2012 NBA All-Star Roster: 5 Most Undeserving Starters

The starting lineups for the 2012 NBA All-Star game were announced Thursday night, and as usual, fans reacted.

Looking at the two conference's rosters, it is obvious that the NBA All-Star Game is still a popularity contest.

Sure, arguments can be made that all 10 players are worthy of their votes—and some of them are. But from year to year there are players who are voted in by the fans for their flash and popularity throughout the league. 

This year's starting squad is no different.

Carmelo Anthony

Carmelo Anthony has been elected to be an All-Star starter four times now.

Yes, he is a top-five scorer in the NBA. And yes, he has historically played well in All-Star games. But taking a lot of shots to get to those points is not an impressive stat to boast.

Shooting only 40.3 percent from the field so far this season, Anthony has the lowest field goal percentage of any starter in this year's game.  

If you've only seen his highlights from night to night, it's easy to choose him as an All-Star—it's not very often ESPN shows a "Top 10 Missed Shots and Bad Defense" section. 

Anthony, who has been criticized for his defense in the past, is on an 8-14 New York Knicks' squad that does not look like a playoff team right now, yet his All-Star selection is somehow safe and warm in the hands of voters.

But considering the traditional absence of defense at All-Star Weekend, I suppose that makes him the perfect pick after all.

Dwyane Wade

Dwyane Wade has had an injury-filled year, playing in only about 60 percent of the Miami Heat's games so far this season.

The guy is an All-Star, sure. But playing hurt has shown in his numbers, as his points per game are down more than five points per game from last season.

The question then becomes, if not Wade, who?

Deron Williams.

Williams has played in all but one game this season, and is averaging nearly as many points and almost twice as many assists per game as Wade.

Like Wade, he's the kind of player who not only puts up the numbers, but can also excite a crowd.

But let's be honest; Wade probably could have pulled a Yao Ming, played in five games this season and still been voted in. 

He is a fan favorite, and fan favorites are almost always going to get the vote.

Chris Paul

NBA All-Star games are full of highlights—that's pretty much why we watch them, isn't it?

The combination of Chris Paul and Blake Griffin is going to be something special to watch on the court come Feb. 26. 

Then again, you could just watch it pretty much every other night of the NBA season.

There's nothing wrong with watching these two players go to work—in fact, it's about as exciting as it comes in the NBA.

But when this year's game tips off, we'll see the contest begin with teammates from three different teams—the Los Angeles Clippers, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat—on the court at the same time. 

The NBA All-Star Game should be about watching groups of players who you can't see play together during any given week.

Paul and Griffin are exciting, but why not take advantage of something you never get to see?

How about Russell Westbrook to Griffin? Or Monta Ellis to Griffin? 

Those two certainly shoot more than Paul, but with higher scoring averages and around six assists a piece, why not see what they can do with Griffin flying through the air for a night? 

Blake Griffin

When it comes to Blake Griffin being in the All-Star game, get used to seeing it.

From the highlight reels to commercials and popular skits, Blake Griffin is virtually everywhere.

He's playing well, his team is winning, and quite frankly there's only one reason Griffin should be kept out of the 2012 starting lineup—Kevin Love.

To knock Griffin out of the All-Star starting lineup would have fans up in arms, as his popularity is as high as ever.

His 21.4 points and 10.9 rebounds are worthy numbers of an All-Star appearance; no doubt about it. But Love's 25.3 points and 13.6 rebounds are among the top four in the league in both categories.

So what is it then? Is Love not exciting enough?

The fact is that Griffin plays on national television in the heat of the spotlight, while Love is in Minnesota, where the lowly Timberwolves are just 10-12. That, along with Griffin's flare, makes a big difference to fans.

Popular perception is big when it comes to All-Star Weekend in the NBA, and no doubt about it, Griffin is popular.

But if we're thinking about who truly deserves the starting nod, and who should come off the bench, Griffin should take a seat.

Andrew Bynum

Andrew Bynum is averaging career highs in both points and rebounds this season, and is the most deserving center in the Western Conference to make the All-Star team.

But forget about the word Center for a minute. Do you want to watch Andrew Bynum play in the All-Star game?

Taking the top five players to receive votes could get unreasonable—five point guards starting in an All-Star Game would be a disaster. 

So why not vote in two guards, two forwards and a post? Or even a wild-card?

No position other than center has a guaranteed spot in the starting lineup from year to year, and as of right now, there is surely no other position in the league that is lacking as much stardom.

If Bynum had gotten hurt this season, who would have taken his place as the leading vote-getter? DeAndre Jordan?

Even Bynum is willing to acknowledge that a lack of centers in the West helped him capture the fans' votes.

He is certainly the best center in the West this season, but wouldn't you rather see the final spot go to Kevin Love? Or how about Dirk Nowitzki? 

This is where we need to think about a change in the system.