There might be a stronger case for LaVine to get in the All-Star Game over the Boston Celtics small forward Jayson Tatum than any other reserve for the Eastern Conference. The number of win shares LaVine has compared to Tatum, along with his player efficiency rating and points per game are all superior.
I get the argument that Tatum is on a winning team that sits among the top three in the standings in the East, but the Celtics already have one player in with star point guard Kemba Walker. The Celtics aren’t so good that they need another player in just because they’re boasting such a good record.
Tatum is averaging 21.5 points per game, 6.9 rebounds, and 2.8 assists while shooting 43.6 percent from the field and 36.3 percent from three-point range. Most of the significant per game and advanced metrics for Tatum and LaVine favor the latter. Numbers aren’t always the most important piece of All-Star selection, though.
The popularity contest that can be the All-Star reserve selection combined with the fact that he’s just on a better team got Tatum into All-Star Weekend this year over LaVine.
It’s just a shame that even one of his teammates, forward Jaylen Brown, had a valid argument to get in over him. Pretty much every big time All-Star snub in the East could have a gripe with Tatum getting in over them (Brown, LaVine, Beal, etc.)