For all of the talk about how All-Star weekend is no longer must-see television across the four major sports there is certainly no shortage of storylines leading in to the 2015 NBA All-Star game. Here is a quick preview of the six coolest things that fans are looking forward to seeing this weekend in New York City.
Thunder & Lightning Reunited
Not long from now, there will be an ESPN 30-for-30 on what could have been if James Harden had never been traded from the Oklahoma City Thunder and it will feature a couple of shots from this weekend’s game showing Harden tearing it up with his former teammates Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook for the Western Conference All-Stars. The move that sent Harden to Houston could very well haunt Thunder fans forever as he has transformed himself in to a superstar and MVP candidate for the Rockets while the championship window in Oklahoma City is nowhere near as wide open as it once was. Durant and Westbrook certainly have a tough road ahead of them just to get in to the playoffs following a terrible start marred by injuries and inconsistent play, but it will be fun to see these three players reunited on the floor again this weekend.
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Better Late Than Never For Lowry
One year after he was an All-Star snub, Lowry will be a starter for the Eastern Conference team. Loyalty and hard work has paid off for the Toronto Raptors star point guard and his transformation over the past two years is finally being recognized. Lowry has averaged 18.6 points, 7.2 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game this season and he is a big reason why the Raptors have the second-best record in the East. Now he gets his chance to lead the conference’s best and it will be a great moment for a great person and a fan base that has cheered for Lowry every step of the way over the past couple of seasons.
The Hawks Shooting Clinic Resumes
The addition of Kyle Korver as an Eastern All-Star replacement means that four of the five Atlanta Hawks starters will take part in this year’s game and deservedly so. Korver, Jeff Teague, Al Horford, and Paul Millsap have been absolutely dominant while leading Atlanta to one of the best records in the NBA. It will be fun to see them continue their shooting clinic at the All-Star game with the possibility that we could see all four Hawks on the floor at the same time at one point or another. That’s an incredible thought – incredible as in hard to believe. Who could have ever envisioned four members of the Hawks in the 2015 All-Star Game?
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All In The Family
Another star looking to make a splash in his first All-Star appearance is DeMarcus Cousins, who gets his chance to prove that he belongs among the best in the Western Conference family. Cousins has averaged 23.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and nearly two blocks a game for the Sacramento Kings without a ton of talent around him. It will be interesting to see how good he looks with an All-Star cast supporting him.
Gasol Brothers Make History
Pau and Marc Gasol made NBA history when they became the first brothers to be voted in to the same All-Star game and now they will get a chance to go up against one another when the ball is thrown up for the opening tip off. It will mark the first time since Dick and Tom Van Arsdale went at it in 1970 and 1971 that brothers have battled in the All-Star game and some will go as far as to predict it could be a potential preview of this year’s NBA Finals tip off with the Chicago Bulls and Memphis Grizzlies both considered legitimate title contenders.
Damian Gets His Due
There was little debate about the fact that Damian Lillard was a major All-Star snub when the rosters were announced and he wasn’t on one. Lillard emerged as an NBA MVP candidate early on in the year and while his numbers have dropped off a bit he is still averaging 21.5 points, 6.3 assists, and 4.6 rebounds as one of the biggest reasons why the Portland Trail Blazers are right in the thick of the Western Conference playoff picture. Lillard was named a replacement for injured Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin, so look for him to make the most of his opportunity as a potential All-Star game MVP candidate.
