NBA All-Star Game 2015: Latest Odds, MVP Pick and Score Prediction
The NBA All-Star Game might not have league importance like the MLB version, but the players make sure it means something.
When the top players from each conference step on the floor, there is a sense of pride to come away on top to earn bragging rights for the next year. Sure, it is an exhibition with very little defense, but everyone still wants to come away with a victory.
Although a recent string of injuries have changed the rosters a bit in recent days, this will still be an exciting event. To help you follow along, here is a guide with everything you need to know as well as predictions for the game.
What: NBA All-Star Game
When: Sunday, Feb. 15
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York
Time: 8 p.m. ET
TV: TNT
Preview
When dissecting the All-Star Game, it's important to figure out which players would excel in this type of atmosphere. While both sides will be going hard to score points, there won't be the same level of intensity as in a regular game.
This means the players who earned their spots due to excellent work in the first half of the year won't necessarily be key parts of the effort in this showcase.
That is not good news for the Eastern Conference, which is heavy on players who work better as a team. The best example are the Atlanta Hawks, which the Twitter account was happy to note are sending four players to New York City:
Atlanta has had an incredible start to the year, leading the NBA in wins with a 43-11 record. They even earned the approval of San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich:
That being said, the Hawks are like the Spurs in that they succeed due to great teamwork, something rarely seen in an All-Star Game. Adding in defensive-minded players like Kyle Lowry and Jimmy Butler (though both have shown this year they can score), the strength of this team will be almost useless Sunday.
On the other hand, Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr is figuring out the best way to succeed while leading the Western Conference:
With Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and James Harden in the lineup at one time, the game could very easily turn into a three-point contest with only slightly more defensive resistance.
Although athletic stars like Blake Griffin and Anthony Davis will be out, players like Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook can take over to create some big dunks.
LeBron James and hometown favorite Carmelo Anthony will give the East a fighting chance, but the West is better suited to run up the score and win the game.
Prediction: West 148, East 141
MVP Prediction
In a game full of elite players, there is one who stands out as someone who has the will to succeed in this exhibition and the talent to do so: Kevin Durant.
The reigning league MVP was selected as a reserve to the All-Star Game despite being out for much of the first half of the season due to injury. While some questioned his presence on the team, Durant was certain he deserved a place on the roster.
"Whoever wants my spot, they can play me one-on-one for it," the Oklahoma City Thunder star recently stated, via Royce Young of ESPN.com.
Durant wants to show the world he is still as good as he has ever been, and a strong effort in MSG would accomplish that. Then again, anyone paying attention should know he is back based on his recent performance, via Anthony Slater of The Oklahoman:
If you're not a numbers person, Zach Harper of CBS Sports summed it up:
As long as he gets enough minutes, Durant should be able to keep this up in the All-Star Game and lead the West to victory while taking home the MVP award.
| LeBron James (East) | 4-1 |
| James Harden (West) | 13-2 |
| Kevin Durant (West) | 13-2 |
| Stephen Curry (West) | 13-2 |
| Russell Westbrook (West) | 10-1 |
| Carmelo Anthony (East) | 15-1 |
| John Wall (East) | 15-1 |
| Klay Thompson (West) | 15-1 |
| Kyrie Irving (East) | 15-1 |
| Chris Paul (West) | 20-1 |
| Damian Lillard (West) | 25-1 |
| Kyle Lowry (East) | 25-1 |
| DeMarcus Cousins (West) | 30-1 |
| Chris Bosh (East) | 50-1 |
| Dirk Nowitzki (West) | 50-1 |
| Jeff Teague (East) | 50-1 |
| Jimmy Butler (East) | 50-1 |
| Kyle Korver (East) | 50-1 |
| LaMarcus Aldridge (West) | 50-1 |
| Marc Gasol (West) | 50-1 |
| Pau Gasol (East) | 50-1 |
| Al Horford (East) | 75-1 |
| Paul Millsap (East) | 75-1 |
| Tim Duncan (West) | 150-1 |
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