(L-R): Anthony Edwards, Stephen Curry and Karl-Anthony Towns of the Western Conference.

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Periodically, NBA.com’s writers will weigh in on key storylines or trending topics around the league.

It’s the All-Star Game, so it’s tough to envision what will happen. But if you had to pick a conference winner and All-Star Game MVP, who you got?

Steve Aschburner

I’m picking the West. The East is missing two of its original 12 members, with Joel Embiid and Julius Randle replaced by Trae Young and Scottie Barnes. Fine substitutes, but Embiid was having an MVP season. The West is intact.

The MVP will be Tyrese Haliburton. There is a history of home-market heroes winding up as All-Star MVPs, and I expect that to continue with Indiana’s point guard. He’s primed for a breakout, the crowd will pump air under his wings and, at this event, even opponents seem OK facilitating the local guy’s big night.

Brian Martin

I’m picking the West. The depth of talent of the West roster is off the charts. They have three No. 1 picks (Davis, Towns, Edwards) and two Finals MVPs (Curry and Leonard) coming off the bench. All the newcomers in the East give a huge experience advantage to the West. 

The MVP will be Luka Doncic. As a starter for the West, Luka will have a chance to get hot early, and if he does, he should get the minutes and the touches to make a run for his first Kobe Bryant Trophy.

Shaun Powell

I’m picking the West. Glad to see this reverting to the traditional East vs. West format. These games are always tough to predict because the talent usually is evenly distributed. The West gets the edge because LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant are usually tremendous in these games and who knows, they might not be All-Star teammates many more times. One player who won’t make a difference for the West is Nikola Jokic. He’ll probably volunteer to give his playing time to others, as usual.

The MVP will be Luka Doncic. This is his award to lose, especially if you subscribe to the theory that “it’s his turn.” He hasn’t won the award and therefore his teammates might try to feed him and get it for him. His open-court game is made for this format and it’ll be a shock if he doesn’t get a triple-double.

John Schuhmann

I’m picking the West. It seems like LeBron James’ team never loses the All-Star Game, but he lost last season, ending a five-game winning streak. So expect a return to the win column.

The MVP will be Luka Doncic. Doncic is having the best 3-point shooting season of his career, and if he can score 73 points in a regular season game, he can put up some numbers in the All-Star Game, too.

Michael C. Wright

I’m picking the West. The Western Conference has more bona fide superstar scorers, including the league’s top two in Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. They are flanked by Kevin Durant and LeBron James with arguably the game’s best and most lethal facilitator in Nikola Jokic. That makes for three MVPs in the starting lineup alone.

The MVP will be Luka Doncic. Doncic’s game suits the All-Star stage perfectly and it’s just his time as he hasn’t won an All-Star Game MVP in his six seasons. The last seven All-Star MVPs are playing in this game. But this time, Doncic wins the hardware.