NBA: Three New All Star Candidates Out West

Some things haven’t changed in the NBA, one of them being the slaughterhouse that is the Western Conference. With the tough competition in the conference, more players must rise to the occasion and fight for their respective team’s chances at making it in the playoffs.

There are at least three players that can make the argument to be selected to their first All-Star Game. The difficulty to boot one player in favor of another when it comes down to the final roster spots must be high and this year is looking tougher than ever.

Chandler Parsons is giving Houston opponents something else to think about. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Campbell-USA TODAY Sports

Chandler Parsons Continues to Rise

The third-year forward is continuing to see his numbers increase from top to bottom almost completely. This year, Parsons is giving the Houston Rockets 17.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists on 53.2 percent shooting. Opposing defenses will have to learn to respect his offensive capabilities, especially when they leave him to guard James Harden or Dwight Howard. His efficiency beyond the arc is a decent 39 percent and he’s also shooting above the league average in the paint.

Eric Bledsoe seems to enjoy soaking in his new role as a leader in Phoenix. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports

Eric Bledsoe, New Star Point Guard

Bledsoe is taking full advantage of his new opportunity with the Phoenix Suns, now that he has a much better chance at showing off his skills with a bigger role compared to his time with the Los Angeles Clippers. Averaging 19.6 points per game, 5.9 assists and 4.5 rebounds on 50.7 percent shooting, he’s more than doubled his scoring average from last season, leads the team in scoring, and is doing so at his most efficient rate of his career. Considering this team was expected to take part in #tankforwiggins, ninth place in the conference is a huge leap.

The Warriors, led by Stephen Curry, want to go beyond the conference semifinals this year. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Stephen Curry Getting What He Deserves

1. After being snubbed of his spot last season, Curry is out to prove the voters wrong. And he’s doing so quite remarkably so far. With 22.3 points and 8.7 assists per game and the scoring leader on the newly-tracked pull up shot stat on SportVU, Curry is letting his shot fly while opponents see it go through the bottom of the net. Not only that, but he’s emerging as a true leader on the Golden State Warriors. With the health concerns around David Lee and Andrew Bogut and the lack of versatility from Klay Thompson, it’s Curry who has stepped up and expanded his game to keep opponents wary and to open up more opportunities for his teammates. He’s so deadly with the ball in his hands, and he’s only 25 years old.