Cavaliers dominate selections for NBA All-Star 2017

The Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers each lead the Western and Eastern Conferences, and today we learned they will get a combined seven players in the 2017 NBA All-Star Game.

19, in New Orleans at the Smoothie King Center, were selected after voting by fans, players and select media members, while the seven reserves for each conference were selected by a vote from each conference’s coaches.

After making his All-Star debut a season ago, Green will return this year, averaging 10.7 points, along with a team-leading 8.5 rebounds and 7.5 assists.

Through his first 46 games this season, the electrifying Oklahoma City point guard is averaging a league-leading 30.7 points, plus 10.4 assists and 10.7 rebounds.

Toronto’s Kyle Lowry missed making the Eastern Conference starting lineup despite averaging a career-best 22.4 points, as well as 6.9 assists for the 28-18 Toronto Raptors.

Thomas, who will be making his second All-Star appearance, is averaging 29.1 points, second only to Westbrook and first among all Eastern Conference players.

Paul Millsap, who will make his fourth All-Star appearance, is averaging a career-best 18 points for the Atlanta Hawks, who at 27-19 are just four games out of the top spot in the Eastern Conference.

In the Eastern Conference, Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid finished third in fan voting among Eastern Conference frontcourt players, but couldn’t crack the starting five, and the coaches didn’t select him for a spot among the All-Star reserves.

After being named an All-Star for the previous nine consecutive seasons, New York’s Carmelo Anthony didn’t make the cut this season despite averaging 22.7 points.

Also stuck in that traffic jam is Portland guard Damian Lillard, a two-time former All-Star who is averaging 26.2 points, third-best among guards in the Western Conference.