Predicting the 2017 NBA All-Star Game reserves

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All-Star reserves will be announced on Thursday night, but we're here to give you what we believe the rosters should look like. Let's get into it.

Eastern Conference

Guard: Kyle Lowry, Raptors: DeMar DeRozan has rightfully garnered accolades for his phenomenal season, but Lowry deserves heaps of credit, too. In leading the NBA's second most efficient offense, Lowry has averaged career-highs in points (22.3), field goal percentage (46.7%) and 3-point field goal percentage (42.2%) on 7.5 attempts per game. His defense has been superb this year and, DeRozan included, is the main reason the Raptors are just three games back of the Cavs in the East.

Guard: Isaiah Thomas, Celtics: Given Thomas' stature, the 5-foot-9 point guard is turning in perhaps one of the greatest scoring campaigns in recent memory. Thomas has averaged 28.9 points, trailing only Russell Westbrook's 30.8 points (Thomas is taking four fewer shots per game) and has still managed career-highs in assists (6.2). The Celtics have dealt with injuries to Al Horford, Avery Bradley and Jae Crowder, but Thomas has remained a constant. He's also scoring in the clutch, as his 10.0 points per fourth quarter lead the league.

Frontcourt: Kevin Love, Cavaliers: Seemingly left for dead with the Cavs after the Warriors took a 3-1 lead in last year's Finals, Love has been great in his third season in Cleveland. He's taken a back seat to LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, but he's nearly averaging 21 points and 11 rebounds and is taking and making more 3-pointers than ever before. He's on pace to become the second player ever to average 20 points, 10 rebounds and two 3-pointers per game (Love also accomplished this in 2013-14). The other? Russell Westbrook, this season.

Frontcourt: Paul George, Pacers: George hasn't been spectacular by his own standards, but even his standard year makes him a sure bet to earn a fourth All-Star berth. He has seen his field goal percentage bump up to 45 percent, the best mark since his rookie season, and he's got the underwhelming Pacers at .500 to date. George is also leading the league in free-throw percentage (92.6 percent), which would rank in the top-30 all-time for a single season. The more you know.

Frontcourt: Paul Millsap, Hawks: He flies under the radar as well as any star in the league, but there aren't too many other players as complete as Millsap. Elected to the All-Star Game in each of the last three seasons, Millsap is averaging 17.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.0 blocks in 34.0 minutes. The only other players in the league to reach those thresholds in each category are James Harden, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Russell Westbrook. In a weak "frontcourt" pool, Millsap's a lock to get in again.

Wild-card: John Wall, Wizards: This may come as a surprise because of how quiet the buzz around has been, but Wall is having a historically great season. Check these numbers: Wall is averaging 23.1 points, 10.1 assists and a league-best 2.2 steals. The list of players to average 23/10/2 in a single season? Russell Westbrook last year, and Michael Adams in 1991. That's it. He's also resurrected the Wizards from the dead after a 2-8 start, and Washington has gone 23-12 since and sits in the middle of the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Wild-card: Kyrie Irving, Cavaliers: This was a tough call between Irving and Kemba Walker, but Uncle Drew gets the nod on his fourth All-Star bid. Irving has been a terror on the offensive end this season, averaging 24.5 points on 47 percent shooting and 5.6 assists, nearly a full dime more than he did during last year's injury-plagued campaign. He's shooting 41 percent from beyond the arc and is flirting with 90 percent from the stripe. Oh, and he's running the show for the best team in the East.

Western Conference

Guard: Russell Westbrook, Thunder: Surprised, right? Look, James Harden was a lock to start, and Stephen Curry has been magnificent. But there really isn't any argument to keep Westbrook out of the starting lineup. He's averaging 30.8 points, 10.6 rebounds and 10.4 assists, has 22 triple-doubles and has the Thunder - left for dead when Kevin Durant bolted - sixth in the West. Talk about his lack of efficiency all you want, Westbrook deserved to start. Alas, he'll have to settle for being the surest lock in the history of the league.

Guard: Klay Thompson, Warriors: This one may seem like a surprise, given he's the fourth best player on his team. But Thompson has been great in his sixth NBA season. The 40 percent from deep he's shooting is a career-worst and the 53 percent from inside the arc is a career-best. He's proven to be much more than a 3-point specialist, and it doesn't hurt that he's a plus defender capable of guarding multiple positions. Plus, he scored 60 points in 29 minutes against the Pacers earlier this season. That alone should get him in.

Frontcourt: DeMarcus Cousins, Kings: Another no-brainer, and someone who would have started were the three frontcourt starters not future Hall-of-Famers. Cousins has been a one-man show in Sacramento, and what a show it's been. Cousins is averaging 28.0 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists. Those numbers haven't been posted since David Robinson in 1993-94 (Russell Westbrook is also doing it this season), and then Larry Bird in 1984-85 before that. Cousins is a lock.

Frontcourt: Rudy Gobert, Jazz: The Jazz have dealt with significant injuries to George Hill, Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors this season, and yet they're somehow 29-18 and just one game back of the No. 4 spot in the West. Gobert is the reason why. A leading candidate for Defensive Player of the Year, he's averaging 12.6 rebounds and 2.5 blocks, in addition to shooting 66 percent from the field. His most important stat? He's played in all 47 of the Jazz's games.

Frontcourt: Karl-Anthony Towns, Timberwolves: Despite the Timberwolves struggling under Tom Thibodeau, Towns has taken his game to another level. Still just 21 years old, he's averaging 22.4 points, 11.9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. The only other 21-year-old to reach those numbers was Shaquille O'Neal (who also did it when he was 20). The numbers are great, but it's the eye test that really does it for Towns. The way he moves, the way he affects the game, and his consistency are all so impressive. There's an argument against him earning an All-Star bid, but he's played well enough to get in.

Wild-card: Draymond Green, Warriors: The engine that makes the super-power Warriors offense go, Green has turned in yet another fantastic season. His role has diminished some offensively with Kevin Durant in the fold (his FGA, FTA and points are all down) but he's still ultra-efficient, and his defense remains as good as ever. The Warriors are good offensively, yes. But they're also No. 1 in defensive efficiency, and Green is the main reason why. He could very well win Defensive Player of the Year.

Wild-card: Damian Lillard, Trail Blazers: This spot would have belonged to Chris Paul, who is expected to miss the All-Star Game with a thumb injury. In his place is Lillard, everyone's favorite All-Star snub. The Blazers have arguably been the league's biggest disappointment in 2016-17, but Lillard has done just about everything he can to right the ship. His 26.2 points are a career-best, and he's doing so while sharing a backcourt with the talented C.J. McCollum. Mike Conley, Marc Gasol or LaMarcus Aldridge would be fine choices here, but in a rough season in Portland, Lillard has shined.

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