After extreme makeover, predictions for the Los Angeles Lakers

4. LeBron James and Anthony Davis will both start in the All-Star Game

The Western Conference is absolutely loaded with talent, with 13 or 14 teams that would be a threat to make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference and nine that would likely earn home-court advantage. That many talented teams means a lot of talented players.

Only five of the many stars in the West will be starters in the NBA All-Star Game, meaning steep competition for everyone in contention. Even so the Los Angeles Lakers have the inside track to seeing not just one, but two of their stars make the team come early next year.

LeBron James is the obvious pick as he was the West’s leading vote-getter last season, a lock barring injury to make the game as a starter. Until the offensive drop-off comes he will continue to put up insane numbers and his stature on top of his production will lead him onto the squad in its top five slots.

Anthony Davis faces a more difficult road. Assuming that some combination of Stephen Curry, James Harden and Damian Lillard will start at guard (Paul George missing so much time to start the year), with James just two frontcourt spots remain.

Davis will be competing with Kawhi Leonard, Nikola Jokic, Rudy Gobert, Karl-Anthony Towns, LaMarcus Aldridge and Kristaps Porzingis for those two spots.

His profile as one of the league’s best players, combined with the Lakers’ text across his chest gives him the inside track at being voted into the starting lineup. Fans of the Lakers exist all across the world and if Davis can make the starting lineup four times playing in New Orleans, he will likely get the nod in Los Angeles.