On Feb. 15, 30 of the NBA’s best players will suit up for their respected conferences in the league’s annual All-Star game. Stars like LeBron James and Kevin Durant are virtual locks to make the All-Star game roster, but many other players are not. Here are 15 dark horses who could make the 2015 NBA All-Star Game.
15. Marcin Gortat - Washington Wizards
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15. Marcin Gortat - Washington Wizards
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As the NBA moves closer and closer to the second half of the 2014-15 season, the Washington Wizards find themselves sitting in second place in the Eastern Conference. John Wall – a likely All-Star – has been the main reason for the team’s rise to the top, but so too has been Marcin Gortat. Averaging 12.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, Gortat has an outside shot at making his first All-Star game appearance.
14. Derrick Rose - Chicago Bulls
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14. Derrick Rose - Chicago Bulls
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Missing 11 games this season has clearly hurt Derrick Rose’s chances at being a starter for the NBA’s Eastern Conference. With many young guards now emerging within the conference, Rose’s chances of making the game all together have been diminished. But due to his star power, Rose is definitely a dark horse to make this year’s All-Star game.
13. Zach Randolph - Memphis Grizzlies
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13. Zach Randolph - Memphis Grizzlies
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As one of the NBA’s best teams this season, the Memphis Grizzlies are more than deserving of having multiple representatives in the 2015 NBA All-Star Game. But with the Western Conference incredibly deep this year, it is uncertain if the Grizzlies will in fact get more than one representative. If they do, look for Zach Randolph to be in the discussion for one of those spots.
12. Mike Conley - Memphis Grizzlies
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12. Mike Conley - Memphis Grizzlies
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Another Memphis Grizzlies player who could sneak into the 2015 NBA All-Star Game is point guard Mike Conley. Although the Western Conference has a plethora of guards, Mike Conley’s status as the leader of the Grizzlies – the Southwest Division leaders – could help him land one of the last spots on the West’s roster.
11. Dirk Nowitzki - Dallas Mavericks
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11. Dirk Nowitzki - Dallas Mavericks
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The group of front court players vying for a spot on the Western Conference All-Star Team roster is as crowded as ever this year. Although many of the younger front court players seem to be the more popular choice by the fans, there are still several veterans like Dirk Nowitzki who could make the roster. As one of the Mavericks' leading scorers, Nowitzki could be selected as a sentimental pick.
10. Tim Duncan - San Antonio Spurs
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10. Tim Duncan - San Antonio Spurs
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Another veteran who is a dark horse to make the Western Conference’s roster is Tim Duncan. Although the Spurs do not find themselves atop the Western Conference, Duncan has still managed to keep the team in playoff contention. With his career approaching its conclusion, Duncan could be given a spot on the roster as a lifetime achievement award.
9. Kawhi Leonard - San Antonio Spurs
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9. Kawhi Leonard - San Antonio Spurs
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Without a doubt Kawhi Leonard has been the best player for the Spurs this year. The only problem is that Leonard has only played in 25 games this season. Due to the fact that he has only played in just over 50 percent of the team’s games is why Leonard finds himself on this list. It will be hard for the Western Conference coaches to ignore his absence, but Leonard still has a fighting chance at making his first All-Star game appearance.
8. Chris Bosh - Miami Heat
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8. Chris Bosh - Miami Heat
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When it comes to selecting the Eastern Conference rosters for this year’s All-Star game, the biggest question will be how many representatives do teams with losing records receive. With the Miami Heat being the best team with a losing record in the East, they have a shot at sending more than one player to New York. The main beneficiary of this will certainly be Chris Bosh.
7. Kevin Love - Cleveland Cavaliers
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7. Kevin Love - Cleveland Cavaliers
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With a shortage of dominant front court players in the Eastern Conference this year, there are plenty of spots open for guys like Kevin Love. With the roster requiring a minimum of six front court players, Love and his 17.7 points and 10.4 rebounds per game are a dark horse to make this year’s All-Star game.
6. Kyrie Irving - Cleveland Cavaliers
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6. Kyrie Irving - Cleveland Cavaliers
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Another Cleveland Cavalier player who is a dark horse to make the 2015 NBA All-Star Game is Kyrie Irving. Irving is currently on the outside looking in because of the Cavaliers' less than stellar record, as well as the emergence of young guards such as Jimmy Butler, Kyle Lowry and John Wall. But possessing some star power, Irving still has a good shot at making it to his third consecutive All-Star game.
5. Jeff Teague - Atlanta Hawks
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5. Jeff Teague - Atlanta Hawks
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Probably the biggest question heading into the NBA All-Star Game is how many players will the Hawks -- the Eastern Conference’s best team record wise -- send to New York. With Hawks front court players such as Al Horford and Paul Millsap likely to be selected, guard Jeff Teague finds himself on the bubble. But with Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer as the head coach for the Eastern Conference, Teague has a great shot at making the team.
4. Kyle Korver - Atlanta Hawks
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4. Kyle Korver - Atlanta Hawks
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One of the top dark horses to make the 2015 NBA All-Star Game is Hawks forward Kyle Korver. What he lacks in star power he makes up for with his shooting statistics. This season Korver is shooting an impressive 51.8 percent from the field, 53.5 percent from three-point range and 92.2 percent from the free throw line. These incredible numbers make Korver one of this year’s biggest dark horses.
3. DeMarcus Cousins - Sacramento Kings
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3. DeMarcus Cousins - Sacramento Kings
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This year the Western Conference is loaded with top-notch front court talent and that includes DeMarcus Cousins. As the NBA’s fourth leading scorer (24.0 PPG), Cousins is still in play to grab one of the last front court spots on the Western Conference’s roster.
2. Klay Thompson - Golden State Warriors
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2. Klay Thompson - Golden State Warriors
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After signing a log-term extension in the offseason with the Warriors, Klay Thompson is having himself a career year this season. Despite averaging almost 22 points per game, Thompson is overshadowed in the Western Conference by guys like Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook and even his own teammate Stephen Curry. But with his head coach Steve Kerr as the head coach for the West, Thompson still has a shot to make his All-Star game debut.
1. Damian Lillard - Portland Trail Blazers
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1. Damian Lillard - Portland Trail Blazers
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This year the Western Conference has more guards who are deserving to make the All-Star team than spots available. With superstars like Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook competing for reserve spots for the West, Damian Lillard finds himself as a potential snub. But with the Trail Blazers possessing the second best record in the West, Lillard might just be able to pull off the upset and take a spot away from either Paul or Westbrook.
The Miami Heat have corrected some of their issues of depth in terms of the front court, but now the primary focus should be on the SG position. Read More
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