The NBA All-Star Game is the league’s premier event. The midseason showcase features the league’s best players competing for individual honors and team championships. While the game itself is fun to watch, it can be difficult to predict who will win each year. There are just too many variables to account for.
If you want to learn how to predict the winners of the NBA All-Star Game, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we will discuss eight factors that will determine who wins the 2019 NBA All-Star Game.
The 2019 NBA All-Star Game Will Be Held In…
For the first time in NBA history, the All-Star Game will be held outside the U.S. Fans of the Portland Trail Blazers will have the opportunity to witness their stars compete in international play for the first time ever. The 2019 NBA All-Star Game will be played on February 4th in London, England, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The game will be broadcast live on TNT and the NBA’s digital assets.
The Most Valuable Players (MVPs) Of The Past 10 All-Star Games
We will begin by taking a look at the most valuable players of the past 10 All-Star Games. These players have a case to make for being the best of the best this year, too.
The table below shows the top three players in each year since the 2004 NBA All-Star Game. The peak years for NBA All-Stars were between 2005 and 2010, as there were 10, 12, and 14 All-Star Games during that time. It’s no coincidence that this is the same time period when we saw the most popular NBA teams.
Since the 2010 NBA All-Star Game, the number of All-Star Games has decreased to eight per year. This year’s All-Star game will be the smallest field in years. However, based on past performance, we can expect one or two of the big dogs to show up.
The 2019 NBA All-Star Game Will Feature The Return Of Celebrity Players
While many fans may not like watching the celebrity games—the ones featuring famous personalities from the world of sports, music, and entertainment—because they feel they take away from the actual NBA playoffs, one can’t deny that they’re a highlight reel for sports fans. The celebrity player segment of the NBA All-Star Game allows us to spotlight the best of the best in a different setting. Often, these games allow us to see the best of the best play against each other, even if it’s just for a few minutes.
This year’s celebrity players include the always fun and exciting Jimmy Buffett, who will be representing the Golden State Warriors; rapper Lil Wayne, who will be appearing with the Cleveland Cavaliers; and former Chicago Bulls great Scottie Pippen, who will be making his third appearance in a row. There are many others who will also be gracing the court this year, including Michael Jordan, who will be representing the Charlotte Hornets; and Kobe Bryant, who will be playing with the Los Angeles Lakers. The possibilities for fun are endless.
The Regular Season Is Nearly Over…
The regular season is nearly over, which means we’re only a few games away from identifying the teams that will make it to the playoffs. This is when the fun begins, as the NBA playoffs feature some of the greatest games you’ll ever see. Every team is good, but a few are exceptional.
Last year, the Portland Trail Blazers made the postseason as a wild card entry, which is one of the most exciting things to happen in the NBA in years. While the Trail Blazers could potentially make a similar playoff run this year, they will enter the All-Star break as the fourth-seed, a half-game behind the two-seed. This means the Trail Blazers have some work to do if they want to guarantee themselves a playoff spot. They are a threat to make the postseason, but only if they can stay healthy during the last half of the season. If they do, the Trail Blazers could surprise some people.
Which Team Is Headed To The 2019 NBA Finals?
There are eight teams who could make it to the finals this year, and we will discuss the chances of each team winning it all. First off, the Boston Celtics will be returning to the NBA Finals for the first time in ten years, which is no easy feat. After being swept by the Kawhi Leonard-led Toronto Raptors in each of the past two seasons, the C’s will have huge shoes to fill.
The Houston Rockets are currently the second-seed, a game and a half behind the first-seed Los Angeles Lakers. Despite having a relatively quiet season so far, the Rockets still have a chance to make it to the Finals. With the fourth-best record in the Western Conference, the Rockets have the capability to make a late charge.
The Milwaukee Bucks are the third seed, four games behind the C’s. The Bucks had an up-and-down season so far, but finished fourth in the Central Division, which means they have a good shot at the playoffs. If they can stay healthy, the Bucks can make a push for the NBA title.
The LA Clippers are currently the eighth seed, a game and a half behind the Celtics. The Clips boast the ninth-best record in the Western Conference, which means they have a good shot at making the playoffs. With only a few games left in the regular season, one could make the argument that the Clippers are contenders for the eighth seed.
The Utah Jazz are the sixth seed, a game and a half behind the Clips. Despite having only one All-Star Game appearance in franchise history, Utah is still one of the League’s most exciting teams to watch. After upsetting the two-time defending champion Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs, the Jazz are playing with a lot of confidence and are a threat to make a surprise run all the way to the Finals.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are the fifth seed, a game and a half behind the Jazz. The T’Wolves missed the postseason last year after failing to secure a favorable trade for Jimmy Butler. Despite that, Tom Thibodeau’s squad looks to be a threat to make a statement this year. One of the premier coaches in the NBA, Thibodeau will be looking to prove to the world that his team is ready to make a run for the title.
The Denver Nuggets are the fourth seed, three games behind the sixth-seeded Jazz. Despite a disappointing first half to the season, the Nuggets look like a team on the rise. After a 6-13 start, the Nuggets went on a 22-game winning streak, which was eventually followed by a 17-game losing streak. However, since then, the Nuggets have won 14 of their past 18 games, which means they’re playing better basketball as we approach the all-star break.
The Detroit Pistons are the third seed, one game behind the Timberwolves. After failing to make the playoffs in six of the previous seven seasons, the Pistons will be looking to prove that they can still hang with the big boys. Unfortunately, the injury bug has bitten the Pistons hard this year, as they’re already missing two important cogs in their lineup: Derrick Rose and Andre Drummond. Still, with Greg Monroe and Luke Jackson in the fold, the Pistons will be a tough team to beat.
So, which team is headed to the 2019 NBA Finals? The Boston Celtics have a good shot at returning to the Finals after missing out on the opportunity the past two years. While many people believe the Rockets are the front-runners for the title after knocking off the Warriors, the Celtics have been quietly creeping up the standings. If they can stay healthy, the road back to the Finals goes through Boston.
Three Stars Worth Watching In The 2019 NBA Playoffs
With the postseason nearly over, it’s time to highlight some of the best games of the year. Here are three stars worth watching in the 2019 NBA Playoffs.
LeBron James Vs. The Warriors
The first game we’ll be taking a look at is arguably the first game of the year, as no team has been more exciting to watch than the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors. Even if you didn’t watch regular season basketball last year, you probably witnessed some of this playoff action as it was live streamed on YouTube.