2015 NBA All-Star Game: New York Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony Named A Starter
2015 NBA All-Star Game Starters Announced; New York Knicks Will Be Represented by Carmelo Anthony
This season hasn’t been a good one for the New York Knicks, but they will still be represented at the 2015 NBA All-Star Game being held at their home court courtesy of forward Carmelo Anthony. Anthony was voted in as one of the starters for the Eastern Conference, which comes as no surprise as this is the 8th All-Star appearance that Anthony will be making.
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Anthony has missed some time for the Knicks this season, but when he is on the court he has performed as his usual self, averaging 24.0 points per game to go with 6.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists.
Anthony will be joined in the starting lineup by the Toronto Raptors’ Kyle Lowry, Washington Wizards’ John Wall, Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James and Chicago Bulls’ Pau Gasol. This is the first time since 2000 that the Eastern Conference will have two first-time starters in the backcourt, as a late surge by Lowry helped him pass by Dwayne Wade.
Gasol is arguably the biggest surprise here, as his stats are deserving but it is a surprise that the Atlanta Hawks, the Eastern Conference leaders currently, have no starters in the game. Paul Millsap and Al Horford are both worthy All-Stars, and will more than likely be chosen by their head coach Mike Budenholzer, the head coach for the Eastern Conference in the game, along with their point guard Jeff Teague.
For the Western Conference, the starters are Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry, Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin, New Orleans Pelicans’ Anthony Davis and Memphis Grizzlies’ Marc Gasol. There isn’t anything wrong per say with this lineup, but it points out a flaw in fan voting that three power forwards and centers were elected to start without a small forward.
The biggest thing to come out of the Western Conference starters though is who will replace Bryant? Bryant has been diagnosed with a possible torn rotator cuff in the Lakers’ game Wednesday night, and will more than likely miss the All-Star game. It will be a fierce battle to see who replaces Bryant, as there are a number of options including the Houston Rockets’ James Harden, Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook or the Clippers’ Chris Paul.
Also, Pau and Marc Gasol have become the first set of brothers to be selected to start in the same All-Star Game. It will be a fun matchup to watch them going up against each other at the start of the game.
In what will be seen as an upset by some people as well, Curry was the highest vote getter this season. He dethroned King James, who looked to be in line to receive the most votes for a second consecutive season until Curry overcame him with a late push.