NBA All-Star Game 2020: Predicting the snubs from the Eastern Conference

The All-Star weekend is returning to Chicago for a third time after previous appearances back in 1973 and 1988. The roster for the most hyped exhibition basketball game in the world will be released somewhere around mid-January in a national telecast on TNT and the race to bag a coveted All-Star berth is heating up like we've never seen before.

The recent surge of dramatic roster changes to a majority of franchises, has indeed resulted in a multitude of uncharacteristic names rising to fame as of late. As we near the halfway mark of the NBA 2019-20 regular season, almost all the teams have put forward their most solid cases for an All-Star worthy campaign.

However, as is the norm every year, the final roster often results in a lengthy list of snubs who are left with a bad taste of negligence in their mouths. In this piece, we will take a look at individuals who are playing quality basketball this season so far, but are highly likely to miss out on an All-Star spot.

#1 Jaylen Brown

Playing for a team where five players are averaging at least 11 points per game, Jaylen Brown has been outstanding in his approach to tipoff this season. He is scoring at a career-best rate of 20.6 points per game, on a blazing 52% shooting spree from the field.

Although his jumper is more consistent now than ever, his All-Star bid might be in jeopardy due to the abundance of quality scoring talent on the Boston Celtics roster. Kemba Walker and Jayson Tatum are both leading the new-age Celtics into an era of sheer dominance on both ends of the court. And Brown's contribution - although integral to Boston's core - just might fall short of the jury's demands.

After a no-show last season, the 23-year-old has raised his ceiling to a whole new level this year around. He is headed in the right direction and might soon be a lock for the All-Star game as early as the next season.

#2 Malcolm Brogdon

Brogdon played his first three seasons with the Bucks.

The Indiana Pacers have been managing just fine without their star, Victor Oladipo. Their newest addition in Malcolm Brogdon has proven to be an all-round package, as he averages a career-high 18.3 points and 7.6 assists per game.

Across the 26 games played so far, the 27-year-old point guard has been shooting 46% from the field and making over 93% of his free-throws with surgical precision. As the Pacers rank sixth in the Eastern Conference behind a 21-12 (0.636) record, it is highly unlikely that the team might accomodate two All-Stars this year.

Chances of Brogdon missing out on All-Star glory are excacerbated by Domantas Sabonis' dominant showing so far. Although for the greater good, but their collective package might not be able to appear on All-Star weekend as a couple. Moreover, the abundance of elite level players in the Eastern Conference does not allow the presence of two sub-20 ppg individuals from the same squad.

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#3 Spencer Dinwiddie

Dinwiddie has been the damage recovery expert for Brooklyn this year.

After missing Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, Caris LeVert and Davis Nwaba to season-altering injuries, the Brooklyn Nets called upon Spencer Dinwiddie to take charge of offensive duties. And the 26-year-old shooting guard has not disappointed.

So far, Dinwiddie is posting career-high numbers in 22.5 points and 6.3 dimes per matchup. He has been the Nets' go-to man in these times of distress, taking over 17 shots per game on average. However, of all the major flaws in this system, the uncharasteristically high usage of Spencer has not been efficient.

He is shooting below 30% from beyond the arc and committing around 3.3 personal fouls per contest. It is questionable that his role of being Brooklyn's life-saver is sufficient to bag an All-star berth, as the Nets find themselves with a .500 record down at the 7th place in the East.

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