How competitive are All-Star spots in Salt Lake City? The bench is likely to have a player who picks up MVP votes. Perhaps a lot of MVP votes. Here are my choices for the Eastern Conference All-Star squad.
Frontcourt
Joel Embiid, Kevin Durant and Jayson Tatum
Only this year in this conference is a two-time MVP averaging north of 30 points per game left off the ballot. Granted, this isn’t Giannis Antetokounmpo’s finest season; his three-point numbers have cratered to early-career levels and his true shooting percentage is a few points off its usual 60-plus%.