NBA All-Star Game 2015: Viewing Info and MVP Prediction for Annual Showcase

All-Star games for the major North American sports leagues are constantly adapting to appease fans. MLB has been forced to make its game actually have an effect on the World Series, while both the NFL and NHL have recently adopted a "fantasy draft" format. 

The NBA, on the other hand, has largely remained the same. It still sometimes receives flak for a lack of competitiveness or defense, but even with 300 total points being scored, the games remain consistently entertaining. 

That said, let's take a look at what you need to know to tune in for this year's showcase. 

Date: Sunday, Feb. 15, 2015

Time: 8:30 p.m. ET

Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York

TV: TNT

MVP Prediction: John Wall, Washington Wizards

First, a little history to give us a better idea of what kind of players tend to win this award.

Going back to 2000, there have been 17 winners (2000 and 2009 had co-MVPs). During that span, only twice has a player come off the bench to win—Shaquille O'Neal in 2004, and Shaquille O'Neal in 2009. This is certainly a year in which that trend could change with guys like Kevin Durant, James Harden and Chris Paul coming off the pine, but for this prediction, we'll stick with a starter. 

Winners also tend to be somewhat newer to the big stage. Of the previous 17 MVPs, seven have been making their fourth or fewer All-Star appearance. At least in theory, it makes sense that experienced players—guys like LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and even Pau Gasol—are more interested in a little R&R (rest and relaxation, not Rich & Rare, hopefully), while the young guns are out to prove their worth against the biggest and best in the league. 

That's not always the case—Kobe Bryant has won the award during his 11th and 13th appearances. But Mamba has no off switch, so he can be treated as an exception. 

So, looking at starters who are fairly new to this game, we come up with three candidates: John Wall, Anthony Davis and Stephen Curry, all making their second trips to the All-Star game. 

Curry's three-point shooting and flashy passing make him one of the most entertaining players on the planet, while The Brow fills up a box score unlike anyone else in the league.

Both players have the skill sets to put on absolute shows in this particular setting, but I'm going with Wall, who clearly has the competitive drive and is already talking a little trash to his opponent:

All-Star games are tailor-made for athletic, uptempo guards like Wall, who thrives when he is able to push the pace. When he gets into the lane, which is easy in an exhibition like this, he's the most electrifying finisher in the game:

Last year, Wall racked up 12 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals in just over 15 minutes off the bench. As a starter with likely close to double the minutes, he's a lock for 20 and 10—he has four more double-doubles than the next guard this season—and a couple of thefts. 

If the East can pull off another upset—admittedly the biggest question mark in this prediction—he'll take home MVP.