NBA All-Star Game roster 2018: Eastern Conference sees shake up

The NBA announced its Eastern and Western Conference All-Star reserves on Tuesday. LeBron James and Stephen Curry will select unique teams under the All-Star Game’s new format.

Like last year, the starters were selected by a fan, player, and media vote, while the reserves were chosen by head coaches around the league.

We will know the two All-Star rosters on Thursday, when James and Curry’s picks are revealed. The actual game will be played on Feb. 18 in Los Angeles. If you need a reminder, here are the players who were selected starters.

Eastern Conference starters: Kyrie Irving, DeMar DeRozan, LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid

Western Conference starters: Stephen Curry, James Harden, Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins

And here are the reserves.

Oladipo was only seen as a stop-gap, a player whose contract was exorbitant enough for the Pacers to legally trade Paul George to the Thunder. Fast forward a few months, and now he’s the face of an Indiana franchise firmly in the thick of a playoff race few thought it would even sniff before the season. Oladipo is averaging 24.2 points on 48.4 percent shooting from the field and 40.2 percent shooting from three. And given how he’s performed with the game on the line, the Pacers are in good hands in the post-PG13 world.

This is Porzingis’ first season as the guy in New York, and it has had its ups and downs. On one end, the lanky Latvian has put the league on notice, averaging 23.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game. On the other, he’s complained about being tired, and the Knicks have lost 12 of their last 16 games. What’s undeniable is this: Porzingis is a two-way talent whose requisite talent and stature are unlike anything the NBA has seen. Once New York translates that into wins, Porzingis could be vaulted into a category higher than All-Star.

Love is quietly having yet another amazing season in Cleveland, averaging 18.6 points on 45.9 percent shooting from the field, 40.1 percent from three, and 88.2 percent from the free-throw line. Things aren’t look too good in The Land, with Cleveland riding a pretty awful stretch of basketball. But Love’s game has remained consistent.

All the attention in Boston goes to Irving, but Horford is equally important to the Celtics’ standing as top dogs in the Eastern Conference. He may only average 13.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, and a block, but Horford is a mainstay on the Celtics’ offense. Need proof? His 5.3 assists per game lead the team.

Beal may be the best player on Washington this season. His efficiency is slightly down, and his production has been relatively close to what it was last season, but he’s creating a lot more on his own and has been the Wizards’ top dog offensively this season. His 23.6 points per game leads the team, and he’s also assisting on a career-high 17.8 percent of field goals when he’s on the floor.

Wall’s having a down year by his standards, but he’s still averaging 19.3 points per game and a team-high 9.2 assists per game — good for second in the league. Wall had a slow start to his season but has kept a good enough pace to earn an All-Star spot.

Kyle Lowry

The Raptors are having a solid season behind Lowry’s 17 points, six rebounds, and 6.7 assists. Toronto has the third-best net rating in the league behind the Warriors and Rockets, and it has Lowry to thank for it. Lowry will join his teammate DeRozan, who is a starter.

Green’s health has been an issue this season, but he’s still been tough on the defensive end when he’s played. As long as he remains somewhat healthy, he’ll be in the running for Defensive Player of the Year again.

The Brody tried adjusting to a new role with Carmelo Anthony and George in town, but that didn’t work. Now, Anthony and George have adjusted to playing with the reigning MVP, and the Thunder have begun to shock some teams. Westbrook is almost averaging a triple-double again with 24.8 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 10.1 assists per game. What’s more impressive is that Oklahoma City is finally beginning to rattle off some quality victories. That matters more to Westbrook than any All-Star nod.

Same shot, different day. Thompson continues pelting teams from downtown, and even though his scoring has tapered off this season, he’s still one of the deadliest perimeter snipers the NBA has to offer. Let’s not forget Thompson is also one of the best wing defenders in the league, too. He’s no one-trick pony, and his standing as an All-Star proves it.

Towns’ usage has dipped a bit with the addition of Jimmy Butler, but he’s still averaging 20.2 points and 12.1 rebounds per game while carrying a career high 63.6 percent true-shooting mark. Towns has mostly been a turnstile on defense, but the good heavily outweighs the bad here.

Butler has been the anchor of the Timberwolves this season as their scoring leader at 21.7 points per game. Butler is hitting career highs in field-goal percentage and his true-shooting percentage. The Wolves are legitimately one of the best teams in the Western Conference, and it’s all because Butler put them over the hump.

The Spurs are somehow neck and neck with the Wolves for the third seed in the Western Conference without their best player. If you’re searching for reasons why, look no further than Aldridge. He’s having his best year as a Spur, averaging 22.3 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. He’s been the focal point of a Kawhi Leonard-less offense, and it’s worked out in San Antonio’s favor.

Lillard is one of four players this season to average at least 25 points, six assists and four rebounds per game. The other three? Curry, James, and Westbrook. Enough said.