It’s a transition year for the NBA All-Star Game, with big names like Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan missing out. But based on merit, here are actual snubs and the players they should replace.
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5. Pau Gasol (over Dirk Nowitzki) » Unlike Nowitzki, who’s riding his NBA Finals MVP, Gasol hasn’t missed a game yet this season. He’s played 37.1 minutes a game, averaging 16.7 points and 10.5 rebounds a game. Nowitzki is a touch ahead in scoring (18.5 ppg) but not in rebounds (6.2).
4. Greg Monroe (over Roy Hibbert) » The better former Georgetown center is the younger one who plays in Detroit and is averaging more points (16.8 to 13.3), rebounds (9.9 to 9.6), shooting better from the field (.530 to .498) and from the line (.835 to .684). Hibbert is only better than Monroe in blocks per game (1.78 to 0.55).
3. Tyson Chandler (over Luol Deng) » Why waste a spot on Deng, who isn’t even having the best season of his career (and has missed seven of 30 games), when Chandler (11.9 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 1.3 bpg) has improved in every category after his NBA championship season in Dallas and has provided a key pick-and-roll partner for Jeremy Lin.
2. Lou Williams (over Deron Williams) » Deron Williams is a superstar — he leads all East point guards in scoring (20.9 ppg), and is third in assists (8.7 per game), but the 76ers need a second All-Star and Lou Williams is the most deserving, with 15.9 points per game off the bench, leading all East point guards in points per 48 minutes.
1. Ryan Anderson (over Chris Bosh) » Anderson (16.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg) has doubled his scoring average from two years ago and is shooting 42.1 percent from 3-point range. Bosh isn’t wowing anyone in Miami, and Orlando needs someone besides Dwight Howard to root for.
– Craig Stouffer
