All-Star Game 2023 | The result of your votes for replacements
So we know the holders for the All-Star Game 2023, which will take place on February 19 in Salt Lake City. In the east is Giannis Antetokounmpo who is named captain and therefore chooses his team. It was accompanied by Kyrie Irving, Donovan Mitchell, Jayson Tatum and Kevin Durant.
In the West, this is inevitable LeBron James who was again called captain. He was by his side accompanied by Stephen Curry, Luka Doncic, Zion Williamson and Nikola Jokic.
But who are now the 14 substitutes the coaches will choose? You were asked and, as usual, there were debates. in the east, Joel Embiid (96% of votes) and Jaylen Brown (88%) is almost unanimous and it is logical. The first cannot be out of place among the holders when the second is the first lieutenant, even the leader of bis, of the best team in the league. back, James Harden (67%) seems very high to us, while he still hasn’t missed a third of the meetings, and he is no longer as indisputable as before. But with the Sixers in second place in the Eastern Conference, he arguably has a place.
Then there are seven players for four places: Tyrese Haliburton (54%), Julius Randle (50%), Bam Adebayo (48%), Jimmy Butler (46%), DeMar DeRozan (43%), Trae Young (42%) and Pascal Siakam (39%).
YOUR SUBSTITUTES IN THE EAST
Joel Embiid (Philadelphia)
Jaylen Brown (Boston)
James Harden (Philadelphia)
Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana)
Julius Randle (New York)
Bam Adebayo (Miami)
Jimmy Butler (Miami)
In general, we agree with you. Tyrese Haliburton’s impact (and we’ve seen it since he’s gone) at Indiana deserves a first star. In New York, we can doubt between Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson for the All-Star place and the leader has arguments, but the interior regained the efficiency of this excellent season 2020/21 (except for 3 -points ) and he seems to have gained the upper hand over his teammates in recent weeks.
Like you, we believe that Bam Adebayo’s ever-growing influence deserves to be highlighted by a second star. Our only point of disagreement is about Jimmy Butler.
Granted, the fullback/winger is still vital to the Heat’s game and his ability to alternate between taking over the game himself and letting his teammates do the talking makes for a difficult assessment. But between his failed games, his many trips to the infirmary and the Heat’s record, it’s hard to send him to Salt Lake City in addition to Bam Adebayo. And if you have to pick a Florida player, the interior clearly has the advantage.
So who is in his place? In terms of stats and consistency, Pascal Siakam and DeMar DeRozan were options but we chose instead Jrue vacation. So sure, the Bucks leader has missed games too, and he hasn’t always been good. But his impact on both sides of the court has been critical in recovering from Milwaukee’s injuries.
Two Lakers in the All-Star Game?
In the West, your votes are even clearer Yes Morant (97%), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (86%), Damian Lillard (76%), Lauri Markkanen (76%) and Domantas Sabonis (74%) outstanding.
For the last two places, Anthony Davis (49%) and De’Aaron Fox (46%) are also ahead of their pursuers, Paul George (36%), Anthony Edwards (31%), Devin Booker (28%), Kawhi Leonard (18%), Aaron Gordon (10%), Klay Thompson (9%) or CJ McCollum (8%).
YOUR SUBSTITUTES IN THE WEST
Ja Morant (Memphis)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City)
Damian Lillard (Portland)
Lauri Markkanen (Utah)
Domantas Sabonis (Sacramento)
Anthony Davis (LA Lakers)
De’Aaron Fox (Sacramento)
Again, we generally agree with you. It’s impossible not to send Ja Morant and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to Salt Lake City, just like Damian Lillard, despite Portland’s problems.
Lauri Markkanen and Domantas Sabonis are too important for the Jazz and the Kings. On the other hand, we can doubt for the last two places. You need at least one more frontcourt player (because you need at least three) but Anthony Davis is hard to highlight. His long absence and the Lakers’ record do not plead in his favor, even if he was ultra dominant in a short period of time. Instead, we prefer the NBA to invite Aaron Gordonfor his defensive impact and Denver’s season salute.
As for De’Aaron Fox, we doubted Anthony Edwards a lot, more and more as the weeks went by, and more and more the Wolves boss. However, the Sacramento point guard seems to us to be deserving of his first star, compared to his team’s excellent current 3rd place finish in the Western Conference. Although it remains quite fragile.