Hoops Habit
Fansided

2016 NBA All-Star Game: Selecting The Reserves

By Gerald Bourguet

January 11, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) dribbles the basketball against Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh (1) during the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Heat 111-103. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
January 11, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) dribbles the basketball against Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh (1) during the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Heat 111-103. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 9
Next
2016 NBA All-Star Game
Oct 6, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21) dribbles the ball against Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) during the second half at the United Center. The Washington Wizards defeat the Chicago Bulls 85-81. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports /

East Backcourt Spots

Jimmy Butler: 22.3 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.7 SPG, .450/.322/.835 shooting, 21.5 PER

As I’ve already mentioned, it’s a tad ridiculous that Dwyane Wade is starting over Jimmy Butler in the Eastern backcourt, but Butler is a lock to make the team either way. Considering he’s one of the best two-way players in the league and the new leader of the East’s fourth best team, he’s more than deserving.

We’ve already seen how dominant Butler can be on the defensive end, but this season is providing a great look at how his offense has finally caught up, with the Chicago Bulls becoming a very scary team when they operate through him instead of Derrick Rose.

The Bulls need Rose to be healthy and aggressive to reach their ceiling, but it’s probably no coincidence that Butler’s massive 53-point outing in Philly and his masterful 40-point second half in Toronto came in games where D-Rose was out.

John Wall: 19.6 PPG, 9.8 APG, 4.1 RPG, 2.1 SPG, .429/.343/.781 shooting, 19.9 PER

John Wall got off to a slow start to the 2015-16 season, but since the start of December, he’s averaged a red-hot 21.3 points, 10.8 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game on 44.4 percent shooting from the field and 37 percent shooting from three-point range.

Like Davis and the Pelicans, Wall and the Washington Wizards are not where they want to be right now. Unlike Davis and the Pelicans, however, Wall’s Wizards are still in the hunt for a playoff spot in their conference, trailing the Indiana Pacers by only two games for the East’s eighth seed.

Wall is the only thing keeping Washington afloat due to a rash of injuries to Bradley Beal and pretty much every other important role player on the roster, and given his speed, ball handling ability, elite court vision and passing, he’s a star that’s both deserving AND tailor-made for the event.

Next: East Frontcourt Spots