NBA games of the week: The Not All-Stars

This edition of the NBA games of the week is brought to you by those who didn’t make the All-Star team.

All-Star voting remains one of the great conundrums in the modern NBA. But, since it’s All-Star week, and since the focus of this week is either on planning a vacation if you’re a player who didn’t make the team or you’re getting ready for the most fun weekend in the regular season, it’s only fitting we celebrate.

But, let’s focus on the vacationing players. The ones who won’t be in Los Angeles this week to partake in the exhibition on Sunday. Most won’t even be on the floor for the skills competitions, but the NBA is lenient with opening the doors to whatever players represent the most entertaining product.

There’s inherent issue with just those who won’t be in the All-Star game. Because the league only allows 15 players per team, the number of teams represented will always be disproportionate toward the teams who have the most success. We’ve seen the rigidity of the All-Star game leave out guys like Damian Lillard or Paul George — players who are All-Stars, but aren’t because the system just doesn’t allow 40 players in.

It makes you appreciate guys like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, players who earned a spot on the All-Star team near every season of their careers. Of course, by the end of his career any bids for Bryant were a lifetime achievement, but the point remains. You have to be really good.

So, let’s celebrate the teams who haven’t contributed any All-Stars. Teams who will be enjoying the next week or so before they have a good five days off. Teams who are looking more forward to tanking in most cases, and surprising potential postseason runs in others.