Last year it was Carmelo Anthony, this year all eyes will be on Dwight Howard. Al Dannity wants the All Star game to be about more than just who’s going where. Here’s his breakdown of the big game and the rest of the weekend’s festivities.
Superman has come to ball The rumors about where Dwight Howard might go have largely quietened down in recent weeks due to the Linsanity phenomenon dominating headlines. Make no mistake, we’ll hear plenty about Superman’s future this weekend. The Magic’s superstar will probably win a second Olympic gold medal this summer but he still has yet to win a NBA Championship. The NBA’s pre-eminent big man wants to go to a contender. Expect Superman to put on a big show in front of the Orlando crowd. Fans at the Amway Center may not have many more big nights with Dwight Howard.
Point guard play will be decisive Both rosters are loaded with scorers so NBA Basketball betting fans should look at which team is better set to create shots in this game. The West has the best pure point guard in Chris Paul but the East has more depth and variety at the position. Derrick Rose, Rajon Rondo, and, most importantly, Deron Williams will be key players in the rotation for the East. The first time All Stars will also provide an interesting element to the game. Luol Deng and Andre Iguodala will change the look of the East’s offense, while the oft-overlooked Marc Gasol and LaMarcus Alridge will have a point to prove for the West. In what will undoubtedly be a tight but entertaining game, I like the East to come out on top.
An angry John Wall is a dangerous John Wall The serious business of All Star weekend kicks off with the Rising Stars challenge. In a change from previous years, this game won’t be a straight battle between rookies and sophomores. Instead Shaq and Charles Barkley drafted players from a pool of rookies and sophomores. Team Shaq featues Blake Griffin, Jeremy Lin, and Ricky Rubio. Team Chuck isn’t quite as heavy on the star power but it features a lot of talented players without the same flashy reputation. The biggest name on Team Chuck is also the angriest. John Wall was not pleased to drop to #12 in the draft and he will have a point to prove tonight. In a largely exhibition game, it’s often the players that care that tend to stand out. I like the Wizards’ point guard to have a MVP level night and carry Team Chuck to victory.
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