NBA All-Star Game 2015: Last-Minute Roster Preview, Start Time and Prediction
The 2015 NBA All-Star Weekend is winding to a close way too soon, but not before the league's best take center stage in the All-Star Game at the Madison Square Garden in New York.
Of course, many of those set to appear in Sunday's game have already gotten their feet wet. Take, for instance, Stephen Curry, who made his fourth Three-Point Contest appearance the charm, as he made 13 in a row from deep to hold off fellow All-Stars Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving.
But when it comes to lacing them up and going up against the absolute best in basketball, few players, other than those with significant Team USA experience, can compare. Even with a slew of injury replacements, there is no shortage of players who fit the mold this year.
With Friday and Saturday in the rearview mirror, it's officially alright to take a look forward to Sunday night's game. Let's do that below.
When: Sunday, February 15, 2015
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York
Start Time (ET): 8:30 p.m.
TV: TNT
Live Stream: TNT Overtime
Rosters
| Carmelo Anthony, F | F | Knicks |
| LeBron James, F | F | Cavaliers |
| Pau Gasol, F | F | Bulls |
| John Wall, G | G | Wizards |
| Kyle Lowry, G | G | Raptors |
| Chris Bosh, C | C | Heat |
| Jimmy Butler, G-F | G-F | Bulls |
| Al Horford, C | C | Hawks |
| Kyrie Irving, G | G | Cavaliers |
| Kyle Korver, G | G | Hawks |
| Paul Millsap, F | F | Hawks |
| Jeff Teague, G | G | Hawks |
| Dwyane Wade, G* | G | Heat |
| Blake Griffin, F* | F | Clippers |
| Marc Gasol, C | C | Grizzlies |
| Kobe Bryant, G* | G | Lakers |
| Anthony Davis, F* | F | Pelicans |
| Stephen Curry, G | G | Warriors |
| LaMarcus Aldridge, F | F | Trail Blazers |
| DeMarcus Cousins, C | C | Kings |
| Tim Duncan, F | F | Spurs |
| Kevin Durant, F | F | Thunder |
| James Harden, G | G | Rockets |
| Damian Lillard, G | G | Trail Blazers |
| Dirk Nowitzki, F | F | Mavericks |
| Chris Paul, G | G | Clippers |
| Klay Thompson, G | G | Warriors |
| Russell Westbrook, G | G | Thunder |
Note: Highlighted (*) players are not playing due to injury.
All-Star Preview
After the theatrics of Friday night, with its celebrity antics and youthful promise, and Saturday night's entertaining skills competitions and even a fashion show, the main event has finally arrived.
TNT is hyping it up accordingly, with this shot of the full rosters:
It may be a tough task for these players to top Zach LaVine's ridiculous Slam Dunk Contest dramatics. But with the league's very best players in the fold, would you really bet against them?
After All-Star Saturday produced the second-most viewers in the event's history, per Turner Sports PR, there remain high hopes for a Sunday night spectacle that should follow suit.
Even with injuries piling up in the starting lineup, you have to start with the Western Conference roster when assessing star power. Kobe Bryant, Blake Griffin and Anthony Davis might not be suiting up, but the West had no problem finding some stars to fill the gaps, with Damian Lillard, DeMarcus Cousins and Dirk Nowitzki all making late appearances.
Don't forget about those two young studs on the West bench, though, with the Oklahoma City Thunder's Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant set to take the big stage again. Although both have suffered injury troubles as their Thunder sit outside of playoff position, they're no strangers to the All-Star Game, as per the team's official Twitter:
But will the star-studded West have enough to battle past a tough-minded and ultra-talented East squad?
LeBron James and Kyrie Irving lead a revamped Eastern Conference roster that includes a number of names you couldn't envision being here at the start of the season. Among them include Paul Millsap and Kyle Korver, and the Atlanta Hawks also sent Jeff Teague and Al Horford to make for a whopping four players from the same team.
Any less would have been a disservice to the Hawks, who have the East's best record—even to the surprise of their own players, per Hardwood Paroxysm:
"Paul Millsap on whether the Hawks are surprised at HOW successful they’ve been: “Honestly? Yeah, it’s a little surprising.”
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) February 15, 2015"
While having four of his best players will pay off for Hawks and East coach Mike Budenholzer, he'll be up to his eyeballs in talent with the other two-thirds of his roster. Aforementioned were Cavaliers standouts James and Irving, both of whom have an All-Star MVP award. Irving is the reigning MVP.
There's plenty of other youth in the backcourt alongside Irving, with Kyle Lowry and John Wall both making their first career All-Star Game start. Irving dazzled as the starting point guard last year with 31 points and 14 assists, but Wall is hoping to up his helper total after watching from the bench last season, per Comcast SportsNet's J. Michael:
The All-Star Game assists record is 22 by Magic Johnson back in 1984. So good luck, Wall.
When it comes down to it, there's simply too much offensive firepower and potency for either team to be held back much—if at all. The West jumps off the page first with the Splash Brothers, James Harden and the two Thunder scorers, but the East has the complete package.
The East All-Stars broke the all-time points record with 163 in last year's event and should keep that up, even with six of the 12 players being different from last year's roster. Those changes will benefit the East, with emergent Bulls guard Jimmy Butler and the Hawks' Teague sure to make the most of their first-ever appearances.
Curry and Durant combined for 8-of-28 from long range in last year's spectacle, and they'll need a massive turnaround from that to stay in this one. Without Davis and Griffin—who combined for 48 points last year—manning the post, Chris Bosh and Pau Gasol will have big days while James and Irving cut to the hoop.
Prediction: East 153, West 141
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