Predicting the 2016 NBA Eastern Conference All-Star starters

The jersey and kits for the NBA Eastern Conference All-Stars.Just a little over two months remain before the who’s who of the NBA fraternity descends upon Canada’s most important city of Toronto for the All-Star Weekend. Scheduled for February 14th, the 2016 All-Star Game is the 65th edition of its kind and is the first ever to be hosted by a non-American city. The NBA ballots are out and it's time for you the fans to cast your vote and send your favorite players closer to making the All-Star team. As we predict the starters for the extravaganza, the criterion is more than just the player’s performances so far. We cannot underrate the importance of a popular player acquiring a starting spot for the All-Star game on the back of his large fan base. Keeping the fan vote aside, here are the most deserving Eastern Conference All-Stars:

#1 Guard: Kyle Lowry

2015-16 Stats: 21.6 points, 6.3 assists and 5.0 rebounds

Signing small forward DeMarre Carroll certainly reduced the offensive load on Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry but the latter has still remained the offensive focal point of the team. Standing 6 foot tall and playing point, Lowry does pretty much everything for the Raptors on the offensive end from creating and making his own shots to creating open shots for his teammates.

He has a Player Efficiency Rating (PER) of 25.06 (9th in the NBA) and is the only Raptor in the top 34 of the PER standings.

Lowry came to training camp this September a much leaner version of himself, making headlines with his weight loss. Whether it’s the weight reduction or his off-season training, Lowry looks a much better player on the court from last season.

Lowry’s All-Star starting position is pretty much guaranteed with the Toronto being the host city and popular hip hop artist Drake being the team’s global ambassador. Kyrie Irving’s injury and John Wall’s inconsistent play also help his case.

#2 Guard: Jimmy Butler

2015-16 Stats: 20.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists

With Derrick Rose’s hot-and-cold play and a banged up squad, Jimmy Butler’s ever-improving offensive game has helped the Chicago Bulls stay afloat in the East. The most recent recipient of the Most Improved Player Award, Butler’s excellent two-way game ranks him high among the shooting guards in the league, especially in the East.

Last year his offensive game experienced a jump which helped him knock down his jumpshot with more regularity. This year, he has not only increased his individual offensive efficiency but has also learnt to use his offensive prowess for the team’s benefit by creating open shots for his teammates. Being the best defender on the team, he is forced to guard the opposition’s best player.

With the team needing his two-way contribution for as long as possible, Butler averages 37.2 minutes per game this season. Very few players undergo the physical exertion that Butler does in a single game.

The only possible contenders to his starting position are Dwyane Wade and DeMar Derozan but neither carries the load or pressure to deliver as Butler does. Bagging the award last year has made him a household name which could possibly remove the possibility of the fans denying him what he deserves.

#3 Center: Andre Drummond

2015-16 Stats: 17.6 points, 16.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks

The front runner for this season’s Most Improved Player Award, Andre Drummond has re-established the status of a dominant big man in the league. Through 24 games this season, he has five 20+ rebounds games and three occasions on which he recorded 20+ points and 20+ rebounds. We have witnessed six weeks of this young NBA season and an up and coming player such as Drummond has already received the Player of the Week honor twice so far.

If all this isn’t enough, Head Coach Stan Van Gundy’s decision to build the Pistons around Drummond like the Orlando Magic from 2008 to 2010 has made the team a revelation so far. From registering a 32-50 record last season, the team has already won 14 of the 25 games this season and Drummond’s monster performances have been a huge reason for that.

There are quite a few forwards in the East who could have made it to the starting line-up: Pau Gasol, Paul Milsap, Carmelo Anthony but neither of the trio have positively contributed to their team as Drummond has. Let’s hope the fans give Drummond the votes he deserves for an All-Star spot

#4 Forward: Paul George

2015-16 Stats: 27 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists

After recovering from a terrible leg injury, Paul George failed to impress when he returned late last season. This season however, has been a different story altogether. He ranks fourth in the league in scoring while shooting a spectacular 44% from the field and 43% from beyond the arc. In 14 of his 25 games he has scored 25+ points, leading his Indiana Pacers to a 13-9 record.

If it wasn’t for Stephen Curry’s start to the season, George might have been the talk of the town. Some analysts have him as the legitimate MVP candidate behind Curry in the season so far.

Neither Monta Ellis nor the transition to small ball have worked like the Pacers’ front office hoped. George’s play has almost single-handedly carried the team to where they stand now (4th in the Eastern Conference). Other than LeBron James, there aren’t a lot of small forwards who can deny George a starting spot in the All-Star Game. His maturation into a franchise superstar and leader of Indiana has seen him bag a lot of neutral fan support.

#5 Forward: LeBron James

2015-16 Stats: 26.4 points, 7.7 rebounds and 6.4 assists

Four-time League MVP LeBron James has consistently played at such a high level that everybody is starting to take what he accomplishes on a daily basis for granted. He has better understood his role with the team this year, taking a back seat till the fourth quarter, before taking over the game.

For years now no matter which team and what the circumstances, James has been in the reckoning for MVP every season and this season is no different. Curry’s surreal start to the season has eclipsed and overshadowed what James has been able to do so far this season with a short-handed Cavs team.

Curry might have taken over as the league’s most marketable player but James still has a large fan following which will surely book his spot on the East All-Star’s starting line-up. There’s no denying the King a spot on the starters.