Question of the Day: Should Blake Griffin and Kevin Love make the NBA All-Star team?

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Writers from around Tribune Co. weigh in on the topic. Check back throughout the day for more responses and feel free to leave a comment of your own.

K.C. Johnson, Chicago Tribune

With apologies to his relentless rebounding, Kevin Love should schedule some travel for All-Star weekend and sit back and enjoy the Blake Griffin show. This, of course, assumes Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Durant are voted in by fans as starters.

Dirk Nowitzki is a lock reserve. So is Pau Gasol, unless Commissioner David Stern moves him to center to replace the injured Yao Ming. Tim Duncan even could garner a sentimental pick from coaches. Even if Duncan doesn’t, you only can have so many forwards, and Griffin has been more impressive -- and more impactful -- than Love.

Also remember: This is an exhibition. Griffin’s highlight-reel dunks need to be seen. As much as Love’s hustle is impressive, it doesn’t translate to an All-Star game. I’d even put LaMarcus Aldridge ahead of Love. Aldridge has had more impact on winning during a difficult season for Portland -- and he also lit up Love in head-to-head matchups.

[Updated at 11:04 a.m.:

Mike Bresnahan, Los Angeles Times

Their teams’ records are punch lines, but their individual stats are anything but laughable.

Kevin Love made me a believer with his 30-point, 30-rebound game against New York, and Blake Griffin makes me a believer ... every time I see him play?

Isn’t the All-Star Game about the most exciting, the most talented players? Love leads the league in rebounding and Griffin is second to Dwight Howard in dunks.

No doubt, the most difficult position to be determined this All-Star Game will be the West forwards, but Love and Griffin have to make it among a crowded field that includes Kevin Durant, Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol, Carmelo Anthony, Tim Duncan, Rudy Gay, LaMarcus Aldridge, Zach Randolph and Lamar Odom.]

[Updated at 12:52 p.m.:

Zach McCann, Orlando Sentinel

If fans voted for all-stars without names attached –- only taking into account players’ statistics and productivity –- both Blake Griffin and Kevin Love would be all-stars this season.

Griffin is averaging more than 22 points and 12 rebounds, and his play is the primary reason the Clippers are a respectable team again. And Love’s incredible rebounding numbers -– he was averaging 15.7 rebounds through Wednesday, which is atop the league by more than two rebounds -– combined with his 21.6 points per game makes him perhaps the best statistical power forward in the NBA.

But you probably won’t see either of them at the All-Star game because the traditional forward names will take up those spots. Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Pau Gasol, Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki -– these are the names people are voting for.

Both players deserve to be all-stars, but name recognition is half the battle with voters.]