A year ago, when the regular season ended, Hoops Rumors readers made their picks for the three All-NBA teams for the 2016/17 season. Those selections matched the eventual results very closely, with 12 of our readers’ 15 picks matching the official All-NBA squads, including all five first-teamers.
We’ll do that again for the 2017/18 season next month, but before we formally place our votes, we want to check in on the All-NBA race at one particularly competitive position. No matter which six guards are selected to this year’s All-NBA teams, some deserving candidates are going to be left on the outside looking in.
James Harden (Rockets) is the heavy favorite to win this year’s MVP award, which should make him a lock for the All-NBA first team. However, it’s not clear who will join him. Russell Westbrook (Thunder) earned a spot on the 2017’s first team, and has been nearly as effective this season, averaging 25.3 PPG, 10.2 APG, and 9.6 RPG with an improved FG% (.448). But given how much competition he’ll have, Westbrook may not be a lock for the second – or even the third – All-NBA team, let alone the first.
DeMar DeRozan (Raptors) has been the best player on the Eastern Conference’s best team. But his numbers (23.6 PPG, 5.1 APG, 4.0 RPG, .463/.322/.826 shooting) haven’t necessarily been better than Victor Oladipo‘s (23.5 PPG, 4.2 APG, 5.3 RPG, 2.2 SPG, .471/.368/.804 shooting), and you could make the case that the job Oladipo has done to lead the Pacers to a 40-29 mark is as impressive as what DeRozan has done in Toronto, given the lack of star power on Indiana’s roster.
Damian Lillard‘s Trail Blazers suddenly look like one of the NBA’s four or five best teams, and Lillard’s play has been a huge reason for that, making it hard to leave him off the All-NBA list. Kyrie Irving (Celtics) fits that bill too — he has been everything Boston hoped for this season, leading the team to a probable No. 2 seed in the East despite playing without Gordon Hayward for the entire year.
Stephen Curry (Warriors) and Chris Paul (Rockets) have each missed a little time with injuries and play alongside superstar teammates, which may cost them a few votes, but they’ve been outstanding in the 50 games they’ve played. Houston is 43-7 with Paul in its lineup, and Curry has shot a blistering 42.4% on nearly 10 three-point attempts per game.
We’ve already listed eight worthy candidates for All-NBA slots, and haven’t even mentioned Kyle Lowry (Raptors), Bradley Beal (Wizards), Klay Thompson (Warriors), or Jimmy Butler (Timberwolves), who has played 80% of his minutes at shooting guard this season, according to Basketball-Reference’s data.
What do you think? Which six players would make up your All-NBA backcourts right now? What would have to happen during the season’s final month to change your picks?
Jump into the comment section below to weigh in with your thoughts!
I think the NBA is too good right now and they need to add an All-NBA 4th and 5th team lol. But right now, it’d probably be Harden, Derozan, Lillard, Curry, Kyrie, and Westbrook. I think Dipo is deserving but will get snubbed because the Pacers fly under the radar. Lowry isn’t having as good of a year as the others, Paul takes a backseat to Harden, and Butler got hurt. I can’t even begin to predict who will be on 1st, 2nd, or 3rd team, but I’m guessing those six players will divvy up the spots.
Seriously the Pacers were projected to win 32 games. Oladipo will get Most Improved Player of the Year. McMillen may get coach of year. Pacers played Toronto well without Sabonis. They recently won at Boston and at Washington. They hold the series edge against the Cavs. I hope this group stays intact next season. They all like each other and the fans like them. They do follow the next player up philosophy.
1 harden lillard
2 DeRozan curry
3 Irving Westbrook
Unless major injuries happen, Curry, Harden, and Westbrook are locks. Lillard and Irving are near locks. Last spot comes down Klay Thompson, Derozan, and Oladipo. Lowery is a near lock to not get in.
1 Lilliard Harden
2 Irving DeRozan
3 Curry Oladipo
1.Harden, Lillard
2. Westbrook, Curry
3. DMDR, Kyrie