UA-59049186-1 NBA All-Star Game 2016 Snubs - Good if it Goes

NBA All-Star Game 2016 Snubs

O, Canada! Here are the guys who should be playing in the NBA’s midseason classic (wait that’s baseball, right? Fuck that sport and fuck you too if that was your first thought,) but were missed in lieu of an aging guard who is now considered a frontcourt player for the culture, a guy who’s name makes you think you’re watching 80’s ball, and other cats who shouldn’t be playing on Valentine’s day.

Damian Lilliard, Guard, Portland Trailblazers

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For the second year in a row, Dame Dog is odd man out. Deservedly so, actually, as he comes up short behind Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Chris Paul, and Klay Thompson.  I cannot choose any of those guys that I’d automatically switch Lilliard out for, but he does deserve it. Last year, Dame was put in the game after an injury allowed him to be a sub, so that’d be the only way he’d get in again. Averaging 24ppg 7apg and 4rpg, he is having his best year of his career, expected due to being abandoned by LaMarcus Aldridge, Nick Batum, and others. Maybe next year, then again, there’s a guy who may make him compete even harder to do that, his backcourt mate C.J. McCollum.

Dirk Nowitzki, Forward, Dallas Mavericks

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As for most of his career, as Dirk goes, the Mavs do too. It shows in their record, as they are currently competing for playoff position, after being written off by most due to being a runner up in the DeAndre Jordan fiasco this past off season. But Dirk has been himself, putting up 18 a night on 45% shooting from the field, and adding 7 rebounds a game whenever consolation prize Zaza Pachulia allows him to eat on the glass. Dirk’s minutes are low but his production is not and he just missed being an all-star again in this writer’s opinion.

Kemba Walker, Guard, Charlotte Hornets

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K Dot has the Hornets/Bobcats/Jordan’s Boyz contending for the playoffs this year on just over 20ppg. He is a snub in this writer’s opinion because of his continued will to win and ability to put up big points. He has a 50 point game this year and is seemingly unstoppable anywhere from the three point line and in. I believe that he and Isaiah Thomas are interchangeable, but IT got what he deserved also. When guys like Dwyane Wade and Kobe Bryant (a forward?) go away, perennial spots will open up for guards like Walker.

Gordon Hayward, Forward, Utah Jazz

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Hayward is averaging 20ppg and 5rpg while playing for an injury-riddled lottery team in the west. Let alone, Utah, a team who hasn’t had an all-star since Deron Williams. White Melo, as I have called him since his Butler days’ game is similar to Draymond Green’s nowadays, sans having the Splash Brothers on side of you to build up assists night after night. Obviously, this season, Green was the better choice. LaMarcus Aldridge could have been easily left off this list for Gordon. Hayward either needs more exposure to those geniuses who make the picks for reserves, or his team needs to give him more support so they can win and he can be an easier choice as the leader of that team.

Read this and thought “Nahhhhhhh” or “Yeah! He totally should be an all-star!” Let’s talk about it.

Twitter: @goodifitgoes_ or @mikeyvick_

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