Taun-taon, pumipili ang NBA fans at coaches ng kanilang players na magrereprisinta sa Eastern at Western Conferences sa midseason All-Star Game, at taun-taon, ilan sa deserving player ang nakikita ang sarili sa labas ng korte.
At sa pagkakataong ito, makaraang piliin ni NBA Commissioner Adam Silver ang Sacramento Kings center na si DeMarcus Cousins upang magsilbi bilang injury replacement kay Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant para sa West’s roster, ikinadismaya naman ni Damian Lillard ang pagkakawala sa midseason exhibition.
Katunayan, taglay ni Lillard ang pagkadismaya nang magdesisyon ito na ‘wag idepensa ang kanyang titulo sa Skills Challenge.
Ngunit kahit na ang Portland Trail Blazers point guard ang tumatayong pinakaprominenteng commission mula sa 2014 NBA All-Star Game, hindi lamang siya ang tanging player ang may malakas na nangyaring kaso sa All-Star.
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Sina Memphis Grizzlies point man Mike Conley, Atlanta Hawks sharpshooter Kyle Korver, Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic pivot Nikola Vucevic ay pawang may mga solidong resumes, subalit ‘di sila magpapartisipa sa festivities, dahil sa high-impossible task na nagbibigay sa bawat isa ng rekognisyon na anila’y sapat na ang pagkakaroon ng 12 roster slots sa East at West.
Ngunit may ideya ang commish na mas pagaanin ang nasabing munting task, ang dagdagan ang bilang ng roster slots, ayon sa ulat ni Marc Stein ng ESPN.com:
Sinabi ni Silver sa “NBA Lockdown: Insiders” show noong Lunes ng gabi na hangad niyang madagdagan ang bilang ng All-Star rosters sa mga susunod na panahon kasama ang bagong Players Association executive director na si Michele Roberts.
Tinanong kung ano ang kahihinatnan mula sa kanyang unang taon bilang commissioner noong Lunes, simula ng palitan si David Stern, sinabi ni Silver na: “That I had to decide between DeMarcus Cousins and Damian Lillard. I didn’t like having to make that choice. I wish I had another slot for Damian because I think he’s deserving of being an All-Star as well.
Tinanong din sa inaasam na karagdagang sa rosters sa respective conferences sa 13 o posibleng hanggang 15 players, iginiit ni Silver na: ”I think that’s something that will get very strong consideration. I think that’s an issue that we’ll end up discussing with the Players Association. It has a direct impact on many of the player’s bonuses. There’s preset bonuses in their contracts for making the All-Star team. I think counter-balancing that is the issue of playing time. NBA executive vice president Rod Thorn and I were having this discussion yesterday. We said we should move to Kentucky coach John Calipari’s platoon system for All-Star to make sure that everyone gets enough playing time.
“In all seriousness, that’s one of the concerns with a larger team. We want to make sure guys get minutes as well if they’re All-Stars. I’m in favor of expanding it. I’m not sure if it’s by one or two roster spots, but it is something Michele Roberts and I will discuss.”
