{"id":8528,"date":"2017-08-06T14:20:41","date_gmt":"2017-08-06T18:20:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonnba.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=8528"},"modified":"2017-08-06T14:18:28","modified_gmt":"2017-08-06T18:18:28","slug":"east-shooting-guard-picks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2017\/08\/06\/east-shooting-guard-picks\/","title":{"rendered":"Starting Shooting Guard Prediction for 2018 East All-Star Team"},"content":{"rendered":"

The NBA’s Eastern Conference has seen many star players move to the West this off-season. Next season, the East All-Star team will be an interesting group of new faces to replace perennial stars Jimmy Butler<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0Paul George<\/a><\/strong>, and Paul Millsap<\/a><\/strong>. Three of the All-Star spots are reserved for Cleveland Cavaliers<\/a> players, at least until LeBron James<\/a><\/strong> says enough<\/a>. Still, LWOS is going to boldly predict the roster for the 2018 Los Angeles All-Star game. In this five-part series, LWOS will predict the starters for each position. We’ll name four candidates at each spot before narrowing it down to the top choice.<\/em><\/p>\n

Starting Shooting Guard Prediction for 2018 East All-Star Team<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Shooting guards in the modern era\u00a0need to be able to put the ball on the floor and create. DeMar DeRozan<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0of the Toronto Raptors<\/a> is proof of most NBA teams’ desire for their two-guard to be a volume shooter.\u00a0Shooting guards need to consistently lead their team offensively, whether by scoring, playmaking, or a combination of the two. Obviously,\u00a0they need to be winning games as well, especially in a tight race for the starting spot. Only one\u00a0shooting guard earned a spot in last year’s game. This year, the East’s shooting guards need to stand out even more than usual.<\/p>\n

Any East shooting guards making a bid for the All-Star game will need to have long stretches of scoring binges. They’ll need to come through in the big games as a clear leader. Just like DeRozan, these players need to lead their teams to a winning record. Last year and the one before that, DeRozan propelled the Raptors to new heights, putting up monster scoring numbers to solidify his All-Star status. This year’s shooting guards who hope to be East All-Stars will need to do\u00a0the same. Here are LWOS’s predictions for this year’s East shooting guards and their pursuit of an All-Star spot.<\/p>\n

The Underdog Pick<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The most unlikely All-Star of the East shooting guards is first: The Charlotte Hornets<\/a>‘\u00a0Nicolas Batum<\/a><\/strong>. Charlotte made a big splash two years ago by signing\u00a0Jeremy Lin<\/a><\/strong> and Batum. Those two helped lead the revamped Hornets to a playoff birth.\u00a0However, the\u00a0group did not stay\u00a0together. Lin left in free agency, and the team suffered last season,\u00a0missing the playoffs. Batum used to\u00a0flirt with triple doubles on a nightly basis, but he didn’t last year.\u00a0The incomplete team lacked\u00a0a supporting cast needed for Batum’s skills to show.\u00a0Now, the Hornets have a new identity, an improved bench, and more young players. Batum could find himself stat-stuffing once again. If he helps\u00a0propel the Hornets back to playoff contention, he’ll make a strong case for his first All-Star appearance.<\/p>\n

The Totally Out of Nowhere Pick<\/strong><\/p>\n

Avery Bradley<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0is a long-shot pick\u00a0to make the All-Star Game. The Detroit Pistons<\/a> have a team that has worked together but hasn’t completely found a groove yet. The players are all talented, which should translate to a great team, but it just hasn’t worked out. Bradley could be the glue guy who brings it all together. He has a unique combination of smarts, defensive play, and scoring. He can help the Pistons to work as a unit and become cohesive. If Detroit surprises the East and sneaks into one of the bottom seeds this season, people will start to look at the team’s roster come All-Star weekend. Reggie Jackson<\/a><\/strong> and Andre Drummond<\/a><\/strong> are the best players on the team, but Bradley could sneak in due to his well-rounded game.<\/p>\n

The “Chasing the Crown” Pick<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bradley Beal<\/a><\/strong>, like most East shooting guards, plays second fiddle to the point guard. However, a sky-high\u00a0shooting percentage and 20 points per game can\u00a0draw attention.\u00a0His four 40-point performances helped him last season, too.\u00a0Beal led the Washington Wizards<\/a>\u00a0in scoring multiple times during the 2017 playoffs. He won’t be in John Wall<\/a><\/strong>‘s shadow forever.\u00a0Beal has shown that he’s ready for the spotlight. If it isn’t yet obvious that he stands shoulder to shoulder with Wall, nobody will doubt it after this season.\u00a0Beal is the most likely player to snatch DeRozan’s starting spot.<\/p>\n

The Favorite<\/strong><\/h3>\n

DeRozan has dominated the shooting guard position for years in the East. He’s earned his starter status by doing\u00a0just that: shooting. He fills it up for his team and shoots some more, and when he wonders what he should do next, he shoots.\u00a0The modern\u00a0media find his percentages unsavory.\u00a0However, his team flirts with a top seed year after year, and he finds himself the top scorer night after night.\u00a0In truth, DeRozan doesn’t\u00a0have to do anything different to keep the crown.<\/p>\n

Predicted Winner<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Bradley Beal’s combination of scoring and percentages will finally win over the fans and media. The Wizards will be near the top of the conference due to the combination of Beal and Wall.\u00a0Beal makes it\u00a0hard to slot DeRozan in again at the shooting guard position. Meanwhile, teams are still\u00a0working out the kinks, including the\u00a0Raptors. Beal takes the starting spot with a combination of health, strong play, and a hot start.<\/p>\n

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Main Photo:
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>