NBA All-Star Game 2015: When and Where to Catch Starting Lineup Announcement
The 2015 NBA All-Star Game is set to see a changing of the guard, with plenty of new faces likely to be named starters.
Between injuries, players changing leagues and great performances by younger stars, close to half of the starting lineup from last year will be different. Of course, we won't know for certain until the rosters are announced this week.
Voting for the starting positions ended Monday, but the final ballot update was released Jan. 8, and it featured some surprises. Unless there is a surge in voting for some specific spots, the lineups will be interesting when the game is played on Feb. 15.
Here is a look at when the rosters will be announced as well as a breakdown of some of the players who could make the list.
When: Thursday, Jan. 22
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Watch: TNT
Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans remain on the outside looking in for the postseason, but that would be the only reason Anthony Davis wouldn't be in the MVP conversation.
In his third year in the league, Davis is showing why he was a No. 1 overall pick. He is not only one of the top shot-blockers in the NBA, but he also provides a 20-10 performance just about every game for a team that otherwise has no consistent players.
CBS Sports recently noted how valuable he is for his team:
Davis entered the year coming off an outstanding performance at the FIBA World Championships, where he became the star on a team full of well-known players. If he wasn't a household name at that point, he certainly is now.
Although an MVP might be a few years away (at least until he gets some help around him), he is one of the best players in the NBA and deserves a starting spot in the All-Star Game.
Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies
There is a general idea of how good Marc Gasol is defensively, as the Memphis Grizzlies star was the 2012-13 Defensive Player of the Year. However, it took a better offensive display for him to get more respect from fans.
A year after he didn't even finish among the top 15 in All-Star Game voting at his position, Gasol is set to be a starter for the Western Conference.
The difference is his increased scoring, as he is now close to averaging 20 points per game after failing to top 15 points per game at any point in his career. He is now an offensive focal point for one of the best teams in the NBA, and fans are finally starting to notice.
His teammate Mike Conley has also been impressed by the change in style, via Adam Kilgore of The Washington Post:
"He wants to make plays for people. It just so happens this year, it all clicked for him. Like, "You know what, they’re right. Maybe I should look for my offense a little bit more. Maybe it’ll open up things for everybody else."
He’s been doing this stuff for years. If you were in our practices and watched all of our games, moments through the season, man, he’s done everything he’s doing now. And now he’s looking like the MVP.
"
Whether or not he earns the starting spot, he will make his second career appearance in the All-Star Game before getting paid big money over the summer.
John Wall, Washington Wizards
Last season, many were calling for John Wall to start the All-Star Game over Kyrie Irving. While the Cleveland Cavaliers star is scoring plenty of points, Wall has separated himself this time around.
The Washington Wizards point guard has not only put up impressive point totals for his position, but he has also become one of the best distributors in the league, with double-digit assists in almost every game. Matt Winer noted the improved offensive play of the former No. 1 pick:
Meanwhile, Rob Mahoney of Sports Illustrated explained why it's the improved defense that should get national attention:
Stephen Curry is arguably the best point guard in the league, but Wall isn't too far behind and should be considered at least the best in the Eastern Conference through this point of the season.
This might end up being his first start in the All-Star Game, but it likely will not be his last.
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