Earlier this season, after his starting forward Blake Griffin was voted in to the All-Star game as a starter, Clippers coach Doc Rivers was lobbying for his starting center, DeAndre Jordan, and starting point guard, Chris Paul, to be in the 2015 NBA All-Star game.
Well, one out of 2 worked. Initially.
There have been 3 big time injuries to the Western Conference All-Star team for the 2015 NBA All-Star Game that has 3 starters out of the game with Kobe Bryant pulling out of the game first, over the weekend Blake Griffin was pulled out due to his injury and yesterday, Anthony Davis was forced to pull out of the game.
Sacramento Kings Center DeMarcus Cousins took Kobe’s spot on the team, Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard took Blake’s spot on the team and then there was Davis’ spot.
Late last night, during the Clippers victory over the Houston Rockets at home, it was announced that Davis was out of the game and sometime the next day NBA commissioner Adam Silver would announce the player to take his place.
The immediate short-list of candidates were Dallas Mavericks Dirk Nowitzki, Memphis Grizzlies guard Mike Conley, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris and Clippers’ center Jordan.
Well, Doc’s lobbying didn’t work in the long run and before the night was over, commissioner Silver selected Mavs Nowitzki to replace Davis on the Western Conference All-Star roster, much to the dismay of Clippers coach Doc Rivers.
Following from Joe Resnick of the Associated Press.
“D.J. should be on it. We all know that,” Rivers said. “I think it’s a travesty. I really do – a guy who’s getting 20s and 20s is not on the team.
“You play both sides of the floor. Just one end of the floor keeps getting all of the credit, but the other side is more important. There’s never been a team that’s won a title without being a decent defensive team. But that side keeps getting forgotten about in the All-Star game. But D.J. knows that we’re playing for bigger things than All-Star games.”
He might be right. Jordan has put up 3 games of 20 points and 20 rebounds in the last 8 days and he’s completely carried the Clippers through some of their injury problems they have as of late.
Who knows, maybe Jordan will get an invite if for some reason another Western Conference All-Star is forced to pull out.
