* * *
Who’s your choice to replace injured Kevin Love on the Eastern Conference
All-Star roster?
* * *
David Aldridge: The purist in me would seek a big to replace a big. My first
instinct would be Joel Embiid (20.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.5 blocks) just for
the fun factor, but I’m assuming he’s not going to be available with the
meniscus tear in his knee. So I’d look at either Hassan Whiteside (16.7 points,
league-leading 14.1 boards, 2 blocks), Dwight Howard (13.6 points, 12.9
rebounds) or Marcin Gortat (11.9 points, 11.5 rebounds), and if you’re asking me
to pick one, I’d go with Whiteside — even though I think Howard’s having a
really strong season in Atlanta. But if I’m consistent with my philosophy that
the All-Star Game is for the fans, I’d pick the Wizards’ Bradley Beal, who’s
having a sensational season (22.3 points per game on nearly 40 percent shooting
on 3-pointers).
Steve Aschburner: If we’re going to be literalists and stick to frontcourt
options, Miami’s Hassan Whiteside would be a fine choice. He is the NBA’s
leading rebounder (14.1 rpg) and he was pivotal in the Heat’s hot, hot winning
streak that generated so much buzz lately. If going more general, I’d choose
Bradley Beal, without whom backcourt mate John Wall and the rest of the Wizards
wouldn’t be thriving. Sorry, Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade might be fan
favorites but they’re not performing at their traditional levels, and Joel
Embiid doesn’t play enough even when he’s healthy.
Fran Blinebury: My first inclination is to replace a big with a big and give the
spot Joel Embiid. But with Embiid dealing with his own injury situation and not
likely to take part in the All-Star activities, I’d give the spot of Bradley
Beal for his role in lighting the fire of the Wizards.
Shaun Powell: Bradley Beal is my choice for obvious reasons. Since Jan. 1, the
Wizards have the best record in the Eastern Conference and the NBA and Beal
(along with John Wall) is a major reason. Beal is having a career year, is
healthy for a change and had a monster game (41 points) against the best team in
the East just recently.
John Schuhmann: Bradley Beal will make the East’s roster even more guard-heavy
than it already is (Paul Millsap is their only big man at this point), but he
deserves the spot. He ranks sixth in usage rate and 11th in true shooting
percentage among remaining East players that have logged at least 1,000 minutes,
and the only other players who rank in the top 20 in both are Goran Dragic
(fifth and 17th) and Brook Lopez (third and 20th). On individual numbers, you
can make the case for Dragic over Beal, but Beal’s Wizards are 10 games ahead of
Dragic’s Heat in the standings. The Wizards are 12 games over .500 and have been
their best with Beal on the floor.
Sekou Smith: Bradley Beal is the most deserving, given the way he’s played and
his team’s performance since Dec. 1. There’s no doubt that he’s played at what
anyone would have to agree is All-Star level. And the Wizards have been an
absolute revelation since that 6-12 start. As much as a Hassan Whiteside, Andre
Drummond or Al Horford would provide some much-needed size to balance out the
Eastern Conference roster, I’d much prefer to see a guy like Beal rewarded for
what he’s done this season.
Ian Thomsen: I want to see Carmelo Anthony in the All-Star Game. I understand a
lot of people think he isn’t deserving. Those opinions are part of the reason
why I want to see him. He’s the most embattled player in the league. Every year
it seems as if he’s playing under a new GM or new coach or new system, and yet
he’s never paired with an established star who could help him go deep in the
playoffs (as Chauncey Billups did when Anthony’s Nuggets reached the Western
Conference finals in 2009).
Lang Whitaker: Man, this is a tough, tough call. There’s no shortage of
frontcourt players who deserve consideration, from Hassan Whiteside to Carmelo
Anthony. But to me I feel like the team’s record should be considered as well,
and by the best of my reckoning, the best Eastern Conference team without a
representative in All-Star Game is the Detroit Pistons. So Andre Drummond, pack
your bags and get to New Orleans.
