Phoenix Suns’ record won’t allow multiple All-Stars, so who’s in?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMm5ZoZFu14

The fact that Phoenix is winning less than Utah, Cleveland and Minnesota isn’t Steve Nash’s fault. Or Marcin Gortat’s for that matter.

Fact is, the Suns’ pick-and-roll partners are both playing well enough to merit All-Star consideration, but aren’t necessarily locks for Orlando. Nash made the cut on ESPN.com and NBA.com, while Gortat was considered but ultimately discarded by ProBasketballTalk and SBNation.

The media’s awareness of Nash is amusing, if only because his numbers are actually down from last season in every category except field goal percentage:

2010-11: 14.7 points, 11.4 assists, 3.4 rebounds, 49.2FG%

2011-12: 14.5 points, 9.9 assists, 2.4 rebounds, 54.5FG%

Nash and Gortat are both possible All-Star selections, but will either one of them make the cut?. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)

What makes Nash a candidate this year after not being good enough last year? The absence of Deron Williams (now with the Nets) and Manu Ginobili (injured). That leaves Tony Parker (SAS), Kevin Martin (HOU), Kyle Lowry (HOU) and Monta Ellis (GSW) as Nash’s competition (we’re assuming OKC”s Russell Westbrook is a lock).

Ironically, Gortat’s biggest reason for potentially not making the All-Star team may be his own teammate. Nash, due to his already established career, is more likely to get the invite before Gortat. If that’s the case, coaches are even less likely to vote Gortat on due to the Suns’ abysmal record.

It’s worth wondering, though, if Gortat’s chances would be better if Phoenix’s record was as well. The Polish big man is averaging career highs of 15.2 points ,10.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game along with 56 percent shooting. Such numbers during a center-deprived era would normally be good enough, especially with Yao Ming no longer in the mix.

Instead, the Suns’ lottery-bound record and Andrew Bynum’s emergence appear likely to keep Gortat’s All-Star season unofficial. And if you’re debating whether Gortat is All-Star material at all, then Rasheed Wallace (2008) and Tim Duncan (2011) probably didn’t deserve to make it either.

Either way, at least one half of the Suns’ pick-and-roll tandem is likely on the outside looking in come All-Star weekend.

Original Story: http://wearesuns.com/phoenix-suns-rec...