NBA All-Star Game 2019: Western Conference predicted selections

Backcourt reserves

Westbrook and Lillard deserve a spot in the All-Star game

Russell Westbrook

Russel Westbrook has been on a shooting slump ever since getting injured against the New Orleans Pelicans in a victory during mid-November, but that's still not stopping him from averaging a 20-point triple-double for the third straight season. Granted, he still has a terrible shot selection (as was made evident by his 1-19 jump shooting night over the Mavericks two nights back), but he is an improved decision-maker in comparison to two seasons back.

His defence is now up to the levels one would expect from the most athletic point guard in NBA history, as Russell leads the league in steals per game right now and looks primed to make his debut All-Defensive Team selection this season (if he keeps up this level of play).

Damian Lillard

Another year, another year of Damian Lillard putting the Portland Trail Blazers on his back and dragging them to a playoff berth. Lillard is playing at the same level as he did last year, and in fact, his 3-point percentage is currently at a career-best 39.4 percent on 7.8 attempts from downtown per game.

The Blazers are treading a couple of games above a .500 record right now because of the efforts of the 2018 All-NBA First Teamer, although he has sturdy support from the likes of CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic (Nurkic became the first player in NBA history to compile a 20-point, 20-rebound night in addition to a 5x5 stat line yesterday).