NBA Predictions: Predicting the Rosters for the 2012 NBA All-Star Game

The starters for the 2012 NBA All-Star game are set to be announced February 2nd, on TNT.

Instead of waiting until the first week of February to find out if your favorite player is going to be named an all-star starter for his respective conference, I figured I'd just tell you who all the starters are going to be.

Sure, there will be the usual suspects like LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Derrick Rose and Dwight Howard, but this year there are going to be a few surprise first time all-stars added to the East and West's rosters.

Read on to find out which players are predicted to be selected for the 2012 NBA all-star game.

Western Conference Reserve Predictions

Note -- NBA coaches select the All-Star reserves, not fans. 

Timberwolves PG Ricky Rubio:  I'll admit it.  I didn't think Ricky Rubio would be this good in his rookie year.  Rubio is averaging 11.4 ppg, 8.8 apg and 4.6 rpg with a PER of 17.75, which is the kind of production that it will take to make his first all-star appearance.  If Rubio can keep up his production he'll be a shoe in for a reserve spot on the Western Conference all-star roster. 

Thunder PG Russell Westbrook:  After signing a max contract extension worth $80 million over the next five years, Westbrook better be an all-star each of those next five seasons.  Westbrook is averaging 20.8 ppg, 5.8 apg and 4.7 rpg with a PER of 22.40, which should easily earn him his 2nd straight all-star appearance.    

Grizzlies SF Rudy Gay:  Rudy Gay has never been an all-star, but I think this is the year that changes.  Gay is averaging 18.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg and 1.8 apg with a PER of 16.85.  If Gay can help the Grizzlies win a few more games over the next week or two, he should be a lock to get his first NBA all-star appearance. 

Spurs PF/C Tim Duncan:  This one is a toss-up between Duncan and Pau Gasol, but the slight edge goes to Duncan in my opinion.  Duncan is averaging 12.8 ppg and 7.6 rpg with a PER of 19.17.  What gives Duncan the edge here, is his legacy and reputation.  Coaches will undoubtedly vote Duncan into his14th NBA all-star appearance.  

Mavericks PF Dirk Nowitzki:  Nowitzki isn't having the best year of his career, but he's still playing at an all-star level, averaging 17.5 ppg and 5.4 rpg with a PER of 19.76.  The only reason the Mavericks aren't at the bottom of the Western Conference is because of Nowizki's play this season, and that alone will be enough to get him a reserve spot on the Wester Conference all-star roster.  

Trailblazers PF/C LaMarcus Aldridge:  LaMarcus Aldridge is having the best year of his career, averaging a ridiculous 22.5 ppg and 8.9 rpg with a PER of 23.46.  I'll be shocked if Aldridge isn't a reserve for the Western Conference's all-star roster, because he's the main reason why the Trailblazers are relevant this year.   

Timberwolves PF/C: Kevin Love:  Kevin Love deserves to be a starter for the Western Conference, but he won't be as long as he's wearing a Minnesota Timberwolves jersey.  Love is averaging 24.9 ppg and 13.8 rpg with a PER of 25.03, which is enough production to warrant a spot as a starter, but he won't get it because it's based on fan vote alone.  Lucky for Love, the coaches know how great of a player he is. 

Western Conference: Lakers C Andrew Bynum

2011-12 stats:  16.0 ppg, 12.5 rpg, 1.9 bpg, PER of 21.17

Andrew Bynum has yet to make an NBA all-star appearance, but that will undoubtedly change this year.  Many expected Bynum to have a breakout year in 2011-12, but not many thought that he would be such a dominant force this season.

Bynum is a fan favorite in Los Angeles because of his physicality on both sides of the ball, which is a major reason why I believe he will be a starter for the Western Conference.

Although Kevin Love has out-performed the Lakers center this season, it is hard to argue with either player getting the starting nod. Fortunately for Bynum, all-star starter voting comes from the fans which gives him the clear advantage over Love.

Bynum is the first of four Los Angeles players who will be starters for the Western Conference in the 2012 all-star game.

Western Conference: Thunder F Kevin Durant

2011-12 stats: 26.3 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 3.3 apg, PER of 26.50

Kevin Durant as a starter for the Western Conference in the 2012 NBA all-star game is a no-brainer.  While Durant isn't scoring at the "NBA scoring champion" rate that he usually does, he has increased his field goal percentage this year to over 50.0% for the first time in his career.

Durant's increased efficiency is one of the main reasons why the Oklahoma City Thunder are doing so well this season, and it's also one of the main reasons why he's a shoe in as a starter for the West.

There's not much Durant can do--aside from getting injured--to keep him from being a 2012 all-star starter in his 3rd straight all-star appearance.  The fact that Durant is consistently earning all-star appearances solidifies him as one of the best players in the NBA today.

Western Conference: Clippers PF Blake Griffin

2011-12 stats:  21.3 ppg, 11.2 rpg, PER of 21.56

Look.  Another all-star starter from Los Angeles.  

Blake Griffin--making his 2nd straight all-star appearance-- will get his first start, filling out the Western Conference backcourt with fellow Los Angeles big man Andrew Bynum.

Blake Griffin just continues to get better.  

While his production this year is slightly down from last year, there's no doubt that Griffin is becoming more of a complete player on the offensive-side of the ball.  If Griffin continues to develop there is no limit to where his career can go.

The 2012 NBA all-star game will be the first of many starts as an all-star starter for Blake Griffin.

Western Conference: Lakers SG Kobe Bryant

2011-12 stats:  30.0 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 5.8 apg, PER of 26.56

The one certainty in the NBA every year is that Kobe Bryant will be in the starting lineup for the Western Conference all-star team.  The only thing that could change that this year is if Bryant decides to sit out of the all-star game to rest his ailing wrist.

In his 16th season in the NBA, Bryant is playing just as dominant as ever, and a 2012 all-star appearance for Kobe Bryant will be the 14th of his career, the most among current NBA players.

Bryant will be the third out of four Western Conference all-star starters from the city of Los Angeles.  

Western Conference: Clippers PG Chris Paul

2011-12 stats:  16.7 ppg, 8.6 apg, 3.5 rpg, PER of 24.04

Much like Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul is pretty much a shoe in to be a starter of the Western Conference's all-star team, unless he decides to sit out and rest his nagging hamstring injury, which could very possibly happen with the season being so condensed this year.

With Chris Paul helping to turn the Los Angeles Clippers into the "Lob City" Clippers and legitimate playoff contender, there's no doubt that he deserves a spot on the Western Conference's all-star roster as a starter.

If Chris Paul makes the 2012 roster, it will be his fifth straight all-star appearance, helping solidify him as one of the best point guards in the game today.

Eastern Conference Reserve Predictions

Note -- NBA coaches select the All-Star reserves, not fans. 

Celtics PG Rajon Rondo:  The only thing that will keep Rondo from making the 2012 All-Star roster as a reserve, will be his recent wrist injury that could keep him out until the all-star break. Prior to the injury, Rondo was averaging 15.0 ppg, 9.4 apg, and 5.1 rpg with a PER of 20.40, and his play has been one positive on a struggling Celtics team. 

Nets PG Deron Williams:  Deron Williams has been the one bright spot on an otherwise underwhelming New Jersey Nets team that is currently 7-13 overall.  Williams is proving once again, that he has what it takes to be a perennial all-star, averaging 19.4 ppg, 8.6 apg, and 3.6 rpg, with a PER of 18.99.  Just imagine what Williams could do if he had legitimate talent around him.  

Hawks SF Josh Smith:  Josh Smith has yet to make an all-star roster--but lucky for him-- this is the year that changes everything.  Smith is a big reason why the Hawks are doing so well to start the year, averaging 16.3 ppg, 9.3 apg, and 1.9 bpg with a PER of 19.99. 

Heat PF Chris Bosh:  Another year, another all-star appearance for Chris Bosh.  Bosh will easily earn a roster spot in the Eastern Conference, averaging 21.2 ppg and 7.8 rpg with a PER of 21.66.  This will be Bosh's seventh all-star appearance.  

Celtics SF Paul Pierce:  The Celtics went 0-3 without Pierce in the starting lineup.  Sure, the Celtics are only 9-6 with Paul in the starting lineup, but it still shows his importance to the team. Pierce is averaging 17.7 ppg, 5.4 rpg, and 5.3 apg with a PER of 20.09, which should be enough to earn the coaches vote for a reserve spot.    

Knicks PF Amare Stoudemire:  Amare Stoudemire is one of those guys that just always seems to make all-star rosters, and that won't change this year.  His production is down, averaging only 17.7 ppg and 8.2 rpg with a low PER of 15.85, but Stoudemire will undoubtedly get another all-star appearance this year just because he's Amare Stoudemire.

Pacers C Roy Hibbert:  Roy Hibbert has been playing at a high-caliber the entire year, averaging 14.2 ppg, 9.8 rpg, and 1.7 bpg with a PER of 21.12.  That kind of production will undoubtedly earn Hibbert his first NBA all-star appearance, solidifying Hibbert as a legitimate center in the NBA.

Eastern Conference: Magic C Dwight Howard

2011-12 stats:  19.9 ppg, 15.6 rpg, 2.1 bpg, PER of 24.73

Yea you read those stats right, they're absolutely ridiculous.  I know Dwight Howard is looking to get out of Orlando, but what's impressive is that he's not playing like the Dwight Howard we all know.

The Magic center currently leads all-star voting, and that's not likely to change before February, 2nd. He is the most dominant big man in the NBA, and a 2012 all-star appearance for Dwight Howard will be his sixth straight.

But what's important about this year's all-star game for Howard is that it very well could be his final one as a member of the Orlando Magic.  

Eastern Conference: Heat F LeBron James

2011-12 stats:  29.2 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 7.1 apg, PER of 33.45

LeBron James is without a doubt the most complete player in the NBA.  

In addition to the fact that LeBron is the most complete, he's also the most efficient player in the league. James leads the league in PER with 33.45, which is nearly 7.0 more than the next player--Kevin Durant--who has a PER of 26.50.

Barring injury, LeBron James will be making his eighth straight NBA all-star appearance, witch is an impressive feat.  "King" James is well on his way to tying or breaking Jerry West's consecutive all-star appearances record of 14.  All he needs is six more consecutive appearances.    

Eastern Conference: Knicks F Carmelo Anthony

2011-12 stats: 23.6 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 4.3 apg, PER of 20.83   

Carmelo Anthony is going to make his third straight all-star appearance, mainly because he's an electrifying player, but mostly because he is a fan favorite.  Anthony is an explosive offensive talent, but he suffers from questionable shot selection at times. Lucky for him, fans could care less about that.

Carmelo is the kind of player that just can't figure out how to help his team win, and while that won't keep him from making all-star games, it will keep him from turning the corner as one of the NBA's true elite players.

I'd be shocked if Carmelo doesn't earn a starting spot on the Eastern Conference's all-star team this year, despite the fact that he is shooting 39.7% from the field.  Either way, a 2012 all-star appearance will be Carmelo's fifth all-star appearance of his career. 

Eastern Conference: Heat SG Dwyane Wade

2011-12 stats:  20.4 ppg, 5.3 apg, 4.1 rpg, PER of 22.79 

Here's a case of a player making an all-star team purely based name--and name alone. Dwyane Wade has missed half of the 2011-12 season so far, but he will still earn the honor of being named a starter for the Eastern Conference all-star team.

When Wade has been on the court he has consistently been a dominant player.  The only problem is that nagging injuries--like usual--are keeping him on the sideline in a three piece suit.

There's a high likelihood that Wade will pass up playing in the 2012 all-star game to give his body more time to rest. If that happens, Rajon Rondo or Amare Stoudemire could fill his starting spot.  

If Dwyane Wade is named to the Eastern Conference all-star squad, it will be his eighth straight all-star selection, which is as many as fellow Heat teammate LeBron James. 

Eastern Conference: Bulls PG Derrick Rose

2011-12 stats:  21.9 ppg, 7.9 apg, 3.5 rpg, PER of 24.30

All Derrick Rose has done this season is continue to play at an MVP level and lead the Bulls to a 17-5 record, good for the best record in the Eastern Conference.  While the Bulls did manage to go 3-1 without Rose in the lineup, there is no doubt that the Bulls aren't the same team without him.

What makes Rose stand out amongst other players on the all-star ballot is the fact that he's such a gritty and tough player--yet still manages to stay humble-- despite his recent success. 

A 2012 all-star appearance for Rose would be his third consecutive appearance, creating a nice foundation of consecutive all-star appearances to build on for the future.  While he is suffering from a nagging turf toe injury, there is not a high likelihood that it will keep him out of the 2012 NBA all-star game, which is great news for all NBA fans.

2012 NBA All-Star Game Prediction

The Eastern Conference will add to their 36-24 record against the Western Conference with a big win in the 2012 edition of the game.

Score Prediction:  East - 144  West - 135

2012 All-Star MVP:  Miami Heat SF LeBron James

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