NBA All-Star Weekend: Intriguing, Underwhelming & TUB Go 0-5

The All-Star Weekend has come and gone. Sunday's main event, bar the pre-game and half-time entertainment, proved an adequate celebration of the NBA's finest talent. The All-Star Game itself is usually a glorified scrimmage, at least until the final 5 minutes when MVP honours are settled, but this year it felt slightly more serious. Some nice in-game storylines kept the game interesting from start to finish.  I'm giving the All-Star Game itself a solid A-; All-Star Friday and Saturday get a C+ and a 'could do better'. 

I'll remember All-Star Sunday for:

• CP3 & Blake Griffin showcasing some serious alley-oop synergy
• Chris Bosh getting nutmegged... twice and throwing up an air ball... twice
• Kevin Durant showcasing his full range of scoring weapons
• Kobe Bryant playing full-court defence on LeBron in a meaningless showpiece game to try and prove his dominance, as if it were the NBA Finals
• Kyrie Irving, Paul George and James Harden making their first of what will be many All-Star appearances

NBA: stars who delighted in the second round but we won't be seeing until next year

Harrison Barnes has excelled in the post-season

A celebration of the top performers during the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs whose teams didn't make it to the conference finals. Quite frankly these players deserved better.

Guard: Steph Curry (Golden State Warriors lost to San Antonio Spurs 4-2)

22.5 PPG (40.5/35.2/82.4), 3.3 REB, 6.8 AST, 1.2 STL, 0.2 BLK, 3.3 TO

Curry played the majority of the Conference Semi-finals seriously impaired, after an unfortunate reoccurrence of his longstanding ankle injury. Despite the setback, the on-fire guard was able to shoot his team past San Antonio on two occasions. It's undeniable that Curry has been the breakout star of the 2013 post-season. Health permitting, the Warriors point-man should be a constant playoff fixture over the next half-decade.

2013 NBA Draft Order

As was the case in 2011, Cleveland walked away from last night's NBA Draft Lottery with the number one selection. Two years on from taking Kyrie Irving, the Cavaliers are expected to use their position at the top of the board to secure the services of Kentucky Big man Nerlens Noel. 

The Washington Wizards made the biggest gain, climbing from the 8th spot to the 3rd, while the Charlotte Bobcats fell to the fourth.

Future trades notwithstanding, below is the complete order for the 2013 NBA draft -- first and second round: