The All Star reserves in the East and West are out, Who made it, who got snubbed, and reaction to the foremost headline in this league as we speak, Joe l Embiid's sideline in Philadelphia by a meniscus injury in his left knee. We get to all of that next here on This League Uncut.
Welcome to This League Uncut in rule of twenty four hour NBA News.
This's you'll, Chris Hans, it's no time, Marks time, It's so time.
This League Uncut is underway and on fire. This should be a good one.
Hey, everyone, welcome in to a Thursday night taping Friday morning drop for the This League Uncut podcast.
Mark Stein here with Chris Hanyes.
It was always going to be a crazy time because this Thursday, at three pm Eastern, on this Thursday, that officially marked one week to go until the trade deadline. So it was going to be busy anyway. But on this Thursday, seemingly in the space of an hour and change, we had a trade. The Houston Rockets made a trade for next season, but still a significant trade. The Houston Rockets swung a deal with Memphis to acquire Steven Adams.
That was right before TNT rolled out its scheduled announcement of the All Star reserves in both conferences, and in the middle of that revelation finding out the coaches seven selections in both the East and the West, we get an injury update from the seventy six.
Ers that the Sixers are not.
Outright declaring the severity of the injury yet. The Sixers say they're going to need the rest of the week to make that determination, But the Sixers do acknowledge that an MRI has revealed a meniscous injury in Joe L. Embiid's left knee that is obviously going to sideline him for what, at this point is an undetermined amount of time,
but it's obviously not gonna be measured in days. And the level of what a blow that is to the Sixers given the way Embiid has played this season, after all this discourse all week long about the sixty five game rule and how many games Embiid has already missed, I mean, all of that gets shoved to the side right now, because this is just a massive hit the Sixers when Embiid, I mean, even after that Golden State game, when Joel Embiid clearly did not look right even before
the unfortunate loose ball scramble that caused this more severe knee injury this season, in the thirty four games he has played, Joel Embiid has scored twelve hundred and one points in only eleven hundred and fifty seven minutes. Absolutely ridiculous Wilt esque production. And so the level of alarm in Philadelphia is obviously super high. As we speak, as we're recording this, the Sixers are trying to win a game in Utah without Joel Embid.
So look, we're gonna get to Embiid.
We're gonna start with the All Star stuff, and then we're gonna get to Embiid. Chris Haynes, I'm sure you were dialed in this evening when the All Star reserves were announced.
I actually wrote.
A column on Tuesday trying to pick my fourteen reserves. Had I had a ballot or had I been advising a coach with a vote, I knew how I was gonna go and vote my fourteen. I got twelve out of fourteen, right, I got them all right. In the
Eastern Conference. Jalen Brown, Donovan Mitchell of course, Jalen Brunson, who was a Locke to make his first All Star team after he narrowly missed out on being named a starter, bam At a Bio, Julius Randall, Tyrese Maxi, And yes, I had Palo Bancaro getting a spot and he did so. I did well in the I did well in the East. You can tell me, Chris, if you think anybody in the East got snub at the West Man kawhi Ad, Devin Booker, Anthony Edward Stephen Curry. Those five all made it.
But I would have gone with Rudy Gobert and Demontes Sabonis for the other two spots. The coaches, what with Karl Anthony Towns over Gobert. That one really surprised me. And then Paul George much less of a surprise because the Clippers have been fantastic and you can certainly make the argument that the Clippers should have two All Stars. But the Clippers have two, the Sacramento Kings have none. The Kings didn't get Sabonis or Deer and Fox in and that genuinely did surprise me.
Christianes, Yeah, I mean the East was pretty this this in recent memory. The East, that was pretty that was probably one of the most easiest seven guys to pick in the conference in recent memory. That's that's pretty much the roster that everybody pretty much predicted. The West, Yeah, we knew that was going to be pretty much up for grabs. You know, definitely some controversy there the Sacramento Kings not getting one. I think you can make a case that they should have two. But then who are
you taking off? Who are you taking off? Minnesota, number one team in the Western Conference. You can say that they deserve too if you look at typically when you have a team that is number one in the conference or even number one in the entire league, that comes with multiple All Star bursts, and so you know, it's interesting you would have picked go Bear over Karl Anthony Towns,
who's having a pretty good season. I mean, I think Minnesota they would make the case that they deserve three with that being not.
Getting three in the West.
The West, Man, the West is the West is so stacked you literally could come up with a list of fifteen worthy candidates for the seven spots.
I mean, guys like shne Goot.
Can't even get close to being considered.
James James Harden is not even going to be considered.
And you know it's uh, it's just no Pelicans are you know, on this Western Conference roster.
It's just super competitive. But no, I have to Minnesota's rise.
Obviously, Anthony Edwards is a huge part of it, becoming the guy there, becoming really the centerpiece of this team. But the other transformation in Minneapolis has been defense. This has been the best defensive team in the league, a top three defensive team all season. That starts with Gobert. I mean in a huge, huge way. So it's not that I'm trying to slight cat, but to me, Gobert should be the Wolf's second All Star.
But I mean, if you disagree.
Will disagree. Let's let's talk about it, don't. I don't know if I disagree or not, But I think they're a compelling chase for others, for others. But you know, we talked about this. Was it a month ago when I was talking about the guards, how it was just so many guards that were deserving of an All Star birth in the Western Conference and I was, you know,
I was talking about Steph. I was talking about the season the Golden State is having I believe Steph is on on a team with the lowest record who made an All Star team. I believe Steph is the lowest. So with that being said, I remember we were talking
about three weeks ago. I was talking about, is there a scenario where Steph will be left off for the roster because Dearon Fox, Shae Gillis, Alexander, Devin Booker, Anthony Edwards, it's loaded, and you can make a case that they're probably more deserving than Steph, and then Dearon, I mean, it's it's tough, it's tough, but but stin this this is funny though, because uh, I was just say ironic because Steph makes it, and you know, there's Kings fans
and saying, hey, what's going on? The Kings are fifth place in the West, the Aaron having a good year, sabonus. But look y'all, the NBA announced, what was it two three days ago, that Steph is going to compete in a three point contest with Sabrina. Did you actually think that Steph, if he didn't make it, he was still going to show up to Indianapolis during an All Star break? Did you really think that you know that was your hands up.
It's funny you bring that up, because I totally didn't even think about that. But the reason I didn't even think about that is because I don't care what the Warriors record is. The thought of Western Conference coaches not selecting Stephan Curry no freaking chance. Coaches love Stephan Curry and what a leader or his leadership style the way I mean, there is no way the Western Conference coaches were going to leave Stephan Curry off. And like I said,
I didn't even do the math. But what you just said about the league arranging a three point contest a showdown between Stephan Curry and Sabrini and Escu for charity, absolutely right, that's not gonna happen.
They're not gonna have Steph fly in for that. And sorry you didn't make the game.
But look, the King Kings fans should rightly be pissed. I they deserve one All Star. Now again, I don't I struggled with this huge when I wrote about it. I think Sabonis has been the most consistent force for this team this season. I mean, the guy shooting better than sixty percent from the field. But we could have a long argument about who should get one spot between the two Kings, if that's all there could have been room for.
But we haven't even mentioned Jamal Murray. I think Jamal Murray has All Star numbers.
And after you know, that was the big question after the finals, after he played so well on the final stage. Was this the year that Jamal Murray was going to break through and make the All Star team? And it still hasn't happened. Jamal Murray is still not an NBA All Star. Lowry Markinen another guy we I mean he with the way Utah has turned their season around, he should be considered. Again, We're not even looking at Pelicans like Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram.
Yeah, but star San you mentioned, you mentioned these guys. Who are you?
There's no room?
Who are you?
There's no room the West, there's no room.
The West has fifteen guys for seven reserved spots. And look, the San Antonio Spurs are miles under five hundred.
But and a rookie.
We have not seen a rookie make the All Star Game since Blake Griffin in twenty ten. So Victor Wenmanyama was never getting an All Star birth in his first season. But is he a candidate. Did he deserve consideration, Yes, I think he deserved consideration. So to me, the West was an app salute nightmare. My list of snubs in the East is much shorter. Obviously, Trey Young as a soloist. If you just look at Trey Young's individual production, you know, for the second straight year he has been left off
the East reserves. But you know the Hawks are well under five hundred and that's the reason.
Why.
Is that all Trey Young's fault? Of course not, but he's the one who's paying the price for Atlanta's very disappointing season. People talked about Porzingis and Derek White in Boston. Not for me, I would have had Jared Allen or Scottie Barnes ahead of the two other Celtics. I don't think the Celtics need four All Stars in the East. I think having Jason Tatum and Jalen Brown is plenty. I really felt like Orlando had to have someone in
the East. I'm really glad to see that the coach is voted bn Carowin because I I do think that they deserved one. Now it's gonna be interesting. Julius Rand was selected as an Eastern Conference reserve. Obviously he's not gonna be able to play with the dislocated shoulder.
He's just sustained, like Trey might. My Trey might get that he was second.
Because I think something people need to remember in recent years, the league doesn't choose those injury replacements typically based on position. What they usually do is they go to whoever was closest to earning one of the seven slots from the coaches. So I don't we obviously don't know was that Trey Young, Was that Scottie Barnes?
Was that from the coaches? Oh? I thought I thought he did. I thought it was off the fan votes.
As far as now as I mean, I don't want to sit here and say that I'm one hundred percent sure, But as I understood it, what they usually do on reserves is go to who the coaches would have had next. So they don't come out right and say that. But I think when we hear the injury selection for Randall, that that will that that is how it will play out. But now you got me second guess myself. So first thing in the morning, I will go back to the league and see if I don't have my facts straight.
But I I think in general that's how they've done it in recent years that whoever was whoever, whoever finished eighth in the coach balloting is the most likely person to get that that replacements line.
So as a right now, as a right now, we know Adam Silver has to replace one, but it could potentially be too depending on Joel and bid situation.
And you'd have to think Embiid's not going to be able to play. So there will be two slots, likely in the East. And that's that's why what I wrote about this on Tuesday, just my instinct is one way or the other, Trey Young will end up in Indy.
But but I guess we'll see. We'll have to wait and see.
What do you think if if it goes by the coaches, who they had next up on the list. I don't know that Trey is that high up. I would be concerned, you know, think about so East. There's not, like I said, I can't really think of any real snubs. Definitely Trey has a case. Who else has a real legitimate case?
I think Jared. I think Jared Allen has a case. I feel like he's been so good although he got hurt tonight. We don't know how serious it is, but.
I think given all the injury problems that the Calves have had, I mean, I think Alan I put him ahead of Porzingis or Derek White or even Scotty Barnes. Scotty Barnes has a very nice statistical line. He's taken a step forward, no question. But the Raptors they're even further adrift in the East than the Hawks. So if the Raptors are seventeen and thirty, it's to help Scottie Barnes's All Star case.
Yeah, well, let me just throw since we're naming names and given shoutouts here about potential snubs, Miles Turner from Indiana, Indiana believes that he has a case. Uh you said, Jared Allen, nobody else on Phoenix Jimmy Butler as I mean.
You know, I am.
I am the biggest Jimmy fan there is. But I think this season, given the time he's missed and given Miami struggles, I don't know that the heat would be in the.
Market for two All Stars. They got bam At a bio in.
I mean, look again, these are not my snubs per se, but you just can't you know, people love to say that that Derek White and Porzingis were candidates, but I I.
Really don't see it. In the East.
To me, the most significant snubs were Trey and Jared Allen on my scorecard.
I cann't argue with that. I'll throw mckill bridges in there as well.
The East is.
Likely looking at two injury replacements. And that's because again, the biggest story of the night in the NBA the Sixers. In the midst of all of those All Star unveilings earlier tonight on TNT, the Sixers announced that an MRI revealed that Embiid has sustained quote an injury to the lateral meniscus in his left knee end quote. No formal timetable has yet been established, but the Sixers say Embiid at the minimum out through the weekend while a treatment
plan is finalized. You covered that game Tuesday night for TNT.
What did you see? I mean it sure didn't.
Even before the the scramble that left him hobbled and.
Forced to leave the game for good. He he did not look good, did he.
I watched him workout pregame, so this would be It's be about thirty five minutes before thirty five to forty minutes before they took the court for the game. He did not look good. I was he he warmed up for about fifteen minutes. Based off of that, I was like, he's not playing, He's not playing, and then I ended up walking him to I need. I ended up walking behind him back to the locker room after his pregame warm up, and then I can see him telling people, Yeah,
I'm gonna try to give it a go. I was surprised. He did not look good. He was not moving good. So I know he's hearing about how he's ducking smoke ducked the Denver game. And you know, the Philly they were, they were fine recently for how they handled not you know, not reporting in a timely fashion uh MB's injury which caused him to not play that game. It was the last weekend against the Denver Nuggets, late scratch. I know
he's hearing everything. I know he's hearing the criticism. I felt like the way he looked, I felt like he was really trying to like give it a go, to show everybody that he can play through pain. I just don't think that was the time to do it. But what I will say is about you know, you know, we talked about the sixty five game rule to become MB excuse me, to be eligible for the MVP and to be eligible for First Team All NBA. This is sources close to MB told me this. They said he
had two goals going into this season. Number one was to try to become the best player in the NBA. He wanted to establish himself as the best player, and I think he was in line of doing that. You pointed out his points, His point stats aligned with his minutes. You know, he's playing at a historical pace, so he was on pace of doing that. And number two was to go into the playoffs healthy and it was not.
There was no goal of winning any individual awards, and so he was going to make sure this season, if there was anything bothering him, he might be able to play. You know, he might be able to play through it. But he's taking a cautious approach because he felt like he really hurt the team going into the playoffs, hurt last year, and that's what he wants to accomplish. He wants to win a championship, and so those are his goals. So this whole sixty five. It's not happening. Even before
this injury, it wasn't happening. He wasn't going to reach that goal. He was going to play it safe, play when he feels pretty damn close to one hundred percent and give us best. But if there's any concern, he was going to err on the side of caution and sit out because he wants to be healthy for his team in the playoffs.
So it sounds though, like he violated his own agenda by playing in the Golden State game. I mean, because now I think he took so much cheat for not playing in Denver. But like when you saw how he looked first half against the Warriors.
He shouldn't have been playing.
I mean, he you know, he wasn't on the injury report by all accounts, at his insistence. He told the Sixers, by all accounts, don't put me on there. I'm gonna play in Denver. Shouldn't have played in that game. He shouldn't have played in the Warriors game. And now the question will be is this injury so serious that he can't be healthy for the playoffs. That's obviously that is
the only thing that matters at this point. Doesn't matter how much time he misses for the rest of the regular season, with Maxie an All Star named an All Star tonight for the first time with MAXI, you have to believe that the Sixers will make the playoffs even if they're missing Embiid for a mess of games, but just having him healthy for the playoffs. I mean, we obviously don't know much at this point. It's just hard to see that right now.
Yeah, to your point, I do think Philly they will be okay with missing mb with chunks of games of being sidelined. I think they'll be fine because you know, if they're they're tough, If they are a team that finishes in the top five in the conference, I still feel like they believe that they would still like their chances. But that that's that's where his head is at. That's that's what it was told. That's what was told to me. His head is on, you know, trying to maximize and
take his game to the next level. But he's going to err on the side of caution all throughout the season to make sure that he is he's as healthy as possible going into into the playoffs because he understands that's where he's going to be That's where he's going to be greater at. You know, that's what it is really going to matter the postseason. And uh and like to your point, Yeah, I mean, for whatever reason playing
in that Golden State game. I think the fact that it was that Denver game that was a national televised game, right Philly Denver.
Yeah, Saturday night, and so they were both national Yeah.
So yeah, so I can see the pressure there that he might have felt. But remember Stein, even that game, he was just shooting jumpers. You know, he did not want to get physically. He had Draymond Green guard and him. You know, Draymond is going to hack and fil and do whatever to try to muck the game up, and b you can tell he wasn't ready for that type of a contact. And so he you know, here it was steady diets of elbow jumpers top of the key three pointers. You know, rarely did he mix it up
and try to get in there. And then like and then to see that happen. It was just a fluke accident. Johnathan kuminga landing right on that left knee, that very left knee, just a fluke accident. Towards the end of the game, and so it sucks to see that. And you know, he was you know, I was right there. He he was in serious pain. And they even like when they when he walked off and then when he got to the tunnel area that leads to going to the locker room, there was a wheelchair waiting for him,
and he declined to get in the wheelchair. He walked it off all the way to the locker room. So you never want to see that. But I hope, you know, I hope that he can get back as soon as possible. He's having an outstanding year, and you know, it's just tough to see something like that.
So, I mean, you were with the Sixers all day Tuesday, pre game, during the game, post game. How funky was the mood around the team given all this stuff going on?
Yeah, I mean okay, he said, I think about that game. It was Marcus Morrison was out that game, Tyrese Maxey was out that game. Nicholas Petune was out that game. Who am I missing? I'm I'm missing somebody there was There was five six guys that would be in that would in the rotation. You know, it's just a the move. You know, I spoke with Nixon Patoon a little bit, and you know, he told me, he was like, man, as long as we're healthy at the right time, we're good.
They're not sweating it. But obviously it's you know, you can tell it's they're in a little state of shock just with everything that's going on. But as tonight, Tyrese Maxie, he came, he came back and had a tremendous first half. He's actually killing. He got twenty something points in the first half of this game against Utah, exactly amount of points he had. Well, excuse me, twenty something. Pardon me. He has thirty two points a half and Philly is up ten at halftime in Utah. So Maxi's okay, So
Maxie's okay. That little spray, that's that's what happens when you're young. Stein Spraying's they last today when you get my age, Stein at your age, spray might as well be a broken foot. You're going to be sidelined for a while. Hey, one another thing on Maxie Stein And I hate what he does this, but you just have to take it in. You know, he calls me sir all the time, all the time, and I hate it. Like kid, don't you respect talking about No, No, don't
be don't be respectful to them. I don't. I'm not ready to be of an age where i'm sir. You know what I mean? Say that respect for the you know, go a decade older.
Realize he is. He is only a couple of years older than your oldest.
Yeah, I know, I know. Yeah, he could be dating.
You know what. Here's the thing I don't. I don't.
My best tyres MAXI story is that when I write about the Sixers on my BlackBerry, Maxie gets changed to max I spelled my act. And I think it's accurate because I think the Sixers are going to have to maxim this summer, and I think.
So he's Tyrese Max on my BlackBerry.
All right, listen, this has been a chaotic week for us as well. We had hoped to tape Monday Night because Tuesday, this past Tuesday, January thirtieth, was the one year anniversary of this show. The very first episode of This League, Uncut ran on January thirtieth, twenty twenty three. Unfortunately, due to a wave of circumstances beyond our control, we had to postpone Monday's get together, so we were not able to tape the January thirtieth one year anniversary pod
that we were planning. However, the way we're going to make up for that is we are going to stop right here and we are going to record a second episode that deals with the Bucks. Because after Chris covered six ers at Warriors on Tuesday Night for TNT, he
immediately proceeded to Portland for the Damian Lillard homecoming. We're going to talk some Bucks, we'll see, maybe we talk some Lakers, and we will eventually bring it all the way back to the trade deadline, which again is now less than one week away Thursday, February eighth, three pm
Eastern time. The trade buzzer sounds, so we're going to get into all that into the second half the part two of this edition of This League uncut As always, everyone, if you haven't already, please follow the show, rate the show, review the show, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, wherever you get your pods. Hank tight, Chris and I back very soon with more NBA talk for you, as only we do.
It this League and that'll do it for us. See you next time. This League un Cutter is an iHeartRadio production. Chris Hanes and mark Stein