How many All-Stars will the Philadelphia 76ers have in 2018-19?
Last year, the Philadelphia 76ers had an All-Star for the first time since 2013. In a weak Eastern Conference, who will make it this year?
Joel Embiid started in last year’s All-Star Game for Stephen Curry‘s team in the first year of the pickup-style draft format. Curry never specified the order of his picks, but the fact the 24-year-old started for the 2016 NBA MVP’s team along with superstars like James Harden and Giannis Antetokounmpo shows how far he has come since he missed two straight seasons to injury.
The Cameroonian finished in third place in the fan vote and third place overall among Eastern Conference frontcourt players. Philadelphia 76ers point guard Ben Simmons finished in third place in fan voting and fourth overall among Eastern Conference guards, but the NBA snubbed him because Adam Silver hates the Process and thinks Goran Dragic deserved it more.
Simmons and Embiid, among a few other players, are basically locked in for a 2018/19 All-Star Game appearance, assuming they stay healthy. In a weak Eastern Conference, the only other locks are Giannis, Kyrie Irving, Victor Oladipo, and Kawhi Leonard. At least one of Jayson Tatum, Gordon Hayward, and Jaylen Brown will probably make it, too.
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Essentially, the Sixers’ borderline stars – Dario Saric and Robert Covington, in particular – will probably battle it out with Eastern Conference frontcourt players like Kevin Love, Kristaps Porzingis, Andre Drummond, Blake Griffin, Al Horford, and the Celtics’ three wings to fill out the bench. Both need to add to his game in order to put up a fight against these experienced players.
It’s unlikely, but the Sixers could play themselves into a situation similar to the Atlanta Hawks in 2015 if Philly hits basketball nirvana. That could give J.J. Redick and, depending on his role and how his jump shot is, Markelle Fultz and outside shot at making an appearance in the game. The 2015 Hawks had four of their five starters appear in the game, including sharpshooter Kyle Korver.
Chances are, the Sixers will not hit basketball nirvana before the All-Star Game. But on the bright side, the Eastern Conference has such a dearth of talent that more than two players from Philly could make the roster even without the 76ers playing flawless basketball for an extended period of time. RoCo is probably the most likely Sixer to make it after Simmons and Embiid, but Markelle Fultz may have an outside chance depending on his jump shot, role with the team, and overall production.
Covington earned a spot on the All-Defensive first team at the end of last season, where he averaged 1.7 steals, 0.9 blocks, and a 2.1 defensive box plus-minus. He established himself as one of the best perimeter defenders in the league, but he stagnated offensively. He showed little improvement off the dribble and hit 36.9 percent of his threes, an uninspiring mark for someone branded as a 3-and-D player.
That said, he did play for most of the season with an injured finger, which may have hurt his stroke. He needs to improve this year if the Philadelphia 76ers want to have a chance at beating the Boston Celtics, and if he does get better, making the All-Star game will be a byproduct of his improvement.
If Fultz begins the year as the dominant, multidimensional scorer everyone thought he was when he came out of college, then he could sneak onto the East’s roster for All-Star Weekend. A lot would need to go right for the second year player to come close to making the team, but optimism is important.
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A lot of variables have to go in favor of a player in order for him to make the All-Star Game. Considering the talent they have already exhibited, Embiid and Simmons should be considered locks to appear in the game. The Sixers are betting a lot this season on the development of their key players, so the guy who steps up as the third star to go along with the Process and the Fresh Prince might find himself representing the team in Charlotte this February.