On The Watch “It’s All About The 73rd 2024 NBA All-Star Game”

The 2024 NBA All-Star Game

This year, the 73rd annual NBA All-Star Game will be hosted in Indiana at the Indiana Convention Center February 18, 2024, and will feature the return of the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference classic matchup and traditional scoring system with four 12-minute quarters. The starters were chosen by the fans (50%), the players (25%) and the media (25%). The 30 NBA coaches selected the 14 reserves. The Western and returning leading vote-getter from the fans is Los Angeles Lakers LeBron James and the Eastern returning leading vote-getter from the Milwaukee Bucks Giannis Antetokounmpo will once again serve as Captains of their respective Conferences.

Representing the Western Conference “Team LeBron” Starters this year are:

-LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers) Team Captain
-Kevin Durant (Phoenix Suns)
-Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)
-Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks)
-Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder)

Reserves

-Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns)
-Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)
-Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers)
-Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves)
-Paul George (LA Clippers)
-Kawhi Leonard (LA Clippers)
-Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timberwolves)

Coach Chris Finch (Minnesota Timberwolves)

Representing the Eastern Conference “Team Giannis” Starters this year:

-Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks) Team Captain
-Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers)(injury replacement player Bam Adebayo)
-Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics)
-Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers)
-Damian Lillard (Milwaukee Bucks)

Reserves

-Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat)
-Paolo Banchero (Orlando Magic)
-Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics)
-Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks)
-Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia 76ers)
-Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers)
-Julius Randle (New York Knicks)(injury replacement player-Trae Young)

Coach Doc Rivers (Milwaukee Bucks)

With the return of the traditional format back into play, the old-school atmosphere
of the NBA All-Star game will be in full effect vibe wise in the building at the Indiana Convention Center Sunday night February 18, 2024. “King of the Court” will be up for grabs once again, which squad will claim “GAME” when it’s all said and done.

Tune in and enjoy the entire festivities of the weekend starting February 16 to February 18, 2024 on NBA TNT.

On The Watch “It’s All About The 72nd 2023 NBA All-Star Game”

The 2023 NBA All-Star Game

This year, the 72nd annual NBA All-Star Game will be hosted in Utah at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Sunday February 19, 2023. Once again, the starters were chosen by the fans while the rest of the squad was selected by the media and their peers. That said the Western and returning leading vote-getter from the fans is Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James, and the Eastern returning leading vote-getter from the Milwaukee Bucks Giannis Antetokounmpo will once again serve as Captains of their respective Conferences.

Representing the Western Conference “Team LeBron” Starters this year are:

-LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers) Team Captain
-Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)
-Zion Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans)
-Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)
-Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks)

Reserves
-Paul George (Los Angeles Clippers)
-Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder)
-Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies)
-Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers)
-Lauri Markkanen (Utah Jazz)
-Ja Morant (Memphis Grizzlies)
-Domantas Sabonis (Sacramento Kings)

Coach Michael Malone (Denver Nuggets)

Representing the Eastern Conference “Team Giannis” Starters this year:

-Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks) Team Captain
-Kevin Durant (Brooklyn Nets)
-Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics)
-Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers)
-Kyrie Irving (Brooklyn Nets)

Reserves

-Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat)
-Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics)
-DeMar DeRozan (Chicago Bulls)
-Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers)
-Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers)
-Jrue Holiday (Milwaukee Bucks)
-Julius Randle (New York Knicks)

Coach Joe Mazzulla (Boston Celtics)

Now this year the NBA added a kink to the Draft-Style format. For the first time, the NBA All-Star Draft will take place right before the game. (unbelievable!) The two Team Captains Giannis and LeBron, will draft the team rosters from the pool of players voted as starters and reserves in each conference.

The Draft will start at 7:30 PM ET on TNT on Sunday February 19, 2023.

Truth be told, I am not a fan of this new format but nevertheless “King of the Court” will still be up for grabs once again come Sunday night February 19, 2023 on NBA TNT. Which Squad will claim “GAME” when the dust settles?

Tune in and enjoy all the festivities of the entire weekend starting February 17 to February 19, 2023.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About 2022 NBA FINALS CHAMPIONS”

2022 NBA FINALS CHAMPIONS

Stephen Curry has regained his rightful place atop the mountain of the 2022 NBA Season by closing out game 6 of the NBA Finals on enemy territory with a brilliant Steph-like performance scoring 34 points, holding down a modest 7 bords and 7 assists to bring the Golden State Warriors their 4th Championship in the last eight seasons. He also picked up the NBA Finals MVP for the first time in his career.

It was a tough journey back with injuries derailing the Warriors the last couple of years but they and their organization, never lost sight of the task at hand and stayed on course, rebuilt, regrouped and once healthy, to regained the reins.

This Warriors’ squad was built different but with the right pieces to complement one another. They went through the struggles together and shined bright together picking each other up when needed to celebrating together as a tight squad should.

Them Boys balled out all season in a very competitive league and took out some great teams throughout the Playoffs and silenced the No. 1 defensive team in the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals.

All Championships won have a different meaning to the Champions on that day but having seen what the Warriors have gone through as a squad to get to this point here today, makes this Championship No. 4 SPECIAL!!

Congratulations to the Golden State Warriors for creating a “Dynasty” and emerging as the New NBA Champions of the NBA Season 2022. Well done.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About The 70th 2021 NBA All-Star Game”

This year, the 70th annual NBA All-Star Game will be hosted in Atlanta, Georgia at the State Farm Arena on Sunday night March 7, 2021. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic still looming in the world, and unlike past All-Star weekends, the usual entertainment like the Skills Challenge, 3-Point Contest and Dunk Contest will all take place on the same night as the NBA All-Star Game. The 3-Point Contest and the Skills Challenge will be preceding the game while the Dunk Contest will take place at the halftime break of the NBA All-Star game.

Once again, the league is maintaining the Draft-Style format and the starters were chosen by the fans while the rest of the squad was selected by the media and current players. That said the Western leading vote-getter from the fans is Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James and the Eastern leading vote-getter from the Brooklyn Nets’ Kevin Durant will serve as Captains of their respective conferences.

Representing the Eastern Conference Starters this year are

-Kevin Durant (Brooklyn Nets) Team Captain (injured)
-Kyrie Irving (Brooklyn Nets)
-Kawhi Leonard (Los Angeles Clippers)
-Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers)
-Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards)
-Jason Tatum (Boston Celtics) (selected as replacement for injured Kevin Durant)

Reserves

-James Harden (Brooklyn Nets)
-Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns) (selected as a replacement for injured Anthony Davis)
-Zion Williams (New Orleans Pelicans)
-Zack LaVine (Chicago Bulls)
-Julius Randle (New York Knicks)
-Nikola Vucevic (Orlando Magic)
-Donovan Mitchell (Utah Jazz)
-Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers) (injured)

Coach Doc Rivers (Philadelphia 76ers)

Representing the Western Conference Starters this year are

-LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers) Team Captain
-Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
-Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)
-Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks)
-Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)

Reserves

-Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers)
-Chris Paul (Phoenix Suns)
-Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics)
-Paul George (Los Angeles Clippers)
-Domantas Sabonis (Indiana Pacers)
-Rudy Gobert (Utah Jazz)
-Ben Simmons (Philadelphia 76ers)

Coach Quin Snyder (Utah Jazz)

“King of the Court” will be up for grabs once again come Sunday night March 7, 2021 on NBA TNT. Which Squad will claim “GAME” when it’s all said and done?

Tune in and take in all the festivities of this entertaining night!

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About The 68th 2019 NBA All-Star Game”

This Year the 68th 2019 NBA-All-Star Game will be taking place at the Spectrum Center, Charlotte, North Carolina, home of the Charlotte Hornets on TNT Sunday February 17, 2019.

In an effort to make this Year All-Star Game even more exciting and competitive, the NBA changed the format from the traditional Eastern Conference vs Western Conference to an All-Star Draft-Style format that was viewed live for the first time. As usual the starters were chosen by the fans and the media and players also had a say to the votes. Captains were able to draft from the pool of players voted as Starters and Reserves.

Representing the Eastern Conference Starters this year are

-Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks) Team Captain
-Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)
-Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers)
-Paul George (Oklahoma City Thunder)
-Kemba Walker (Charlotte Hornets)

Reserves
-Khris Middleton (Milwaukee Bucks)
-Nokola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)
-Ben Simmons (Philadelphia 76ers) (Traded to Team LeBron for Russell Westbrook)
-Blake Griffin (Detroit Pistons)
-D’Angelo Russell (Brooklyn Nets)
-Nikola Vucevic (Orlando Magic)
-Kyle Lowry (Toronto Raptors)
-Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas Mavericks) (drafted in the third and final round per Adam Silver as special team roster additions for the All-Star Game)

Coach Mike Budenhozer (Milwaukee Bucks)

Representing the Western Conference Starters this year are

-LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers) Team Captain
-Kevin Durant (Golden State Warriors)
-Kyrie Irving (Toronto Raptors)
-Kawhi Leonard (Boston Celtics)
-James Harden (Houston Rockets)

Reserves
-Anthony Davis (New Orleans Pelicans)
-Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors)
-Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers)
-Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder) (Traded to Team Giannis for Ben Simmons)
-LaMarcus Aldridge (San Antonio Spurs)
-Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timberwolves)
-Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards)
-Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat) (drafted in the third and final round per Adam Silver as special team roster additions for the All-Star Game)

Coach Michael Malone (Denver Nuggets)

Once again, “King Of The Court” is up for grabs come Sunday night February 17, 2019. Which side will claim all bragging rights for this year All-Star Game?

Tune in!
Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About 2018 NBA FINALS CHAMPIONS”

BACK 2 BACK

It was written. The Golden State Warriors, in a blowout road win, completely annihilate The Cleveland Cavaliers by finishing them off in a sweep (4-0) to claim their first Back-To-Back Championship!! With this win Golden State join the Bulls, the Lakers the Celtics as the only NBA franchise to win three or more Championships in a four-year period.

Them Warriors came out with a game plan and executed it to a “T”. Real Talk! The “Hampton’s 5” and company were focus, ready and loaded to hand the Cavs their last game of the 2018 NBA Finals. I gotta tip my “B” hat to Cleveland, “King James” and his Cavaliers gave it a good run throughout the NBA Playoffs and the Finals but this Warriors squad was just too much for any team to handle. Real Talk!

The Warriors came into the Playoffs vulnerable but finished the series and the Finals strong and confident like the Champions they knew they were. There are levels to this sh*t and The Warriors are living proof of that.

Bron Bron put up some crazy MVP numbers over the four games with an average of 34 points, 10, assists and 8.5 rebounds but the 2018 Finals MVP was awarded to Kevin Durant for his Back-to-Back Bill Russell Trophy with an average of 28,8 points, 10.8 rebounds and 7.5 assists. He was unquestionably the most consistent player for his team this series.

Personal accolades aside, it takes a serious squad to win an NBA Finals Championship and The Golden State Warriors were just that a cohesive squad with exceptional group of players with one common goal in mind. A Dynasty in the making.

Congratulation Golden State on becoming this Year’s 2018 NBA Champions!! Once again the Larry O’Bryan Trophy will rest in the West.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About The 67th 2018 NBA All-Star Game”

This Year the 67th 2018 NBA All-Star Game will be taking place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, on TNT Sunday February 18, 2018.

To make this Year All-Star Game more exciting and competitive, the NBA has changed the format from the traditional Eastern Conference vs Western Conference to an All-Star Draft-Style format. As usual the starters were chosen by the fans but this time the media and players also had a say to the votes. Captains were able to Draft from the pool of players voted as Starters and Reserves.

Representing The Eastern Conference Starters this year are
-LeBron James (Cleveland) Team Captain
-DeMarcus Cousins (New Orleans) (Now replaced due to injury by Paul George)
(Indiana)
-Anthony Davis (New Orleans)
-Kevin Durant (Golden State)
-Kyrie Irving (Boston)
Coach-Dwayne Casey (Toronto Raptors)

Reserves
-John Wall (Washington) (Now replaced due to injury by Andre Drummond) (Detroit)
-Kevin Love (Cleveland) (Now replaced due to injury by Goran Dragic) (Miami)
-Russel Westbrook (Oklahoma)
-Kristaps Porzingis (New-York)
-Victor Oladipo (Indiana)
-LaMarcus Aldridge (San Antonio)
-Bradley Beal (Washington)

Representing The Western Conference Starters this year are
-Stephen Curry (Golden State) Team Captain
-DeMar DeRozan (Toronto)
-Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee)
-Joel Embiid (Philadelphia)
-James Harden (Houston)
Coach-Mike D’Antoni (Houston Rockets)

Reserves
-Al Holford (Boston)
-Draymond Green (Golden State)
-Jimmy Butler (Minnesota)
-Kyle Lowry (Toronto)
-Damian Lillard (Portland)
-Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota)
-Klay Thompson (Golden State)

Now which side will claim “King Of The Court” come Sunday night February 18, 2018 in La La Land?

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About NBA PLAYOFFS CONFERENCES SEMIFINALS 2016 “

With the first round officially over, we can now focus on the second round of interesting match ups to come. Our team from Up North, The Toronto Raptors are finally moving forward and looking to “Ball Up” with The Miami Heat while The Atlanta Hawks will be having a deja vu moment once again in doing battle with The Cleveland Cavaliers.

The bad blood between the two is serious so we can definitely anticipate a heated series to see which Team will be battling it out to meet in the Eastern Conference. Some Western Conference Teams have had some serious setback; injuries once again have derailed some promising Teams of exploring their full potential, The L.A. Clippers suffered a lost that cost them the first round, while The Defending Champs The Golden State Warriors took a hit with Stephen Curry but were still focus enough to send The Houston Rockets packing early.

With Curry out for now Golden State is vulnerable but not out yet; judging by their first game onslaught which puts them up 1-0 in the series over The Trail Blazers, it will be up to Portland to figure it out quick and take advantage or be slayed.

The San Antonio Spurs will duke it out with the Young Gunners of Oklahoma City and has I write this write up The Spurs or up 1-0 over The Thunders and their first game was undeniably an exclamation mark type Game. REAL TALK! I’m looking forward to seeing how these series plays out! Tune In and witness the outcome.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About The 65th 2016 NBA All-Star Game”

This Year the 65th 2016 NBA All-Star Game will be taking place “Up North” from the Air Canada Centre solely on TNT Sunday February 14, 2016.

Representing The Eastern Conference Starters this year are
-LeBron James (Cleveland)
-Paul George (Indiana)
-Carmelo Anthony (New York)
-Dwayne Wade (Miami)
-Kyle Lowry (Toronto)
Coach-Not yet determined

Representing The Western Conference Starters this year are
-Kobe Bryant (L.A. Lakers) (Final Appearance)
-Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City)
-Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio)
-Stephen Curry (Golden State)
-Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City)
Coach-Not yet determined

With this being Kobe Bryant’s final NBA All-Star Appearance, be prepared to see the Eastern/Western players “Ball-Out Rages” and entertain us with a very exciting and emotional Basket Ball Game come February 14, 2016. TUNE IN

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About 2015 NBA Finals Champs”

2015 NBA Finals Champs

It was written! It took The Golden State Warriors 83 Games from the start of the season to Game 6 of the NBA Finals 2015. 40 years in the making and today we celebrate Golden State’s first NBA Championship. This scripted journey was well crafted from start to finish. The No 1 Team in the league throughout the entire season. The rookie coach Steve Kerr guiding this Bay Area team straight into the Records Books with this Historic NBA Season.

These series were a testimony of just how bad The Warriors wanted it that much more from The Cleveland Cavaliers. Don’t get it twisted, I know that “King James” came to play judging by his insane NBA Finals average 36.6 points, 12.4 rebounds and 8.4 assists per Game. Dude was a machine on that court but when you are facing the No. 1 Defensive Team in the league with a depleted Cavaliers supporting cast, they were bound to run straight into a wall and Game 6 was just the case. The Cavs had no answer to The Warriors smart play down the stretch; hence this is why we stand here today congratulating Golden State for reaching their goal of becoming This Year 2015 NBA Finals Champions.

Until then The Larry O’Bryan Trophy will once again be vacationing in the West for the time being. REAL TALK!

Blaze