Post by Kasey on Feb 8, 2015 13:54:16 GMT -8
Feb. 8 - NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has named the Blazers Damian Lillard as the injury replacement for Blake Griffin (Clippers) in the 2015 All-Star Game, which will be played on Feb. 15.
Griffin is out for at least a week with a staph infection in his elbow and will not be able to participate in the game. He is listed as "out indefinitely." Griffin was voted to be a starter by fans in the popularity fan voting contest. Western Conference coach Steve Kerr of the Warriors will designate a player from the roster to start in his place. A likely candidate for that role could be Lillard's teammate, LaMarcus Aldridge, who will be competing in his fourth consecutive All-Star Game. Kerr also will chose a starter to replace Kobe Bryant, who is out for the season with a shoulder injury.
This will be Lillard's second straight All-Star Game. He played 9 minutes in last year's game, scoring 9 points on 3-8 shooting (3-6 from behind the three-point line) and grabbed a rebound. The third-year point guard from Weber St. is averaging 21.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.5 steals this season.
This is the first time the Blazers will have two players appear in consecutive All-Star Games since 1977 and 1978 when Bill Walton and Maurice Lucas represented the team in the annual event.
Blazers guard Wesley Matthews will compete in he All-Star Weekend's Three Point Contest, held on Feb. 14. He is scheduled to be the first of the eight shooters in the event.
The All-Star Game will be played at Madison Square Garden in New York on Feb. 15. TNT will broadcast the event with coverage beginning at 4 p.m. (pst). Tip off is set for 5:30 p.m.
Stay tuned to this forum for more information on the game and other events of All-Star Weekend. SC2C will have a thread for all the events posted within the next day.
- MKM
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