RealGM

Curry is a backup here only because of 15 missed games. As some readers may remember, that is about the point at which I factor in availability; I have even disqualified some prior candidates (including Embiid last season, though he was also on a minutes restriction) for missing about that many. Blake Griffin and Chris Paul faded from this season's debate after missing 16 and 17 games, respectively. (I thought very hard about Paul anyway. He has been that good.)

Fans of those players might justifiably ask why Curry gets in. Why? Because he's Stephen Curry. He's a two-time MVP and two-time champion, an NBA revolutionary who has been ridiculous for the league's best team -- 27 points on almost 50/40/90 shooting -- when healthy. Even having missed those 15 games -- 15 potential stat-padding blowouts -- Curry is still second overall in raw plus-minus.

Butler has been a two-way monster. If we're bringing Curry off the bench, he deserves to start over Westbrook. The MVP's advantage in counting stats doesn't outweigh Butler's edge in shooting efficiency and defense.

• Towns became my last lock after deciding on Dec. 1 that he wanted to try on defense again. Trying: What a concept! Towns has been among the league's very best players ever since.

That left Thompson, Lillard, Williams and George for two spots. Brutal. Williams went first, which doesn't seem fair, considering his numbers are on par with those of almost every other perimeter candidate after six-plus weeks carrying the ragtag Clippers. But he's the worst defender here, and he started the season as a bench guy playing 25 or fewer minutes per game. He's a tough cut, and no one will object if he makes it.

There is no right answer to the Thompson/Lillard/George question. Lillard is the worst defender by a mile, but also the only first option. George is shooting a career-worst (excluding his six-game campaign in 2014-15) 44 percent on 2s.

Thompson is one of the hardest All-Star candidates to evaluate in league history. What an existence this dude lives. He doesn't even have to worry about dribbling. That is how you free up enough brain space to become an expert on scaffolding.

But Thompson is such a great, snap-release shooter -- probably the second-greatest ever, draining a league-best 45 percent from deep -- that he almost functions as floating second option just by moving around and drawing attention. He's a solid defender who spares Curry the burden of guarding every elite point guard, and switches across three or even four positions. Thompson doesn't look overmatched guarding LeBron and Griffin.

He's also thriving under a much heavier load when both Curry and Durant sit -- shooting about 46 percent overall, and 42.5 percent from deep amid lineups that are big positives.

Could he do what Lillard does as the alpha dog (by a hair over CJ McCollum)? Probably not. But Lillard couldn't fill Thompson's role on a potential dynasty the same way, either. The Warriors are 37-10 with a scoring differential indicating they might be even better than that. They are the defining team of today's NBA. Giving them one-third of the West's All-Star spots is fine.

George squeaks in on this ballot, though the bet here is that Lillard makes the actual team over him. That would be fine. Lillard is deserving. I wish I could swap him over to the East. But I like rewarding two-way guys, and George has been perhaps the best wing defender in the league this season. He's also averaging 21 points per game -- about four fewer than Lillard -- and shooting a career-best 43 percent from deep. Playing with Russ has its benefits.

Oklahoma City has now jumped both San Antonio and Minnesota in scoring margin. The Thunder have separated themselves from rest of the West, and George's play as their No. 2 is a huge part of that push.