Raptors’ Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes will be disappointed with the NBA All-Star selection.
Continue Observing Due to their dismal record and inability to score points offensively on a regular basis, the Toronto Raptors are not in a position to send multiple players to the 2024 NBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis. Their hopes are solely dependent on Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes in the frontcourt.
Saying that either of them could make an All-Star team is by no means a statement tainted by Raptors fandom, between Siakam almost matching the performance that was good enough to get him to the All-Star Game last year and Barnes developing into such a dynamic playmaker that a Most Improved Player award shouldn’t necessarily be ruled out.
In contrast to some other big market teams, the Raptors’ dismal record and relative incapacity stand out, despite the team’s fervent fan base’s best efforts to get their players into the All-Star festivities.
Because of this, after the initial returns were announced, neither Barnes nor Siakam were able to place in the Top 10 of the All-Star fan vote. It seems improbable that either of the favorites could catch up in such a short period of time given how much of a lead some of them have.
In his rookie campaign under Darko Rajakovic, Siakam is averaging 22.4 points on 52% shooting, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game. On the other hand, Barnes is averaging 21.0 points, 9.1 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and more than one steal and block per game. Both of those lines are All-Star caliber in most years.
For both of them to continue moving up the rankings, they will have to overcome some very good players. Although it is debatable why players like Paolo Banchero and Kristaps Porzingis are hardly in the top ten, it is clear that both of them will need to perform exceptionally well in order to move up the rankings. Kyle Kuzma and Mikal Bridges are two names that rank higher than them.
When selecting the starting lineup, half of the total vote is determined by fan voting, and the other half is divided equally between players and the media. Toronto’s dynamic duo must also overcome a bewildering group of media voters and their peers on the court.
Barring some extraordinary injury runs that free up spots, it is unlikely that either Barnes or Siakam make it to the All-Star game due to the storm of circumstances working against them both. However, supporters can improve their situation by casting a ton of votes.
