NBA All-Star Predictions

The All-Star balloting has tipped off this season, and these faces should highlight the star-studded affair.

With the season already a month old, it only seems appropriate to start thinking about Dallas in February and the 2010 All-Star Game. 

Finally, we don’t have to worry about injury-riddled players from the past—like Grant Hill or Vince Carter—earning starting slots.  Also, thanks to season-long injuries, there  shouldn’t be fear of global sensations like Yao Ming, or Yi Jinlian making undeserved appearances on the their respective All-Star squads.

So, without further ado: your 2010 All-Star Teams (Please note this a list of players I feel should make it, and probably will, due to Fan Vote ).

Eastern Conference

Starters

Forward, Kevin Garnett

KG may not be putting up a stellar stat line, in fact, at month’s end he is averaging a paltry 14.2 points per game to go along with a modest 7.2 rebounds per game, but Garnett has large fan appeal and was amongst the top All-Star vote-getters over the last several seasons.

Forward, LeBron James

James’ 13-5 Cavs may not be off to the hot start they were last season, but LeBron is still putting up near triple-double numbers on a nightly basis. 

Expect James to be an Eastern Conference starter for the next decade or so.

Center, Dwight Howard

Howard is putting up his usual 18-points-and-12-rebounds-per-night stat line and the Magic currently sit atop the Eastern Conference with a 15-4 record. 

With fairly little competition in the rest of the conference in terms of center (perhaps Andrew Bogut can make the center vote somewhat of a race…too bad he plays in Milwaukee), Dwight should run away with this starting gig.

Guard, Vince Carter

The number one seed in the conference could net Orlando two starters for the first time since Penny and Shaq in the mid '90s.  Carter’s fan appeal actually helps a lot here, as it has in the past, with VC’s All-Star starting appearances. 

If Iverson gets on the ballot in a few weeks and produces in Philadelphia though, he could end up taking this spot away from Vince.

Guard, Dwayne Wade

D-Wade is putting together a nice encore to his stellar season last year. The Heat are currently 10-7, and once again are leaning mighty heavily on the shoulders of Mr. Wade. 

No chance this Marquette product gets denied a starting All-Star slot.

Reserves

Forward/Center, Chris Bosh

The Raptors are only 7-13, and have been a disappointment thus far this season. Still, CB4 is the only thing keeping our friends to the north relevant. 

Bosh is averaging 24 points and 12 rebounds per game.  I guess someone is surely looking ahead to 2010.

Forward, Gerald Wallace

Yes, you are reading that name correctly. 

The nine-year veteran should make his first All-Star appearance this season for the Bobcats. Gerald Wallace is currently fourth in the league in rebounds per game (11.6), and is one of the only reasons the 7-10 Charlotte Bobcats remain in the playoff hunt.

Forward, Paul Pierce

Pierce should be a regular shoe-in as a reserve for the Eastern All-Star team. 

The Truth is still chugging along after all these years, and remains Boston’s go-to guy on the offensive end of the floor.

Guard, Joe Johnson

Speaking of Eastern Conference reserve locks, Joe Johnson is another mainstay on the All-Star squad. 

Johnson’s numbers may be slightly down from last season, but this Arkansas product is one of the main reasons the Hawks are sitting at 13-5.

Guard, Rajon Rondo

Fresh off signing a contract extension, Rajon Rondo should be able to sneak into the 2010 All-Star game. The reason is mainly due to a lack of star point-guards in the Eastern Conference. 

Devin Harris has been hurt, and currently has zero wins to his credit this season. Derrick Rose has not emerged as a superstar just yet, and, well…that’s about all the competition Rondo has for the backup PG role. 

Rajon is currently fifth in the league in assists per contest (9.0), and ranks second in steals per game (a whopping 2.4 swipes).

Forward, Danny Granger

D-Grange, as no one likes to call him, is currently averaging 25.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per contest for the streaking 6-10 Pacers. 

There may not be another team in the league that relies on one player more than Indiana does on Danny Granger. 

Oh wait…LeBron James. Okay, fine…but a nice second ain’t too shabby.

Guard, Brandon Jennings

Please, oh please happen. Sure the coaches may lean on experience and respect, and vote someone like Shaquille O’neal, or Ray Allen for this final 12th spot. 

The fact is Brandon Jennings has rejuvenated Milwaukee almost over night. Did you really want to tune in to Milwaukee Bucks' basketball before the season started? 

Even as a Bucks' fan, were you truly excited about the current state of your team? 

Now…you bet! 

Jennings is putting up stellar-enough numbers (21.5 points and 5.8 assists per game), and the Bucks have a good enough record (9-8), for Brandon to at least receive heavy consideration by the Eastern coaches for an All-Star selection. 

Western Conference

Starters

Forward, Tim Duncan

The Big Fundamental is putting up a solid, steady stat line (18.5 points, 10.8 rebounds, and two blocks per game), and really holding the Spurs in playoff contention even with periodic injuries to Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.

Forward, Carmelo Anthony

Melo is currently sitting atop the NBA’s scoring leaders at a sensational 30.7 points per contest.

Anthony has placed his name into possible MVP talks early on, and is the strongest reason why the Denver Nuggets are looking pretty at 13-5.

Center, Amare Stoudemire

Truth is, the NBA should really configure their positions for All Star balloting so that perhaps Tim Duncan and Pau Gasol are considered centers to ensure more competition for this starting slot. 

Regardless, STAT gets the nod due to a 19.2 points and 7.1 rebound per game stat line coupled with the Phoenix Suns currently seeded at the three-slot in the conference.  If Phoenix’s struggles continue, however; expect Andrew Bynum to give Amare a run for his money as the conference’s starting center.

Guard, Kobe Bryant

In the old Jewish books of the Talmud there is a commonly used phrase in Aramaic: Mah Ikah La-Mimar, which translates to English as “What more can you say?”

Such is the case with Kobe Bryant. 

The Black Mamba is averaging nearly 29 points, five boards, and four assists per contest for perhaps the best team in the entire league. 

Expect the Lakers to pull even further ahead from the rest of the West pack as February rolls around, thus more easily solidifying an already locked starting guard slot for KB24.

Guard, Steve Nash

The Phoenix Suns are surprising many observers as they stand at 14-5 and Steve Nash is the reason why. 

Perhaps November’s MVP, Nash is averaging a league-leading 11.5 dimes per contest, and remains the best Canadian to ever touch a basketball.

Reserves

Forward, Dirk Nowitzki

Dirk should represent the city of Dallas well in the 2010 All-Star contest. 

Nowitzki is quietly putting together one of the most impressive campaigns of his career: averaging 27 points and 8.4 rebounds per contest. 

Most importantly, he is trying to lead the Mavs back to West supremacy, as Dallas is currently the second-best team in the conference at 14-5.

Forward, Kevin Durant

The pride of Oklahoma City will be represented this February. 

Durant is currently fourth in the league in scoring at 27.7 points per contest, and perhaps more importantly, is having Thunder fans (that just feels weird to say) thinking playoffs, as OKC is currently a modest 10-8.

Center, Andrew Bynum

Bynum is putting together a strong breakout season, and is an early candidate for the league's Most Improved Player award. 

Andrew is averaging 18.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per contest. 

He was a tremendous boost for LA early on this season with Pau Gasol sidelined due to injury.

Guard, Brandon Roy

Mr. Roy is putting up another solid season for the Portland Trailblazers. 

Brandon is averaging 20 points, close to five rebounds, and five assists per game this season. 

He, along with a revived Greg Oden, are the reason fans of the Rose Garden are hoping for the team to travel deep into the post season.

Guard, Jason Kidd

Maybe its' because the game is in Dallas, or the notion of respect, or the Mavericks’ 14-5 record, or the 9.1 assists per game. 

This observer says,  "All of the above."

Regardless, the Western Conference coaches will try to throw two Dallas Mavericks on the All-Star squad this season because they are hosting (they’ve done this with the questionable additions of Shaq in Phoenix and David West in New Orleans in past All-Star games).   

Guard, Deron Williams

It is somewhat surprising that this may be D-Will’s first All-Star appearance. 

In years past, the coaching staff was usually more enamored with Tony Parker. 

Now, with Parker being sidelined most of the season, and likewise for Chris Paul, the near 20-10 (points and assists per game averages, respectively) Utah Jazz point guard should finally see himself on an All-Star roster. 

Long awaited, and well deserved.

Forward/Center, Pau Gasol

Pau was out for the first 11 games of the season, and perhaps more deserving players—like Carlos Boozer, who is averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds per game for Utah, or even Monta Ellis, who is having a career year, averaging 24 points and 2.4 steals per game in Golden State—should get this nod. 

Still, the coaches typically like to award winning teams by placing more All-Stars from their teams on the squad. 

Since Gasol is still putting up quality numbers (17.7 points and 10.3 rebounds per game), and the Lakers will likely push ahead of the pack atop the Western Conference, the coaching staff will ensure three Lakers on the All-Star roster. 

Is that fair? Perhaps not. 

Monta and Carlos will certainly not think so.

There you have it: your 2010 All Stars. 

Should be an interesting contest, considering half the guys mentioned above will be free agents in the up coming 2010 off-season. 

This All-Star weekend could be the last chance for some of these players to snag public media attention (ahem…Chris Bosh…excuse me).

Expect LeBron James to compete with Dirk Nowitzki (usually players like to feed the hometown guy the ball for the fans attending) for MVP honors.

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