All-Star Game snubs are as consistent as the game itself.
We see multiple players every season who aren’t selected for the game as a reserve, aren’t happy and have a right not to be happy. This season is no different.
Most of the picks this time around have been pretty good. The teams are competitive and the talent is even. I was pleased to see Al Horford make the team. The Boston Celtics center never is going to be the biggest scorer, put up robust rebound numbers or be a fixture on SportsCenter.
But Horford makes the Celtics go, and he’s been huge in Gordon Hayward’s absence, stepping up as Boston’s second-best player next to Kyrie Irving. He’s averaging 13.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game. He’s been a great defender, and his presence in Boston’s locker room has helped a team of young players be the best team in the Eastern Conference during the first half of the season.
So while many have been clamoring for Detroit’s Andre Drummond to make the team over Horford, I couldn’t disagree more. Horford belongs on the All-Star team. Drummond doesn’t, especially not at Horford’s expense.
That being said, let’s get to the snubs because I always have thoughts on this sort of thing, as you probably already know. Here are a few of the snubs who truly belong in February’s All-Star Game.
Goran Dragic
Miami Heat's Goran Dragic (7) talks with official JT Orr during the first half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets, Friday, Dec. 29, 2017, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Dragic is averaging 17.3 points, 4.9 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game. He hasn’t been quite as good compared to last season, but here’s the thing: He’s been great. He’s started 42 of Miami’s 48 games, so he’s been durable. He’s been very good defensively and Miami’s best player.
That last sentence is the most important reason Dragic is a huge snub. The Heat entered the weekend 27-21 and in the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference, which means one of the top teams in the East won’t have a representative in the All-Star Game.
Compare this to the Washington Wizards, who will have John Wall and Bradley Beal as representatives. Wall is averaging 19.3 points and 9.2 assists per game, but he’s having what is collectively his worst season since 2014-2015. And the Wizards are behind the Heat in the standings.
Coaches have rewarded winning for years when picking All-Stars. And not many before the season would’ve picked the Heat, who were in the lottery last season, to be a playoff contender. But here they are in position not only to be in the postseason but to gain home court in the process. Dragic is the key to one of the NBA’s big surprises this season and deserves to be an All-Star.
Paul George
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George (13) shoots over Brooklyn Nets center Tyler Zeller (44) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City, Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook went to the media and voiced his displeasure at Paul George’s omission when the All-Star reserves were announced.
Westbrook was right.
PG13 is averaging 21 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. More than that, he’s been the best perimeter defender in the NBA this season by far and is a frontrunner for the league’s Defensive Player of the Year. George, along with Steven Adams, makes the Thunder’s defense go. He may be the best two-way player in the NBA for an OKC team that’s been on a roll and looks like one of the few teams that can give the Golden State Warriors a moment of pause once the playoffs roll around.
Chris Paul
FILE - In this Oct. 5, 2017, file photo, Houston Rockets center Clint Capela (15) follows Chris Paul (3) as he bring the ball down court in the second half of an NBA exhibition basketball game against the Shanghai Sharks, in Houston. The Rockets believe adding Chris Paul to a team led by James Harden helps close the gap between them and Golden State. They'll find out how they stack up against the champions early when they open the season there on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke, File)
This one isn’t as obvious as the first two mainly because Portland’s Damian Lillard has been great in the first half of the season and deserves to make the team.
CP3 is averaging 18.8 points, 8.8 assists and 5.9 rebounds per game in his first season with the Houston Rockets. He’s still great defensively, and the Rockets are 18-0 when Paul, James Harden and Clint Capela are in the starting lineup.
More importantly, Houston’s been great this season. They entered the weekend 34-12 and without question the second-best team in basketball. They’ve beaten the Warriors twice and have won the season series against Golden State 2-1.
If the Warriors deserve four All-Stars — and they do — the Rockets deserved two. Paul should have been selected.
NBA POWER RANKINGS <br>1. Golden State Warriors • The first team in NBA history to have four All-Stars in two consecutive seasons. <br>2. Houston Rockets • Beating the Warriors twice has Clint Capela believing the Rockets can do it at playoff time. <br>3. Boston Celtics • Gordon Hayward is back on the court shooting stationary jumpers. It bodes well for an early return. <br>4. Toronto Raptors • DeMar DeRozan fined $15K for criticizing officials this week. <br>5. San Antonio Spurs • Reports say Kawhi Leonard is less than happy with his injury rehabilitation. <br>6. Oklahoma City Thunder • Have won six straight and finally look like the team we thought they were. <br>7. Minnesota Timberwolves • Have struggled of late with Jimmy Butler nursing an injury. <br>8. Miami Heat • Dion Waiters is out for the season due to an impending ankle surgery. <br>9. New Orleans Pelicans • Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins comprised the best frontcourt in the NBA until Cousins’ injury on Friday night. <br>10. Cleveland Cavaliers • The drama surrounding the Cavs usually is mitigated by elite play. It’s not this season. <br>11. Indiana Pacers • Victor Oladipo garners his first All-Star selection, which was well-deserved. <br>12. Portland Trail Blazers • Won four of their last five entering the weekend, including a good win over the Pacers. <br>13. Washington Wizards • A recent team meeting has proven ineffective. <br>14. Philadelphia 76ers • Ben Simmons racks up yet another triple-double in win over the Bulls. <br>15. Denver Nuggets • Briefly fell out of playoff position but have climbed back into the eighth spot in the West. <br>16. Milwaukee Bucks • Jason Kidd’s firing was well-deserved. He didn’t get enough out of the roster. <br>17. Los Angeles Clippers • Need to get DeAndre Jordan back from his sprained ankle. <br>18. Detroit Pistons • Andre Drummond responds to All-Star snub with 30 points and 24 rebounds against the Jazz. <br>19. New York Knicks • Trey Burke is back in the league … and playing well. <br>20. Charlotte Hornets • Owner Michael Jordan says Kemba Walker isn’t trade bait. <br>21. Utah Jazz • Nice comeback win over the Pistons. <br>22. Chicago Bulls • Coming back to earth after a scorching hot December. <br>23. Los Angeles Lakers • Can’t count out Kyle Kuzma in the Rookie of the Year race just yet. <br>24. Brooklyn Nets • Spencer Dinwiddie hits the game-winner in victory over the Pistons. <br>25. Memphis Grizzlies • Tyreke Evans having his best season since he averaged 20-5-5 as a rookie. <br>26. Phoenix Suns • Devin Booker is the NBA’s only top 15 scorer not to make the All-Star game. <br>27. Dallas Mavericks • J.J. Barea and John Wall have a dust-up. Barea tells media Wall’s teammates don’t like him. <br>28. Sacramento Kings • Sacramento and Cleveland still discussing George Hill trade. <br>29. Atlanta Hawks • Hawks guard Malcolm Delaney donates more than 400 coats to schools in his hometown of Baltimore. <br>30. Orlando Magic • Hit a rough patch, dropping 10 of 12. The two wins came against the Boston Celtics and Minnesota Timberwolves. Go figure.
