As 2022 begins and the NBA nears important markers, some predictions for the remainder of the season.
As of today, here’s how this All-Star ballot looks. (In the interest of full disclosure, this writer does have a media ballot to select the All-Star starters. And if a player is a jerk, anti-vaxxer or has even misled the media on his vaccinated status, it won’t affect this ballot.)
So with a few weeks to go until the Feb. 20 game in Cleveland, here goes:
Eastern Conference
Backcourt: DeMar DeRozan, Bulls; Zach LaVine, Bulls
Why not? The best team in the East has weathered injuries and COVID-19, yet sits atop the conference. DeRozan should be on some MVP ballots (more on that later), but LaVine isn’t just along for the ride. Both equally explosive and downright scary for the rest of the East, they’ve found a way to maximize the best of themselves while not stepping on the toes of the other. LaVine is shooting a ridiculous 42% on over seven 3-point attempts a game. DeRozan is a…