With all the pageantry, glitz and glamour of the Slam Dunk contest, the Celebrity Game and the Three-Point Shootout all done, NBA All-Star Weekend closes out with the main event-the best of the best from the East and West colliding in the NBA All-Star Game in Houston Sunday at 8:30 p.m. EST.
After beating the East for the second straight year, 152-149, last year in Orlando, the West and last year's game MVP Kevin Durant is looking to make it three in a row with a win in Houston this Sunday. And starter Durant will have plenty of backup with a dream starting lineup that includes L.A. Lakers stars Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard as well as Chris Paul and Blake Griffin of the L.A. Clippers.
However, the East will be looking to bring back pride by winning their first All-Star Game since 2010. And Miami Heat stars LeBron James and Dwayne Wade-coincidentally the last two East All-Star MVPs-will be armed with a plethora of formidable talent that includes fellow Heat star Chris Bosh, New York Knicks superstar Carmelo Anthony and Boston Celtics legend Kevin Garnett.
The last three All-Star Games have been a high-scoring affair in which the games were only decided by a handful of points. And with an array of stars on hand in Houston on Sunday for the gala event, any one of them can win the coveted All-Star Game MVP award. But who will it be?
Latinos Post breaks down the likely superstars that could win All-Star Game MVP honors:
LeBron James
Right now, there's nobody playing better. James, who is averaging 31.5 points for the month of January, recently broke the record for the longest streak of games in which an NBA player has scored at least 30 points and shot at least 60 percent from the field.
"I'm a better player. At that point in time, I wasn't a complete basketball player. I couldn't shoot as well as I can now, I never posted up back then," James said this weekend heading into the game. "More games, more playoff games, more knowledge. You continue to learn each and every day, it makes you a better player. That's what you want, to become a better player. That's what I want. I want to be the greatest of all-time. I try to do whatever it takes to get me in that position."
At the rate he's playing right now, he's definitely on his way, and there's nobody better on the planet who is playing the game right now. James has won All-Star Game MVPs in 2006 and 2008. Will he make it for a third time, his first as a member of the Heat?
Kobe Bryant
Even at 34, he's still the standard, especially when it comes to playing at the highest level possible at the star-studded NBA season half-point game. Bryant, a four-time All-Star Game MVP, was impressive last year with 27 points for the West, only nine points behind game MVP Kevin Durant. The fourth-best scorer in the NBA with 26.8 points this season has always been at his best during the mid-February classic. Can he do it again for the fifth time?
Kevin Durant
It may be Durant's time this year. Last year's All-Star Game MVP, who put up 36 points for the West, is currently leading the league in scoring this season-again-at 29.2 points per game. Before James got on his roll, there was no better scorer in the NBA than Durant, who has an arsenal of moves and shots that are designed to pick apart defenses at every turn. The All-Star Game MVP is a scoring shootout among the best, and there's no more lethal pure shooter in the NBA right now than Durant.
Carmelo Anthony
The No.2 scorer in the NBA, with 28.6 points this season, is the No.1 reason why the Knicks are leading the Atlantic Division and have a chance to capture their first division crown since 1994. When the 6'8" Anthony gets rolling, he's one of the hardest players in the league to guard. Scoring is what he does, and he's been doing it at a level that has people discussing him as a potential league MVP this season. Winning the All-Star Game MVP trophy Sunday would be a further testament to his scoring greatness.
Dwight Howard
It might sound odd, but the embattled big man for the Lakers-who has been plagued by infighting, trade rumors and injuries all season-might have a chance to make a statement for himself with a monster game on Sunday. Leading the league in rebounding with 11.6 boards while scoring 16.8 points this season-and those numbers are down numbers for the seven-time All-Star-Howard could decide to silence a few of his critics for a while by having a dominant MVP-level performance in the center, something that hasn't been done in the All-Star Game since Shaquille O'Neal, a critic of Howard's, did it in 2009.
Predictions
As strong as the East is this year, boasting a reserve corps with standouts like Tyson Chandler, Joakim Noah and Paul George, the West simply has too much firepower at their disposal. Behind Durant, Bryant, Griffin and savvy playmakers like Paul, Tony Parker and Russell Westbrook, the West should make it three years in a row in the win column at the All-Star Game, with Bryant netting MVP honors.
TV Schedule, Live Stream
The 62 NBA All-Star Game will begin at 8:30 p.m. EST on TNT. Coverage starts at 7 p.m. EST. For live streaming of all events, go to NBA On TNT Overtime.
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