My Picks for the NBA Western Conference All-Star Starters
If you missed my previous post about my Eastern Conference All-Star starters, you can check that post out Here!
The NBA has decided to change up the way the All-Star game is done this year due to growing concerns of how non-competitive the game was getting. This year, the players will not be divided into East vs. West, but rather will be drafted by captains for each conference. Unfortunately, this draft will not be televised and the results will not be shown to the public, which really cuts down on the drama. With all that being said, here are my picks for Western Conference starters with the previous year's format installed.
The Locks:
Kevin Durant - SF - Golden State Warriors
When Steph Curry went down with an ankle injury earlier this season, many wondered whether KD would be able to lead this Warriors team. The answer is a resounding yes. Durant is averaging 26 point per game, 7 rebounds per game, and 5 assists per game, while also averaging the second best blocks per game number at 2.3. Durant might even win defensive player of the year this year as he has embraced his role as a primary rim protector for a league leading Warriors team. I honestly can't think of anyone more deserving of a starting spot in the West than KD and I foresee him keeping that position throughout the voting process. KD might also be the player that benefited the most from Steph's injury as it allowed him to run the Warriors offense and not have to defer to another player.
James Harden - SG - Houston Rockets
Harden going down with his recent injury hurts his case, but the MVP frontrunner certainly deserves a starting spot in the All-Star game. Harden is leading the league in scoring at 32.3 points per game, while also averaging the second most assists at 9.1 per game. Leading the Rockets to the second place mark in a difficult Western Conference in large part without his second best player, Chris Paul, makes Harden a shoe-in to start. As I mentioned earlier, Harden's ankle injury should sideline him for a couple weeks, but there isn't another guard in the West that has done this much for his team so far this season.
The "Near Locks":
Russell Westbrook - PG - Oklahoma City Thunder
A rough start to the season had many Thunder fans thinking that the team's Big-3 era was doomed from the start. Luckily, the Thunder turned things around in December and are currently the fifth seed in the West, thanks in large part to the play of Russell Westbrook. Westbrook is again averaging a near triple-double with a 25/9.5/10 split on the season while also swiping two steals per game. It's hard not to have Steph Curry in this position, but based on the numbers, Westbrook has been putting up the better statline. If Steph continues to scorch opponents, I could see Westbrook losing his starting spot, but it would take a lot for me to flip those two.
DeMarcus Cousins - C - New Orleans Pelicans
Cousins has been playing absolutely out of his mind so far this season, but unfortunately it hasn't translated into the dominating record that one might expect from a team that could potentially have two All-Star game starters. I put Cousins ahead of teammate Anthony Davis here because Cousins has simply had better numbers. Averaging 26 points, 12.5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1.5 blocks and steals per game has Cousins averaging above his career numbers in every category. Whether it's the fact that Cousins actually has a chance of making the playoffs, or the fact that he's in a contract year, Cousins deserves a starting spot on the Western Conference All-Star team.
The Swingman:
Anthony Davis - PF - New Orleans Pelicans
I could potentially see an argument for having Karl-Anthony Towns in this spot due to Davis' injury history, but when Davis is on the floor he is so much more of a threat to take over a game both offensively and defensively than KAT. Davis is averaging 26/10/2 along with 2.1 blocks per game which is just absurd for a guy that has to share the floor with DeMarcus Cousins. Davis is averaging career highs in all major categories and is on pace to take the Pelicans to the playoffs for the first time in years. To add to his campaign for Western All-Star Starter, we can't forget that Davis poured in a 52/10 performance last year to earn MVP honors.
So there you have it. My current starting five for the Western Conference All-Star team. While technically this year's game will not be divided up into East vs. West, this is how I would see things shaking out if the game were played under the previous rules. A lot can change between now and then though, so don't be surprised if a few days or weeks from now, this list looks very different. I would love to hear what your thoughts are on who would start in the West. If you liked this post, consider signing up for my weekly NBA newsletter by entering your email here: mailchi.mp/dfef9429318a/swish-weekly-signup. Please also consider following 