That's best left for when the player pool is set in stone. We care only about the 12 players from each conference who will be in Charlotte for the Feb. Antetokounmpo has everything going for him to start this process. His Milwaukee Bucks are really good, he's a media darling, and he trailed only in the Eastern Conference last year. His only rivals are 's brand and Kawhi Leonard, who should enjoy a nice fan-vote boon from a Toronto market that hopes he'll stick around beyond this season. Related: Imagine having to draft his team on live television. Defenses know where he's going. Almost of his looks are coming within five feet of the basket. He needs roughly one dribble to go the length of the floor. Realer talk: He's shooting 65. He's averaging career highs in rebounds and assists, and his forever arms and endless energy are crucial to the Bucks'. The Celtics have more weapons at their disposal, and his assist rate has climbed. The offense's utter dependence on him is the real shocker. Up-and-down play from Brown, Hayward, and Terry Rozier hasn't helped. Nor has Horford's recent left knee injury or Brown's previous lower-back issue. Boston is in offensive efficiency since November's three-game losing streak but continues to see its output per 100 possessions by 16. That his own shooting percentages haven't taken a nosedive amid this stark reliance is a minor miracle—and a testament to his ability to hit tough shots. Ben Simmons always looms, but he's looking a little less superhuman at the defensive end following Robert Covington's departure. Shows of affection for Eric Bledsoe or Josh Richardson are cool, too. They'll need to get over it. Lowry has conceded shots in the name of cohesion—not just to unburden Kawhi Leonard's integration, but to streamline elevated roles for and Pascal Siakam. He has supplemented shot attempts with a bunch of drive-and-finds—he would in assists per game if not for —and remains a defensive bulldog. Toronto is giving up fewer than 104 points per 100 possessions whenever he plays without Leonard, a Defensive Player of the Year hopeful once more, according to. He busted out of his own slump with consecutive 20-point outings during a Dec. Raptors fans are going to have his back, and plenty of media members will gravitate toward a standout from the team with the league's best record. It took some time for his long-range accuracy to come around, but oh baby, has it come around. His production during this stretch, which has seen Kyle Lowry miss time with a thigh injury, is absolutely bonkers: 30. He's as active as ever. His reads on switches are quicker than De'Aaron Fox's first step. I already want to take that back. Leonard ranks in the of both deflections and defensive loose balls recovered per game, and Toronto is deconstructing rival offenses in the time he spends with Danny Green and Pascal Siakam, per. Playing with Ben Simmons is both a gift and constrictive. Defenses still comfortably sag off him on the perimeter, and he tends to hang out around the basket, in Embiid's territory, when he doesn't have the ball. Embiid deleverages his shaky jumper by attacking off the arc and skirting around defenders with a disarming Eurostep. His fluidity and footwork in the post transcend the thicket of bodies found around him. His clip on the block isn't earning him any superlatives. Nor has he cured his tunnel vision. But he's better at protecting the ball, and the mere threat of his scoring keeps defenses on tilt. Opponent shot frequency at the rim increases by and the Sixers' drops by 7. There will be—and already have been—nights when he's the go-to option down the stretch of close games. But the Sixers remain Embiid's team. The East is parched for big-timers, his efficiency nba all star game 2019 yet to totally implode, and the degree of difficulty nba all star game 2019 into his role speaks for itself. And although head coach James Borrego makes an effort to move him around off the ball, Charlotte's other initiators aren't cut from the mold necessary to maximize his displacement. They are limited by their personnel. Given the constant stress incumbent of Walker's role, it's a wonder his numbers have not incurred more of a free fall. And Indy, as shown during his absence, is gradually finding its offensive identity outside of him. But the Oladipo effect is present in almost every possession. These routine collapses clear space on the perimeter in a hurry, opening the corners for kick-outs and cuts. Defenses are similarly distressed when he's coming around picks. Attention paid to Oladipo has given way to unimpeded rolls for screen-setters. He often floats within the half-court rather than matching up with the toughest assignment. He has the speed to recover on close-outs, which frees him to go for home-run turnovers and provide help wherever necessary. He is the vessel through which they survive minutes without Joel Embiid. Ben Simmons alone never really cut it. That net rating falls all the way to when Simmons is by himself. In of clutch action since joining the Sixers, he has totaled 17 points and three assists on 5-of-11 shooting 5-of-6 from the foul line while notching a team-high plus-19. Philly is shallow, and that matters. Butler's ensuring that absence of depth will hurt as little as possible. His contract is an albatross. He isn't a stylistic mismatch anymore. He has missed at least 15 games in each of the past four seasons. He shouldn't be a team's lifeline. Or rather, on and on it went. Griffin is pushing back against the notion he's nba all star game 2019 longer a first-tier star. His numbers are not just glittery. Now, it's Griffin in control—dictating terms, sizing up coverages, parsing when to dish and when to attack. Rarely, however, do those bigs end up handling the ball more in the process. This is a clever inversion on the part of Pistons coach Dwane Casey and a complete reinvention of Griffin's game at almost 30 years old, most clearly exemplified by the fact that Griffin—who only took threes with any real frequency for the first time last season—is now launching those shots off the dribble with regularity. In the meantime, so long as he stays healthy, it has sealed his. He's the lone source of consistent production Orlando has enjoyed during the post- era. He's harder to overlook now. The Magic are throwing a wrench in the East's hierarchy of postseason hopefuls, and Vucevic has elevated just about every part of his game—including his defense. His prospective company: Kareem-Abdul Jabbar twiceGiannis Antetokounmpo in progressCharles Barkley, Anthony Davis in progressand Nikola Jokic. Their All-Star pool is the punch-line version of the West's playoff race: Roughly 10 to 12 players could make a credible case for the final two spots. Some of his counting stats are down, but he's also playing less. His are in lockstep with last season's numbers. His shot profile is prettier—noticeably light on the long-two attempts that had become habitual. The looks he does take aren't falling at their usual clips, which has also butchered his efficiency, but this shift in selection is a process. The diminished volume is more important for now. Only are clearing 20 points, four assists and two three-point makes per 36 minutes while shooting 38 percent or better from beyond the arc:, and. That's enough for him to sneak in here. He was never going to develop an outside game over one offseason. His limitations make his success rate around the rim that much more impressive, because defenses know where he's going. He is a master of one-handed drop-offs and no-looks to the strong side. If anything about his sophomore season is even marginally disappointing, it would be the turnovers, or that nba all star game 2019 seems his defensive comfort and versatility were more tied to Robert Nba all star game 2019 than initially thought. Putting him in the Los Angeles market, though, is unfair to the field. He should run away with the final tally. Defense is optional for him even outside the friendly confines of the All-Star game, and he makes and recruiting pitches at coldly calculated times. This should be absurd, and it is, but it's also explainable. Some might attribute the uptick to attrition. He is, after all, getting to the rim less. The step-back three has become one of his trademarks, and pulling up from distance is now a high-value play for him. All these years later, he never ceases to amaze. That season is almost universally panned as the greatest individual offensive effort in league history. At minimum, with Curry playing out an age-30 season already shortened by a groin injury, he shouldn't be the one rivaling his 27-year-old self—not when playing beside Kevin Durant, another top-five player who, by design, caps his usage. His true shooting percentage 67. He has never shot the ball better from beyond the arc, or at the free-throw line. But this year's Curry gives that one a run for his money—which, we should note, is patently terrifying. Harden is set to lead the league in and while resetting his own personal highs for a second consecutive season. The whole point of having is to spare him from such drastic strain. Paul is dealing with another hamstring injury, and the Rockets' depth is feeling the squeeze following the nba all star game 2019 of Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute, who has appeared in just four games for the Los Angeles Clippers this season while recovering from a left knee injury. They're in offensive efficiency since the start of November, and Harden has yet to take his foot off the gas after dropping 40 points in a Nov. And he's shooting on a preposterous number of step-back threes while slashing 45. He's responded with a assist rate. No one on the team has to Curry. I know we want to have that ball moving and get 30 assists and 300 passes. But sometimes, it's not going to be that way. For now, Durant has a point. The Warriors have seldom been at full strength this season—remember. Green isn't shooting well, period—or sometimes at all. And he's still hyper-efficient in general. He's leaning on mid-range jumpers more than he has since his sophomore season, according tobut his true shooting percentage remains above 60. More importantly, when he takes a seat, Golden State's by 10. Not even Curry's absence is having that large of an impact. But Davis' kitchen-sink metrics paint the best picture of his standing relative to other superstars. But it certainly says something. And it forever put him on the verge of getting snubbed entirely. He's posting career highs in scoring and without an uptick in usage. His finishing around the rim is a coin toss, but he's making smarter reads in traffic and sporting mortal-Stephen-Curry touch on his pull-up jumper. His usage rate has dropped to its lowest point since 2009-10, his sophomore season. He's still good for up to a half-dozen errant and ill-advised pull-up jumpers per game, but his overall approach is no longer this resistant, overbearing cloud. That doesn't seem like much, but it's the third-largest share for his career, trailing only his rookie season and 46-game. He is, however, shooting a around the rim. And his defensive engagement is, dare we say, fairly consistent. He's always good for busting up passing lanes, but he's taking fewer chances and making more of a concerted effort to contest shots. Russell Westbrook is surrendering shots to him for crying out loud. Oklahoma City in points allowed per 100 possessions despite missing Andre Roberson, and George is melding Jimmy Butler's suffocating one-on-one approach with more in-tune team defense. Which is to say, they no longer have anything to revel in. Jokic is averaging since his 0-of-1 disasterpiece against the Memphis Grizzlies on Nov. His three-point efficiency has tailed off, but he's making up for it with a few bonus drives and more aggressive stands around the rim. Denver's offensive heart and soul still rest within him. Aspects of his value remain contingent upon Paul Millsap, who is recovering from a broken toe. But Jokic is making smarter reads around the basket and rarely mirroring Bambi on ice when dragged onto the perimeter or moving within some of Denver's more attacking pick-and-roll coverages. His usage rate has jumped from toand he's less inclined to disappear for quarters or an entire game at a time. His outside clip has dipped, but he's so nimble on his feet, both in the post and from above the break, that he doesn't need to be more than a league-average shooter—even though he's way better than that. Having Robert Covington and Dario Saric has enabled them to switch, albeit not as much as they probably should, and Towns is inching closer to a happy medium with more quality team defenders around him. Namely, Saric has been a positive cog in the second step of pick-and-roll defense: the tag. Kyle Anderson and Jaren Jackson Jr. He's notching career highs in and percentage, and he remains a whiz at using angles and positioning to mitigate his restrictive side-to-side mobility. He spaces the floor not only with his willingness to fire up threes, but with his passing out of the post and on face-ups. Memphis' effective field-goal percentage tumbles by 2. Mike Conley has missed time with a hamstring injury, and plucking two All-Stars from a potential non-playoff team isn't normally the prerogative of head nba all star game 2019. Klay Thompson is the pick if the Warriors are going to be rewarded for being the Warriors. DeMar DeRozan is for the points-per-game enthusiast. If yours truly wasn't a coward, and if the Pelicans seemed more likely to re-enter the playoff bubble than the Grizzlies, Jrue Holiday would inhabit this space. Somebody out there needs to muster the gut and gall to argue on behalf of Steven Adams. He's clearing 20 points per game for the second time ever, artfully balancing the role of possession manager and aggressor. His style lacks a smack-you-in-the-face flair, but it includes subtle panache—like off-balance threes and needlepoint defensive plays. Conley has a great shot at being recognized for under-appreciated play of the past, and for everything he's still doing now. Salary and cap-hold information via and. The winning starters, including team captains, will drop on Jan. Watch above to find out. Get the app to get the game. Watch above to find out what makes the Harlem court a must- go-to destination for basketball fans and players alike. Get the app to get the game. Watch above to see the details, fallout and where the teams stand going into the 2018-2019 season. Bleacher Report is the go-to destination for basketball fans everywhere. Download the free Bleacher Report app to catch all the moments that matter in one place. Get the app to get the game. Take a look at some of the hottest kicks he rocked on the court as he balled towards another championship season. Get the app to get the game. Watch the video above to see his road back to professional basketball. Get the app to get the game. Watch the video above to see why Durant has so much to celebrate on his birthday. Get the app to get the nba all star game 2019. The hoops stars showed no mercy, going 1-on-1 against the campers. Watch the video above for more about the summer camp showdown. Bleacher Report is the go-to destination for basketball fans everywhere. Download the free Bleacher Report app to catch all the moments that matter in one place. Get the app to get the game. He is showing off all the moves has learned so far from teammate Tobias Harris all over social media. Watch the video above to see Boban break it down. Get the app to get the game. Smith is not the first player to violate the league's nba all star game 2019 rule. Watch the video above for more about this controversial rule. Bleacher Report is the go-to destination for basketball fans everywhere. Download the free Bleacher Report app to catch all the moments that matter in one place. Get the app to get the game. What is the history behind the rivalry. Watch above to see why the blow-up was a long time coming. Get the app to get the game. The Golden State Warriors' response was nothing short of epic and spawned a whole nba all star game 2019 viral challenge. Watch the video above to see how FergieRemixChallenge was born. Bleacher Report is your No. Download the free Bleacher Report app to catch all the moments that matter in one place. Nba all star game 2019 the app to get the game. Get the app to get the game. Today the two-time All-Star turns 24. Watch some of Giannis' best highlights in the video above. Bleacher Report is the go-to destination for basketball fans everywhere. Download the free Bleacher Report app to catch all the moments that matter in one place. Get the app to get the game. The two started talking trash to each other on social media last year and the feud escalated on the court this year. Watch the video above for more about this Battle of Bigs. Bleacher Report is the go-to destination for basketball fans everywhere. Download the free Bleacher Report app to catch all the moments that matter in one place. Get the app to get the game. He eventually made a pair of free throws to overtake Jordan for third all-time. Watch the video above for more about this historic moment. Get the app to get the game. Watch the video above to celebrate The King's birthday with a look at some of his career accomplishments. Bleacher Report is the go-to destination for basketball fans everywhere. Download the free Bleacher Report app to catch all the moments that matter in one place. Get the app to get the game. Nine-year-old Riley Morrison wrote to Curry because she couldn't find a pair of his signature shoes in a girls size. Curry promised to make things right, and gifted Riley two pairs of Curry 6s in time for Christmas. Get the app to get the game. He became the first player with 35+ points and at least five assists in eight consecutive games. Harden has played a pivotal role in the Houston Rockets' run and jump to the No. Can The Beard nba all star game 2019 it up. Watch the video above for more of Harden's stats during this run. Bleacher Report is the go-to destination for basketball fans everywhere. Download the free Bleacher Report app to catch all nba all star game 2019 moments that matter in one place. Get the app to get the game. He needs three more three-point shots to move into third place on the all-time three-pointers list. This will put him only behind Ray Allen and Reggie Miller. Learn more about how Curry can make history in the video above. Get the app to get the game.
