NBA Basketball Betting Odds: All-Star Game Preview
Sunday, February 20, 2011
by Bodog Sportsbook
When looking for trends on betting on the NBA’s All-Star Game, well, there really aren’t any that stand out. The Eastern Conference and Western Conference have alternated wins in each of the past four years, with the East coming out on top last season at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, 141-139 with Miami’s Dwyane Wade being named the game’s MVP. Since 2000, the West has won this game six times and the East five. The longest winning streak for either side was the West taking three in a row from 2002-2004.
From a starting lineup perspective, it would seem the East would have an advantage, as it starts the two NBA MVP leaders in Derrick Rose of the Bulls and LeBron James of the Heat, along with Wade, the Knicks’ Amare Stoudemire and the Magic’s Dwight Howard. Rose is the first Bulls starter since Michael Jordan and Stoudemire is the first Knicks starter since Patrick Ewing. The East is coached by Boston’s Doc Rivers, who says he may play his four Celtics All-Stars at once.
Not that the West starting five is exactly a slouch. Kobe Bryant, who looks for his record-tying fourth NBA All-Star Game MVP Award, leads the group. It’s Kobe’s 13th All-Star selection, which is one shy of the record held by Jerry West, Shaquille O’Neal and Karl Malone. Kobe is joined in the starting five by the Hornets’ Chris Paul, the Thunder’s Kevin Durant, the Nuggets’ Carmelo Anthony – who might not be a Nugget by game-time – and the Spurs’ Tim Duncan. If there’s one “undeserving” starter of that group it would probably be Duncan. He was picked by Gregg Popovich, the coach of the West and San Antonio – to replace Yao Ming, who was voted into the starting five but is out for the year with an injury. Yao was replaced on the roster by the Timberwolves’ Kevin Love. The Clippers’ Blake Griffin, Love, Lakers’ Pau Gasol and Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki all have better numbers than Duncan, who is averaging a career-low 13.4 points and 9.2 rebounds. But Duncan also plays on the team with the NBA’s best record. It’s his 12th consecutive All-Star start.
Get all the best basketball odds on the All-Star Game at Bodog Sportsbook
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amare stoudemire - blake griffin - carmelo anthony - chris paul - derrick rose - dirk nowitzki - doc rivers - dwight howard - dwyane wade - gregg popovich
