EASTERN CONFERENCE STARTERS:
•Guard 1 – Kemba Walker
Averaging 21.7p 4r and 5a, Kemba has been a perennial All-Star but this is the first year he’s had team success. The Celtics look like a much better team than they did last year.
•Guard 2 – Trae Young
Averaging 29.2p 4.7r and 8.6a, Trae has been debated as an All-Star due to the Hawks being the worst team in the NBA but there hasn’t been a better guard in the East than him. He not only deserves to be an All-Star, he deserves to be a starter.
•Front Court 1 – Giannis Antetokounmpo
Averaging 30p 12.9r and 5.6a, Giannis’ numbers speak for themselves. He might be the front runner for for MVP and the Bucks are the best team in the NBA.
•Front Court 2 – Jimmy Butler
Averaging 20.3p 7r and 6.5a, Jimmy’s numbers don’t jump off the page but the Heat are 2nd in the East and if you’ve watched a Heat game this year, you’d know why he’s an All-Star.
•Front Court 3 – Joel Embiid
Averaging 23.4p and 12.3r, Embiid has missed plenty of games this year but he’s been the best big man in the East. No question about him being an All-Star.
Reserves:
•Guard 3 – Bradley Beal
Averaging 27.5p 4.6r and 6.3a, Beal is another guy that has All-Star numbers but is on a bad team. With the numbers, it’s hard to deny him being an All-Star.
•Guard 4 – Kyle Lowry
Averaging 20p 4.5r and 7.5a, Lowry has been better than expected. He doesn’t look like an All-Star but with the numbers and the Raptors being a lot better than anyone thought, he deserves it.
•Guard 5 – Ben Simmons
Averaging 16p 7.8r and 8.5a, Ben’s numbers aren’t as good as they should be but he will be an All-Star. I didn’t think he should when voting first started but his play recently pushed him over the edge.
•Front Court 4 – Bam Adebayo
Averaging 15.8p 10.5r and 4.6a, Bam has been a lot better than anyone thought he’d be. The numbers, the triple doubles, and the Heat being 2nd in the East, Bam deserves to be an All-Star.
•Front Court 5 – Pascal Siakim
Averaging 23.5p 7.7r and 3.5a, Siakim has been great this year and he’s a guy that can win the NBA’s MIP award again. Unquestionably an All-Star.
•Other 1 – Domantas Sabonis
Averaging 17.9p 12.9r and 4.3a, Sabonis is another guy who has been better than expected. Along with him being better than expected, the Pacers are also better than expected. Only Bam and Embiid have been better big men in the East.
•Other 2 – Zach Lavine
Averaging 25p 4.7r and 3.8a, Lavine is putting up All-Star numbers but the Bulls aren’t good. The East has plenty of players that should be All-Stars this year but he has better numbers than the rest and the game is in Chicago.
JUST MISSED THE CUT:
•Jaylen Brown – Brown is averaging 20p and 6.8r and is in the running for MIP but not being able to pick between him and teammate Jayson Tatum will hurt him.
•Jayson Tatum – Tatum is averaging 21.5p and 6.9r which is nearly identical to Jaylen Brown’s numbers. Hasn’t shot as well but has probably played slightly better defense. Like Brown, can’t decide between the two.
•Malcolm Brogdon – Brogdon is averaging 17.1p 4.3r and 7.3a and has been part of the reason the Pacers are as good as there are. If he averaged more points, he would have been a lock.
•Kyrie Irving – Kyrie is averaging 26.5p 5.3r and 6.9a but has only played 15 games. No way he should be an All-Star while only playing that many games. He will have the fan vote so I wouldn’t be surprised if he did end up a started but he shouldn’t.
•Spencer Dinwiddie – Dinwiddie is averaging 21.8p and 6.4a and has kept the Nets competitive while dealing with all the injuries. If his stats were slightly better, he would get more consideration.