NBA All-Star Rosters 2015: List of Starters, Predictions for East, West Reserves
If anyone besides the Houston Rockets' James Harden replaces the Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant as a starter for the Western Conference, there should be a formal investigation.
Harden is leading the NBA in scoring at 27.6 points per game. He's also averaging 6.8 assists, 5.6 rebounds and two steals. Still, Mike Richman of The Oregonian and others suggest that players like the Golden State Warriors' Klay Thompson and Portland Trail Blazers' Damian Lillard are also candidates to replace the Black Mamba.
Let's get one thing straight.
With all due respect to Bryant, he is a future Hall of Famer, but he should've never been voted to start to begin with. That honor was earned by Harden. If Warriors head coach Steve Kerr takes his guy or anyone else besides Harden as the starter, it'll be unfortunate.
Here's a look at the full list of starters for both conferences. Listed just beneath the starters are my predictions for the reserves. The official word on the reserves will be revealed on Jan. 29.
| Starters | |
| G - Kyle Lowry | Toronto Raptors |
| G - John Wall | Washington Wizards |
| FC - LeBron James | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| FC - Carmelo Anthony | New York Knicks |
| FC - Pau Gasol | Chicago Bulls |
| Prediction for Reserves | |
| G - Jimmy Butler | Chicago Bulls |
| G - Dwyane Wade | Miami Heat |
| FC - Chris Bosh | Miami Heat |
| G - Kyrie Irving | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| FC - Al Horford | Atlanta Hawks |
| FC - Paul Millsap | Atlanta Hawks |
| G - Jeff Teague | Atlanta Hawks |
| Starters | |
| G - Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors |
| G - Kobe Bryant (injured) | L.A. Lakers |
| FC - Blake Griffin | L.A. Clippers |
| FC - Marc Gasol | Memphis Grizzlies |
| FC - Anthony Davis | New Orleans Pelicans |
| Prediction for Reserves | |
| G - James Harden | Houston Rockets |
| G - Chris Paul | L.A. Clippers |
| FC - DeMarcus Cousins | Sacramento Kings |
| FC - LaMarcus Aldridge | Portland Trail Blazers |
| FC - Kevin Durant | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| G - Russell Westbrook | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| G - Klay Thompson | Golden State Warriors |
| G - Damian Lillard (injury replacement) | Portland Trail Blazers |
Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls
Though he has slowed down in January, Butler still had an excellent first half. He's averaging 20 points, six rebounds and 3.3 assists, and he's taking on the toughest defensive assignment every Bulls opponent has to offer.
This is by far Butler's best season of his career. The 25-year-old has improved every season he's been in the league, but this year's growth has been especially noteworthy. Bleacher Report's Kelly Scaletta has a statistic that puts Butler's improvement into the proper perspective.
With pickings slim in the Eastern Conference for guards, Butler should be a lock.
DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings
Cousins is the only player in the NBA ranked in the top five in points and rebounds. He also leads the NBA in double-doubles.
That's all that we really need to say to state Boogie's case to be a reserve.
Klay Thompson, Warriors
The fact that Harden deserves to be named Bryant's replacement is no swipe at Thompson. The Warriors shooting guard has been phenomenal this season. He put up 52 points in a video game-like performance on Jan. 23 against Cousins and the Kings.
For the year, Thompson is scoring 23 points per game. Were it not for Harden, Thompson would be the best shooting guard in the NBA this season. As it stands, his spot on the All-Star team should be secure.
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