NBA All-Star Game 2012: Rosters, Date, TV Schedule and Who to Watch

Just when you thought you were out of the woods of meaningless exhibitions (i.e., the NFL Pro Bowl, the NHL All-Star Game), here comes one more for you—the NBA All-Star Game.

This year, basketball's biggest stars will descend on Orlando, the theme-park capital of the country and (ironically enough) the city from which one of the league's most familiar faces—Dwight Howard—is currently trying to excise himself.

In-house awkwardness aside, expect plenty of razzle, a heap of dazzle and a hefty dash of acrobatics, along with close to 300 points combined between the East and the West.

The two conferences have taken turns winning the All-Star game over the last six years, with the West claiming a 148-143 victory over the East in Los Angeles last year, behind Kobe Bryant's fourth MVP-worthy performance.

Where: Amway Center, Orlando, Florida

When: Sunday, February 26th, 2012, at 7:00 p.m. EST

Watch: TNT

Rosters

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Starters:

Guards—Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat; Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls

Forwards—LeBron James, Miami Heat; Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks 

Center—Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic

Reserves:

TBA

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Starters:

Guards—Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers; Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers

Forwards—Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers; Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder

Center—Andrew Bynum, Los Angeles Lakers 

Reserves:

TBA

East Player to Watch: LeBron James

And you were expecting whom exactly?

It'll be interesting to keep tabs on Dwight Howard, considering how he's managed to engender hatred among the usually unconditionally supportive fans in Orlando.

As far as actual basketball is concerned, though, just enjoy watching LeBron go to work.

The guy is in the midst of one of the most impressive individual seasons in modern NBA history. Currently, James is averaging 29.7 points on a staggering 55.3 percent shooting, with seven assists, 8.3 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game for the best team in the Eastern Conference.

LeBron already has two All-Star Game MVPs under his belt, and he will surely be gunning for a third, if only to incite the ire of those Floridians who don't take kindly to Miami's Big Three.

West Player to Watch: Kevin Durant

Kobe would be the easy choice here—four ASG MVPs, a league-leading 30 points per game, along with 5.4 assists and 6.1 rebounds, all with an injury-ravaged wrist at the age of 33.

But, as wise as any basketball fan would be to pay homage to the Black Mamba in some form or fashion, the present and future of the NBA belongs to Kevin Durant.

The two-time defending scoring champ dropped 34 points in last year's All-Star game in LA, and he will be poised to step out of Kobe's long shadow in Orlando now that he's striking an MVP path of his own.

Prediction: East 139, West 134

The scoring will be down just a smidgen in this one, with participants playing on heavy legs thanks to the condensed post-lockout schedule. Relative plodding or no, the East will extend the All-Star game tug-of-war to seven years with a thrilling, alley-oop filled victory over the West.

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