Picking the 2014 NBA All-Star game reserves

After fans voted in the starting fives for the Western and Eastern Conference NBA All-Star teams, it’s now the coaches’ turn to fill in the reserves for the league’s annual exhibition, set this year for February 16 (Feb. 17, PHL time) at the New Orleans Arena.

Each coach will vote for two guards, three forwards and two wildcards, as long as they are not from their respective team, with the high vote-getters making the cut. With the results set to be announced Thursday (Friday, PHL time), we thought we’d ask our own basketball experts first whom they want to see:


Nico Baguio, owner and editor of HumbleBola, columnist for GMA News Online Sports

West reserves

Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers(G) - he might play, he might not play. He's still the best two-way point guard in the league.

James Harden, Houston Rocket (G) - he's everything the All-star game is about - all offense, no defense.

LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland Trail Blazers (F) - The Trail Blazers are the most surprising team this season and the biggest reason for that is LMA.

Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans (F) - You know how many players have averaged a line as diverse as AD's 20 points, 10 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 3 blocks? Only 2 - David Robinson and Hakeem Olajuwon.

Dwight Howard, Houston Rockets (F) - He might not be the defensive force he was in Orlando but he's the reason why Houston has reached legit contender status.

Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers (WC) - Lillard's Stephen Curry-esque range and hops will be perfect for the free-wheeling All-Star Game.

Tony Parker/Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs (WC) - You can go with either San Antonio Spur here and it wouldn't matter - you either pick the engine of SAS's offense or the anchor of their defense.

East reserves

Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors (G) - underrated point guard that's steering the Toronto Raptors to a Top 4 seed (in a weak Eastern conference).

Lance Stephenson, Indiana Pacers (G) - his all-around play and flamboyant style is the perfect glue that keeps the best team in the league (the Indiana Pacers) together.

Chris Bosh, Miami Heat (F) - has taken a larger role for the Miami Heat without a big drop in the standings.

Roy Hibbert, Indiana Pacers (F) - the best interior defender in the league who's the anchor of the best defense in the league.

Paul Millsap, Atlanta Hawks (F) - has carried the Atlanta Hawks through Al Horford's injury and Jeff Teague's recent struggles.

John Wall, Washington Wizards (WC) - has played well this season despite an injury-riddled and underperforming team.

DeMar DeRozan, Toronto Raptors (WC) - his post game has improved to the point where he can carry a team's offense with it.



Favian Pua, contributor to GMA News Online Sports

West reserves

Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs (G) - Parker is a retroactive pick solely for what he meant to the Spurs during their 2013 Finals run. His trademark floater warrants a spot as he continues to play at an elite level in his 13th season.

James Harden, Houston Rockets (G) - in a game where offense is a premium, Harden’s volume shooting will be a huge asset for the West as he can pile up points in a hurry.

LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland Trail Blazers (F) - the overachieving Blazers have Aldridge to thank for, as he posts gaudy 24-11 numbers effortlessly. Hard to imagine that this MVP candidate allegedly wanted to be traded out of Portland just a couple of months ago.

Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans (F) - Davis has been a monster on the block and his first All-Star game will be a showcase for his fans in the Big Easy.

Dwight Howard, Houston Rockets (F) - Howard has made a statistical resurgence this season after struggling with back issues last year. His gregarious personality will be as valued as his powerful slams and boards.

Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors (WC) - the other half of the Splash Brothers will arrive locked and loaded, bringing the three-point shootout into the Sunday special.

Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers (WC) - will the All-Star Game boil down to the final possession? If so, it would only be fitting to field Lillard, who already has three game-winners notched on his belt this season.

East reserves

John Wall, Washington Wizards (G) - Wall has been the East’s second-best playmaker behind Kyrie Irving. His freakish athleticism will be a welcome sight in a midseason exhibition ravaged by injuries.

DeMar Derozan, Toronto Raptors (G) - DeRozan is on the fringe of joining the league’s top 10 scorers thanks to a career-high free throw attempts per game. The East Bay Funk Remix will be one of his patented dunks to watch

Roy Hibbert, Indiana Pacers (F) - with no center selected among the East starters, Coach Frank Vogel will be expected to insert Hibbert early to establish a defensive anchor that will prevent the West from topping 200 points.

Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls (F) - thanks to Noah’s heart and hustle, the decimated Bulls have somehow stayed afloat in the East. His 11-11 averages do not reflect the intense energy he brings on a nightly basis.

Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons (F) - the Big Penguin will give the East a lot of exciting transition finishes and he will also provide emphatic rejections on the defensive end to win the crowd over.

Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors (WC) - averaging career-high numbers in points and assists, Lowry has been a stabilizing presence for the Raptors as they make a push for home-court advantage in the first round.

Arron Afflalo, Orlando Magic (WC) - Afflalo has been a model of two-way efficiency for the Magic, shooting 42.3 percent from downtown and living up to his reputation as a lockdown defender.


Check out the picks of Chuck Araneta and Polo Bustamante from the From the Stands podcast on the next page:

Polo Bustamante, From the Stands, contributor to GMA News Online
 

West reserves

Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers (G) - an All-Star snub would just give him another reason to play better than he already is.

James Harden, Houston Rockets (G) - with Kobe Bryant out for most of the season, The Beard has taken the "Best SG" in the West title.
 
Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans (F) - who wouldn't want to see this freak in the All-Star game?

LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland Trail Blazers (F) - Blake Griffin is a flashier PF, but LA is the best PF in the West right now.

Dwight Howard, Houston Rockets (F) - he's not 2009 D12, but he's still a damn good center.

Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs (WC) - he's been magnifique for the Spurs.

Goran Dragic, Phoenix Suns (WC) - the Dragon aka Steve Nash 2.0 is leading the surprising Suns into the playoffs


East reserves

John Wall, Washington Wizards (G) - fast and explosive always equals fun.

Lance Stephenson, Indiana Pacers (G) - 'Born Ready' will bring the flash to the All-Star Game.

Chris Bosh, Miami Heat (F) - he's taken the Robin suit from Dwyane Wade this season.

Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls (F) - gotta reward the hardest working player in the NBA.

Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons (F) - the East needs their own freak to match Anthony Davis.

Roy Hibbert, Indiana Pacers (WC) - someone's gotta play defense in the All-Star Game right?

Joe Johnson, Brooklyn Nets (WC) - Joe Cool has been the one consistent player for the disappointing Brooklyn Nets.



Chuck Araneta, From the Stands, contributor to GMA News Online

West reserves (Chuck assumes James Harden will be named as Kobe Bryant's replacement due to the latter's injury)

Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs (G) - the Spurs are sleepwalking through the regular season, yet Parker continues to get it done every single game.

Goran Dragic, Phoenix Suns (G) - the surprising success of the Suns despite the knee injury to Eric Bledsoe is because of The Dragon’s uncanny timing. He knows when to get his teammates involved, and when he needs to take over.

Dwight Howard, Houston Rockets (F) - people wouldn’t have paid attention to Howard’s campaign for centers in the All-Star game if he didn’t deserve a spot in the lineup.

LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland Trail Blazers (F) - Aldridge is absolutely unguardable on the low block, and is the MVP this season in a universe where Lebron James and Kevin Durant don't exist.

Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks (F) - just give this spot to Dirk until he retires, or until there’s a hint of a dropoff in his game (there hasn't been one).

Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans (WC) - you can’t have a game in the Big Easy without a representative, and lucky for them Unibrow is more than deserving to represent the Pellies this year.

DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings (WC) - Boogie on down with Cousins to NOLA, as he has toned down the antics and temper tantrums, to become one of the most dangerous (and fun to watch) scorers in the NBA.

East reserves

Derrick Ro... Oh, nevermind.

John Wall, Washington Wizards (G) - quietly, John Wall has taken a mini-leap in terms of overall production on the floor, and has embraced being the leader on a feisty Wizards team.

Arron Afflalo, Orlando Magic (G) - in the midst of a tank-tacular season for the Magic, Afflalo just keeps plugging away, refusing to go into the sunset with the youth movement in Orlando

Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls (F) - with no Rose and Deng on the roster, Noah has had to bear the weight of being the leading scorer, passer and defender for a resilient Bulls squad.

Roy Hibbert, Indiana Pacers (F) - the modern day Dikembe Mutombo in the NBA, Hibbert has offset his inefficient scoring with the best rim protection in the NBA for the league-leading Pacers.

Paul Millsap, Atlanta Hawks (F) - if Paul Millsap wasn’t around after Al Horford went down with an injury, the Hawks would be challenging the Milwaukee Bucks for the worst record in the L.

Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors (WC) - Lowry has come very far in such a short time. Going from being being trade bait to the Knicks to the starting PG for the Atlantic Divison leading Toronto Raptors in the span of a few months.

Lance Stephenson, Indiana Pacers (WC) - realistically, Chris Bosh is the logical choice here, but 'Born Ready' was born to entertain on a big stage like the All-star game.


- AMD, GMA News