All-Star weekend is approaching and it’s time to dish out votes for each of the 24 spots. We’ll examine the Eastern Conference today, but be sure to check back later in the week for the All-Star selections from the Western Conference.
East Starters
G Celtics Kyrie Irving
G Sixers Ben Simmons
FC Raptors Kawhi Leonard
FC Bucks Giannis Antetokounmpo
FC Sixers Joel Embiid
Embiid and Antetokounmpo are legit MVP candidates and while Leonard has fallen from that status, the former Spur remains a full notch above any other frontcourt player in the conference.
Irving is an easy selection. Bradley Beal has the biggest case to unseat Simmons in the starting lineup. He’s the sole reason the Wizards are in arm’s reach of a playoff spot. Yet, Simmons is simply having a special season. Simmons carries a higher PER (21.1 to 19.3) than Beal. He is responsible for more victories than Beal, according to win shares (5.4 to 3.3), and he bests the 25-year-old shooting guard in nearly all traditional and advanced stats outside of points and three-point shooting.
Simmons is shooting 57.6% from the field, an absurd figure for a player who spends so much time on the perimeter and has nothing that resembles a jump shot. Much of his success can be attributed to talent, more so than to a scheme. Zach Lowe of ESPN.com recently detailed how the Warriors are utilizing Draymond Green with the ball in his hands when opposing defenders are allowing him to be all alone on the perimeter. When a defender sinks back, Green will toss the ball to a shooter around the arch and then sprint toward the shooter in order to screen that player’s man. The defender responsible for Green is left scrambling toward the shooter from closer to the paint and it’s too late; the look is clean. 
Admittedly, the Warriors are on a different level. They are building beach houses while most of the league is negotiating rent. Still, opposing teams are defending Simmons without anything close to the threat of this kind of wizardry.
Teams know exactly what Simmons is going to do and most can’t stop it, akin to how opponents are struggling to contain the Greek Freek in Milwaukee. If Giannis is the Mona Lisa, then Simmons is the Vitruvian Man and 22-year-old should have his artistry on display with the starters in Charlotte.
East Reserves
Nikola Vucevic is having an outstanding season. He joins Anthony Davis, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Embiid as the only players averaging 20 and 12. He’s one of five players making at least 50% of his shots while averaging at least one block and a 3-pointer made per game. He’s propping up the Magic to appear like a real playoff contender.
Vucevic and Beal aren’t the only lead singers who are relying on backup dancers as their squads audition for a playoff spot. The Pistons and Hornets would be bottom-feeders if not for Blake Griffin and Kemba Walker on their respective teams, though both players have had highs and lows this season.
The Nets have been great and both Spencer Dinwiddie and D’Angelo Russell deserve consideration for their part in Brooklyn’s feel-good story but neither player makes the cut. I wanted to find a spot for Josh Richardson. He’s been Miami’s most important player, but he’s cooled off during the second quarter of the season.
In terms of talent, Jimmy Butler is among the best in the East. However, he’s missed time because of the weeks-long tantrum he threw in Minnesota, the resulting trade period, and the three minor ailments that have caused him to sit since joining the Sixers.
Kyle Lowry also missed a chunk of time. Same with Al Horford and Victor Oladipo. Injuries are unfortunate but how many players can be named All-Stars while missing close to 20% of their games? I’m designating one spot to this criteria and Oladipo has been the best of the bunch. (It kills me to leave out Lowry, a Philadelphia-native, but being available to play matters, especially when splitting hairs among quality players).
Eric Bledsoe is second on the conference-leading Bucks in win shares. He’s played well as both an isolation player when Milwaukee needed a bucket and within the flow of the offense. On defense, he’s done everything the team has needed and more. Stephen Curry is the only point guard with a higher net rating than Bledsoe this season.
My last spot goes to Pascal Siakam. Stability can be valuable – especially with Lowry and Leonard consistently shuffling in and out of the lineup – and the power forward has produced regardless of whoever has been on the court alongside him.
Siakam’s improvement since last season is remarkable. He can put on his Draymond Green hat and become a facilitator when needed. With his smooth lateral movement, he can be an impactful defender on the perimeter and the Raptors don’t skip a beat when teams switch him onto an agile guard. He does all of this in addition to providing solid interior defense and efficient scoring (shooting 57.1% on the year) while playing the most minutes for a legitimate title contender (at 1,490 minutes played, Siakam has played roughly 100 more minutes than anyone else on the Raptors).
The advanced metrics match the eye test. He’s in the top 10 in the league in Net Rating among those playing 25 minutes per contest. Only seven players in the Eastern Conference rank higher than Siakam in win shares; Only six rank higher in NBA Math’s Total Points Added metric.
Many voters will leave Siakam off their list, as he doesn’t have the track record of other All-Star candidates. He hasn’t proven he can sustain this level of play; he hasn’t put in the time. Regardless of the lack of experience, he’s showcased his worthiness during the first half of the season. With his hustle and grind, his efficiency, and his ability to deliver night after night for the Raptors, he’s proven he deserves to be called an All-Star this season.
Recap of Eastern Conference Reserves
Magic Nikola Vucevic
Wizards Bradley Beal
Pistons Blake Griffin
Hornets Kemba Walker
Pacers Victor Oladipo
Bucks Eric Bledsoe
Raptors Pascal Siakam
Do you agree with the selections above? Are there any changes you would make to the list? What 12 players would you vote into this year’s All-Star game? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below. We look forward to what you have to say!
Images courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
I like all of them expect Siakam. I personally feel Russell deserves to be there. He’s the main cog that’s turned the nets into a winning team this year which no one expected. A guy averaging 19-6.5 and turned the nets into a somewhat relevant team gets my vote
Yeah I feel you. I’m a raptors fan but I don’t think p is an all star … most improved for sure!
I agree. D’lo has to be there. The Nets are the hottest team since Thanksgiving and he’s the star. The Nets will have at least four other players participating in All Star Weekend (Skills Challenge: Spencer Dinwiddie; 3-Point Contest: Joe Harris; Futures’ Game: Jarrett Allen (USA), Rodions Kurucs (World)), but he needs to be there on the main roster.
Russell isn’t even the best point guard on his own team and he hasn’t exactly been efficient this year. 19.2 pts on 17.2 fga isn’t great
I have a really hard time agreeing to put Siakam over the group of guys who are only left off because they ‘missed time’ with injuries — but I do get the rationale. Still I just feel like he hasn’t posted the numbers needed to be an AS and as a result someone with more name recognition and /PG stats will wind up with the spot.
I tend to agree but I’m curious who you would put on instead
Whether or not it’s deserved, I have a feeling Lowry will make it to the All-Star game over Siakam. It’s possible but unlikely that they both go.
mook’s having a great – should be considered as a replacement option
If George McLoud was an All-Star once, I can get behind Siakam.
George Mcloud was never an all star. He could have been an all star in the 1995-1996 season though. He averaged 18.9 ppg 4.8 rpg 2.7 APG 1.5 steals 0.5 blocks 37.9% from 3
No argument with the starters.
The subs I am happy with the first 4 & probably Bledsoe too.
Oladipo was very good last year… not so this, really fallen out of the wagon.
Siakam is just starting needs more time to be an All-Star.
I would have liked K-Mid in the conversation as he was playing last year, but like Oladipo has dropped the ball this year.
For me Butler must be in there regardless of all has gone on with him this year.
So the last spot probably should go to D’lo or even Drummond if he is healthy.
last I checked wade was getting voted in as the second guard
Bledsoe is out for me. Replaced with Domantas Sabonis. 15pts 9.6 TRB 61.7 FG% edges out Bledsoe in VORP, but doubles his Box Plus/Minus and 24.2 PER vs 19.4.
Centers/bigs usually get better aggregate numbers than perimeter players, esp PGs… Hard to compare… You almost have to translate to ordinals (ranks by position).
I am liking smart Buck Bledsoe as much as I liked young dumb Sun Bledsoe.
If he doesn’t make allstar, that increases the odds of his being a Laker next season.
I would take Sabonis over Olidipo though, due to a meh season, missed time and to be missing more.
Kemba should be starting with Kyrie
3 Stats, added together, generally tell you who will be the MVP each season – Win Share + Box Plus Minus + Value Over Replacement Player.
Ben Simmons = 12.9
Kemba Walker = 9.4
For comparison to who will likely win the MVP.
Harden = 25.2
Giannis = 21.8
AD = 21.7
Ipso facto – Simmons is having a better season overall than the high scoring Walker.
I think it would be more fun for Kemba to start since he will be the rep for the hometown team.
Taytum over Siakam
Based on what I outlined for Walker v Simmons:
Siakam = 11.5
Tatum = 3.8
Tatum can play in the sophomore game.
Tatum is super over rated and not nearly as good as Siakam.
I could see Tatum as an all-star someday, but right now I’d put another 5+ players that aren’t listed ahead of him in the East.
do watch games? the kid’s unbelievable
Yes. Ergo why I know:
a) how to spell his name (unlike our friend who started this conversation)
b) that he’s not as good as Siakam
c) that his game has regressed this year
d) that he shouldn’t have spent so much time with Kobe this offseason
e) that he still has plenty of potential and is a likely future all-star
f) that he’s not an all-star now
Lowry has been a more important aspect of the Raptors success than Siakam. On/off numbers support this
I understand the games played thing, but it’s hard leaving the best PG in the East off this team (Lowry).
Lowry has actually played in more games than Leonard, and the Raptors currently sit 1st (which is where they’ll end up at the end of the year).
I think it makes sense to give them their 3 very deserving all stars.
I think Vucevic seems likely to be left off due to putting up big numbers on a bad team.
Lowry deserves to make the team and possibly start, but Kyrie has been the best pg in the east
I also rule out Butler for time missed and disruption.
I wonder if it would be a disruption, if one of Russell and Dinwiddie make allstar, but not the other.
Beal has heated up since I listed my Eastern team.
Pacers need representation, I think by Sabonis not Olidipo, my only change from above.