Why was Marcus Smart left out of the "rising stars" game?

[nopassbass]

http://www.masslive.com/celtics/index.ssf/2015/01/2015_nba_rising_stars_challeng.html


I think he should be there.

[jpotter33]

Yeah, his stats are almost identical to Lavine's (a little lower on points but more rebounds) with a higher PER and MUCH better defense. I don't think it's a HUGE disrespect to Marcus, but figuring that Minnesota has three other players in the game and Smart plays for the better team, I think he should be there over Lavine.

EDIT: Lavine's high flying dunking ability is much more marketable than Smart's tenacious D ( ), so I'm betting that had something to do with it, though I think Smart is the much better player long-term.

[kozlodoev]

Smart has missed a quarter of the games so far, so there's that.

[Quetzalcoatl]

That's going to be a rad game

[footey]

disrespectful. Smart should be in that game.

[Redz]

Maybe he should move to Canada

[Eja117]

Well it's debatable as to whether he is "rising" or a "star". I think you need at least one.

[BigAlTheFuture]

KJ McDaniels and Nurkic also left out. Weird list

[Vox_Populi]

KJ McDaniels and Nurkic also left out. Weird list

Burke over McLemore too. Burke has been pretty bad.

[apc]

Its All-star weekend, no one wants to see defense played! 

[clover]

Yeah, his stats are almost identical to Lavine's (a little lower on points but more rebounds) with a higher PER and MUCH better defense. I don't think it's a HUGE disrespect to Marcus, but figuring that Minnesota has three other players in the game and Smart plays for the better team, I think he should be there over Lavine.

EDIT: Lavine's high flying dunking ability is much more marketable than Smart's tenacious D ( ), so I'm betting that had something to do with it, though I think Smart is the much better player long-term.

Don't the assistant coaches vote on this? I don't see them making their selections based on marketing considerations.

[rollie mass]

hope it makes him mad-tonight should be fun.

[Rosco917]

disrespectful. Smart should be in that game.

this^
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[mr. dee]

I can't even see Parker on the list. But I'm glad Kelly made it for World team.

[kozlodoev]

I can't even see Parker on the list.

Could this be because he's been out for the season since Dec 16?