Thunderous Intentions
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Top storylines of 2018 All-Star, Part 1

By Tamberlyn Richardson

STUDIO CITY, CA - JANUARY 25: A photo of the LeBron James and Stephen Curry Brand Jordan NBA All-Star Uniforms on January 25, 2018 at CBS Studios in Studio City, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
STUDIO CITY, CA - JANUARY 25: A photo of the LeBron James and Stephen Curry Brand Jordan NBA All-Star Uniforms on January 25, 2018 at CBS Studios in Studio City, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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2018 NBA All-Star
2018 NBA All-Star /

How do Kyrie Irving and Russell Westbrook interact with LeBron and KD?

Last year almost the entire weekend was spent trying to catch Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant talking to each other. Westbrook didn’t acquiesce or give in to the pundits. He chose instead to answer all KD questions with fashion answers.

With media interviews airing today, we’ll learn if this season is any different. Although KD is Russ’ teammate once again, fortunately this time around he has teammate Paul George to help ease the tension. In fact, I imagine Westbrook will shadow George much of this weekend to ensure he keeps his new teammate focused on OKC and not LA.

The other big question mark is how Kyrie Irving and LeBron James will interact. Irving famously requested a trade this summer citing his desire to be the main guy on a team. The timing of the 2018 NBA All-Star Game also adds intrigue. This because Irving’s Celtics came into the break reeling having lost their top seed in the conference.

Meanwhile, LeBron hits the break with a massively restructured squad who beat the Celtics on the road and offered renewed belief the Cavaliers have arguably repositioned themselves as the East’s favorites.

Hometown Heros:

Six players grew up in LA with Russell Westbrook (Long Beach), Paul George (Palmdale), DeMar DeRozan (Compton), James Harden all native Los Angeleans.

Kevin Love (Sacramento) and Damian Lillard (Oakland) are also from  California. However, the Kings and Warriors would be more representative of their respective hometowns.

Generally All-Stars who are from the home teams get the best shot at winning, but with no Lakers or Clippers playing in the main event these six players could be vying to win the MVP in front of family and friends.

Six First Timers:

Every appearance at an All-Star Game or event is special. That said, every player will tell of the first time they made an appearance in the big game.

This year six first time Sunday invitees made the teams. Due to injury Kristaps Porzingis won’t play, but he will be introduced nonetheless. The five other first time All-Star Game participants are Joel Embiid, Victor Oladipo, Bradley Beal, Goran Dragic and Karl-Anthony Towns.

Five former All-Star MVP’s on Team LeBron:

Another edge which helps out Team LeBron is the players who’ve previously won All-Star MVP. In total Team LeBron has five players on his squad with that accolade (LeBron, Durant, Westbrook, Irving and Davis). Furthermore, James and Westbrook have each won All-Star MVP twice with Russ doing it in back to back seasons.

Team Duos and Warriors Quartet:

It’s not unusual to see top squads with multiple All-Stars in the big game. So, the fact the Golden State Warriors has four All-Stars isn’t unprecedented. Three will play together on Team Curry – (Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson). While Kevin Durant is the lone Warrior suiting up for Team LeBron.

Seven teams in all had players voted (or assigned) to the big game Sunday.  Three won’t play with Kevin Love (Cavaliers), John Wall (Wizards) and DeMarcus Cousins (Pelicans) lost to injury.

More from Thunderous Intentions

The other four teams with more duos represented are:

  • Raptors backcourt of DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry
  • Wolves first timer Karl-Anthony Towns joining teammate Jimmy Butler
  • Celtics leaders Kyrie Irving and Al Horford
  • And of course the OKC Thunder dynamic duo of Russell Westbrook and Paul George.

While the three Warriors play together, so too will three of the above four duos with only the Celtics pairing on opposite sides. This is another factor which could help Team Steph since the Wolves and Raptors join them as having natural chemistry with each other.

Team LeBron can only counter with Westbrook and George with that kind of natural chemistry. Although depending on if Russ and Kyrie choose to let bygones be bygones Team LeBron could benefit from LeBron and KD”s previous time spent beside their former teammates.

So who wins MVP?

Russell Westbrook just isn’t a player who won’t compete, that’s a given. But…. since he has such a vested interest in Paul George returning to OKC next season my gut says he’ll do his best to help George win MVP.  For PG13 to win MVP however, Team LeBron will have to win the game since the MVP invariably will come from the winning side.

And, my gut tells me the copious perimeter shooters for Team STeph gives his side the edge. Because of that I think one of James Harden or my dark horse DeMar DeRozan win MVP playing in front of their hometown family and friends.

Next: Top OKC Thunder scorers of all-time

In part two, I’ll examine individual player storylines and all the playoff squads as well as those on the perimeter as the Association heads into the stretch run of the regular season.

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