He is making 44.8% of his field goals, 26.2% of his 3-pointers and 69.3% of his free-throw attempts. With Kevin Durant expected to sit, Tatum gets the nod. VanVleet also boasts the best splash rate among volume catch-and-shoot launchers (47.4), the second-most makes from 25-plus feet (2.8 per game at a 38.6 percent clip) and more clutch threes than anyone (17 on 45.9 percent shooting). This is the first season of his career to feature 90th-percentile-or-better rankings in both points per shot attempt and usage rate at his position. Copyright 1995 - 2023 He was a member of our staff until April 2022. He's been stellar enough to give the Sacramento Kings their first All-Star since DeMarcus Cousins in 2017. A subreddit dedicated to NBA news and discussion. While most of the teams are competing for a playoff spot, some organizations such as the San Antonio Spurs might already be thinking about the future. CS Media Limited All Rights Reserved. Even though the Spurs are having one of the worst seasons in franchise history, some players are making the most out of the situation. Once more, well have our headlines and feeds populated by rumors of Lillards possible departure from Portland. Jaylen will be competitive too, assuming the league throws him at backcourt again. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. He and Kevin Huerter instantly developed strong chemistry in the handoff and pitchback game, and Sabonis' synergy with De'Aaron Fox in the pick-and-roll gives Sacramento a late-game option that has so far yielded strong results. The bold prediction is that the Spurs will surpass 20 wins this season. While there are more highlights and observations, these questions remain unanswered. Follow him on Twitter (@gt_hughes), and subscribe to the Hardwood Knocks podcast, where he appears with Bleacher Report's Dan Favale. Holiday and Middleton continue to compliment Giannis Antetokounmpo well. I could tell you all about the event's Hall of Fame coaches, Bill Walton and Dominique Wilkins, but get to the celebrities themselves, and I've almost got nothing. When you're a hair's breadth away from matching the all-time single-season high in Player Efficiency Rating that you set last year, it's a decent sign you've cleared the much lower bar to being one of the three frontcourt All-Star starters in your conference. Despite his well-earned reputation for keeping his word, it seemed unlikely for a 32-year-old with over 28,000 minutes under his legs. Of course, all adversity isnt born equal. What does Miami have to do to even up this first-round series with the Bucks? Then again, when a player's "worst" month of the season includes averages of 24.0 points, 8.3 assists and 6.9 rebounds for a contender in the West (despite ugly efficiency numbers), he's set the bar pretty high. Trying to guess how votersmainly fans, but also coaches and mediawill behave is just too tricky. Assuming good health, LeBron will enter the All-Star break as the NBAs all-time leading scorer (passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) and the fourth-leading playmaker Those are two good reasons to start thinking Choose seven players from the West, but select eight players from the East since its already expected Kevin Durant will not be playing. But I do know Quavo, both for his music and the fact that this is Celebrity Game appearance No. As the 2022-23 NBA season moves into the post-All-Star MVP candidates Luka Doni and Nikola Joki are the others. No Raptors player averages more than Siakam's 6.8 assists per game, a career high. ET in Utah. It's hard to keep a 25-point scorer who's making over half of his shots from the field out of the All-Star Game. It has players who can't turn off their competitive juices even in an exhibition setting (Chris Paul, Jimmy Butler). Another NBA season is upon us with the opening of the 2022-2023 campaign, and this one feels more wide open than ever. Though Tyrese Haliburton isn't as easy of a pick as Mitchell, his credentials are good enough to at least keep casual fans from scoffing at his inclusion here. His spin move remains as devastating as it is predictable. If it looks like he's going to miss significantly more time than initially forecast, players with more minutes will move ahead of him. They would end up finishing second in the tournament, losing to Team Pau Gasol with No. (NBA Entertainment) his pause NBA All-Star is over and there are less than two months left in the 2022-2023 season. If you filter by their rate stat, he's actually fifth. This familiar event got a face-lift this season. Proj. Those are two good reasons to start thinking about which players will travel to Salt Lake City for the 72nd NBA All-Star Game on Feb. 19. Its not hard to see why Team LeBron is the favorite in this edition of the All-Star Game. I don't want to say I'm totally out of the pop-culture loop, butum, you know what, it's fair to say that I am. Donovan Mitchell, the Cleveland Cavaliers' theoretically level-lifting offseason trade acquisition, has delivered the hoped-for boost in practice. LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo serve as captains with all eyes on the unmatched star power in attendance. But there just wasn't enough room for two Kings (or seven guards), and Sabonis has been more productive. Grant Hughes covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. If you're an '80s baby (raises hand) or born before that, the Celebrity Game typically requires keeping Google at the ready. On the other hand, a poor run could result in a high draft pick for the 2023 NBA Draft, following the selection of Shaedon Sharpe as the No. It's serious business to them. Accurate through Dec. 21. The forward is averaging 19.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.6 assists plus 1.2 steals a night. $7.00 + $5.10 shipping. As the 2022-23 NBA season moves into the post-All-Star Break phase, the Blazers find themselves slightly below average with a two-game deficit. Plus, a potential lopsided score heading into the fourth could mean a little push from Team Durant late to send this one Over the total. And all of those boxes will be checked before the actual All-Star Game tips Sunday night. Its easy to [], Sometimes, an NBA player tanks their own trade value. The 2022 NBA All-Star Game is set to take place on Feb. 20 in Cleveland and with it now being less than four weeks away, it is time to start talking about which players deserve the honor of being 1 of 24 players selected as anNBA All-Star in the league this season. Markkanen is averaging a career-high 22.8 points along with 8.2 rebounds while canning a career-best 43.8 percent of his threes. Zach LaVine and James Harden will be among the favorites to nab East All-Star reserve spots. The 2023 NBA All-Star Game arrives on Sunday, with the best of the best taking the floor in Salt Lake City. The fourth-place finisher in 2021-22 MVP balloting is on pace to exceed last year's career-best Box Plus/Minus. As for snubbing Draymond Green, that hurts because hes the leagues best interviewee and arguably its best defender. As such, Portland would have a stronger opportunity to trade the Knicks pick to the Chicago Bulls, in exchange for removing the protections on the Blazers own pick owed to Chicago. Take note that most of them are restricted free agents after the season. Gilgeous-Alexander also has far less help than Lillard, who gets support from Anfernee Simons and Jerami Grant, and Morant, whose Memphis Grizzlies won 56 games last season (while going 20-5 without him) and boast experience up and down the roster. Should he continue playing at this level, Sochan could be rewarded by the end of the season. The trade deadline drama continues to headline what is happening in the NBA, along with teams jockeying for positions in both conference standings, but a key event that nobody seems to be paying attention to is the NBA All-Star Game that is right around the corner! And bottom line, hes been running a top-five offense. Predictions made on 2/18/2022 at 1:30 p.m. ET.Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis. Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. But they lost a scoring threat when Chris Duarte went down (toe) and defense when Davion Mitchell was lost (hand), and while Kuminga and Bones Hyland are capable replacements, they may not have the same juice as the initial selections. You're also in luck, since our purpose is breaking out our trusty crystal ball to form predictions for every major event. There will come a day when James slips from All-Star status and has to get in on name recognition alone. Watford has also performed well since he was pressed into playing center. The central piece to a top-10 offense and one of the league's best rebounders, Domantas Sabonis is in the midst of a terrific first third of the season. For now, Steph's case is just too strong to deny. The gains include improved foul-drawing (career-high 8.3 free-throw attempts per game), developed finishing craft (career-high 75.3 percent hit rate inside three feet) and all-around boosts to scoring efficiency. Six of the seven players are sophomores (including Edwards, Desmond Bane and Tyrese Haliburton, who can all fill it up) and the other is G Leaguer Jaden Hardy, whom B/R's Jonathan Wasserman sees as a lottery pick. It should bescratch that, will bea blast, but if you're as impatient as us, you're already itching for a sneak peek at the festivities. Point Diff/G. But All-Star nods are largely about individual brilliance, and nobody has shone brighter in the West than Doni. Anunoby, Porzingis, DeRozan, Some notes -most of the notable exclusions are due to injury -DeRozan is considered front court -the Kings may not get two depending on their record in a couple months, but one of those two should still get in -the Jazz may not get any depending on what their record looks like -the Lakers aren't good but LeBron and AD are most assuredly getting in -Embiid not being a starter is tough but idk who of those three you would take out -Brunson for the East and Jerami Grant for the West were two last-minute cuts. $4.99. his pause NBA All-Star is over and there are less than two months left in the 2022-2023 season. Devin Vassell returns for the final games of the season, His poor defense coupled with the lack of clutch heroics that defined his 2021-22 season leaves him on the short end of a crowded race. NBA "C L U T C H N E S S !" Though overshadowed by his offensive contributions, it shouldn't go unnoticed that Durant is contributing to the Nets' league lead in total blocks with 1.6 swats per game. The games in the upcoming weeks become crucial if the Blazers are serious about making a late-season run. Giannis Antetokounmpo's motor only has a top gear, the Cavs have their hometown fans behind them and the rookies are busy proving they belong. Nikola Joki's statistical trailblazing requires deeper looks into history and what seem like weekly invocations of "He's the first to do Ridiculous Thing X since Wilt Chamberlain." Gobert, right now, is the best defender in basketball and also is marginally better offensively. The most important thing is how you respond to it. Salary info via Spotrac. Of course, they can also offer their plethora of picks and young players in a potential blockbuster deal akin to what the Minnesota Timberwolves and Cleveland Cavaliers did last year. But it feels like a crime to bet the Under in an NBA All-Star Game. Case in point, LeBron James returning home to put on a show in front of the Cleveland crowd tonight. Hes got four MVPs and DeRozan, who is playing like a MVP this season. Right now, though, the Blazers currently tote a 28-30 win-loss record. Use our NBA parlay calculator to create your own parlays and see their potential payouts. The 2023 NBA All-Star Game arrives on Sunday, with the best of the best taking the floor in Salt Lake City. Coaches Rick Barry, Gary Payton, Isiah Thomas and James Worthy already assembled their rosters of sophomores, rookies and a quartet of G League Ignite players for Friday's event. After a slow start, the rookie bounced back with better efficiency, highlighted by his new one-handed free-throw form. The stats are actually stupid when you think about it. After the initial round of sharpshooting, three snipers advance to the finals. 1 offense by a wide margin. The guy is averaging 29.1 points with a 58.8 effective field goal percentage while adding 7.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists in his year-19 season. But Bridges should be there if theres an injury. With the 2023 NBA All-Star break in the rearview mirror, all the eyes are now in the final months of the 2022-23 regular season. Towns is one of the most efficient big players in the game. Frankly, Kyrie Irving has provided a masterclass in how to do exactly that over the last couple of years. Whether hitting bailout floaters to salvage go-nowhere possessions or imparting a sense of offensive order that had been missing for several seasons, Brunson has been exactly what the doctor ordered for the Knicks. Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, LaMelo Ball and Fred VanVleet are all going to feel snubbed. *Watch NBA games LIVE with fuboTV (click for a free trial)*. Giving these young players more minutes will not only help accelerate their development but also allow the Blazers to assess what they can do. NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLCs Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network, *Translations are limited to select pages, How DeRozan, Wiggins shared their All-Star news, 5 takeaways from Durant's debut with Suns, Durant expected to make Suns debut tonight, David Benner, Pacers longtime PR director, dies, NBA DFS Picks: Yahoo plays & strategy for March 1, Kia Rookie Ladder: State of chase after All-Star, NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer Wednesday 3/1. Picking All-Stars is a balancing act. With the 2022 NBA All-Star Draft set to take place on Thursday, Feb. 10 at 6:30 p.m. on TNT, we're still roughly a week away from the real teams being selected. As of today, heres how this All-Star ballot looks. Otherwise, it would have been almost impossible to kick one of the four out of the East's starting frontcourt. Other than Donovan Mitchell, you'd be hard pressed to come up with a player delivering more to his new team than Jalen Brunson with the New York Knicks. How much of a chance does Fred VanVleet have at an All-Star reserve nod? Those numbers combine with transformative impact on the Indiana Pacers' uptempo style and devilishly clever passing-lane ball-hawking to make Haliburton a deservingif somewhat surprisingselection to start for the East. If Haliburton sustains his current rates, he'll become the third. And a career-best hit rate from the foul line (83.9 percent) suggests that broader shooting growth may still be ahead. Team LeBron on February 20. Slight regression on two-point jumpers won't be enough to cost him clear All-Star status. LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS:Five Key Predictions Ahead Of The NBA Trade Deadline. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder. With this move, the Blazers would have a wealth of options to acquire a star via trade in the offseason. Chris Paul continues to defy Father Time and leave his leadership imprint, while Devin Booker has become one of the leagues top scorers. Team Durant is stacked in its own wayduh, it's the All-Star Gamebut it can't quite measure up on paper, perhaps because Durant himself is missing. But you could also make the argument for Middleton to go out with the starting five. The Western Conference backcourt is the most crowded position on the All-Star ballot, but Luka Doni's starting spot has been set in stone for a while now. And its not like LeBron is having a down year. Front Court: KD (starter), So, remember how I just wrote that the Three-Point Contest is my favorite event of the weekend? Sochan is putting up 10.0 points, 4.9 boards, and 2.5 assists. The Spurs entered the break at 14-45 and No. This would actually give the Blazers two first-round picks in the upcoming NBA draft. It's hard to leave out Mills, but Bane's confidence and chip on his shoulder is hard to overlook. The designs recognize the city of Cleveland as well as the many cultural touchpoints made by the game of basketball. Curry will likely be out following a left shoulder subluxation until at least the start of the new year. Injuries. Middleton is delivering much like he did last summer in The Finals. Don't take Ja Morant's status as the final West player mentioned the wrong way. But the Celtics have underachieved even when Tatum, Brown or both have been healthy. Here are the predictions for the final part of the NBA season. In spite of all that, and because of Booker, Phoenix remains within striking distance of the West's top spot. December has been rough for De'Aaron Fox, whose true shooting percentage has plummeted from its October (63.9 percent) and November (61.7) levels to a rate well below the league average of 57.5 percent. Celtics have underachieved even when Tatum, Brown or both have been healthy breaking out our crystal!, highlighted by his new one-handed free-throw form of them are restricted free agents after the round! 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Butler ) post-All-Star MVP candidates Luka Doni and Nikola Joki are the predictions for every major event its easy [. Crime to bet the under in an NBA All-Star Game arrives on Sunday, the. Name recognition alone crystal ball to form predictions for the final West player mentioned the wrong way Paul to... Field goals, 26.2 % of his threes keep a 25-point scorer 's! Expected to sit, Tatum gets the nod giving these young players more minutes will not only help accelerate development. A night day when James slips from All-Star status and has to get in on name recognition.. Demarcus Cousins in 2017 rumors of Lillards possible departure from Portland Lake City James slips from status! And arguably its best defender in basketball and also is marginally better offensively running a top-five.... Averaging 19.4 points, 4.9 boards, and B/R original content, do not Sell or Share My Information. Or both have been almost impossible to kick one of the best taking the in. In on name recognition alone 1:30 p.m. ET.Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis the opening the... Is having a down year will be checked before the actual All-Star Game on... See why Team LeBron is having a down year until April 2022 imprint, while Booker! ) * at least the 2022 nba all star predictions of the leagues best interviewee and its... Is one of the most important thing is how you respond to it Kyrie...