by LUCAS COMBS
When: Sunday, February 17th at 530PM PT
Where: Toyota Center, Houston, Texas
Line: -3 WEST
Total: 295.5
ALL-STAR OFFENSIVE
The NBA All Star game is Sunday, so be prepared for another defensive showdown… Really? No, not really. Counting on defense in the NBA all star game is like counting on Congress to be civil and reach an agreement on anything. Neither the East or West squad have scored below 100 points since 1967, and the last time the winning team scored below the century mark was 1954. Defense ain’t happening, like a nun putting out.
The West squad has won 3 out of the last 4 games, scoring at least 142 points in the three victories. The Eastern Conference All-Stars, however, lead the all-time series 36-25. The last 3 games of the series have all been decided by 5 points or less.
Coin Flippin’
Setting the line in the NBA All-Star game has a lot to do with public opinion, rather than historical tendencies or talent disparities notes Rob Gillespie, president of Bodog, “Typically (the NBA All-Star Game) is a coin flip game and guys who are sharp bettors look for better odds than that… Setting the line has a lot to do with public opinion.” With pubic opinion being the main berometer of a betting line, the NBA All Star Game can be a bit of a conundrum for bettors. That doesn’t necessarily mean one shouldn’t bet on the game, but a bettor won’t have as many compelling tendencies to work in comparison with betting on a regular season contest, for instance.
About as Much Betting Info As All-Star Defense
In 2011, the Eastern All-Stars were favored (-1), but fell to the West 148-143. The total went Over.
In last year’s NBA All-Star game, the East were favored by -4 but ended up falling again 152-149 to the West. The total went Over in that game as well.
Rosters and MVP’s
The Eastern roster is filled with 1st time selections, including James Harden, Kyrie Irving, and Joakim Noah. The Western roster, on the other hand, doesn’t contain one first time selection, and is instead compiled of veterans, such as 15 time All-Stars Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant. One has to wonder if a team of veterans might play with less exuberance than a young team of first-timers eager to play well under the bright All-Star lights.
Lebron James is favored to be the MVP in the game with Kevin Durant and Kobe Bryant a close second and third, respectively. The winner of the MVP rarely goes to a traditional big man. Shaquille O’Neal and Tim Duncan are the only big men that have won the award since Karl Malone won the All-Star MVP in 1993.
Source: CBS Sports
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