NBA All-Star Game: What Bettors Need to Know
By Covers.com
Western Conference All-Stars at Eastern Conference All-Stars (-3.5, 283.5)
THE STORY: There are several new faces sprinkled among the rosters for the NBA All-Star Game. The starting lineups, however, are mostly stacked with returning superstars.
Four-time All-Star Game MVP Kobe Bryant is making his 13th trip to the festivities in Orlando Sunday, where he will match up against Miami Heat teammates Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, who have combined for three All-Star MVPs.
Bryant carried the Western Conference to a 148-143 victory with 37 points and 14 rebounds last season, earning MVP honors in his hometown of Los Angeles.
Attempting to do the same in 2012 will be Dwight Howard, who is sure to be the focus of much of the hometown attention.
ABOUT THE WESTERN CONFERENCE: The West features two pairs of teammates in the starting lineup, with Lakers’ Bryant and Andrew Bynum joined by Los Angeles Clippers’ Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. In an exhibition known for its lack of defense, fans can expect one or two highlights from the “Lob City” pair of Paul and Griffin.
Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant rounds out the starting five, with regulars like Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash and Tony Parker coming off the bench. First-timers include Bynum, Marc Gasol and LaMarcus Aldridge, while Russell Westbrook and Kevin Love will each be making their second trip to the ASG.
Thunder coach Scott Brooks will guide the team from the bench.
ABOUT THE EASTERN CONFERENCE: Howard, who has yet to back off his trade request, could be playing one of his last games in front of the home crowd at Amway Center. Enjoying the festivities for the sixth time, Howard has averaged 14.2 points and 8.4 rebounds in his All-Star career.
James has put up 24.4 points in his seven previous All-Star appearances, second only to Durant’s 24.5. Chicago’s Derrick Rose and New York’s Carmelo Anthony complete the starting five.
Loul Deng, Roy Hibbert and Andre Iguodala will each be making their first trip, with Celtics teammates Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo and New Jersey’s Deron Williams rounding out the squad.
The East will be coached by the Bulls’ Tom Thibodeau.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Pierce, who will be playing in his 10th All-Star Game, has never been voted a starter.
2. The Conferences have traded victories in each of the last six seasons.
3. The Eastern Conference holds a 36-24 lead in the all-time series.
4. Over the last 10 All-Star Games, the East and West have combined for an average of 268.8 points per game since 2002.
PREDICTION: East 130, West 125
NBA All Star Betting Preview
Sportspic.com
Sports Betting players know that the NBA All-Star game doesn’t really get serious until the fourth quarter, when pride takes over and players aren’t playing for entertainment anymore: it’s winning time. The Western Conference has a pair of cold-blooded killers as their starting guards, and that’ll be enough to claim a win on the Eastern Conference’s soil in Orlando.
Why Bet On Western Conference All-Stars
Kobe Bryant leads the Western charge as he is an All-Star for the 14th time, and he’ll be joined in the starting lineup by Chris Paul (5th appearance in the All-Star game) and Blake Griffin (2nd), as well as Andrew Bynum (1st); it shouldn’t be surprising that four of the five starters come from the two Los Angeles teams. Kevin Durant (3rd) will be joined by Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks (1st).
The reserves are led by Dirk Nowitzki (11th), Steve Nash (8th), Tony Parker (4th), Russell
Westbrook (2nd), Kevin Love (2nd) and a pair of first-timers, LaMarcus Aldridge (1st) and Marc Gasol (1st).
Of the Western Conference All-Stars, the only player that you could say doesn’t deserve a spot is Nowitzki, who sat out a few games before he didn’t come into the season in shape and has only recently played like the guy we saw carry Dallas to the NBA title. Think of this as a “lifetime achievement”, which has been known to happen from time to time.
Another question about the West is how Brooks will handle the minutes, being a first-time All-Star coach. If the game gets close, the starters will want to play, especially Bryant and Paul, but their coaches would rather they sit out. It shouldn’t be a major issue, but it is something that NBA Betting players have to consider before making their pick for this game.
If you had to bet on an MVP, Bryant is the most likely choice. He has won four All-Star MVPs, including last year on his home floor at the Staples Center, and he currently leads the league in scoring. Bryant has been playing with a chip on his shoulder all season as he tries to silence the critics. It may not be great for the Lakers’ chances, but in a game like this is made for the future Hall of Famer.
Why Bet On Eastern Conference All-Stars
LeBron James (8th) and Dwyane Wade (8th) are the Miami representatives that will look to power the “home team”, while they’ll be joined by reigning MVP Derrick Rose (3rd), who is coming off a back injury, Carmelo Anthony (5th) and Dwight Howard (6th), who will be a massive storyline this weekend as Orlando fans will convince their superstar center to stay, although they surely have been already. Howard led all All-Stars with 1.6 million votes, and with his free-agency looming, it’s a strong indication of his popularity in the “Magic Kingdom”
On the bench, the East will have Paul Pierce (10th), Chris Bosh (7th), Deron Williams (3rd) and a trio of All-Star rookies in Luol Deng (1st), Roy Hibbert (1st) and Andre Igoudala (1st). Joe Johnson (6th) was also slated to take part, but he has knee problems and will be replaced by Rajon Rondo (3rd).
Rondo was probably the biggest snub in the East anyway, along with Johnson’s Atlanta teammate, Josh Smith, so it’s fitting that he got in. There is no way that Anthony deserved to be in, but he is one of the most popular players in the league and picked up over a million votes. Hibbert’s inclusion has been criticized by some, but Indiana has had a great season so far and had to have one All-Star player, and the same goes for Igoudala and Philadelphia.
Chicago’s Tom Thibodeau, who won Coach of the Year last season, will lead the All-Star team for the first time, and again he’ll have to figure out how to handle minutes. It’ll be especially interesting to see what he does with Rose, who has missed a few games this season and the Bulls’ coach may look out for his team first.
How It Will Play Out
The East will likely be the NBA Betting favorites at home, and the home team has won four of the last five All-Star games. It’s going to be a high-scoring affair as the fans will get plenty of highlight-reel dunks and plays in the first three quarters, which is a glorified pickup game.
However, these players have pride and they won’t let it get out of hand, which will make for a thrilling fourth quarter.
That’s when Bryant and Paul will take over, along with Durant, and Paul will be key to it all as he may be the best point guard in the league when it comes to getting the ball to players where they like to receive it (although Nash is in that conversation as well). In another shootout, lay a little on the West’s Online betting Odds on Sunday.
NBA All Star Betting Pick: Western Conference