NBA All-Star Predictions: Eastern Conference

Now that the NBA season is nearly a month in, it is time to start assessing potential All-Stars in each conference. 

While the NBA ASG may not mean anything in terms of the postseason like the MLB one does, it is still an honor to be selected to play and goes a long way in building the legacy of each individual player.

While some of the selections are obvious, there are several new faces who could making their way to the All-Star Game this year in Orlando. 

Starting Point Guard: Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls

The defending NBA MVP beats out a plethora of great point guards for the starting spot in the east this season.

Rose is once again putting up great numbers, although his scoring is down at just under 21 points per game. Still Rose is leading the Bulls to the best record in the Eastern Conference and also is averaging a career-best 8.7 assists to go along with his scoring numbers.

Rose is proving he is the best point guard in the NBA and is the obvious choice for starting point guard for the East in this year's All-Star Game. 

Starting Shooting Guard: Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat

Although D-Wade has only played nine games so far this season due to injuries, there is little doubt that he will be the starting Shooting Guard for the East in the All-Star Game as long as he is healthy. 

Wade's numbers may be down from his career averages but he still is scoring at nearly 20 points a game and is dishing out over five assists. 

There really aren't many other shooting guards who can hold a candle to Wade in the Eastern Conference so he is a shoo-in for the All-Star spot. 

Starting Small Forward: LeBron James, Miami Heat

To this point in the season, it really has been a two-man race for MVP of the NBA between Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.

Personally, I'd give my vote to James, because he has been playing absolutely lights-out for the Heat this year.

LeBron is just a half point behind Kobe for the league's scoring lead, and he is also averaging more than seven rebounds and seven assists per game. 

The only area LeBron has struggled in this season is closing out games, but I have little doubt he will hit his fair share of game-winners as the season goes along, and he is without a doubt an All-Star starter. 

Starting Power Forward: Chris Bosh, Miami Heat

As much as I hate to do it, it's hard to argue against Chris Bosh making it a clean sweep for the Heat's big three in the East's starting lineup.

Bosh is leading all Eastern Conference PF's in scoring with nearly 20 a game, and he also has over eight boards per contest and is shooting over 50%.

I was very anti-Bosh making last year's All Star game, but this year he has proven he deserves it and is really getting back to his All-Star form he showed all those years he was playing in Toronto.

Bosh has had to step up several times this year without LeBron or Wade (or both) in the lineup and he has shown that if needed, he can be the team's top guy on any given night. 

Starting Center: Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic

Despite his trade demand, Dwight Howard is still doing work for the Magic this season.

Howard is scoring over 20 points a game, and is leading the league in rebounding at 16.1 per contest to go along with his 2.33 blocks per game.

Howard and the Magic are having a great season despite him saying he wants out of Orlando, and the home crowd will certainly get to see him get the start for the East in this years All-Star Game barring a trade shipping him away before that. 

Reserve Guard: Deron Williams, New Jersey Nets

While the Nets may not be winning games like they had hoped so far this season, it is certainly not because of Deron Williams.

Williams came to New Jersey from Utah last season, and while he may be frustrated with the direction the team is heading in, he still has been putting up great numbers this season.

Williams is averaging 18.4 points and 8.4 assists, which puts him amongst the top point guards in both categories. 

It remains to be seen how long Williams will remain a Net, but for this year he certainly is deserving of an All-Star spot. 

Reserve Guard: Joe Johnson, Atlanta Hawks

The "quietest superstar in the NBA," Joe Johnson is another one of my selections for an Eastern Conference reserve this season.

Johnson actually has been rather unimpressive to his standards this year, shooting just over 40 percent from the field, but still he is the best player on a good Hawks team and deserves a spot on the bench in the all star game.

Another reason for selecting Johnson was the lack of really good two guards in the conference; after Wade, Johnson is the clear second choice by a very large margin. 

Reserve Guard: Brandon Jennings, Milwaukee Bucks

While there are plenty of other deserving point guards who could grab the last spot, personally I believe it will end up going to Brandon Jennings of the Bucks.

Jennings is really coming into his own as a scorer at just under 20 per game. Jennings is also shooting better than he ever has before and is dishing out a respectable five assists.

Rajon Rondo and Kyrie Irving could have legitimate claims to be the Conference's third point-guard pick, but Jennings is my selection. 

Reserve Forward: Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks

The Knicks have been another team that really has failed to meet expectations so far this year, but Carmelo has still been doing his part for New York.

Anthony is scoring over 25 points a game for the Knicks, good enough for fourth in the NBA. He also has 6.6 rebounds and over four assists. 

Melo will still take a brunt of the blame if the Knicks fail to advance in the playoffs, but he is still a solid All-Star pick and could even make it into the starting lineup. 

Reserve Forward: Amare Stoudemire, New York Knicks

Carmelo's partner Amare Stoudemire of the Knicks is also a favorite to snatch up a reserve All-Star spot this season.

Stoudemire has struggled shooting the ball, but he still is scoring at over 18 points per game sixth amongst NBA power forwards.

Stoudemire and the Knicks are too talented not to get it going as the year moves on, put the pressure will be firmly on Anthony and Stoudemire to make sure the team reaches its potential. 

Reserve Forward: Josh Smith, Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks are right in the mix for the Southeast Division so far this year, thanks in large part due to the play of Josh Smith.

Smith has never made the All-Star team in the East, but I believe this will be the year he finally gets in. Smith's numbers might not jump out at you, but he does a little bit of everything for Atlanta and has stepped up since Al Horford got injured.

Horford has got the nod the last couple seasons, so why shouldn't Smith get it in his place? Ryan Anderson is close but I'll go with Smith for the last spot for forwards in the East.

Reserve Center: Roy Hibbert, Indiana Pacers

The center position in the East is rather thin, so finding a backup to Dwight Howard for the All-Star game was a bit tricky.

But finally I settled on Roy Hibbert of the Indiana Pacers for the last All-Star spot. Hibbert is averaging a double-double this season and shooting 53 percent, easily the best numbers of his career.

Hibbert is a huge reason the Pacers have been one of the most pleasant surprises in the league with a 10-4 record, and they deserve to have someone represent them on the All-Star roster.