G. Russell Westbrook
PPG: 21.9 APG: 5.7 RPG. 4.8 SPG: 2.1 BPG: 0.2 FG%: 45.9 PER: 23.0
Westbrook is a lock for a spot on the team as he's one of the best scoring guards in the NBA and the 2nd best player on the best team in the west. He's basically averaging 22 points, 6 assist, and 2 steals a game shooting about 46% from the field. He's been huge for OKC this year and has stepped up in late game situations so far when needed.
G. Steve Nash
PPG: 15.2 APG: 9.9 RPG: 2.3 SPG: 0.6 BPG: 0.1 FG%: 55.0 PER: 23.84
Phoenix isn't having a great season but Steve Nash is quietly having another Great season as his efficiency this season has been insane for his age and the position he plays, hence the near 24 PER. Nash is leading the league in assist and is 5th in the NBA in field goal percentage where he's on that list with mostly other big men. 55% from the field from a PG thats averaging over 15 a game is unreal. Nash is still very much an elite PG in the league.
PPG: 25.3 RPG: 13.6 APG: 1.6 BPG: 0.5 SPG: 1.0 FG%: 45.2 PER: 25.83
I have my reservations about Kevin Love's game but the one thing I cannot deny is how efficient of a player he is. I love what Kevin Love is and he's one of my favorite players but I hate what people are trying to make him out to be. Love is a all star level player he's not a super star. As great as his numbers have been this season and last season it's merely stat stuffing on a losing team. He's a great rebounder no question but he doesn't play with any other good rebounders on the front line so that also helps boost his numbers. Beasely is the only other legit scoring threat on that team right now and he's missed alot of games early this year which also has help boost his scoring numbers. Love is a no brainer for the all star team tho. The 25+ PER is absolutely sick and he and Rubio are the major reason that team is in the running for an 8 seed.
F. LaMarcus Aldridge
PPG: 22.8 RPG: 8.7 APG: 2.7 BPG: 0.7 SPG: 1.0 FG%: 50.6 PER: 24.04
Aldridge is making a strong case this season that he might be the best PF in the NBA. Aldridge plays really well on both ends of the floor and unlike Blake and Love his offensive game is much more efficient and refined. Portland has cooled off alot after their hot start but you can't really blame this guy He's having another terrific year.
C. Al Jefferson
PPG: 18.5 RPG: 9.0 APG: 1.9 BPG: 1.6 SPG: 0.8 FG%: 47.8 PER: 21.95
The Jazz have been much improved this season and a big reason why has been their C Al Jefferson who has really been playing well all year and look like a playoff team this year. Jefferson and Millsap have been one of the most dominant Center, Power Forward combo's all season and are reeking havoc in the paint and on the boards. Al Jefferson has been the Jazz go to player offensively and defensively I think he's improved from last year.
PPG: 17.5 APG: 2.7 RPG: 5.4 SPG: 1.32 BPG: 0.64 FG%: 45.6 PER: 20.7
Gallo has really came into his own this season and is possibly becoming the Nuggets best player and that go to option they need on the floor since losing Melo. He's playing incredibly efficient right now and plays hard on both ends. The Nuggets right now sit in 2nd place in the west right now and even though it's been more of a team effort he's had alot to do with it.G. Tony Parker
PPG: 17.1 APG: 7.6 RPG: 2.9 SPG: 1.0 BPG: 0 FG%: 44.8 PER: 19.85
Manu Ginobli has missed the majority of the year and Gregg Popavich is treating Duncan like a senior citizen causing him to have career lows all across the board and yet the Spurs are still top 4 in the west. The main reason why is Tony Parker. He's been the catalyst for the Spurs offense that has still been pretty good without Manu. Tony's field goal percentage is extremely low for his standards but for a PG is right around the norm and the near 20 PER means he's been mostly efficient when he's on the floor. Ultimately the final guard spot for me came down to Tony and Monta and numbers aside Parker's had a far greater impact for his team than Monta did.
G. Rajon Rondo
PPG: 15.0 APG: 9.4 RPG: 5.1 SPG: 1.7 BPG: 0 FG%: 51.7 PER: 20.36
The Celtics despite a terrible start have gotten back over 500 and are back in the playoff picture as Pierce is starting to look a little better. But the most consistent player and the main guy that's been keeping the Celtics afloat this year has been Rondo. Rondo's putting up his usual numbers across the board plus a little extra in the points column. No PG outside of Rose and Paul is playing better right now than Rondo.
G. Joe Johnson
PPG: 18.7 RPG: 3.9 APG: 3.6 SPG: 0.9 RPG: 0.3 FG%: 43.5 PER: 18.66
Joe Johnson gets alot of scrutiny but he's been playing well and appears to be out of his 3 point shooting slump from last season with his percentage up around 38%. He's leading the team in scoring with 19 and has the Hawks top 5 in the East when everybody counted this team out when Horford went down.
F. Andre Iguodala
PPG: 13.1 APG: 5.0 RPG: 6.7 SPG: 1.9 BPG: 0.5 FG%: 46 PER: 19.21
Iguodala might not be lighting it up on the score board but that doesn't mean he's not an all star caliber player. Iguodala is more of a playmaker than a scorer and his point forward play style is perfect for the team concept they have in Philly where instead of 2 or 3 main offensive options just about everyone on the floor is an offensive option. He's putting up solid numbers all across the board and has led his team to a 2nd place tie with the Heat after over 20 games played which I gotta say is impressive. Oh and he's one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA as well.
F. Chris Bosh
PPG: 20.4 RPG: 7.8 APG: 2.1 BPG: 0.8 SPG: 1.0 FG%: 52.1 PER: 20.97
Bosh is having a fantastic year and in my opinion he's playing better than any other PF in the league. I like to use my eyes more than numbers and from watching the games I've seen so far Bosh is having more of an impact on the floor despite the numbers. The Heat were built to have 3 scoring options and everybody else just play their role. However Wade missed a stretch of games where this team could have really been vulnerable with only 2 real scoring options and both Lebron and Bosh picked their game up. Bosh has came up big in some 4th quarters for the Heat. Offensively he can get his shot whenever he wants and he's one of the best shooting bigs in the league. He doesn't avg double digit rebounds but he comes up with big rebounds in crucial moments and on defense he doesn't block shots but he does the other things well. A argument can be made he should have been a starter over Melo.
C. Roy Hibbert
PPG: 14.0 RPG: 9.8 APG: 1.8 BPG: 1.8 SPG: 0.5 FG%: 52.5 PER: 20.92
Roy Hibbert is playing at the highest level of his career. For the 1st time in his career he's over 50% from the field as well as over 15 points and 10 rebounds per 36 minutes. He's always been a talented shot blocker and that has continued as well. The Pacers have one of the best defenses in the NBA this year and Hibbert is the anchor of that defense and has alot to do with that. The only other C I can think of even given consideration for this spot was Greg Monroe who's basically putting up almost the same numbers for a 4-20 team so Hibbert is almost a lock for that backup C spot on the all star team.
G. Brandon Jennings
PPG: 20.5 APG: 5.6 RPG: 3.3 SPG: 1.7 BPG: 0.2 FG%: 43.8 PER: 21.03
If the playoffs started today the Bucks would be in and Brandon Jennings is the main reason why. He's been carrying this team especially recently and he's risen his level off play after a down season last year. Already this season we've seen him come up big down the stretch of games to help his team get the victory. I gotta say I didn't see this type of year coming from Jennings.
F. Josh Smith
PPG: 15.2 RPG: 8.9 APG: 3.1 BPG: 1.9 SPG: 1.3 FG%: 47 PER: 18.90
Josh Smith is one of the most versatile players in the NBA mainly because of the fact he's versatile on both ends of the floor. He can play both forward positions and affect the game at both positions on both ends of the floor positively which is definitely rare. He's not great at any particular thing accept dunking and blocking shots but he's good or decent in alot of categories. With Al Horford down he's really picked up his game and his play is a huge reason why the Hawks really haven't suffered in the loss column due to Horford's injury.
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