The Indiana Pacers might not have been featured yesterday during the marquee games, but come All Star time, this team looks to be represented quite well. The NBA just released another round of returns from voting, and as you can see there are some names you’ll find in there wearing the Blue and Gold.
NBA ALL-STAR 2014 BALLOTING PRESENTED BY SPRINT
Eastern Conference
Frontcourt
LeBron James (Mia) 854,105
Paul George (Ind) 712,808
Carmelo Anthony (NYK) 580,795
Roy Hibbert (Ind) 304,829
Chris Bosh (Mia) 222,861
Kevin Garnett (BKN) 137,520
Joakim Noah (Chi) 101,308
Andre Drummond (Det) 91,132
Jeff Green (Bos) 78,693
Tyson Chandler (NYK) 77,496
Luol Deng (Chi) 73,418
Carlos Boozer (Chi) 64,861
Paul Pierce (BKN) 60,541
Brook Lopez (BKN) 52,907
Josh Smith (Det) 46,836
Backcourt
Dwyane Wade (Mia) 565,455
Kyrie Irving (Cle) 524,000
Derrick Rose (Chi) 299,950
John Wall (Was) 210,988
Ray Allen (Mia) 143,714
Rajon Rondo (Bos) 111,335
Deron Williams (BKN) 74,047
George Hill (Ind) 66,030
Lance Stephenson (Ind) 50,444
DeMar DeRozan (Tor) 48,744
You look over the list, and you see the usual suspects. Wade, James, Anthony, Irving, Rose?, Allen, Williams and such. But how about the love for George Hill? For fans stating before that Hill isn’t the “right point guard”, he must be doing something right to earn enough votes to show up in this. I have always stated that he’s the right guy for the job here in Indy. Even when he first got here, I was wondering when he would be the starting point guard.
He might not be your typical flashy and showy point guard, but he does what this team needs. Want to control the tempo or push the ball? Hill does that. Want a floater in the lane? Hill does that. Want a late shot to put you up in a game? Hill does that. Want that leadership without saying much? That’s Hill. Those are the traits that I love about Hill’s game that do not show up in the stats. But those things make Hill the best fit for this team.
What more can be said about Lance Stephenson’s turnaround from his rookie year? Now he’s earning respect around the league for his game and not his talking. There are those moments of Bad Lance on the floor, but I think you deal with that because it’s the nature of his game. The past week is the reason why Lance’s name is popping up in the voting. He’s just put on some clinics out there with his place. Stat sheet stuffing and being that ball of energy the Pacers need.
It’s great to see Roy Hibbert being represented strongly as well. He’s a guy that I thought would be pushed aside when the center position was taken off. But there he is in fourth for the votes. I don’t know if he will overcome Carmelo, but with Frank Vogel set to coach the Eastern Conference squad, I see Hibbert on this team.
Paul George is all but a lock for the squad, and how cool is it to see him being voted in? That shows me more than us Hoosiers love his game. That game might have cooled off a bit here in December, but there’s no doubt, he’s the leader of this team.
Plenty of Blue and Gold will be out there for your viewing pleasure come All Star time, and it might be one of those few times, I’ll be excited for the evening.