Norman Powell is having an All-Star-level season, and there seems to be growing traction around the league to support this movement.
The Heat still being in contention at this point in the NBA season, despite a truly rollercoaster first half of the year, has so much to do with the spark that Norman Powell's production and impact have made.
The 11-year veteran does have some experience carrying a team, as you could argue he did the lion's share of the workload with the LA Clippers last season, despite James Harden also in attendance.
Powell has done the same with the Heat this year, and with Bam Adebayo not playing anywhere near the caliber he should be playing at, and Tyler Herro having been out of the lineup virtually all season, Powell doesn't have a Harden this time around, which is more juice squeezed when it comes to who should be considered for the NBA All-Star game.
Powell believes he should be considered, and rightfully so. However, while he certainly has his supporters within the Heat fanbase and locker room, there is someone else advocating for Powell to be named an All-Star: Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle.
Rick Carlisle unashamedly claims Norman Powell will get an All-Star vote from him.
Interestingly enough, Carlisle's public state of approval of the Heat role player followed shortly after the Pacers beat the Heat, and Powell scored just six points in the contest. He went 2-12 from the floor, including 1-7 from the three-point line. Clearly, Carlisle has watched Powell average 23.8 points per game this season, but it was after the six points against his own team that Carlisle decided to chime in, which is what's humorous about it.
It just goes to show that what Powell is doing with the Heat is drawing eyes everywhere. Even though the Heat are going through it right now, Powell is their one bright spot, and he's deserving of recognition for it. After all, Powell is considered a role player, and it's rare for a role player to take their team on their back and carry them.
Well, Powell has and is doing exactly that, and that's why Carlisle's recent comments should not be taken lightly. Here's what the long-time Pacers coach had to say about Powell's All-Star consideration.
“Norman Powell is such an important player for them,” Carlisle said. “Powell to me is an All-Star this year; he’ll get a vote from me. I have no problem saying it publicly. He’s been really tremendous this year for them.”
To get a public shout-out like this from an opposing coach is incredible, and there's no doubt that Powell's own head coach, Erik Spoelstra, is aligned with Carlisle's thinking. You can bet that Spoelstra will indeed select Powell to represent the Heat as an All-Star reserve.
Powell missed out on All-Star duties last season, when he probably should've been selected. If he were to miss out again this year, in a season where Austin Reaves makes it, something isn't right. That's no disrespect to Reaves, who is having a tremendous season for the Los Angeles Lakers, but he's also a role player, like Powell.
Carlisle is absolutely right, Powell is doing everything for the Heat, and if he doesn't nab an All-Star nod, that will be another kick to the stomach for the Heat, who are already looking pretty sickly this season.