2019 NBA All-Star Game: 4 Takeaways from a win for Team LeBron
By Ronald Agers
Here are four takeaways from a Team LeBron win at the 2019 NBA All-Star Game.
LeBron James got everything he could have ever dreamed of this All-Star weekend. As one of the team captains with Giannis Antetokuonmpo, he got to pick his squad exactly the way he wanted for the 2019 NBA All-Star Game. Then he packed the team with shooters. Then got all the drama and attention that a 20-point comeback can bring and most important.
LeBron James team won the game.
I hope the experience was good for LeBron James because on Thursday, the real work begins to make the playoffs. It doesn’t start with an easy opponent considering they play the Houston Rockets.
He did pick James Harden though. Maybe he cut a side deal for a trap game.
Team Giannis had hometown hero Stephen Curry and star Kemba Walker starting in the backcourt that had the Charlotte faithful’s hearts.
LeBron had the best player in the world Kevin Durant.
Team LeBron came back from the brink of a blowout winning 178-164 led by MVP Kevin Durant and his 31 points to close out an exciting 4th quarter. Durant also grabbed 7 rebounds and had 2 assists.
At the beginning, it looked like Giannis was going to take the MVP. Boy he was sure looking for it. Dirk Nowitzki played only four minutes, but it was a storybook display for the G.O.A.T for the International NBA players. Dirk knocked down three 3-point shots that barely drew iron.
On the other end of the spectrum, Anthony Davis played about the same amount of minutes with a lot less fanfare. With all of the drama with his banged up shoulder, he was held out for fear of aggravating the injury.
Team Giannis tied a record scoring 53 points in the first quarter. With Giannis dominating and his teammate, Khris Middleton knocking down four 3-point shots early, it looked like the game was over.
Well they do have two halves in basketball and the tide changed big time in favor of Team LeBron with two huge runs in both the third and fourth quarters.
In the third quarter, Team LeBron went on a 19-2 run to pull the game close. Damian Lillard started pulling from 30 to tie the game by the end of the 3rd quarter. Amazingly, Team LeBron went into the final quarter up 132-131.
A 13-0 run put the game away for Team LeBron when Stephen Curry suddenly went cold from distance. When was the last time you remember a Curry (Dell included…) shooting 6-23 from the field?
The win is the second in a row for LeBron James as the captain in the All-Star game.