Tonight’s 2013 NBA All-Star Game in Houston, Texas on TNT figures to be another offensive showdown between Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder and LeBron James of the Miami Heat. Last year the dynamic duo traded baskets and scored 36 points-a-piece. This year one of them is expected to hoist the MVP trophy from what could be a ridiculously high scoring affair.
Representing the Eastern Conference squad are starters Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh; otherwise known as the Miami Heat and a couple other guys. Coming off the bench will be Tyson Chandler, Luol Deng, Paul George, Jrue Holiday, Kyrie Irving, Brook Lopez and Joakim Noah.
The Western Conference All-Stars will be anchored by starters Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin, Dwight Howard, frequent MVP Kobe Bryant, and Chris Paul. You could call this team the almost all Los Angeles ballers considering four of the five starters hail from the Clippers or Lakers. The back-ups to L.A’s finest are LaMarcus Aldridge, Tim Duncan, James Harden, David Lee, Tony Parker, Zach Randolph and Russell Westbrook.
What’s crazy about the West team is the quality of players riding the pine at tip-off. Westbrook, Parker, Duncan, Harden and Aldridge could take on the East starters and give them a run for their money, if not run them out of the building with a fast-paced attack.
I suspect that like last year, the All-Star Game will become a showdown between the offensive skills of Lebron James and Kevin Durant. Kobe’s days of dominating the league’s elite are in the past. If Westbrook and Harden get decent minutes, expect them to put up some impressive offensive stats as well.
Tonight’s NBA 2013 All-Star Game begins at 8/7c in high definition on TNT with the actual tip-off coming a half hour later at 8:30/7:30c following a half hour of jabbering and commercials. TNT is offering a free live streaming version of the NBA All-Star Game that you can watch here on TNT Overtime on your computer or laptop, mobile phone, or tablet like iPad. My prediction is that the better overall roster will prevail and that distinction goes to the West, especially once the bench gets into the game.
