NBA All-Star Game 2012: 5 Best Things About This Year's Game

The NBA All-Star Game.  To some it's a celebration of the league's most talented stars, and to others it's a glorified pick-up game.  Universally, its the most entertaining all-star game in all of professional sports.

Each year, the game creates many memorable moments for basketball fans, and here are the top moments from the 2012 edition of the spectacle.

Derrick Rose Not Indulging in Goofy Antics.

The reigning MVP, and one of the league's class acts is constantly displaying his utter respect for the game.  While King James, D-12, D-Wade, and 'Melo danced around during team introductions, D-Rose kept it classy and didn't partake in doing the "Dougie," or the "Stanky Leg," or whatever the kids are doing nowadays. 

My man stays focused.

Mary J. Blige Singing the National Anthem.

Not quite on the level of Marvin Gaye's rendition in 1983, but the Queen of R&B did not fail to impress.  She did not try to be larger than the song or the moment, Mary went out there and did what Mary does best—she sang the damn song, and sang it well.

Take that Super Bowl and Kelly Clarkson.

Blake Griffin and LeBron James' Personal Dunk Contest

Blake dunks, LeBron dunks.  Wade lobs to James, Paul lobs to Griffin.  These two answered each other's monstrous throw downs for most of the first quarter. 

More creativity than anything that happened during the festivities on Saturday night.  Well okay, Chase Budinger did make me giggle a little bit.

Kobe Takes over MJ's Spot as the All-Star Game's All-Time Leading Scorer.

Coming into tonight's contest, Kobe needed 19 points to pass Michael Jordan as the All-Star Game's all-time leading scorer.  He finished with 27 points.  With it, looking like the Black Mamba is not slowing down anytime soon, expect to see Kobe in many more future all-star games and put the record out of reach.

Finally, Kobe has something to hold over MJ's head.

Exciting Fourth Quarter, the West Holding off the East's Late Comeback.

The West led for the entire game, but the East did not bow down and made it a game in the fourth quarter.  Behind LeBron's 36 points and Dwayne Wade's triple double, the East cut a seemingly insurmountable double-digit lead to one point with a minute left to play. 

The West held on to win, behind the 36 points of the game's MVP, Kevin Durant.

Good game.

Conclusion

Another all-star game has come and gone.  Fans get a slight breather before the post-season push begins.  Trade deadlines and playoff races are dead ahead, this will be the last time most of these players will smile this season.  Looks like D-Rose is saving his smiles for June.