NBA All-Star Reserves: Surprising Contenders Poised to Steal the Spotlight This Year
Apologies to: Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle, James Harden, Amen Thompson, De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, LeBron James, Trey Murphy III, Austin Reaves.
Eastern Conference
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Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers
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Scottie Barnes, Raptors
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Jalen Duren, Pistons
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Jalen Johnson, Hawks
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Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks
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Norman Powell, Heat
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Derrick White, Celtics
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Pascal Siakam, Pacers **
(** injury replacement)
I covered the case for Mitchell with my starters last week. Barnes gets a spot for serving as the two-way heartbeat of the surprising third-seeded Raptors, averaging 19.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, 5.6 assists and nearly three combined steals-and-blocks while routinely guarding some of the toughest covers the league has to offer, from all across the positional spectrum. Duren has shined in a larger offensive role (17.8 points on 63.2% shooting) while remaining a rebounding menace and taking a significant step forward as a rim protector and defender in space — one major reason why the Pistons have risen to second in the NBA in defensive efficiency, and all the way to the top of the Eastern Conference.



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