NBA All-Star Game 2020: Predicting the Western Conference starting 5

The NBA has, for over two decades now, been top-loaded with talent from its Western Conference. Every season, at least one guard or one big man capable of making the Eastern roster is snubbed due to the exuberance of talent and capability that the elite players of the Conference bring to the table.

This season should be no different from many previous ones, although it is a sure thing now that the game will be held by Giannis' XI against the most-voted Western Conference Player.

While that decision will be held behind closed doors, away from the media attention, the results of that poll are tertiary to the aims of this article. Here is a case for the best-possible starting five lineup from the Western Conference based on performance this season, availability to the team at crucial junctures, clutch play and polish of a player's overall skill set.

#1 LeBron James

LeBron James' case for this season's All-Star Game is nothing but the obvious truth - he remains the best player of the game on the planet. At 35, James is still taller, better, faster and stronger than his peers and even youngsters who idolized him in their childhood and are now fortunate enough to play in the same league as him.

While his counting stats have dipped a bit from his Cleveland tenures, James now has, for the first time in his career, multiple pick-and-roll threats to play a two-man game with. As a result, within a few hours of free agency opening, GM Rob Pelinka wasted no time in signing the likes of Boogie Cousins and JaVale McGee, making the job of the reigning Western Conference champions (the Warriors) that much more difficult.

Not only has Bron thrown the dice well, but he might also be back in a situation like Miami where he can cool his heels and allow partner Anthony Davis to wreak havoc on the opposition.

#2 Anthony Davis

Anthony Davis is the most complete big man plying his trade in the NBA today, despite media narratives to counter that. At his size, he has fantastic dribble control and regularly beats big men off the dribble from positions that would be called unconventional in 90s basketball.

He takes turns with LeBron in order to take charge of the offense while the other manages the defense. Coaches Frank Vogel and co have afforded this amount of freedom to their two main men with great success, as the Los Angeles Lakers are currently sitting pretty atop the Conference as well as League standings, having lost only 3 games out of 21 played.

Losing to their Conference rivals during the first week may have spurred the team on to explore its heights and depths, and it became clear after their 10-game winning streak that Davis is here with the business of proving himself to be the ultimate #1 player on the planet at the moment.

#3 Kawhi Leonard

Portland Trail Blazers v Los Angeles Clippers

Reigning Finals MVP and the hottest commodity out on the free-agent market this past summer, Kawhi Leonard has finally taken center stage of the NBA as a deserving face of the league. He's won championships with both franchises that he's played for, and he certainly does not intend to let his opportunities closer back home slide.

Thus far, he's still lying in wait for the player whom he convinced to come back home and play for the Clippers - Paul George was a Clippers fan back in his childhood, even though he modeled his game after Kobe. The Clippers are currently owners of the second place in the Conference and 6th in the league overall, and can only hope to improve their standings when they return to full strength.

Nonetheless, wily players in Lou Williams, Montrezl Harrell, Patrick Beverley, Ivica Zubac and Landry Shamet are in the perfect position to deliver when required; watch and learn from their dynamic duo when the occasion demands that they do.

#4 James Harden

There's no answer to what gear James Harden employs when he's on court, but his extreme smoothness and ability to completely decapitate his opponents while making them stare in awe has been on full display for over a calendar year now.

MVP debates may come and go, but the records that Harden is setting in his current form are going to take a whole lot of effort to be broken, one-by-one at that.

Currently averaging just under 40 points a game through 20 games of a season that's already afoot, it is difficult to visualize anyone else in the league coming even streets within the thorough lead Harden has maintained with the scoring title for the second season running.

Last year, we saw him produce the highest-scoring regular season since Michael Jordan in his heyday, but the trends this season point to him getting to a league entirely his own, scoring-wise. May God help the defenders who have to go iso with him for the rest of his career.

#5 Luka Doncic

Luke Doncic's appearance in the ballot seems dependent more on the league's classification of whether he's a guard or a forward. It has to be a foregone conclusion - Doncic is the darling of the NBA media today and has yet to set a foot wrong on or off the court since landing in the USA.

It's quite amazing that three different teams had the opportunity to draft him and consolidate around him (the Suns, Kings and the Grizzlies) and a 4th team traded down in order to acquire a mid-first round pick in 2021 in the Atlanta Hawks.

Yeah, Trae Young himself is lighting up the scores averaging higher numbers than Lillard even up until this point in the season. But he isn't in the same class as Luka, who does not get intimidated even the least bit while having a go at the throne of best player on the planet. Perhaps this season is when the torch will be passed on, literally or figuratively.

Doncic's season averages of 30.7 points, 10.3 rebounds and 9.4 assists have propelled him to the very top of MVP conversations in only his second season in the league.

Edited by Prasen Moudgal