NBA reveals All-Star reserves Westbrook headlines list, Embiid left off
NBA reveals All-Star reserves Westbrook headlines list, Embiid left off:- The NBA released the voting results for the 2017 All-Star reserves, as picked by the league’s coaches, on Thursday, revealing the 14 players who will join the starters on Feb. 19 in New Orleans.
Headlining the list of reserves is Russell Westbrook, who was left off the starting roster (via a fan-voting tiebreaker) despite the fact that he’s on pace to become the first player since Oscar Robertson (1961-62) to average a triple-double throughout an entire season.
As for snubs? Joel Embiid (averaging 19.8 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 25.3 minutes), Damian Lillard (averaging a career-high 26.2 points), Rudy Gobert (averaging 12.8 points, 12.6 rebounds and 2.5 blocks) and Karl-Anthony Towns (averaging 22.4 points and 11.9 rebounds), to name a few. But that’s to be expected with a field as deep as this one.
Eastern Conference reserves
Paul George, Pacers (fourth selection) – George scored 41 points and knocked down a record nine three-pointers in last year’s All-Star Game. He’s averaging 22.2 points on 45% shooting this season.
Kevin Love, Cavaliers (fourth selection) – Love, who will be making his first All-Star appearance as a member of the Cavaliers, is the only player in the Eastern Conference averaging at least 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Paul Millsap, Hawks (fourth selection) – This is Millsap’s fourth consecutive All-Star selection. He’s averaging a career-high 18 points and 3.8 assists this season for Atlanta — the fourth seed in the East.
Isaiah Thomas, Celtics (second selection) – The 5-foot-9 point guard is second in the NBA in points per game (29.1) and is averaging a league-leading 10.1 points in fourth quarters. Last year he became the shortest player to be named an All-Star since Terrell Brandon in 1997.
Kemba Walker, Hornets (first selection) – Walker is Charlotte’s first All-Star since Gerald Wallace (2010). The 26-year-old is averaging a career-high 23 points per game on 45.7% shooting.
John Wall, Wizards (fourth selection) – Wall leads all Eastern Conference point guards with 26 double doubles. The next closest player? Jeff Teague, who has nine. Wall is averaging a career-high 23.1 points on 46.4% shooting to go along with 10.1 assists and 4.6 rebounds.
Kyle Lowry, Raptors (third selection) – Lowry, set to make his third straight All-Star appearance, ranks third in the NBA in three-pointers made (3.2 per game) and has the second highest three-point percentage (42.2%) in the league amongst players who attempt at least five treys per game.
Western Conference reserves
DeMarcus Cousins, Kings (third selection) – Cousins is averaging a career-high 28 points per game and 4.4 assists to go along with 10.2 rebounds, 1.4 blocks and 1.5 steals. He’s the only All-Star Sac Town has seen since Brad Miller and Peja Stojakovic in 2004.
Marc Gasol, Grizzlies (third selection) – Gasol, who started the season with 12 three-pointers made over the course of his eight-year career, has already hit 64 in 2016-17 at a 39.5% clip — numbers that rank third and second on the Grizzlies’ roster, respectively.
Draymond Green, Warriors (second selection) – The do-it-all forward is averaging 10.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 7.5 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.4 blocks for the Warriors, who are on pace for a 69-win season.
Gordon Hayward, Jazz (first selection) – Hayward, who has increased his production in each of his seven NBA seasons, is averaging a career-high 21.8 points and 5.7 rebounds for the fifth-place Jazz. He’s Utah’s first All-Star since Deron Williams (2011).
DeAndre Jordan, Clippers (first selection) – Known for his rebounding prowess and efficiency from the field, Jordan is doing just that in his ninth season, leading the NBA in both categories (14 rebounds per game, 69% shooting).
Klay Thompson, Warriors (third selection) – The second Splash Brother struggled early on in the season while adjusting to the addition of Kevin Durant, but has picked it up to average 21.1 points on 46.7% shooting. He ranks fourth in the NBA with 3.1 three-pointers made per game.
Russell Westbrook, Thunder (sixth selection) – Westbrook, the reigning back-to-back All-Star Game MVP, has a 23.8-point scoring average in five All-Star appearances. He already has 23 triple-doubles this season in just 46 games.
Source:-Â http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/allstar/2017/01/26/nba-all-star-reserves-wall-thomas-westbrook-cousins/97092214/
