Projecting the 2019 NBA All-Star teams: Where do the Philadelphia 76ers stand?
Top NBA point guards. Pick Analysis. Boston Celtics. G. 26 years old. Kyrie Irving. player. 18
Irving has dealt with injuries throughout his career, and last season was no different. He only played 60 games and missed the entire postseason after knee complications. With that said, he also put together his most efficient campaign to date, averaging 24.4 points per game and coming up just percentage points shy of 50/40/90 shooting splits.
If he’s healthy, Irving will be the leading scorer for a Celtics team projected to win the Eastern Conference. Lock him into the starting five.
Pick Analysis. Indiana Pacers. 26 years old. Victor Oladipo. player. 100. Top NBA shooting guards. G
Oladipo made quite the leap last season, becoming one of the best two-way guards in the NBA. His decisiveness when attacking the basket and making plays is unique and refreshing, while his league-leading 2.4 steals per game is an added bonus.
Toronto Raptors. Kawhi Leonard. Top NBA small forwards. Pick Analysis. 27 years old. F. player. 81
If healthy and engaged, Leonard is a top-five NBA player. Reports about his health seem positive and he’s set to join a Raptors team that finished atop the Eastern Conference last season. He’ll be well-positoned for a bounce-back season on an elite team built around his two-way skill set.
89. Top NBA power forwards. Pick Analysis. F. player. Milwaukee Bucks. 23 years old. Giannis Antetokounmpo
The face of NBA 2K19, Antetokounmpo looks primed for his first real run at MVP. Mike Budenholzer will lift the Bucks to new heights, avoiding ill-advised lineup decisions that stymie Giannis’ brilliance. Coming off a season in which he averaged 26.9 points and 10.0 rebounds per game, expect Antetokounmpo to continue his rapid ascent to elite status.
Top NBA centers. Pick Analysis. Joel Embiid. player. 93. Philadelphia 76ers. 24 years old. C
Embiid is competing with Antetokounmpo and Leonard for the title of best player in the East. He finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting last season and was among the highest-usage offensive players in the NBA, leading the Sixers to 52 wins and the third seed.
With his first healthy offseason as an NBA player now complete, expect Embiid to take another step forward in his third season. Boosting his efficiency and becoming a more polished passer out of the post will be focal points for Embiid’s development.