Players just short of the All Star cut

The NBA hosts the greatest basketball players in the world. Many try to reach the status of "professional athlete" but few succeed. Every year fans are asked to assemble two rosters of the best players for the NBA All-Star game. We all know that Kobe, Lebron, Carmelo, Dwight, and for some reason or other, Carmelo will make the cut, leaving only a few spots left for all the deserving athletes playing in these stars' shadow. Who are these silent stars you ask, that are so quickly thrown into the pool of obscurity just because they don't break some esoteric record every game? Well I'll show you...

Rudy Gay:

Hold on before you flip out and stop reading this article! Although his FG% has been just plain bad the last couple seasons, people forget that he was playing for a Toronto team that was resting its future hopes on Andrea Bargnani, so I think he was entitled to taking a few less than perfect shots to try and win a game. What people forget is that Gay has averaged 17+ PPG every year other than his rookie season. Not to mention his stellar defense and propensity to hit clutch shots. People don't often associate Rudy Gay with clutch performances but type "Rudy Gay clutch" into your search engine and you may be surprised with how much you find.

Michael Carter-Williams:

The 76ers have been a huge surprise this season, since they finished last in the Power Rankings. Many had them pegged to be a complete bust, picking up Royce White didn't help their argument, but the impressive play of the team has been inspiring if nothing else. Although a (7-16) record doesn't sound great, the fact is that they've shown they can at least compete, and have a few potential future All-Stars on the team. One of whom is an awkwardly tall PG that many thought wouldn't make much of an impact his rookie season. MCW has flirted with the quadruple double several times already, a feat conquered only by four players the last being David Robinson in 1994. Carter-Williams has battled injury so far, but is still the front runner for Rookie of the Year. If he can get healthy and continue these numbers, 17.7 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 7.3 APG, and 3.1 STLPG, then he may earn himself a spot on the East All-Star rotation.

Wesley Matthews: 

Wesley Matthews is averaging .483 from 3-point land this season and for those who don't know, THAT'S REALLY GOOD! This undrafted swingman is also averaging 16.2 PPG this season on an incredibly talented Trailblazer team. This guy can do it all, defend, shoot, put the ball on the floor, he's quickly becoming one of the NBA's premier marksmen. In addition to this his team has given him the nickname, "Ballot," due to his exclusion from the All-Star ballot. With names like Tiago Splitter and, the currently injured, Danilo Gallinari on the ballot, can someone please explain to me why Matthews isn't at least an option!?


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