LeBron James, John Wall, most of the Hawks starting lineup and others fill out an impressive Eastern Conference squad for Sunday's All-Star Game.
The 2015 NBA All-Star Game tips off Sunday night in New York City, and this year's Eastern Conference roster is stacked as usual. Four-time MVP LeBron James leads the group for the 11th straight year, and this time around he's joined by John Wall, a whole bunch of Atlanta Hawks and others.
It might not be the insanely talented team that's featured out West, but the East roster certainly boasts some impressive talent. As the conference looks for its second straight All-Star victory, here are the guys who will be leading the way:
Starters
Kyle Lowry: Toronto Raptors: A late charge in voting, possibly boosted by support from Canadian celebrities Drake and Justin Bieber, helped push Lowry to his first All-Star appearance. The Raptors guard would've made it no matter what given his rise in Toronto, but after being one of the biggest snubs of last year's game, he now gets the chance to start. Lowry might not be the flashiest player in the game, but he's a great point guard who deserves some credit.
John Wall, Washington Wizards: A year after turning heads with a big weekend in New Orleans, Wall is back at the All-Star Game as a starter in his second appearance. The Wizards point guard has emerged a legitimate two-way force and one of the best players in the East, and figures to be starring in these games for a while. Not too long ago, folks wondered whether Wall could be a complete, premier point guard. Now he's leading the league in assists.
Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks: Even a limited 'Melo is still one of the best scorers in the NBA. Despite a nagging knee injury that will likely require surgery, Anthony has averaged 24.2 points per game on 44 percent shooting. That hasn't been enough to keep the Knicks competitive, but it earns the 28-year-old his sixth straight All-Star appearance and eighth overall. Don't expect too many minutes from 'Melo in the exhibition as tries to get some extra rest for that knee.
LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers: The days of LeBron being unanimously considered the best player in the game might be coming to an end, but the Cavaliers forward is still pretty special. There's nobody in the game that combines as many different traits as James does, and while he's not quite as efficient or intense defensively as he was in Miami, those were an insanely high standards to live up to. Even if LeBron is no longer a historically brilliant player, he's still a superstar.
Pau Gasol, Chicago Bulls: It's been a resurgent age-34 season for Pau, who's been voted into the game four years after his last ASG appearance. Even though some Bulls fans are wondering if the team would be better off without him because of his defensive issues, it's undeniable that Gasol racks up double doubles like few others. He might not be the Bulls' best big man, but he's averaging 18.4 points and 12.2 rebounds a game, and that tends to get you All-Star hype.
Reserves
Chris Bosh, Miami Heat: Back to being a primary option after years in a supporting role, Bosh has unsurprisingly put up his biggest numbers in years. The Heat aren't particularly good, sitting seventh in the East with a 22-29 record, but they'd likely be worlds worse without their All-Star big man leading the way each night.
Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls: The league leader in minutes played, Butler is an absolute workhorse for Tom Thibodeau and the Bulls. What's most impressive, however, is how the 25-year-old has taken a major step forward offensively in his fourth year with the team. Butler was always a good defender, earning All-Defense second-team honors last season, but he's emerged as Chicago's leading scorer this season at 20.4 points per game. He's been efficient, too, improving his shooting percentage from last season by a wide margin (39.7 percent to 46.1 percent).
Al Horford, Atlanta Hawks: No longer limited by the injuries that plagued Horford in two of the previous three seasons, the Hawks big man is back to being one of the steadiest two-way players in the league. His numbers aren't eye-popping, with just 15.5 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, but he fills his role well and anchors the team on the defensive end of the floor. After missing out on the All-Star Game the past three seasons for various reasons, it's good to see Horford back on the roster.
Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers: The 2014 All-Star Game MVP is back and ready to light up the box score yet again. There aren't many players as exciting as Irving, who's taken a step forward with his efficiency in a slightly smaller role this season. No longer burdened with carrying the entirety of the offense now that LeBron, Kevin Love and others are around, Irving is averaging 21.9 points per game and shooting a career-high 41 percent from the beyond the arc. He probably won't put up 31 points and 14 assists again, but Irving should be one of the key guys to watch Sunday night.
Kyle Korver, Atlanta Hawks: There are great shooters, and then there's Korver. The Hawks wing has been on another planet this season, taking nearly six threes per game and hitting an astonishing 53 percent of them. Korver, who's replacing the injured Dwyane Wade on the roster, might be a historically unique first-time All-Star in many ways, from his age (33) to his style, but there's little doubt about the impact he's had in Atlanta this season. Whether he's draining threes or using his presence to pull the defense, Korver is a serious offensive weapon.
Paul Millsap, Atlanta Hawks: The Hawks' third All-Star is the lone carryover from last year's game. Few frontcourt players are as versatile as Millsap, who can bang around in the post and stretch out to the three-point line with ease. Like the rest of his teammates, his numbers are somewhat tame for an All-Star, but they're certainly nothing to scoff at. That Millsap manages to get his 17 points per game on less than 13 shots a night shows how nicely he fits into Mike Budenholzer's offense.
Jeff Teague, Atlanta Hawks: After years of being a solid player for Atlanta, Teague has taken his game to the next level this season. The Hawks' emergence as a top-5 offense is no coincidence when you see the way Teague orchestrates an offense that's built on movement and flow. There are more individually spectacular point guards, for sure, but you have to give props to Teague for what's happening in Atlanta.
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Injured players
Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat: The Heat guard isn't playing in the game due to hamstring issues, but it's worth noting how good he's been this season when healthy. At age 33, Wade is averaging 21.4 points on 49 percent shooting, and he's still drawing nearly six free throw attempts per game. Wade's insistence upon attacking the rim and drawing contract has probably taken some toll on his durability, but it remains a huge part of why so few teams can stop him regularly. Wade's 11th straight All-Star Game appearance is well-deserved.
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