2012 NBA All-Star Game: Why Western Conference Will Embarrass East

The Western Conference All-Stars will embarrass their rivals of the Eastern Conference in the 2012 NBA All-Star Game Sunday night in Orlando (7:30 PM ET, TNT).

With four of the league's top five scorers on its roster, the West has far more point-producing options than the East, who will rely on LeBron James' jump shooting ability to keep them close (I wouldn't bet on it).

Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Kevin Love and Russell Westbrook each average over 23 points per game, and the four combine for more than 104 points per night. That's not even taking into account the scoring punch from Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge.

Eastern Conference superstars Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony have both been hampered by injuries all season long, which means the last thing they want on their minds is the knowledge that they cost themselves and their respective franchises a shot at a title because they went a little too hard in a primetime pickup game.

The Western Conference will also enjoy the privilege of bringing the league's leading assist man, Steve Nash, off the bench. Nash is averaging more assists than East reserve Rajon Rondo, and has a much better knack for scoring. Advantage West.

Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Scott Brooks and the West will also have three of the NBA's top four rebounders on the floor. Kevin Love, Andrew Bynum and Blake Griffin will all suit up for the Western Conference All-Stars on Sunday night, and likely overwhelm Dwight Howard of the East while exposing Chris Bosh as a horrid rebounder (as if we didn't already know that).

Everyone knows the East is down. We have the Miami Heat and the Chicago Bulls, but that's really it as far as star power and championship caliber are concerned. In the West, however, it's a logjam, with nearly a dozen teams all in the mix and each making a case for themselves on a given night.

That reality is reflected by the incredible talent advantage that the West will benefit from on Sunday night, as they embarrass the East's best ballers in the Magic Kingdom.