NBA All-Star Starters Revealed: Did They Get It Right?

The 2012 NBA All-Star starters have been revealed and we need to start the debate on who deserves to be starting and which player(s) has some beef.

Starting with the Eastern Conference, the point guard was a no-brainer: Derrick Rose (1,514,723 votes) will be appearing in his third All-Star as he is in his fourth season.

Rose is averaging 23.1 PPG, 7.7 APG and 3.3 RPG. The 2011 NBA MVP is also leading the Chicago Bulls to the best record in the Eastern Conference (18-6).

At shooting guard, Dwyane Wade (1,334,223 votes) has made the team for the eighth time out of his nine-year career. Despite missing nine games, D-Wade has averaged 20.1 PPG, 5.4 APG and 4 RPG.

LeBron James, as expected, will also be making his eighth All-Star Game in nine seasons. James is at 29.7 PPG, 7 APG and 8.3 RPG as Miami is 16-6 at the moment (1 GB from Chicago).

The surprise comes with Carmelo Anthony (1,041,290) of the New York Knicks, since he is not having a great season by any stretch of the imagination and his squad is only 8-13 on the season (sixth worst in East).

"Melo" is averaging 23.7 PPG, 4.4 APG and 6.6 RPG but there were a few other options that are worthy. Chris Bosh is having a spectacular season as he has taken some of the onus with an injury-riddled Wade missing some time this season.

How about Josh Smith of the Atlanta Hawks?

Smith and the Hawks are 16-6 and just one game behind the Bulls (along with Miami and Philadelphia), and he has quietly put together a sensational season with Al Horford out. 

It really is tough and the fan votes are often persuaded on how much they like or watch the actual players.

Some argue the fans get a player or two wrong every season because it is a popularity contest, Bosh and Smith will likely get in as reserves.

One man that never surprises us is Dwight Howard (1,600,390 were most votes), though his Magic have had some problems this season (13-9, sixth in East).

Howard already set the NBA record this season as he went to the charity stripe 39 times, breaking the 1962 record of 34 attempts set by Wilt Chamberlain.

"Superman" only shoots 47.4 percent from the line but he gets there the most out of any player in the NBA at 12.2 per game. Plus, the beast is averaging 201. PPG and 15.4 RPG on the season, despite the trade rumors of possible suitors (Lakers, Bulls).

In the Western Conference, there were really zero shockers. Kobe Bryant (1,555,479 votes) of the Los Angeles Lakers made the list as he done so on 14 separate occasions (all as a starter out of 16-year career).

"The Black Mamba" is putting up 30 PPG, 5.4 APG and 6.1 RPG, although his Lakers have struggled a tad at 13-9 (tied for seventh in West).

Chris Paul (1,138,743) edged out Ricky Rubio (397, 456) and Russell Westbrook at the point guard position, making it for the fifth time out of his seven-year NBA career.

"CP3" has been the catalyst of "Lob City", and the record backs up their stellar play (13-6, second in West).

Kevin Durant (1,345,566) of the Oklahoma City Thunder has been a superstar for the past few seasons, and he will be appearing his third All-Star Game out of his five seasons.

"Durantula" is only putting up 26.6 PPG, which is down from the last two seasons, but the kid is arguably the toughest nightmare matchup and that includes the likes of LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony and Derrick Rose.

Plus, OKC has the best record in the entire NBA at the moment and some of that has to go along with the play from his defense alongside Russell Westbrook's emergence as a primetime stud.

Maybe it came as a small surprise and maybe it did not, but Blake Griffin (876,451) will be starting and appearing in his first ever All-Star Game.

Kevin Love, in my eye, would be the better choice, but the fans are allowed to vote and I suppose a better argument would be as to why you must have a starting center, (though Bynum is legit) if you just want the five best players out there.

Andre Bynum (first selection, seventh season) will be starting, which sure makes his biggest fan proud (Shaquille O'Neal), but Bynum dominated the votes.

Bynum's 1,051,945 was not even threatened by DeAndre Jordan's 322,056 of the Clippers, but certainly the stars will be shining in Orlando on Feb. 26 at The Amway Center.

So, do you agree with these selections or did the fans botch a few of the selections due to "popularity" and overrated arguments such as stats or highlight-reel dunks?

Luckily, the reserves are not voted on by the fans so the most deserving and impressive players will be joining these 10 starters next week (12 per roster).

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