With the NBA All-Star Weekend tantalizingly close, all eyes are focused around what can be expected from some of the most impressive players in the history of the sport. Having said this, a significant amount of sports betting news is centered around Jarrett Allen. While Allen is impressive in his own right, some fans were uncertain as to whether or not he would actually appear on the court during this year’s competition. The good news is that he is indeed set to play. What type of performance can we expect and what predictions might we be able to draw well ahead of the event?
Better Late than Never
One of the issues which has presented itself in recent days was the question of having two Cavaliers teammates on the court at any given time. As this scenario has happened in the past, it seemed reasonable to expect a showing from Allen. These suspicions were proven correct when NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced that Allen would be replacing James LeBron due to a recent injury that he suffered. What does this indicate for his team? Will Allen provide the same stellar performance that he has become known for in recent times? While no one possesses the proverbial crystal ball, there are a handful of predictions which are reasonable to assume in advance. Let’s take a look at what this upcoming weekend has in store in terms of Allen.
Riding the Wave of Momentum
It is first important to mention that Allen has been experiencing some of the best performances of his career in recent times. He has played with the Cavaliers a total of 49 times this season and with an average of 16.2 points per game, he is indeed a force to be reckoned with. The same holds true in regard to rebounds (11.1) and minutes on the court (32.6). Let’s also mention that he is one of only four players who currently average more than 15 points per game.
However, Allen has been primarily known for his offense while on the court. Little has been spoken about his formidable defense and for this reason, many believe that Allen could represent a veritable “dark horse” on 20 February. We need to keep in mind that thanks in large part to his height, Allen is one of the best (if not the best) rim defenders in the league today. Statistics have likewise shown that the competition scores 16.7 percent fewer points when facing off with Allen. Not only is this due to his sheer reach, but we have to imagine that his equally formidable presence has deterred more than a handful of opponents in the past. Might we witness the same during the upcoming All-Star Weekend?
Of course, only time will tell. There is also no doubt that Allen is feeling a fair amount of pressure after only having recently learned that he would be included within the line-up. Either way, it is a foregone conclusion that this competition will not be disappointing.
