How close was Pau Gasol to being included in the starting lineup for the Eastern Conference All-Star team?
Three hundred sixty votes.
That's all that separated Gasol from Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony, who landed a spot in the starting lineup with 567,348 votes. Gasol finished with 566,988.
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Bulls guards were hot on the heels of the players who ended up winning starting spots in the backcourt. Jimmy Butler finished fourth in voting among Eastern Conference guards with 564,637 votes, and Derrick Rose was seventh with 302,389. Heat guard Dwyane Wade and Raptors guard Kyle Lowry were the leading vote-getters among Eastern Conference guards and earned spots in the starting five.
Also starting in the East frontcourt: Cavaliers forward LeBron James and Pacers forward Paul George.
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The starting five for the West features Lakers forward Kobe Bryant, Thunder forward Kevin Durant, Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard, Warriors guard Stephen Curry and Thunder guard Russell Westbrook.
Any of the aforementioned Bulls could still be named to the Eastern Conference All-Star team when the reserves are announced next week.