Chris Bosh was named an All-Star for the 10th time
Call it what you will, but shouldn’t a PG from the Bucks have made this squad? I would like to think that 17.9 points, 5.3 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.6 steals on a team of, well, unknowns if you will, is enough to get noticed. Problem is there are a lot of players in Brandon Knight’s shoes this season, just ask Kyle Korver!
Realistically it’s a good thing the NBA has this problem come this time. Can you imagine not having enough All-Stars to fill out a team? It would be horrible, and a little funny, but mostly horrible. Which is why it’s a good thing that this year’s reserves are no ‘scrubs.’ So, without further ado, I present to you, this week’s By The Numbers: All-Star Reserves edition.
10 : The amount of times Chris Bosh has been selected an All-Star
Can I tell you a secret? I grew up idolizing Bosh, or ‘CB’ as I called him. Granted this is because I was, and still am, a Raptors fan (for life) and to be honest, if I was him I would’ve skipped town too. To have the chance to play with LeBron James is enough. But enough of that. Back to what really matters – Bosh getting selected to the All-Star team for the 10th time in his 11-year career. Without James this season, CB is averaging 21.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, two assists while only committing 1.6 fouls a game. I know it may not seem important, but fewer fouls results in more time on the floor. I would also like to add that Bosh has hit 58 threes on .369 shooting from long range this season. Well done CB, congrats on another great year!
289 : The amount of free throws Jimmy Butler has sunk this season
It really has been a treat to watch Butler’s game basically ‘explode’ this year. Even though Pau Gasol has been phenomenal for the Bulls, I believe that Butler’s improved play has had an even bigger impact on the team this season. He’s averaging 20.6 points, six rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.8 steals per game while shooting .460 from the field and .832 from the line. Even though James Harden does lead the league in FTM, the fact that Butler is even ranked second is crazy in itself. This was Butler’s first All-Star selection, and even though the season he is having probably justifies a starting role, being voted in by opposing coaches probably feels like validation enough.
.546 : Al Horford’s FG percentage this year
I believe that Al Horford being voted as an All-Star proves that stats aren’t everything, because a player’s leadership and impact on a team’s overall success are what should matter. This season Horford is averaging 15.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting an imposing .546 from the field. Much like Bosh, Horford is excellent at staying out of foul trouble, committing only 1.6 per game this season. This is the third time Horford has been selected to the All-Star team in his seven-year career. Congrats Big ‘Al,’ you earned this one!
55 : The amount of points Kyrie Irving dropped on the Kings
Although the coaches had already made their reserve selections, Irving went out and shot the lights out of the building against the Kings last week. What makes his game that much better is the fact that it came the night before the reserves were announced. It’s almost as if Irving knew he was going to be selected and wanted to celebrate. Maybe he was a little ‘ticked-off’ that he lost out on $7-to-$10 million in bonuses by not being selected as a starter? Either way, it was some game. Irving is averaging 21.9 points, 5.2 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game while shooting .467 from the field, .408 from three and .841 from the charity stripe. Keeping in mind he was also the MVP of last year’s All-Star game, I would say the coaches made the right call.
46 : The amount of players drafted ahead of Paul Millsap in 2006
Even though the Hawks are having a tremendous year and everyone is raving about them, I still feel the need to highlight the season Millsap is having. He’s averaging 17.1 points, eight rebounds, three assists and 1.8 steals per game while shooting the rock at an even higher percentage than he did last season. There’s no question Millsap is deserving of this honor and is becoming one of the most dependable PFs in the league. After playing his first seven years for the Jazz, Millsap appears to have found a home in Atlanta, playing without question the best basketball of his career.
0 : Games Jeff Teague allowed his team to lose in the month of January
Teague is the kind of player that fans should want in the All-Star game. As a floor general for questionably the best team in the NBA, there hasn’t been much Teague hasn’t done well this season. He helped guide the Hawks to an undefeated record in the month of January (17-0), leading to their starters being named NBA Player(s) of the Month. Individually Teague is having quite the year, averaging 17 points, 7.5 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game while connecting on .467 of his field goals and .862 from the charity stripe. Being that this is his first All-Star nod and knowing how difficult it is to get voted in, you can be sure Teague will enjoy every minute of All-Star weekend.
17.3 : Dwyane Wade’s PPG average in All-Star competition
There is a chance that Wade will not be healthy in time for All-Star weekend, but considering he is an 11-time All-Star and is a former All-Star MVP, I would imagine he laces up for this one. I’m sure the Heat would rather he didn’t, although considering what Wade has meant to this franchise over the years, I find it hard to believe they’d intervene if he wanted to play. It really is a shame that the Heat have had to deal with so many injuries this season. It would’ve been interesting to watch this group of guys gel. Although, despite some setbacks Wade has appeared in 35 of the Heat’s 49 games this season, averaging 21.4 points, 5.4 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game. He’s never been a real ‘threat’ from three, but his ability to shoot the mid-range shot, drive the lane and draw fouls has always been his bread and butter.
Riley Jones is a correspondent and NBA editor at FantasyPros. To read more from Riley, check out his archive and follow him @RyJones4.
