We're about a quarter of the way through the year, so who are our quarter-season All-Stars?

West

Chris Paul kind of ruined his first team argument for this ridiculously early All star game convo with how the Clips have slumped the past 1.5 weeks. Before that though, I would have given him the nod over one of the two guards that's how good he had been.

Im as big of a Rudy Gobert guy as there and even with Draymond's offensive issues this year Im still meh on putting him over Draymond. Draymond is the key that unlocks all those ridiculous small ball lineups with the burden of responsibility he can handle at the 5 defensively---no Draymond and literally everything changes in GS, just absurd value even when he isnt having his best offensive year. Still we can call that a push Gobert is Utah's defense in many ways and the reason they are again a top 5 caliber unit.

I cant endorse Klay as an all star, at least as of right now. Hayward's just been too damn good.

Even though KAT's defense has been a dissapointment this year Id still nominate him for an all star spot over Gobert, although this one's tricky for several reasons.

East

Kemba's gotta be on there. It's not quite Porzingis's time, Kemba's been better. Honestly I would put in Kemba over Kyrie if I had to absoulutely pick one as of today.

Horford doesn't make any sense hasnt even played enough. There's a reasonable case to be made Drummond has become overrated: meh defender, not a good rim protector, not a good finisher around the rim, not a good post player, cant shoot FTs. At some point people have to ask what exactly he is which is perhaps the league's best rebounder but then someone with alot more questions after that. He's not sniffing any All Star ballot for me.

DeRozan after his red hot start where he was an absurd 56% on mid rangers his first 8 games has largely been what he was last year(23-24 ppg 43-44% shooting 21-22 PER since then). His start was good enough he can stay as a starter for now but if someone like Isaiah Thomas keeps up his absurd level of play come January when the voting happens I'd likely put in Thomas over DeRozan. Heck with the way Lowry has started picking it up the past 8-10 games he might be the better candidate even in his own back court by then.

/r/nba Thread