NBA All-Star Game 2012: Full Breakdown and Analysis of Conference Rosters

There was a lot of contention about those who were selected to represent the Western and Eastern Conferences in the 2012 All-Star Game in Orlando.

Josh Smith, Greg Monroe and Pau Gasol lead the list of notable players who were left off the team despite solid seasons, but those candidates who were chosen are all enjoying fairly solid seasons.

Some choices made fans around the world raise an eyebrow or two, but that's the case every year, and the 2011-12 season is no different.

Starters

East: Derrick Rose, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard

West: Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin, Andrew Bynum

Chris Bosh, PF, Miami Heat

Bosh made it because he's a recognizable name on a prime-time team in this league.

Both Josh Smith and Greg Monroe had more convincing cases than Bosh, but he joins both LeBron James and Dwyane Wade as members of the Eastern Conference squad.

He's shown improved aggression on the offensive end, but Bosh has struggled to find consistency when both James and Wade have been healthy and playing alongside him.

Luol Deng, SF, Chicago Bulls

It was really nice to see Deng get his first All-Star bid this season, and he's earned his reserve nod with stellar play for Chicago.

Despite suffering a torn ligament in his wrist, Deng missed just seven games before returning to the starting lineup.

Deng is averaging a ridiculous 38 minutes per game, and Tom Thibodeau has been riding his success all year long.

Roy Hibbert, C, Indiana Pacers

There was a lot of confusion and complaint over Hibbert getting the bid, but he's been integral in the Pacers' season thus far and is a big part of what Indiana has done.

Delivering with remarkable consistency, Hibbert is averaging a very healthy 13.6 points, 9.9 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game entering Friday.

Hibbert is also shooting a career-high 50.9 percent from the floor, and his range on the offensive end is a lot better than some people might imagine.

Andre Iguodala, SF, Philadelphia 76ers

Iguodala's averages might not jump off the page like some of the others selected to the list, but his all-around game has been integral in Philadelphia's start to the season.

He has been a pest on the defensive end, and he's really improved his approach from behind the three-point line from last year.

He may not be able to play his typical brand of suffocating defense in an All-Star game, but there is no doubt that he rightfully earned his first appearance in the event.

Joe Johnson, SG, Atlanta Hawks

Johnson has been helping to carry the Hawks since Al Horford went down with a torn pectoral muscle, and he was rightfully selected to the team.

Similarly to Iguodala, Johnson's three-point shooting has come in at a much more respectable clip this year, and Johnson's ability to score in a litany of ways is something that the Hawks have sorely needed.

It's a shame that teammate Josh Smith was so obviously snubbed from the event, but one has to imagine he'll make it to Orlando as an injury replacement.

Paul Pierce, SF, Boston Celtics

There were a lot of naysayers who were doubting Pierce's ability to contribute this season, and it's amazing what kind of snap judgements were made from a slow start and small sample size.

Pierce has been absolutely on fire and at the center of Boston's improved play of late, and his versatile effort across the stat sheet deserves commanding attention.

The last time he had a 20-5-5 season was during the 2003-04 campaign, and he's knocking on the door of those averages once again in 2011-12.

Deron Williams, PG, New Jersey Nets

There was a lot of debate as to whether or not D-Will deserved to be an All-Star, but he has a strong case considering his performance and the cast of teammates surrounding him.

Williams' 4.5 turnovers per game absolutely has to improve, but he's had very little help on the offensive end of the floor and has been forced to do a lot of things for New Jersey.

He's been playing much better since the beginning of January, and Williams' exciting style of play is one fans want to see in a showcase like this.

LaMarcus Aldridge, PF, Portland Trail Blazers

Fans were up in arms when Aldridge was overlooked last season, and it would've been a meltdown of epic proportions had he been snubbed once again this time around.

Aldridge is enjoying a really amazing season, with averages of 23.3 points and 8.5 rebounds, and he's made a concerted effort to take on a leadership role for a Blazers team that needed him to do exactly that.

He's got a legitimate case to call himself the best power forward in the game, and there aren't many games where Aldridge has an "off night" because he's so consistent.

Marc Gasol, C, Memphis Grizzlies

It was a bit of a surprise to see this Gasol brother included as a reserve, but it's not completely outrageous, as the Memphis starter has really been a force inside this season.

Pau's snub is pretty egregious considering he's averaging a double-double on better than 50 percent shooting from the floor, and he's doing it all as a third option behind Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum.

However, his younger brother, Marc, is also definitely worthy with a double-double average of his own, including more than one steal and two blocks per game.

Kevin Love, PF, Minnesota Timberwolves

Love's season has been absolutely ridiculous for the Timberwolves, and he'd have a convincing case to start ahead of Blake Griffin if the process wasn't determined by fan votes.

The big man has really turned up his ability to hit the bottom of the net from beyond the arc, and Love has been his usual self when it comes to his prowess on the glass.

He's going to go out there and prove to a national audience that there is nothing boring about his game, despite what many analysts have said on a consistent basis.

Dirk Nowitzki, PF, Dallas Mavericks

Nowitzki made the All-Star game as a reserve based off of his name and reputation around the league.

There were more deserving candidates, but it's hard to fault the Nowitzki selection considering his recent improvement and patented one-foot fadeaways.

At the end of the day, this game is about putting on a show for the fans, and that is exactly what Nowitzki does and has done on a consistent basis throughout the course of his career.

Tony Parker, PG, San Antonio Spurs

It's nothing short of phenomenal to see Parker included in the reserve unit, as he has been carrying the backcourt load for the Spurs with Manu Ginobili (hand) sidelined.

He doesn't get a lot of love because he plays for a Spurs team that always seems to get ignored, and his ability to penetrate to the basket has left a lot of defenders wondering about how to stop him once he gets going.

He's averaging more minutes this season than he has since 2008-09 and is putting up his best numbers since that time, and if you watched him play in the EuroBasket Tournament this summer, none of it should come as a shock.

Russell Westbrook, PG, Oklahoma City Thunder

Like Deron Williams in the Eastern Conference, critics will point to his high turnover rate as a point of emphasis as to why he didn't deserve to go.

Others will hint at the fact that he's not a "true" point guard, but Westbrook's insane athleticism and the fact that he's posting nearly a 20-5-5 season is nothing to turn your nose up toward whatsoever.

He's exactly the type of player most fans want to see make incredible plays in a glorified exhibition.

Steve Nash, PG, Phoenix Suns

The season Nash is enjoying at 38 years old is a testament to just how talented he is and has been for Phoenix this year.

Shooting lights out from the floor at better than 57 percent, Nash is also logging an impressive 15 points per game to go with his double-digit assist totals.

Nash's game has remained silky smooth despite the obvious lack of talent around him in Phoenix, and it shouldn't be the last we hear about him garnering All-Star consideration.