NBA All-Star Game 2012: Everything You Need to Know About Sunday's Matchup

The NBA All-Star Game is right up there as the best exhibition game featuring top-flight talent in America.

The last few years, the NBA game has been everything that the NFL's Pro Bowl lacks. It isn't just an exhibition all about fun and games. It has taken on a more competitive spirit, and players are approaching it with a determination to play their best and win.

This 2012 All-Star Game looks to provide the same entertainment value as in years' past when two evenly matched teams in a well-played and hard-fought game. 

Here is the lowdown on this year's All-Star Game.

The Basics

Where: Amway Center, Orlando, Florida

When: February 26, 7:30 p.m ET

Channel: TNT

The uniforms have a nice look to them. Everything from the jerseys to the warm-up gear has a unique feel, replete with the three stripes of adidas.

The Rosters

Western All-Stars

Starters  

PG- Chris Paul

SG- Kobe Bryant 

SF- Kevin Durant

PF- Blake Griffin

C- Andrew Bynum

 Reserves

PG- Tony Parker, Russell Westbrook, Steve Nash

SG- None

SF- None

PF- LaMarcus Aldridge, Kevin Love, Dirk Nowitzki

C- Marc Gasol

Eastern All-Stars

Starters

PG- Derrick Rose

SG- Dwyane Wade  

SF- Carmelo Anthony

PF- LeBron James  

C- Dwight Howard  

Reserves

PG- Rajon Rondo, Deron Williams

SG- Joe Johnson

SF- Paul Pierce, Andre Iguodala, Luol Deng

PF- Chris Bosh

C- Roy Hibbert

* Normally both Anthony and James play SF, but I have James in at PF because that would be the logical choice in a lineup like the East's.

The Snubs

The Players Who Should Be Starting:

- Chris Bosh

- Andre Iguodala

- Kevin Love

The Players Who Should Be All-Stars:

- Monta Ellis

- Kyrie Irving/Brandon Jennings

- Kyle Lowery

- Josh Smith

- Pau Gasol

The Key Matchups

Kobe Bryant vs. Whoever Is Defending Him

The job of guarding Bryant should fall to Dwyane Wade. Luol Deng should come in handy for the East here. If KB24 runs wild with another 35-plus point outing like last year, the West might win by a lot.

Andrew Bynum vs. Dwight Howard

Howard has been dominant against every center he has faced this season, including Bynum. However, Bynum is still the toughest challenge for D12 of any center in the league. If Howard can run over his Laker counterpart, that would go a long way in mitigating the West's frontcourt advantage.

Derrick Rose vs. Chris Paul

This one should be fun to watch. Both are multidimensional and multitalented point guards who should match up well against each other. Too close to call here.

The Eastern Reserves vs. The Western Reserves

Both teams decided to have more frontcourt-oriented benches. The West focused on power forward, while the East went slightly smaller with an emphasis on small forward. The balance of each bench is nearly similar, but the East looks to have an edge in the backcourt with Rajon Rondo and Deron Williams.

The Final Score

The 2012 All-Star Game will be very close, just like it was the last two years.

Reprised themes will be Kobe with a big scoring night, and LeBron with another triple-double. New this year will be a duel for the ages between Paul and Rose, an unprecedented amount of double-doubles, and near an all time high for total points scored.

The West will keep it close, but the East just has too much speed and athleticism for them to handle.

Final Score: East 151, West 148