It’s all fun and games (and zero defense) in the NBA All-Star Game. Still, seeing the brightest stars of the game converge on a single basketball court is a sight to be had and offers yet another opportunity to earn a payday on NBA on-court antics. Read on for a preview of Team LeBron and Team Stephen below.
Current East vs. West Win Record: East 37 / West 29
2018 NBA All-Star Game Preview
Where: Staples Center – Los Angeles
When: Sunday, February 18, 2018, 8:00 PM ET
Line: East vs. West – view all NBA lines
TV Broadcast: TNT
Betting on the East aka “Team Lebron”
LeBron James’ team has been ravaged with injuries long before they could even make some sort of get-together or practice. Gone from The King’s roster are Kristaps Porzingis, DeMarcus Cousins, Kevin Love, and John Wall. Their absences means that Team LeBron has lost a lot of muscle. That said, what they lost in size, they probably gained in speed. Porzingis is replaced by Kemba Walker, Kevin Love by Goran Dragic, Cousins by Paul George, while Wall’s absence brings some needed size in the form of Andre Drummond. And before we underestimate Team LeBron, let us first all consider the fact that this unit features the top two best players on the planet today in LeBron James and Kevin Durant. Heck, you could also get away by saying that those two studs are 1A and 1B when it comes to current basketball greatness. We should not also forget that this team has Russell Westbrook, who treats every game as though the survival of the human specie depends on whether he’ll get a triple-double or not.
Betting on the West aka “Team Curry”
Unlike Team Stephen has not suffered a loss – so far. This team’s starting unit is teeming with talent (duh). The starting five has Giannis Antetokounmpo, DeMar DeRozan, Joel Embiid, James Harden, and Curry. Including Draymond Green and Klay Thompson, Curry’s team has three Warriors on its lineup, and whether you believe chemistry matters or not in a glorified pickup game like this, having players who are familiar to each others’ tendencies on the basketball court, regardless of the setting, is a plus. In addition to that, the Raptors’ tandem of DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry are also both in this squad. It doesn’t end there. Team Stephen has two Timberwolves in Jimmy Butler and Karl-Anthony Towns. LeBron’s team arguably has the edge in terms of versatility, but a team that features playmakers like Curry and Harden can have their way against LeBron and crew. Damian Lillard is another dynamic asset for this team. We are not that far removed from the day when Lillard dropped 50 points in under 30 minutes of action during a win against Sacramento.
Writer’s Prediction
Sorry ‘Bron, your days of glory have passed, February’s highlight reel weekend included. Team Steph hands the supposed King and his Eastern squad another L, putting the West one win closer to balancing out that historic Eastern advantage, which came thanks to the truest GOAT and real #23 (MJ).
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