The stars align in Houston tonight for the 2013 NBA All-Star Game. It's LeBron and Carmelo leading the East versus Kobe and Durant for the West. What can we expect from the most star-studded night in basketball?
The West team comes in as the favorite with a deeper roster and more veteran stars. They have speed and scoring from the top down, with guys like Tony Parker and LaMarcus Aldridge likely in the third rotation. For the East, the starting lineup is lethal, but the bench is filled with first-timers. And while Joakim Noah and Tyson Chandler are more than deserving, their games are not necessarily built for this exhibition.
We're always interested to see which players vie for All-Star Game MVP, and in today's game, there are around a dozen candidates for that honor. LeBron, Melo, Kobe and Durant are the obvious names for MVP, with only Melo not having won before. The next few likely candidates are Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Kyrie Irving and Dwyane Wade. These guys will all be handling the ball a lot and will be able to dictate the game offensively.
Some other guys to watch here are high-flying Blake Griffin or hometown hero James Harden for the West. While the East's underrated young players Paul George and Jrue Holiday may light it up and put themselves on the map.
No one wants to see a blowout tonight and I don't think we will. I expect a tight game, with the intensity picking up in the fourth quarter. The last three games have all bee very close and contested, and with the starting lineups being relatively even, there's no reason to expect a blowout on either side.
In the end, I predict the East to pull the upset and win end to their two-game losing streak. The tougher pick though is for MVP. Melo of LeBron? LeBron or Melo? Answer: The King. Melo may lead the East in scoring, but I believe LeBron will be the catalyst for the winning East team, getting nearly a triple-double and hitting some big shots down the stretch for his third All-Star game MVP.
Coverage starts at 8:00 Eastern on TNT. Follow @undergroundNBA
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