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NBA All-Star Game needs a lot of replacements
It's a good thing they didn't pick the NBA All-Star team rosters in advance this year.
Zion Williamson will not play in the next three games and will not play in the All-Star Game.
— Andrew Lopez (@_Andrew_Lopez) February 8, 2023
Willie Green said team will not see the starting five they started the year with before ASG.
Expect Williamson to be re-evaluated once again after the break from his hamstring injury.
After Wednesday's news that Zion Williamson won't play in the All-Star Game, the starting lineups need a lot of reinforcements. Steph Curry was already expected to miss the game with a knee injury, and then Jaylen Brown sustained a facial fracture Wednesday.
Boston’s Jaylen Brown has suffered a facial fracture and will miss some time, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Initial feeling is Brown could be sidelined through the All-Star break, with further specialist examination on Thursday.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 9, 2023
Kevin Durant will also need an injury replacement.
With eight days until the All-Star break starts for the Nets, Kevin Durant (MCL sprain) isn’t expected to return to team’s lineup until post-break, sources tell ESPN. Jacque Vaughn told reporters that there’s still no timetable for a return. https://t.co/mmkvOGahne
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 7, 2023
That's at least four replacement players. But it nicely works out to be one guard and one frontcourt player per conference. We assume Kevin Durant's replacement will still come from the East even though he's now a Phoenix Sun.
It's an easy choice in the Western Conference. While it feels weird to have two Sacramento Kings as All-Stars, Team Beam is in third place. De'Aaron Fox and his 24.2 points per game deserve to replace Curry. And Devin Booker needs to rest his hamstring anyway.
Anthony Davis was playing like an MVP before he got hurt. He may have missed time, but he's played two more games than Williamson. Send The Brow to Utah.
In the Eastern Conference, Pascal Siakam is having a career year: 25 points, eight rebounds, 6.2 assists. The Raptors may be having a disappointing season, but they're still in the play-in, and that's thanks to Siakam.
For the final guard spot, the two best guards would probably rather go on vacation than play in the All-Star Game. Jimmy Butler and James Harden are having great seasons, but they'd rather spend hanging out with Mark Wahlberg and Lil Baby, respectively. So, send Jalen Brunson (career-high 23.2 points per game), just so Knicks superfan Spike Lee will attend the All-Star Game in Salt Lake City.
More must-reads:
- The 25 worst NBA contracts ever signed
- Report: Giannis Antetokounmpo still mulling exit from Bucks
- The 'League leaders in three-pointers' quiz
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