-Star, but the fact that he can't shoot -- like, at all -- takes him down a notch.
4 Jayson Tatum
BOSTON CELTICS SF
2017-18 stats: 13.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists
Despite some recent shooting struggles, Tatum has been consistent all year on both sides of the ball for the Celtics, who have been the top team in the Eastern Conference for most of the season. He's the fourth-best player in the Rising Stars game right now, and the 19-year-old has plenty of potential still to be unfurled.
5 Jamal Murray
DENVER NUGGETS PG
2017-18 stats: 16.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists
Murray has really come into his own over the past few months, and is proving to be an explosive scorer capable of dropping 30 on any given night. He needs to work on his consistency and defense, but the Nuggets are a tremendous offensive team when he's got it going.
6 Jaylen Brown
BOSTON CELTICS SG
2017-18 stats: 14.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists
Brown certainly isn't a perfect player, but he has fit into the Celtics system with an increased offensive role due to Gordon Hayward's absence. His near-40 percent 3-point shooting has been a pleasant surprise.
7 Brandon Ingram
LOS ANGELES LAKERS SF
2017-18 stats: 16.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists
The jury's still out on what kind of player Ingram will become, but right now he's a pretty good scorer who you can plug into most starting lineups in the NBA. He's played well when running the point with Lonzo Ball out, which has showcased a playmaking ability we hadn't consistently seen before.
8 Dario Saric
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS PF
2017-18 stats: 14.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists
Often an overlooked member of The Process, Saric has been great for the Sixers this season. He's averaged almost 15 points per game while shooting nearly 40 percent 3-pointers and pulling down seven rebounds per game. You know what you're getting from Saric on a nightly basis, which is important for a young team.
9 Kyle Kuzma
LOS ANGELES LAKERS PF
2017-18 stats: 15.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists
Kuzma still lacks development in other areas, but he's proven that at the very least he's a heat-check scorer off the bench. As he starts to implement more playmaking on offense and hopefully starts to play better defense, his ceiling could keep rising.
10 Dennis Smith Jr.
DALLAS MAVERICKS PG
2017-18 stats: 14.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.9 assists
He's incredibly inefficient and he frustrates Rick Carlisle to no end on some nights, but there's no denying Smith's game-changing ability. He needs to work on shot selection and limiting turnovers, but the potential is definitely there to be the Mavericks' franchise point guard for years to come.
11 Lauri Markkanen
CHICAGO BULLS PF
2017-18 stats: 15.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Markkanen's quick development has been a great surprise for the Baby Bulls. He's done what everyone thought he could do -- shoot -- but his offensive versatility and rebounding are already ahead of schedule.
12 De'Aaron Fox
SACRAMENTO KINGS PG
2017-18 stats: 11.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists
Fox has seen an uptick in production since the Kings traded away George Hill -- a clear sign that the team now belongs to the young point guard. His shooting has been terrible, but his quickness and ability to get to the rim could one day approach elite levels.
13 Kris Dunn
CHICAGO BULLS PG
2017-18 stats: 13.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 6.3 assists
Dunn has come into his own with increased playing time and responsibility for a young Chicago team. He's still not shooting the ball well, but he's proven that he can do other things on the court that make his team better.
14 Bogdan Bogdanovic
SACRAMENTO KINGS SG
2017-18 stats: 11.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists
Bogdanovic has come on since becoming a starter in Sacramento. He's already proving to be a good shooter (46 percent from the field, 40 percent from 3), but also has playmaking ability that has started to come out more recently. At 25 years old, his potential for improvement isn't quite as high as some of the other guys on this list, but he's already a good player.
15 Domantas Sabonis
INDIANA PACERS C
2017-18 stats: 12.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists
After shooting two 3-pointers per game last season with the Thunder, Sabonis has taken his game inside the arc and appears to much more comfortable. He's a talented low-post scorer and rebounder, but his value would skyrocket if he were able to extend his range out beyond the 3-point line.
16 Buddy Hield
SACRAMENTO KINGS SG
2017-18 stats: 12.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists
Hield has been asked to be a bench scorer for the Kings for most of the season, and he's been pretty good. He's making over two 3-pointers per game and shooting 43 percent, which borders on elite. There are still questions about the rest of his game, but it appears at the very least he's going to be in the league a long time because of his shooting ability.
17 John Collins
ATLANTA HAWKS PF
2017-18 stats: 10.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists
Collins is a stat machine when he's in the game, an incredibly active rebounder who can finish around the rim (evidenced by his 58 percent field-goal shooting). He's beginning to stretch his range out to the 3-point line, which adds intrigue to his offensive game. He's a solid shot-blocker, but he still struggles defensively.
18 Taurean Waller-Prince
ATLANTA HAWKS SF
2017-18 stats: 12.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists
Prince showed some offensive flashes last season, but hasn't really taken the step forward this season that the Hawks were hoping that he would. His per-36 minute numbers are nearly identical to last season, although he is shooting 3-pointers better at 37 percent.
19 Dillon Brooks
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES SF
2017-18 stats: 9.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Brooks was a dominant scorer in college and has been solid for a struggling Grizzlies team, shooting 45 percent from the field and 37 percent on 3-pointers. The potential may not be as high as other players, but Brooks would be a consistent rotation player for most teams in the league.
20 Frank Ntilikina
NEW YORK KNICKS PG
2017-18 stats: 5.2 points, 2.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists
It's still very early to judge Ntilikina as a player, but he's shown flashes of being a solid playmaker with strong defensive potential. His shooting has been atrocious, so it's tough to rank him highly on this list.
