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Columnists

Jan 23, 2017

Who will be the backcourt reserves in the East?

With Kyrie Irving and DeMar DeRozan already claiming the starting guard spots in next month's NBA All-Star Game, the chances of one or more guards in the midst of a great campaign missing out on New Orleans are high.

Kyle Lowry and Isaiah Thomas

Kyle Lowry and Isaiah Thomas , Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images

Russell Westbrook is going to be an All-Star.

Despite the (probably justified) outcry last week over a guy who’s averaging a triple-double not getting voted in as a starter for next month’s game, Westbrook will go as a reserve to New Orleans when the seven remaining roster spots are revealed on Thursday.

Nobody is forgetting about Russell Westbrook.

The same cannot be said with certainty, though, about a quartet of guards having fine seasons over in the Eastern Conference. With DeMar DeRozan and Kyrie Irving already locked in as starters in the backcourt, there is room for two more guards in reserve spots. There is also the potential for one or two more with the two wild card spots that can be given out to players at any position.

Still, the chances of all of Kyle Lowry, Isaiah Thomas, John Wall and Kemba Walker going to the All-Star Game are poor and that’s too bad because all four are worthy of the honour.

 

Kyle Lowry
Kyle Lowry

Toronto Raptors

VITALS (EASTERN CONFERENCE GUARD RANK)

  • PPG
    22.1 (6)
  • APG
    7.0 (3)
  • STL
    1.7 (2)
  • FG%
    .470 (4)
  • 3P%
    .429 (3)
  • MPG
    37.2 (1)
Isaiah Thomas
Isaiah Thomas

Boston Celtics

VITALS (EASTERN CONFERENCE GUARD RANK)

  • PPG
    29.0 (1)
  • APG
    6.0 (T-7)
  • STL
    0.77 (T-30)
  • FG%
    .461 (10)
  • 3P%
    .384 (T-12)
  • MPG
    34.2 (9)
John Wall
John Wall

Washington Wizards

VITALS (EASTERN CONFERENCE GUARD RANK)

  • PPG
    23.0 (T-4)
  • APG
    10.2 (1)
  • STL
    2.24 (1)
  • FG%
    .463 (9)
  • 3P%
    .317 (25)
  • MPG
    36.3 (2)
Kemba Walker
Kemba Walker

Charlotte Hornets

VITALS (EASTERN CONFERENCE GUARD RANK)

  • PPG
    23.0 (T-4)
  • APG
    5.4 (11)
  • STL
    1.23 (T-10)
  • FG%
    .464 (8)
  • 3P%
    .421 (4)
  • MPG
    33.7 (T-8)

Lowry and Thomas should be locks. It's not a leap to suggest that Lowry has been the most important guard in the East, while Thomas almost made the team as a starter, but lost a tiebreaker to DeRozan.

It might come down to either/or with Wall and Walker, which will leave Eastern head coaches with a difficult decision.

Wall is averaging a league-leading 2.24 steals a game and averaging a double-double (23 PPG and 10.2) and buoying a surging Wizards offence that has them firmly in the playoff race after a 2-8 start.

As for Walker, compare his numbers to Irving's:

KEMBA vs. KYRIE

 
PLAYER GP PPG APG STL FG% 3P% MPG
Kyrie Irving 37 23.8 5.6 1.2 0.466 0.400 34.9
Kemba Walker 43 23.0 5.4 1.2 0.463 0.421 33.7
 

 While fan voting certainly helped Irving's cause, it's difficult to position him as an All-Star if Walker is deemed unworthy. It doesn't help Walker any that he's in a traditionally overlooked market like Charlotte. Gerald Wallace was the last Charlotte representative at an All-Star Game and that came seven seasons ago.

If all four were to head to New Orleans, it would have to be at the expense of a frontcourt player with Paul Millsap, Kevin Love, Kristaps Porzingis and Paul George among those competing for a spot. While Joel Embiid is a great story, he's played almost half the minutes that Walker has. His time will come.

All-Star reserves are announced on Thursday night at 7pm et.