5 Early Predictions for the NBA All-Star weekend 2018-19

The first NBA All-Star game ever was played over 50 years ago in Boston. Some of the best NBA games of all time have been played on this platform that brings the best of the best together. From Kobe Bryant making his way as the youngest player to be a part of an All-Star line-up to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar playing in his 19th All-Star team at 41, this special weekend has seen it all. Legends are born and warriors hang up their boots on these hallowed grounds. Becoming an important part of legendary careers, here are some predictions for the All-Star games this season in the home of the Charlotte Hornets.

#5 The Captains Will Have to Change From Last Year, Against Popular Demand

Each face off for the finals over the last few years has been between the two current basketball kings, Steph Curry and LeBron James. Heading their respective teams, the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers to the finals for four years in a row has made them the most well-known players of present-day basketball and arguably the most popular players as well.

With LeBron moving to the Lakers he is on his way to going a whole new set of followers adding to his immense popularity from fans in Miami and home team Cleveland. The two, however, have very distinctly different playing styles. LeBron Knows how to push his way through, a combination of speed, size, and skill to ensure that he makes his shot no matter what. On the other hand, there is Curry with the prettiest shot in the game, his unbelievable precision and ability to create space helps him excel. The current system of choice for All-Star captains resides with the voters and there is no doubt that the people will want to choose these two powerhouses. They have consistently been number one and number two in jersey sale, fan base numbers and all-star votes and as long as their form doesn't change, none of those numbers will, however, this LeBron's shift to the western conference not only confirms their win but also leaves the question for the second captain wide open.

#4 The Combined Team's Total For a Game Will Cross 300 Shots

All-Star starters 2017

All-Star games have been historically the highest scoring games of the season. Whether it's the quality of the players put together or the non-consequential nature of the outcomes towards individual teams, these matches never fail to disappoint. Two years ago the West scored 196 over the 182 of the East. In terms of shots that same game has a high of 286 shots. Here each of the players had made at least 10 shots each. Some of the other highest scoring games the All-Star weekend has seen include the one with the first triple-double ever made in an All-Star game by Michael Jordan.

The removal of the shackles that is the pressure of taking their teams forward is what has led to so many players giving great performances. This has not only showcased to a superiority of their conference, usually the West but has also led to a lot of these names making their mark. Some of them have left their mark well enough to become a part of the basketball hall of fame. the With the abundance of ~almost~ triple doubles made over the last few by the All-Star favorites, there are high expectations of those becoming stepping stones towards a record-breaking score.

#3 There Should Be Some Throw-Back to When Players and Referees Didn't Get Along

Joey Crawford at the NBA finals

In recent years, players and referees have become extremely cordial with one another. Apart from the occasional disagreements they have with one another, today this relationship has become that of fathers, and their sons who know it's all for their own good. This, however, during the season, does not apply between the players themselves. Just last season we saw some of the most ridiculous fights break out on the court like Kevin Durant and Russel Westbrooks's off-court rivalry which was brought into the game or when Draymond Green's jersey was clawed off by Bradley Beal.

No player has ever been sent out form an All-Star game and only one coach has ever achieved this feat. I believe that since the All-Star weekend is such an entertainment-driven event that some players might even go that extra mile and rack up those technicals to become the first ones to ever be benched out by the referees of this platform. The least however that can happen is that a player can be fouled out, something that only last happened in 1987. This is looking towards Draymond Green or a rare outburst from an unlikely Shaun Livingston as our best bets.

#2 Anthony Davis Will be King of the Western Conference

Anthony Davis pushes in an alley hoop

This season there is no stopping the West. With both former captains on the same team this year each position of the starting five is being filled by the masters of that craft. The All-Star MVP of 2016 Anthony Davis will be in just the right place to do it all over again. This Shackle-free dunk-fest has become his platform to prove his greatness. Among a potential team start with Steph Curry, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Russel Westbrook, he is in the perfect place to bring the MVP Title back.

When Davis was chosen in 2012 to play for the Pelicans, someone said they had struck gold, and touch wood they could not have been more right in that statement. Statistically, he is amongst the top 10 centers of all time, the right balance between polished and practiced. It is fair to say that The Brow is a gift to the All-Star stage.

#1 The Slam Dunk Contest Will be Worth $5 Million, especially for LeBron James

All-Star Slam-Dunk Contest

All-Star weekend is a fun-filled event that keeps not only the people engaged, but also serves as a way to blow off some steam for some of the players. However, since no event but the All-Star game has any real value to the players and their overall stats, there are two very different player opinions towards the contests. Putting a prize on the events would really motivate the players towards participating in these challenges.

Some new events that I'm personally looking forward to are having players showing off their hidden talents and maybe getting rid of the All-Star concert, or even putting a mic on each and every player trough-out the weekend to really know how these all-mighty players really work. However, most of all I look forward to having a game where the legends play. Being able to see people like Rasheed Wallace or Kobe Bryant would be a real treat. But for now, since all these things aren't going to happen overnight the one thing that is closest to being seen is what has been said by LeBron James, "$1 million is cool, but I'd do the dunk contest for $5 million."