NBA All-Star Game: Who Should Be All-Stars One Month into the Season?

We're one month into the lockout-shortened NBA season, which means we're halfway to the happy hour that is the All-Star break.  With that in mind, here is my list of the 24 players who should be playing in Orlando next month.

Note that this is a should list, not a will list, so it favors statistical and team achievement this season over factors such as the pesky fan vote, playing in a big market, and lifetime achievement.

Eastern Conference Starting Forward: LeBron James, Miami

LeBron James is having another solid season, again in the top five in scoring and leading the league in player efficiency rating by a landslide.  It's an almost certainty he'll be voted in as a starter, and I can safely say he deserves it.

Eastern Conference Starting Forward: Carmelo Anthony, New York

Frankly, that Carmelo Anthony might actually deserve to be a starting All-Star surprised me.  Despite the fact that the New York Knicks are in the toilet right now, Anthony is putting up some of the best numbers of his career, including a solid player efficiency rating, while again making the top five in scoring.

Eastern Conference Starting Center: Dwight Howard, Orlando

Dwight Howard continues to be the dominant center in the NBA this season, again averaging 20 points and 15 boards with 2.2 blocks and .553 shooting.  He is also the leader of an Orlando Magic team that currently is tied for the third best record in the Eastern Conference.

Eastern Conference Starting Guard: Derrick Rose, Chicago

Though Derrick Rose has been battling injuries this season, the fact that he still continues to be one of the league's elite at point guard (again closing in on another season of being in the top 10 in both points and assists per game), and the fact that he has skippered Chicago to another Eastern Conference-leading start, justifies him being an All-Star starter.

Eastern Conference Starting Guard: Joe Johnson, Atlanta

At the beginning of the season, I thought Joe Johnson was an overpaid, underperforming player whose best years were behind him.  Now it seems clear to me that Johnson is the top shooting guard in the Eastern Conference, while playing on a Southeast Division-leading Atlanta Hawks team.  

In addition to pouring in almost 20 a game, Johnson is one of leaders in assist-to-turnover ratio among true shooting guards. 

Eastern Conference Forward: Carlos Boozer, Chicago

Carlos Boozer is one of the marquee players on the team that is sitting atop the Eastern Conference.  He is in the top 15 in the league in a whole mess of categories, including field-goal percentage (14th), defensive rating (sixth), defensive rebounds (seventh), total rebounds (14th) and win shares per 48 minutes (10th).  Boozer also pours in 15 points a game.  

This would lead me to believe the former gold medalist is due for his first trip to the All-Star Game since 2008.  The addition of Boozer would also give the East some strength at power forward to compete with the West's depth at that position.

Eastern Conference Forward: Ryan Anderson, Orlando

The Orlando Magic should have two All-Stars for three reasons: 1) They're the hosts, 2). They're one of the best teams in the East, and 3) They have two of the best players in the first month of the season.  

Ryan Anderson has truly been one of the surprise stories of this season, coming out of nowhere to be in the top 15 in three pointers made (first), offensive rebounds (14th), player efficiency rating (seventh), and effective shooting percentage (14th).  This balanced attack justifies the 23-year-old power forward's first All-Star Game

Eastern Conference Forward: Josh Smith, Atlanta

If you were putting together a list of guys who have should have been an All-Star at least twice and haven't, Hawks forward Josh Smith would probably be at the top of your list.  The perennial fantasy gem is strong at either end of the floor, currently in the top eight in defensive win shares and defensive rating while adding in 9.4 rebounds (12th), 1.8 blocks (eighth), 3.2 assists and 16.3 points.  And don't think Smith is entirely without pizzazz...he was the 2005 Slam Dunk Competition champion. 

Eastern Conference Center: Roy Hibbert, Indiana

Since Indy, with its 11-5 record that is sixth in the East, needed an All-Star, I had considered Danny Granger at forward, and then perennial beast (but never All-Star) Tyson Chandler in the middle.  

Then I looked at Hibbert, and found a man who can satisfy both niches.  Hibbert is near the top of Eastern Conference centers in rebounds (10.1) and blocks (1.6) per game, and adds to that a 97 defensive rating and .522 from the field. With no Al Horford this season, it's basically down to Hibbert and Chandler for the reserve slot.

Eastern Conference Guard: Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia

Andre Iguodala, like Josh Smith, is another one of those players who has never made an All-Star team due to having solid, but not stellar stats, and a balanced attack rather than heaps of flash.  

But, as the lead man on a surprisingly division-leading Philadelphia 76ers squad, he merits consideration.  Iguodala only is averaging 13.2 points a game, but is near the top of the leaderboard in steals, defensive win shares, and assist-to-turnover rating among shooting guards.

Eastern Conference Guard: Dwyane Wade, Miami

Dwyane Wade will probably get voted in as an All-Star starter, but could someone argue what the legitimate argument for why he should be one based on this season only?  He's averaging about 20 points, five boards and four assists.  Those numbers might get you an All-Star slot...if you'd played close to a whole season.  

Furthermore, is Wade being an asset to his team?  

His team won its first seven games without him, but is barely .500 with him.  Wade might deserve to be an All-Star, but certainly not a starter!

Eastern Conference Guard: Jose Calderon, Toronto

Jose Calderon, you say?  I know Calderon ain't a big name, and the Toronto Raptors are in the toilet, but he's outplaying bigger-name Eastern Conference point guards like Deron Williams (who's leading the league in turnovers) and Rajon Rondo (who happens to be hurt).  Calderon is in the top five in assists per game, and is also leading starting point guards in assists-to-turnover ratio and free throw percentage.

And, if you were keeping track, no Rondo means no Boston Celtics on this hypothetical team.  But Rondo's hurt and the other big three are showing signs of their age.  Also, the only real argument for multiple Celtics All-Stars was that the Celtics had a good record, and now they're under .500.  

Western Conference Starting Forward: Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City

Kevin Durant is one of the dominant players in the league, clocking in at third in scoring, fourth in player efficiency, and 12th in defensive boards.  He's also playing on the best team in the West.  The likely 2011-12 MVP is a shoo-in to start.

Western Conference Starting Forward: Kevin Love, Minnesota

After leading the league in rebounding last season, the leaner, meaner Kevin Love is putting up even bigger numbers this season, averaging 24.9 points (fourth) and 13.9 boards (second) a game.  Love has also added 34 threes, a very good number for a big man.  In a class of great power forwards, I consider Love to be the best.

Western Conference Starting Center: Pau Gasol, L.A. Lakers

Yeah, I'm well aware that Pau Gasol is listed as a power forward on the ballot.  But considering the best true centers the West has to offer are Andrew Bynum and DeAndre Jordan, I think we'd better be served by the Spanish sensation, who is averaging 15.8 and 9.3 on the season.

Western Conference Starting Guard: Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers

Now in his 16th season, Kobe continues to put up huge numbers.  He's currently leading the league in scoring as the only player to top the 30-point mark.  He's also second in player efficiency rating, and in the top 20 in assist percentage (quite amazing since he isn't a point guard and is his team's leading scorer).  

He's sixth in win shares, and this playing on a team that's only a few games over .500.  The four-time All-Star MVP has definitely earned his chance at trying for a fifth.

Western Conference Starting Guard: Russell Westbrook, Thunder

I know this choice will surprise many, but I think the conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder deserve two All-Star starters.  Russell Westbrook leads all point guards in total points scored (he is second in points per game behind Rose), and is also near the top in steals.  

On top of that, he is leading the team with the best record in the Western Conference.  True, Chris Paul is averaging a lot more dishes than Westbrook...but Westbrook has actually been playing in games.

Western Conference Forward: Blake Griffin, L.A. Clippers

The Clippers are leading the Pacific Division, and are again due for an All-Star.  The one I'd tap is Blake Griffin, last year's Rookie of the Year and Slam Dunk champion.  Griffin is in the top 10 in both points and rebounds per game.  It's one of the few times on this list I'll actually reward someone for flash.

Western Conference Forward: Paul Millsap, Utah

A pattern that has occurred for some time is repeating itself...despite not having big-name star talent, the Utah Jazz are again in contention.  This is largely due to power forward Paul Millsap, who is hammering in 16.6 points and 8.7 boards, along with a 26.7 player efficiency rating (third) and a .554 field goal percentage (second).  

This makes Millsap deserving of his first All-Star selection.

Western Conference Forward: Danilo Gallinari, Denver

Gallinari was the main consolation prize for the Denver Nuggets in last season's Carmelo Anthony toxic waste dump...and since the Anthony trade, he's been proving he's worth it.  

The Nuggets are one of the hottest teams out of the gate in the Western Conference, and Gallinari, who is averaging almost 18 points a game, is one of the hotter small forwards and fantasy commodities in the league.  Though Gallinari's not getting a lot of buzz, he would sneak on to the All-Star team as a reserve small forward in a perfect world.

Western Conference Center: Marc Gasol, Memphis

My starting center is Pau Gasol, and his backup should be Marc, his brother, national teammate, and the man for whom the Los Angeles Lakers traded him.  On a Memphis Grizzlies team that is half a game off the division pace, Gasol is 10th in the league in win shares, fourth in blocks, eighth in rebounds, and is in the top 25 in both offensive and defensive rating.  

He's also substantially improved his point total to a career-best 14.7.

Western Conference Guard: Kevin Martin, Houston

If the question is asked, "who is the next-best shooting guard in the West this season?", Kevin Martin's as good an answer as any (in the past, the answer would've been Ginobili, but he's injured).  

Martin is again putting up decent scoring numbers, although he is below 20 points per game for the first time in his career (though that is still good for 13th in the league).  Martin also has a 93.5 free-throw percentage (third) and adds in 34 threes (eighth).  Martin becomes one of nine people on this list who would be first-timers if selected.

Western Conference Guard: Steve Nash, Phoenix

Steve Nash is another choice I'm forced to make that surprised me...the man's almost 39, and has been rumored to be on the trading block all season.  But he's leading the league in assists with 10.4 a game (the only player in the league averaging more than 10 per game), so on the team he goes.

Western Conference Guard: Tony Parker, San Antonio

Somehow, the rusty cowhands down in San Antonio have managed to cobble together another good season, even without Manu Ginobili.  And the man who is getting it done for the San Antonio is Tony Parker, who is averaging 17.7 points (19th), 7.6 dishes (ninth), and also has an assist-to-turnover ratio over three.  

I know selecting Parker means passing on likely All-Star vote-getter Chris Paul.  But, as with Dwyane Wade, Paul is hurt, and his team is fine without him.