2019-20 NBA All-Star picks: Who represents the Philadelphia 76ers?
EASTERN CONFERENCE STARTERS
G. <strong>38.1 mins | 20.7 pts | 4.8 reb | 7.5 ast | 1.1 stl | 0.4 blk | 3.2 TO | .419/.357/.869 </strong>. . Toronto Raptors. KYLE LOWRY
Endlessly clever and the ultimate glue guy, Kyle Lowry has emerged as the Eastern Conference’s top point guard in 2019-20. The Raptors have managed to thrive in Kawhi Leonard‘s absence, in large part due to Lowry’s stabilizing presence on the perimeter. He makes Toronto tick.
Shooting, passing, off-ball — Lowry checks every box. He can ISO when needed, carve it up in a pick-and-roll, or slip in a nice screen to free up a teammate. He’s everywhere he’s needed on the court, and it often flies under the (box score) radar.
G. <strong>36.5 min | 27.8 pts | 4.8 reb | 6.6 ast | 1.1 stl | 0.3 blk | 3.3 TO | .435/.315/.831</strong>. . Washington Wizards. BRADLEY BEAL
The Wizards are a hot mess, especially on defense. Bradley Beal continues to rise above the crowd, building on his breakout 2018-19 season despite the team’s limited success. Washington has a fiery offense, and Beal is due a large amount of credit.
A drop in efficiency and poor defensive metrics are unavoidable knocks on Beal, but his talent as a three-level scorer goes unquestioned. He also leads Washington in assists, and has admirably filled the playmaking void left by John Wall.
<strong>35.4 min | 20.3 pts | 6.8 reb | 6.6 ast | 2.0 stl | 0.6 blk | 2.5 TO | .424/.276/.821</strong>. . Miami Heat. JIMMY BUTLER. F
The Sixers really had Jimmy Butler… in a new situation more conducive to his skill set, Butler has reasserted his status as a borderline top-10 player. His numbers don’t immediately stand out as special, but he’s a selfless player who tends to better those around him.
Butler is a gifted scorer, a methodical pick-and-roll threat, and an underrated passer. He’s also among the league leaders in steals, and plays a large role in Miami’s pesky defense. He’s on track for All-Defense votes.
F. <strong>31.0 min | 30.4 pts | 13.0 reb | 5.6 ast | 1.2 stl | 1.2 blk | 3.6 TO | .556/.331/.599</strong>. . Milwaukee Bucks. GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO
The current MVP favorite and possibly the best player in basketball, Giannis Antetokounmpo has led the Bucks to a commanding lead in the Eastern Conference standings. Mike Budenholzer has engineered the perfect system for Giannis’ physical, downhill attack. His ability to bludgeon defenses into submission hasn’t met many answers so far.
In addition to his marginal improvements on offense — his three-point shot is perking up — Giannis is a viable Defensive Player of the Year candidate at this moment in time. The Bucks are the league’s top-rated defense, and Giannis’ wide-ranging impact is the main reason why.
C. <strong>30.9 min | 23.7 pts | 12.4 reb | 3.1 ast | 0.8 stl | 1.4 blk | 3.0 TO | .477/.339/.834</strong>. . Philadelphia 76ers. JOEL EMBIID
Even in a ‘down season,’ Joel Embiid is a no-brainer. His defensive impact is singular, while his offense continues to trend in the right direction despite Philadelphia’s best effort to work against him. Embiid still has frustrating moments of tunnel vision and indecision, but in the end, his status as a top-10 player is concrete.
The Sixers are still contenders in the East despite a slew of concerns and a dissatisfied locker room. Embiid is the emotional and on-court leader in Philadelphia, and the more assertive his approach, the better the Sixers.