2012 NBA All-Star Game: Bold Predictions for the Roster and Game

The All-Star Game in Orlando should be fun.

Never has there been more talent in the league at one time.

You have the influx of young superstars that include Derrick Rose, Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin and others mixed in nicely with a veteran group of superstars that includes Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and others.

The rosters for this game are going to be loaded. So loaded, in fact, that the top 12 guys left off the two teams would give both All-Star teams a run for their money.

With the February 26th game rapidly approaching, let's take a look at some bold predictions for the NBA All-Star Game.

Three New York Knicks Will Make the Eastern Conference Roster

Usually, winning teams tend to get the most players into the game, but that won't be the case this season.

Of course, the Knicks still have some time to turn things around, but somehow, they will wind up with three All-Stars.

Carmelo Anthony will be voted in as a starter, so he's a lock.

The Eastern Conference is thin on quality big men, so that opens up a spot for both Amar'e Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler. Stoudemire isn't having a typical All-Star season, but his career accomplishments will likely edge out the hometown boy Ryan Anderson.

As far as Chandler goes, the backup center sport is usually reserved for Al Horford, but with his injury it opens up the door for Chandler.

Indiana's Roy Hibbert deserves the spot over Chandler, but as we know, the deserving guy often gets left out on decisions like this.

Chandler will find a way onto the team, somehow giving the under-.500 Knicks a trio of All-Star representatives.

There Will Be Five First-Time All-Stars

Every year, we get to see a few guys break through and make their All-Star debuts. This year will be no different, as we will see five new faces make the All-Star roster.

LaMarcus Aldridge, Monta Ellis and Marc Gasol will make the Western Conference team as reserves, while Josh Smith and whoever ends up claiming the backup center job, likely Hibbert or Chandler, will be added as Eastern Conference reserves.

Western Conference Roster

Here's a look at how the Western Conference roster will shape up:

Starters

G—Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant

F—Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin

C—Andrew Bynum

Reserves

G—Russell Westbrook, Monta Ellis

F—Kevin Love, Pau Gasol, LaMarcus Aldridge, Dirk Nowitzki

C—Marc Gasol

Western Conference Snubs

There will be some difficult decisions regarding the Western Conference roster, but none more difficult then Houston's Kyle Lowry, who will, unfortunately, be squeezed out by the numbers.

The Western Conference could go with an extra guard instead of Dirk Nowitzki, who's not exactly having an All-Star season, but Nowitzki's career accomplishments should land him on the team.

Lowry isn't the only deserving guy that will be left off the Western Conference team. Some others that will come up short will include James Harden, Steve Nash, Danilo Gallinari and Rudy Gay.

Eastern Conference Roster

Here's a look at how the Eastern Conference roster will look:

Starters

G—Derrick Rose, Dwyane Wade

F—Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James

C—Dwight Howard

Reserves

G—Rajon Rondo, Deron Williams, Ray Allen

F—Chris Bosh, Josh Smith, Amar'e Stoudemire

C—Tyson Chandler

Eastern Conference Snubs

Roy Hibbert leads a list of Eastern Conference snubs that will also include Joe Johnson, Andre Iguodala, Paul Pierce, Brandon Jennings and Ryan Anderson.

You could even make a case for guys on losing teams such as Greg Monroe, Jose Calderon and JaVale McGee, but none of those guys will have much luck cracking the Eastern Conference roster either.

Dwight Howard Will Be Booed

By the time the All-Star Game rolls around, the Orlando Magic fans will be sick and tired of hearing Howard reaffirm his demands to be traded.

The team will continue to struggle, and Howard will continue to look disinterested.

Magic general manager Otis Smith is keeping Howard around so the Magic have a representative in the game, but it will backfire, as Howard will be met with a negative reaction from the hometown crowd.

Blake Will Out-Dunk LeBron

By the All-Star Game, we may still be talking about the recent dunks of LeBron James and Blake Griffin.

Both will have multiple opportunities to outdo each other during game action, but once again, Griffin will do something jaw-dropping to steal the show.

West Will Win

The Eastern Conference will have the more athletic and quicker team, but the Western Conference is deeper, especially in the frontcourt, where they could have the best set of big men in All-Star Game history.

That will be the difference in a Western Conference 131-122 win.

Blake Griffin Will Win the MVP

Griffin will have a monster game and will steal the show with a barrage of highlight-reel dunks.

His double-double will result in his first All-Star Game MVP award.