If the team decides to tank, Billups could give Shaedon Sharpe, Trendon Watford, Cam Reddish, Matisse Thybulle, and Jabari Walker more opportunities to play. The 13-time All-Star, who was dealt to Phoenix on Feb. 9, has not played in a game since Jan. 8 when he was with the Nets. Not that this is a barometer for anything, but that's nine MVP awards to none. If Siakam doesn't miss too many more games he's going to be there over OG. 13 most difficult remaining schedule, according to Tankathon. Allen has the team success, the defense, and the efficiency. But VanVleet is the pick. We already laid out how Paul George's role is more demanding than Markkanen's, and the latter's status as a dependent scorer is clear considering 90.1 percent of his threes and 60.4 percent of his twos have been assisted. The trade deadline drama continues to headline what is happening in the NBA, along with teams jockeying for positions in both conference standings, but a key event that nobody seems to be paying attention to is the NBA All-Star Game that is right around the corner! Butler was stellar before and since his injury. Brett Siegel joined NBA Analysis Network as an NBA Insider and Journalist in 2020 after previously working with Louisville Basketball and FanSided covering the NBA. Career backups Torrey Craig, Damion Lee and Cameron Payne are among the top six on the Suns in total minutes. As the 2022-23 NBA season moves into the post-All-Star It should not be enough to climb the standings but will keep them away from having the worst record in the Western Conference. While Team Durant's best reserves are Devin Booker, Zach LaVine, and Karl-Anthony Towns. Another NBA season is upon us with the opening of the 2022-2023 campaign, and this one feels more wide open than ever. But they lost a scoring threat when Chris Duarte went down (toe) and defense when Davion Mitchell was lost (hand), and while Kuminga and Bones Hyland are capable replacements, they may not have the same juice as the initial selections. Zach Buckley covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Holiday's ability to create his own offense is critical to a Bucks attack prone to bogging down. This Clippers-Nets Trade Sends Kyrie Irving To L.A. In fact, we believe those questions will linger well into the 2023 offseason. Not that it necessarily sways voters, but Jrue Holiday remains one of the top defensive guards in the league. The cracks are showing, though. Here are the results of the Jan 27, 2022 The starters for the 2022 NBA All-Star Game are set. ET. At 20 so far, past precedent and his current numbers make him a surefire All-Star. Another young player from the Spurs who is gaining some attention in the NBA is Jeremy Sochan. We're talking about a glorified pickup game that's supposed to be fun, but some players have incentives in their contracts for making an All-Star team. Team Durant is a battle of basketball powerhouses in the 2022 NBA All-Star Game. It has players who can't turn off their competitive juices even in an exhibition setting (Chris Paul, Jimmy Butler). Team Durant picks, best bets by expert on 85-67 run SportsLine's Mike Barner just released his pick While Embiid is the regular-season MVP odds favorite this year, the rosters still appear stacked in one direction. Its not hard to see why Team LeBron is the favorite in this edition of the All-Star Game. If the Blazers are no longer playing for a play-in spot, these players can rest. The guy is averaging 29.1 points with a 58.8 effective field goal percentage while adding 7.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists in his year-19 season. Since you're here for an actual prediction, though, it has to be Green. The Memphis Grizzlies sit above Lillard's Blazers, Stephen Curry's Warriors, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's Thunder in the standings. The Heat's offense has been a wreck for most of this season, but Adebayo is keeping the defense in the top 10. And once more, hell make a strong commitment to this organization, as he always has. I also think he and Garland will cannibalize each other's votes. However, this does not guarantee a lot of losses as they are still capable of helping the team win games. I considered Green more of a worthy starter than his teammate, Andrew Wiggins because he has always been the main reason behind the Warriors defensive excellence. This was the most difficult assignment. In addition, New York's turnover percentage plummets with Brunson in the game, and its offensive rating climbs by over six points per 100 possessions. Jayson Tatum led Antetokounmpo as the MVP favorite in Tim Bontemps' first straw poll for ESPN, and that distinction owes to more than just voter fatigue. With the 2022 NBA All-Star Draft set to take place on Thursday, Feb. 10 at 6:30 p.m. on TNT, we're still roughly a week away from the real teams being selected. Now, with a bunch of the star power missing from this game, and the fact this format hasnt gone Over 320, the Under might look solid. What does Miami have to do to even up this first-round series with the Bucks? Although the record is not great, the team is showing some potential on the court. He's also on pace for a 3.6 Box Plus/Minus, which would be the highest of his entire career. The only player currently averaging at least 30 points and eight assists per game, Doni is an absolute lock to start the All-Star Game. Fortunately, a pair of wild-card selections will keep everyone happyunless anyone gets bent out of shape over SGA being mentioned ahead of Ja Morant and Damian Lillard. Durants team is starting Andrew Wiggins. Then again, when a player's "worst" month of the season includes averages of 24.0 points, 8.3 assists and 6.9 rebounds for a contender in the West (despite ugly efficiency numbers), he's set the bar pretty high. If you're an '80s baby (raises hand) or born before that, the Celebrity Game typically requires keeping Google at the ready. Green is enjoying a solid year defensively while running the Warriors offensive from the high post. Free shipping. 32 sold. SSP. The latter has proved trickier than you might think. It is worth noting that the team has been without Vassell for a long time. The marriage of his relentlessly competitive makeup and overwhelming physical skill makes Antetokounmpo a no-brainer pick here. This would actually give the Blazers two first-round picks in the upcoming NBA draft. What used to be a one-game showcase is now a four-team, three-tilt tournament. It's hard to keep a 25-point scorer who's making over half of his shots from the field out of the All-Star Game. He and Kevin Huerter instantly developed strong chemistry in the handoff and pitchback game, and Sabonis' synergy with De'Aaron Fox in the pick-and-roll gives Sacramento a late-game option that has so far yielded strong results. A subreddit dedicated to NBA news and discussion. Ball is enjoying a solid sophomore year. We only get two spots here, and in addition to Booker and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, there are two other backcourt players in the West that deserve consideration as reserves. 1 offense by a wide margin. Picture Information. By this, we mean Portland will swing for the fences in the offseason. VanVleet has also grinded his way into All-Star recognition. Sign Up Now, Canada: Bet $1, get $100 in free bets when you sign up with BetVictor! 8. LeBron James will return to Cleveland as an All-Star Game captain, and Ja Morant and Andrew Wiggins are headed there as 1st-time selections. July 28, 2021 News Bot. The central piece to a top-10 offense and one of the league's best rebounders, Domantas Sabonis is in the midst of a terrific first third of the season. Follow him on Twitter, @ZachBuckleyNBA. Toronto's penchant for like-sized lineups means Siakam, a forward by trade, logs significant time at center. The gains include improved foul-drawing (career-high 8.3 free-throw attempts per game), developed finishing craft (career-high 75.3 percent hit rate inside three feet) and all-around boosts to scoring efficiency. The clock will be turned off after the third quarter and a target score of the leading teams total plus 24 points (in honor of Kobe Bryant) is established to start the fourth quarter. Jaylen will be competitive too, assuming the league throws him at backcourt again. You never want to rule out someone who fought his way into an NBA career at age 26, but I'd be shocked if he makes the finals. Press J to jump to the feed. He might struggle a bit due to his extended absence but he could make an impact right away. In 16 prior All-Star Games, Bron averaged 24.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.9 assists. Additionally, Sochan and starting point guard Tre Jones missed some time due to injuries. Towns is one of the most efficient big players in the game. His bounce is unrivaled among this quartet, and it sounds like his creativity could be too. For his part, Thybulle has displayed an offensive game not seen before his arrival from the Philadelphia 76ers. Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Brown is shooting 57.9 percent from 10-16 feet and 53.3 percent from 16-23 feet, incredible accuracy well beyond his career rates that nobody but Kevin Durant should be expected to sustain. That's a more demanding role than Markkanen plays, and it's just barely enough to offset the Utah Jazz forward's massive advantage in scoring efficiency and minutes logged. The Spurs entered the break at 14-45 and No. Here are your 2023 NBA All-Star Starters. With that being said, here are three bold predictions for the Spurs following the 2023 NBA All-Star break. Sponsored. The latest: Joki's preposterous 40-point, 27-rebound, 10-assist effort against the Charlotte Hornets on Dec. 18, the first of its kind since, yep, Chamberlain pulled it off in 1968. He is sure to be rewarded for his efforts this year, regardless of the teams final outcome in 2022, as he will lock up his sixth All-Star selection. Ask Tyrese Haliburton how much he enjoyed seeing Adebayo hounding him around the three-point line during his 0-of-9 shooting night against Miami on Dec. 12. The presence of Damian Lillard on the court obviously gives them hope in a one-or-two-and-done scenario. His presence on the floor coincides with gains in effective field-goal percentage and free-throw rate, along with a significant drop in turnover percentage. Thats a task that lies with general manager Joe Cronin, head coach Chauncey Billups, and Lillard himself. Front Court: LeBron (starter), AD (starter), Jokic (starter), Lauri Markkanen, Sabonis, Mikal Bridges. Get viral NBA graphics, memes, rumors and trending news delivered right to your inbox with the Clutch Newsletter. Haliburton is not getting voted a starter. The stats are actually stupid when you think about it. This isn't niche statistical cherry-picking. Obi Toppin gets his Dunk Contest practice in during games. Ten Clippers predictions for 2022: Paul George misses All-Star Game, Kawhi returns in April and more By Law Murray Dec 31, 2021 9 Greetings from NOT Canada. The rules have been changed to avoid another Zaza Pachulia situation, but some All-Star nods still feel more like a popularity contest than a meritocratic process. Phoenix has the NBA's best record -- how many All-Stars does it deserve to have in 2022? The 2022 NBA All-Star Game is set to take place on Feb. 20 in Cleveland and with it now being less than four weeks away, it is time to start talking about which players deserve the honor of being 1 of 24 players selected as anNBA All-Star in the league this season. Coaches Rick Barry, Gary Payton, Isiah Thomas and James Worthy already assembled their rosters of sophomores, rookies and a quartet of G League Ignite players for Friday's event. San Antonio went 20-62 in the 1996-97 season. Some past participants have sometimes coasted through, but that shouldn't be an issue this year. Nikola Joki's statistical trailblazing requires deeper looks into history and what seem like weekly invocations of "He's the first to do Ridiculous Thing X since Wilt Chamberlain." Adebayo is averaging 20.9 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game and remains arguably the best switchable defender among bigs in the league. The two best players Booker and Paul on the leagues hottest team should be on this squad, and as happy as everybody is with Andrew Wiggins success, Green is probably the Warrior that should be in the starting lineup for the West All-Star team. But there just wasn't enough room for two Kings (or seven guards), and Sabonis has been more productive. Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, LaMelo Ball and Fred VanVleet are all going to feel snubbed. But Golden State doesnt really merit three All-Stars this season, Draymond has missed a lot of games and the Andrew Wiggins thing skewed their representation. The bold prediction is that the Spurs will surpass 20 wins this season. Trying to guess how votersmainly fans, but also coaches and mediawill behave is just too tricky. With 24 regular season games remaining, the jury is still out on whether Lillard has achieved his goal, but he has shown that he is either on par or close to it. Markkanen is averaging a career-high 22.8 points along with 8.2 rebounds while canning a career-best 43.8 percent of his threes. The conferences next nine teams in the standings get one each. Copy this into the source of your page where you want the article to appear: Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly. And Haliburton is in the same conversation as two of history's greatestin his age-22 season. James picked Giannis Antetokounmpo, Steph Curry, Nikola Jokic and DeMar DeRozan to start alongside him, while Durant countered with Joel Embiid, Ja Morant, Jayson Tatum, Trae Young, and Andrew Wiggins. 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