NBA All-Star Reserves: Thunderous Intentions Team make their picks

Tonight, NBA All-Star Reserves will be announced on Inside the NBA via a TNT special pregame show at 7PM ET.

In honor of the Starters ‘snub heard round the world’ the Thunderous Intentions team decided to offer our two cents on who should make the NBA All-Star Reserve teams.  Please feel free to provide your list and/or comment on our selections.

Tamberlyn Richardson’s Picks: @TTOTambz

Western Conference Reserves:

Russell Westbrook (Thunder): Without doubt the omission of Westbrook was the greatest mistake of the starter selection process and ironically it falls on the fans. Years from now, we’ll look back in shock that the 2-time defending All-Star MVP had to be added to the team via the coaches.

With the changes to the voting process to remove a skewed popularity vote, perhaps it wasn’t fair to then have the tie break decided precisely in the same manner (popularity).  Still, I’ll continue to hope Steve Kerr does the unthinkable and starts Westbrook, Harden, and Durant to reunite OKC’s former Big 3. At the very least it will be interesting to see if ‘the feud’ which is sure to be a major All-Star weekend narrative also translates to the court.

Related: Is Westbrook All-Star snub worst in history?

Gordon Hayward (Jazz): My preference would be to reward George Hill over Gordon Hayward, but he’s only played 23 games (although the Jazz are 17-6 when he plays and 12-12 when he doesn’t).

Marc Gasol (Grizzlies): I felt Gasol should have started over Anthony Davis given he has been a better leader than Davis. I ended up going with Davis knowing there needs to be a representative from the host city (New Orleans). Still, comparing the two big men punctuates how much Gasol did to keep the Grizzlies in the mix while Conley, Parsons, ZBo, Allen and copious Grizzlies were out injured. Conversely, Davis posted great personal numbers, but his team wallowed without Jrue Holiday and others in the lineup. In fact, that remains the case with the Pelicans beating the Cavaliers without Davis and followed it with a loss to OKC with Davis  back in the lineup, albeit not for the entirety of the game.

Damian Lillard (Blazers): This nod is more a result or prior snubs. McCollum’s numbers might be  worthier, but we already know what occurred when Dame got snubbed in previous seasons . Intelligent coaches will select him, not wanting to give him extra motivation to finish the season.

Draymond Green (Warriors): Knowing the Warriors are going to get rewarded with at least 3 players I chose Green who has a greater effect on his team.  I considered Klay Thompson, but in my opinion if someone said you have to pick one or the other, it’s clear Green is the guy who gets the nod for what he does to effect winning on both sides, plus the intangibles he offers. Besides, I want to see what happens during the game between LeBron and Draymond.

DeMarcus Cousins (Kings): If you reward Davis for his numbers on a non-playoff team, you have to reward Cousins.

Mike Conley (Grizzlies): Originally I had Nikola Jokic on my list, but like Embiid he’ll be playing in the BBVA Rising Stars game. And, like Dame Lillard, Conley hasn’t been rewarded in the past for his efforts. It’s time he was given the nod for his body of work and the difference he makes on the team. Sure, I could have put DeAndre Jordan on the list (especially because Chris Paul would have made the team sans injury), but after watching him air ball two free throws, it was clear he was not the epitome of what I consider an All-Star, so  he lost my vote!

Eastern Conference Reserves

Kyle Lowry (Raptors) – The only player from my starting EC  prediction list who didn’t make the cut (Westbrook was the only WC player who didn’t make the cut). Review of the stats (both offense and defense) showcases why Lowry should have been considered the top guard in the East. Teams score 7.6 more points on the Raptors when he sits, whereas opponents score 6.3 fewer points when DeRozan sits. Further reasons Lowry should be the very first player selected by coaches:

•  he ranks 4th in three point makes (behind Curry, Gordon, Harden – Thomas is 10th) and Lowry has the best field goal percent of the top 10 (42.2%)
• Ranks sixth in both Value Over Replacement Player and Win Shares
• his defense is paralleled (only) by Wall of the guards
• He’s the bulldog that makes the Raptors engine function

Trust me, (or just ask Jodie Meeks) whenever the Raptors need a spark or a shift in momentum, all you need to do is watch Kyle Lowry.  There is always a definitive moment where you spot something in his eyes or witness a gesture. I call it the ‘Kyle Lowry is everything moment’.  Nine times out of ten the Raptors win those games and 99.9% of the time it’s because of Kyle Lowry. As bad as the  Westbrook omission is, Lowry’s snub feels more egregious. Why? Because his peers and the so called experts are the ones who got it wrong!

Isaiah Thomas (Celtics) – As great as Thomas has been I always had him listed as a reserve. His fourth quarter scoring is impressive, yet Lowry doesn’t rank far behind him. In addition the on/off court defensive stats scream why Lowry was head and shoulders above Thomas. To wit: when Thomas sits teams score 14 fewer points on the Celts.

John Wall (Wizards) – no denying Wall is a worthy reserve, especially considering his recent production. Question is (funeral dress aside), can these Wizards win on the road?

Kemba Walker (Hornets) – I’m praying Walker makes the cut. Just like the Timperpups are my guilty NBA League Pass pleasure in the West, the Hornets and Walker fulfill that role for me in the East.

Paul Millsap (Hawks) – he’s the best player on both ends for the 4th place Hawks.  I rewarded Paul Millsap over Howard because the Hawks are 4-1 without Howard in the lineup, but 0-3 when Millsap doesn’t play.

Paul George (Pacers) – George hasn’t looked as invincible this year, nor have his Pacers, but he’s still an All-Star and more worthy of the nod than Dwyane Wade or Carmelo Anthony

Kevin Love (Cavaliers) – Top Conference teams should get a minimum of two players and in this case three, given Love has improved each season with the Cavs. Sure Embiid would be fun to see, especially playing alongside Antetokounmpo, but he’s in the BBVA Rising Stars game, so I went with Love (though secretly, I won’t be upset if Embiid makes the cut).