Detroit Pistons: Who should participate in All-Star Weekend?

All-Star Game: Blake Griffin, Andre Drummond

If things were as they used to be — back when the All-Star ballot separated centers from forwards — then Drummond might have a better shot at making this year’s All-Star Game than Griffin.

Drummond is easily the second-best center in the East (in my opinion) behind Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers. Once upon a time, being the second-best center in a conference allowed guys like Brad Miller and Jamaal Magloire to add “All-Star” to their NBA resumes.

Griffin, meanwhile, would be competing with East forwards like Kawhi Leonard, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jimmy Butler, Jayson Tatum and Gordon Hayward for All-Star roster spots.

With the current format, however, lumping centers and forwards into one “frontcourt” pool, Griffin almost seems like a lock to make the All-Star roster, while Drummond might be left out.

If the Pistons are only going to have one All-Star, it should be Griffin. He is the team’s MVP, leading Detroit in scoring (25.6 points per game) and assists (5.3 per game) while serving as the focal point of the offense and face of the franchise.

Drummond is putting up All-Star numbers in his own right, scoring a career-high 16.8 points per game and leading the league with 15.0 rebounds per game.

Does a team with a losing record deserve two All-Stars, though?

It can certainly happen in the East, where only the top six teams had winning records through Sunday’s schedule. The Brooklyn Nets are in seventh place at 21-23. The Pistons are 18-23, ninth place in the conference and just a half-game out of the final playoff spot.

Griffin and Drummond have the numbers, and both should be on the court for All-Star Weekend’s main event.