3 early storylines to watch out for at All Star Weekend
Now that the NBA coaches have decided who they want to hand All Star reserve spots to, the sport’s wide fanbase can start to pick holes in their decisions with fine-point needle.
Chris Bosh, Russell Westbrook and Tim Duncan may have all secretly raised an eyebrow at their inclusion in the season’s celebration, to be held on February 15 at New York’s Madison Square Garden.
But while fans take the time to lament their selection over the likes of Nikola Vucevic, Damian Lillard and DeMarcus Cousins, the finalising of the All-Star lineups (as well as some of the other events over the weekend) finally allows others to look ahead at some of the storylines to watch out for over the course of the three days.
Here’s three to start you off:
Kyle Korver will replace Dwyane Wade on the East.
Sometimes filling one reserve spot from two players enjoying strong seasons in the same position is just too tough a task, and the league has to swallow the fact that they’ll cop some flak.
On other occasions one player offers them an easy out, which is exactly what Wade has done this year.
Both Wade and Korver are worthy All Star selections this season. The former was on course to nab a starter’s spot before a late surge in the voting catapulted Kyle Lowry above him. On that basis the Miami Heat guard was always likely to get a nod from the coaches and numbers of 21, 3 and 5 do plenty to back up his case.
But then there’s Korver, who is on course to have the best shooting season the NBA has ever seen. Currently shooting above 50 percent from both the floor and three and over 90 percent from the stripe, the Atlanta Hawk should have, by rights, been an All Star this year.
These NBA coaches though, they know what they’re doing. Wade is unlikely to play in the New York showpiece due to a hamstring injury, meaning he can be replaced on the roster. So, by honouring him with a place in the squad, but knowing he’s unlikely to fulfil it, the league can effectively celebrate both guys without too much hassle. Shrewd.
Zach LaVine will win the Dunk Contest.
A lot of people have called for the dunk contest to get a revamp in recent years, asking for stars like LeBron James to enter the competition and give it the shot in the arm it needs to return to the famous days of Michael Jordan v Wilt Chamberlain.
Although there are no super star names this year, with three second-year players and a rookie taking part, the 2015 edition certainly won’t be a snoozefest.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Zach LaVine set tongues wagging during his workout combine when he registered a standing vertical leap of 33.5” then followed it up with max vertical leap of 41.5”.
Although LaVine has the fewest dunks of the four competitors during the regular season so far, don’t be surprised if he puts in a winning turn on the night, using his surprising leaping ability to lead him to victory.
The Gasol brothers make history.
In securing enough fan votes to start the game, Chicago Bulls’ Pau and Memphis Grizzlies’ Marc Gasol will be the first brothers to start an NBA All Star game in the sport’s history.
Tom and Dick Van Arsdale both played in the 1970 and ’71 events, but neither of them started on either occasion, making this latest rendition of the mid-season match a very special one.
Not only is elder brother Pau making history, but he’s also making his first start as an All Star having been named a reserve for the Western Conference four times during his time as an LA Laker.
The pair have faced each other competitively in the league before but, as Marc has eluded to before, respect each other so much that they barely make eye contact, let alone talk.
With that pressure well and truly off in New York and the pair set to battle it out for the opening tip off, expect some light-hearted sibling rivalry from the first seconds.