These are what the NBA All-Star teams should be based on fantasy rankings. Keep in mind that you won’t see Dwight Howard, Blake Griffin, or Rondo on this list due to their lousy free-throw % (missing free throws destroys your team if you are in a roto league. Fortunately for me, I am in a head-to-head league, and have both of those guys, so they have been monsters for me). In parentheses after each player’s name is their total season rank so far (as computed by Yahoo Sports). The ranks were pulled up Thursday evening.
Eastern Conference All-Stars
Starters
PG: Derrick Rose, Bulls (14)
Rose’s breakout season in real life has also translated to the fantasy game.
SG: Paul Pierce, Celtics (8)
Shooting 51% from the floor, 42% from 3-point range, and 85% from the free throw line. Throw in useful counting numbers, and Pierce is having the best all-around season (and most efficient season) of his underrated career.
SF: Lebron James, Heat (11)
The King moved up three spots to 8th in the rankings after his 51-8-11 line he dropped on Orlando last night.
PF: Amar’e Stoudemire, Knicks (6)
Stoudemire has been a monster in New York. He scores, gets boards, blocks shots, and even hits free throws. Once the Knicks add Carmelo Anthony (which they will either before the trade deadline or during the off-season), they will be a power in the Eastern Conference.
C: Al Horford, Hawks (7)
This is a guy no one gets excited about, but quietly produces in all stat categories.
Bench
G: Ray Allen, Celtics (18)
Allen was picked at the end of the 6th round in my league, and has produced late-2nd round value. He thrives despite very low usage by the Celtics (only 12.5 shots per game) due to blistering percentages (51-46-86).
G: Raymond Felton, Knicks (24)
Felton would’ve been in the All-Star game if not for being in a slump the past two months.
F: Josh Smith, Hawks (15)
Smith has stepped up his game ever since he decided to stop chucking 3s at a 25% clip. Smith is the best shot-blocking small forward in the game.
F: Wilson Chandler, Knicks (29)
This guy went in the 16th round in my fantasy league (unfortunately, not on my team). He’s developing into the Knicks version of Shawn Marion (back when Marion was on the Suns, not the version that currently bricks jumpers for the Mavericks).
C: Elton Brand, 76ers (28)
I couldn’t believe Brand was ranked this high. Having a nice bounce-back year after a couple of very injury plagued seasons in Philadelphia, but still is not justifying the ridiculous amount of money the 76ers are paying him.
UT: Kevin Garnett, Celtics (31)
Garnett would’ve been much higher on this list if not for games missed due to injury. KG looked finished at times during the 2009-10 season. He deserves praise for returning to his old form (even if he’s completely crazy).
UT: Danny Granger, Pacers (32)
Granger is the new Pau Gasol (pre-trade to Los Angeles) in the sense that he could never carry a team to a championship as the best player, but could absolutely put a team over the top if he were the second banana. He would be a fantastic swingman playing along side Chris Paul in New Orleans.
Western Conference All-Stars
Starters
PG: Chris Paul, Hornets (1)
Chris Paul is amazing. He’s been wearing a giant knee pad all year, clearly doesn’t have the same explosiveness he used to have, but is still so efficient at running the offense in the half court that he is fantasy’s top player.
SG: Manu Ginobili, Spurs (5)
Ginobili is whom I try to emulate when I am playing basketball. I have the awkwardness down, and even the herky-jerky dribbling style, but unfortunately I am not blessed with his ability to put the ball in the basket. It must be the bald spot on his head that gives him the magic power.
SF: Kevin Durant, Thunder (2)
Similar to how Blake Griffin was put on this Earth to jump 12 feet into the air and dunk on people, Durant was constructed for the sole purpose of draining jumpers and getting to the free throw line. I wish that Oklahoma City would stick him in the post a little more, but in spite of that he is still one of the most entertaining players to watch in the NBA.
PF: Kevin Love, Timberwolves (3)
Thank God that David Stern used Yao Ming’s All-Star spot to get Kevin Love into the game. Despite Minnesota’s poor record, a guy who averages a 20-15 (which hasn’t been done since Moses Malone) and hits 44% of his threes needs to be on the All-Star team.
C: Pau Gasol, Lakers (4)
The White Swan is the most skilled big-man we have in the NBA. When this guy plays angry, there is no stopping him.
Bench
G: Deron Williams, Jazz (9)
A damn solid point guard. I’m sorry, but that’s all I have to say about him.
G: Kevin Martin, Rockets (12)
This guy went in the 7th round in my fantasy league. Health is always a concern, but when he isn’t hurt this guy can flat-out score.
F: Rudy Gay, Grizzlies (10)
This one of those guys that always does something. One night he might score 25 points. Another he’s grabbing 9 boards. Another he’s blocking 3 shots. He’s similar to Granger in that you’re probably not going to build a title contender around him, but he would be a great compliment to an elite player.
F: Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks (22)
This guy would probably be in the top three if not for a prolonged absence due to injury. He hadn’t gotten much credit until everyone saw how awful the Mavericks were while he was injured.
C: LaMarcus Aldridge, Trail Blazers (20)
Aldridge is probably the winner of “biggest All-Star snub” now that David Stern has put Kevin Love into the game.
UT: Russell Westbrook, Thunder (13)
I get tired watching Westbrook play, because it seems like he’s always barreling at full speed towards the basket. He’s the perfect compliment to Kevin Durant.
UT: Dorell Wright, Warriors (16)
This guy was the one late-round gem I was able to unearth in my fantasy draft. I grabbed this guy in the 17th round (if you’re into fantasy hoops, you may wonder why there even was a 17th round. I run a league with each team having 20 players. A little big, but it kills the waiver wire). Similar to Gay, Wright is a guy who always gives you something.
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