Who are your predicted starting five on each conference for this upcoming 2024 All-Star?
These are my objective (realistic) guesses:
West:
G: Stephen Curry (popularity, inconsistent atm);
G: Luca Doncic (ridiculously efficient so far);
F: LeBron James (popularity);
F: Kevin Durant (Just great atm);
C: Nikola Jokic;
East:
G: Tyrese Maxey (marketable narrative and playing great atm);
G: Donovan Mitchell (good and popular);
F: Jason Tatum (ofc);
F: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Ofc);
C: Joel Embiid (ofc);
These are my personal preferences:
West:
G: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Just better overall vs Steph atm);
G: Luka Doncic (I dislike Luca but seems like he’s locked to start bc he is popular and just ridiculous stat wise);
F: Paul George (Currently playing great atm. Hoping LeBron numbers would dip and George get a bit better for him to have a case);
F: Kevin Durant (This one’s kinda locked stats wise too);
C: Nikola Jokic (JOKER);
East:
G: Damian Lillard (Playing quite well atm. Hoping Bucks linger on top 3 in the east for him to make a case against the stat padding guards in the east);
G: Donovan Mitchell (Still prefer a legit SG rather than two PGs even tho it’s All Star game);
F: Jason Tatum (Tatum fan and he’s locked);
F: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Even his stats dipped a bit he’ll still start bc he is charismatic);
C: Joel Embiid (no C in East comes close);
So whose yours? I would love to see your predictions as well and your arguments why.
Remember it's a popularity contest. Lillard is highly likely to grab one of the East back court spots, deserving or not. The other is a bit more up for grabs - Mitchell probably has the biggest name of the possible candidates, but Trae isn't far behind. Haliburton is the most deserving guard in the East, but that's certainly no guarantee of winning the vote.