Victor Oladipo’s absence only illustrated how important he is to the Indiana Pacers’ success. He is clearly worthy of a spot in the All-Star game.
What are Victor Oladipo’s chances to make the All-Star Team?
Will Furr: I think they’re excellent, barring any wild fall off. Oladipo’s 4th in the East in scoring, and we all know scoring affects voting more than anything else. Fans love them some points.
Dipo’s clutch buckets and unexpected blocked shots add up to an ESPN highlight reel season that fans won’t be able to resist. It doesn’t hurt that he’s actually been one of the two or three best guards in the East.
October felt like a mirage. November felt like it had to end. December’s almost over, and he didn’t stopped. This is real. Victor Oladipo is an All-Star.
Jonathan Matthes: Should be 100-percent. Vic’s been in a dual, all season long, with Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan for the title of best Shooting Guard in the East. So the real question, for me, is who’s the East starter: Vic or DeMar?
An argument can be made either way, I love this matchup. They couldn’t be more different from one another. DeRozan plays with a relaxed manner, Oladipo a frenetic one. DeRozan loves his mid-range game, while Oladipo is one of the best 3 point shooters in the league. Both are clear All-Stars.
Ryan Eggers: As of today, pretty high. It’s hard to imagine a hard fall in Oladipo’s play after seeing a sample size of 30+ games. Leading a team that currently holds a homecourt seed in the East along with a 25-5-4 48.6/42.5/79.3 statline is more than enough to warrant an All-Star selection.
Will he get a starter spot? One of them will obviously go to Kyrie Irving, and he has some stiff competition with blue bloods like John Wall and DeMar DeRozan for that second spot. — Ryan Eggers
He’s also been getting enough buzz. His big performances haven’t gone unnoticed by the media and the NBA as a whole, and his myriad of clutch shots have been key in getting his name out there this year.
Will he get a starter spot? One of them will obviously go to Kyrie Irving, and he has some stiff competition with blue bloods like John Wall and DeMar DeRozan for that second spot.
Ultimately, I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up being selected as a reserve instead, but I’d be shocked if he was snubbed entirely.
Ben Renz: They’ve gotta be fairly high right now. Even a major regression over the next couple months couldn’t hurt him too much at this stage. He’s gonna get votes. The numbers are All-Star worthy on their own — 24.9 PPG, 42% shooting from deep, 1.8 steals per game — and fans are talking about him. The sore knee shouldn’t hurt him much unless he continues to miss time (eeeeek).
There are only a few more deserving guards in the East this year, and barring some quick and momentous leap from lesser-known guys, Dipo will be an All-Star this year. And it’s sorta looking like he could be one for the foreseeable future, too.
East: Gotta be 99.99999999% here. If this injury lasts for too long and he can’t play in the all-star game is pretty much the only chance he doesn’t end up making it. His stats, and his story, pretty much make him a lock.
Besides Oladipo, are there any other Pacers that deserve serious All-Star Consideration?
(Or who would you want to see?)
Furr: No, not even close. I’d love to see Lance play in the All Star game though. He’d have to either match up with LeBron at some point, or try to throw him a dozen alley-oops.
Lance would either play literally no defense, jogging around like Dwyane Wade after a “missed” call, or he’d play intense D, but regardless, he’d try to okie-doke, nutmeg, and every single other dribble move possible at any moment possible.
Matthes: Nope. But that’s no fun.
I’m torn between Bojan Bogdanovic and Myles Turner.
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Bogdanovic has combined his reliable offense with stunningly decent defense to become the most surprising surprise of the season, at least for me. Turner has all-star defense but doesn’t have all-star offense yet.
Bojan is more consistent, Myles is more explosive. I’m going with Turner because his scoring average is a little better, but I’d like to pick Bogdanovic…even with his whiffed pass against Boston.
Eggers: Behind Oladipo has been a tandem effort of a lot of different guys who have taken turns at being the #2 option. There hasn’t really been a clear sidekick this year ‚— there are 5 players averaging between 12 and 15 points a game.
Ideally, Myles Turner would fill this role, and he could easily be argued as the second best Pacer this year, but his early injuries and poor performance will keep him far away from serious All-Star consideration. Since there have been so many statistically equal role players, there’s no chance of a second All-Star Pacer.
Though I wouldn’t mind seeing Lance Stephenson get a make-up nod for getting robbed in 2014. Still a little salty about that one.
Renz: Well, Myles IS leading the league in blocks at 2.3 rejections per game, but Indiana isn’t likely to get more than just the one All-Star selection. Nor does Myles’ play really stand out enough to warrant much serious consideration, and he plays barely more than 30 minutes a game.
We’re all desperately hoping the 21-year-old Myles can make that All-Star leap soon, but this likely isn’t the year. The odds of it happening eventually still look good.
East: No. Inconsistency and lackluster performances without Victor Oladipo show that nobody else on this roster is worthy of being in the all-star game.
However, there is a serious case to be made that Domantas Sabonis should be in the rookie-sophomore game thanks to his massive improvements. Lance Stephenson should be in the skills challenge too because that would be peak entertainment.
Indianapolis was announced as the host city for the 2021 All-Star game, it’s first since 1985, what’s it mean to the city?
Furr: Lots of people will talk about the symbolism and the greater meaning to the city’s fans and the revival of Pacers basketball in Indianapolis and on and on.
To me, I don’t think there’s a deeper meaning. It will be a nice financial boon to the city (and the Simons), and a fun event if the Pacers have an All-Star that year. Indianapolis does events well — the Super Bowl is a testament to that — and it might show some fans and players that Indy is actually pretty cool (shut up, it’s actually pretty cool), but on the whole, I’d say it means very little to the city.
Matthes: Welcome to the party NBA! We’ve hosted everything, or are well on our way to host everything. Just look at that event calendar or 2021: FEB: NBA All-Star Game. April: Men’s Final Four. May: Pacers Playoffs and the Indy 500. DEC: Big Ten Championship Games. JAN: College Football Championship Game.
Behind the Buck Pass
Isn’t that awesome? I just think it’s further confirmation of how great a city Indianapolis is.
Eggers: It’s being thrown into a larger pool of major sporting events that are being hosted between 2020-2022 (National College Football Championship, Final Four, Big Ten Championship, etc.) but it’s important to see professional basketball returning to the forefront of the city’s agenda.
The years post-Brawl haven’t been kind to the Pacers, as the emergence of the Colts’ success and the state of college basketball in Indiana have turned fans away from Bankers Life. With the Colts and Hoosiers slipping, the Pacers have a real opportunity to gain back the favor of the city.
Hopefully, this All-Star game is a big step towards bringing the team back as a local as well as a national presence.
Renz: As a Pacers fan (barely) under 30, I’m complaining often about how the team gets overlooked by the NBA at large. But the image of Larry on the mean streets of Indianapolis in an Indy car was NOT getting overlooked.
There are rumors the NBA will invite Larry to participate in every future 3-point contest, but only if he shoots from a seated position inside the Indy car.
Who’s coming in second?
East: In a time where the stadium was call “Market Square Arena”, the city got 43,000+ people to come attend an all-star game filled with future Hall Of Famers.
Indy hasn’t had a huge NBA presence throughout the years, so getting that many people to come here and get attached to the city would be massive.
If the All-Star game began today, who are your starters for both the East and West?
(3 Frontcourt players and 2 backcourt)
Furr: East: Kyrie Irving, Victor Oladipo, LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Joel Embiid.
West: Damian Lillard, James Harden, Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, and DeMarcus Cousins
Matthes: East: LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, Kyrie Irving and Victor Oladipo.
West: Kevin Durant, DeMarcus Cousins, Karl-Anthony Towns, James Harden and Stephen Curry.
Eggers: East: G Kyrie Irving G Victor Oladipo F LeBron James F Giannis Antetokounmpo F Joel Embiid
West: G James Harden G Steph Curry F Kevin Durant F Anthony Davis F Karl Anthony-Towns
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Renz: Kyrie Irving and Oladipo are gonna be tough to leave off at the East guard spots. LeBron is my MVP, always and forever. Giannis is undeniably on this list. The last frontcourt spot is a little tricky, but with the Celtics looking as good as they have I’m gonna go with Al Horford.
Over in the West, let’s go with James Harden and Steph Curry in the backcourt. Anthony Davis, Durant, and Boogie Cousins are in my frontcourt. Boogie has the turnover issue plaguing him, but the rest of the numbers are wild, and we fans love our numbers.
East: In the West: Steph Curry, James Harden, Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins. Kawhi Leonard didn’t play enough minutes and Draymond Green has been slightly worse than Davis. Everyone else is fairly easy.
In the East: Kyrie Irving, DeMar DeRozan, LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid. This was pretty easy outside of shooting guard (Dipo vs DDR) but DeRozans recent surge and leaguewide popularity mean he will get the spot.
Who would be your All-Star reserves?
Furr: East: DeMarr DeRozan, Kristaps Porzingis, Bradley Beal, Kemba Walker, and Ben Simmons
West: Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, LaMarcus Aldridge, Karl Anthony-Towns, and Jimmy Butler
Coaches Reserves:
East: Kevin Love, Kyle Lowry
West: Klay Thompson, Nikola Jokic.
Matthes: East: DeMar DeRozan, Bradley Beal, Andre Drummond, Kevin Love, Kristaps Porzingis, Hassan Whiteside and Al Horford.
West: Russell Westbrook, Damian Lillard, Anthony Davis, LeMarcus Aldridge, Nikola Jokic, Eric Gordon and Clint Capela.
Eggers: East: G John Wall G DeMar DeRozan F Khris Middleton F Kevin Love F Kristaps Porzingis W Bradley Beal W Tobias Harris
West: G Russell Westbrook G Damian Lillard F Paul George F LaMarcus Aldridge F DeMarcus Cousins W Klay Thompson W Jimmy Butler
Renz: East reserves gotta go to some combination of Bradley Beal, John Wall, Demar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry (the Raps have gotta have two guys), Porzingis, Embiid, and Kevin Love. Drummond could make a case.
Over in the West, do both Klay and Draymond make it? Lamarcus Aldridge looks as good as ever – should he be starting in February? Westbrook is having a far less remarkable season this year compared to last — could he be the first reigning MVP to miss the following season’s All-Star game? Is it lingering pettiness or basic math that has me leaving Paul George off of my West reserves? Jimmy Butler makes a strong case. Dame Lillard has been making strong cases for a few years now — it’d be a shame if he were to be left off again.
Next: It could be worse: Losing Streaks
East: In the West: Draymond Green, Russell Westbrook, Jimmy Butler, Damian Lillard, Kawhi Leonard, Karl-Anthony Towns, Paul George, and Chris Paul
In the East: Victor Oladipo, Ben Simmons, Bradley Beal, Al Horford, Kevin Love, John Wall, Kristaps Porzingis, Kyle Lowry.