NBA All-Star Game 2011: East Vs. West: Who Will Win the Game?

The NBA All-Star Game is almost here and as the starting lineups are announced, it's never to early to make a quick prediction about the game itself.

As always, it's sure to be a game with no defense, and the scores might just reach 300 points combined. 

No matter what you say about the NBA, it's always fun to see this kind of talent on a single court, and it should be an exciting event.

Here is my prediction on the game.

East Starters

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MIAMI - DECEMBER 28: Forward LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat and Forward Amar'e Stoudemire #1 of the New York Knicks battle for the ball at American Airlines Arena on December 28, 2010 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)

G: Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls

G: Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat

F: LeBron James, Miami Heat

F: Amare Stoudemire, New York Knicks

C: Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic

West Starters

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DENVER - NOVEMBER 11: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Carmelo Anthony #15 of the Denver Nuggets look on during a break in the action at the Pepsi Center on November 11, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. The Nuggets defeated the Lakers 118-112. NOT

G: Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets

G: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles 

F: Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets

F: Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder

C: Yao Ming, Houston Rockets

East Is Full of the Poster Childs

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CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 28: Dwight Howard #12 of the Orlando Magic dunks the ball over Kurt Thomas #40 of the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on January 28, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by download

The East is full of today's NBA stars.  Maybe it's because they are located on the East Coast, or maybe it's because they are better, it's beyond me, but they get more time in the news, and more articles in papers.

The East's squad isn't young, but it isn't old either.  It should be exciting to see all of this talent on one side of the ball, but wait, we already do, it's called the Heat.

West Has Kobe

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 25: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket while being defended by Raja Bell #19 of the Utah Jazz in the second half at Staples Center on January 25, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers defeated t

Kobe is either on or off.  If he comes out ready to play, the West has a very good chance at winning this year, but if he doesn't, it's iffy.

Who knows though, maybe Kobe's time is done and it's time for someone else to step in the spotlight, but then again, it's just the All-Star game.

Question at the West's Center Position

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 25: Mehmet Okur #13 of the Utah Jazz attempts to steal the ball from Pau Gasol #16 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half at Staples Center on January 25, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers defeated the Jazz 120-91

If I had to guess, I would say the inured Yao Ming will be replaced by Lakers center Pau Gasol, but that is total speculation.

With this question remaining, it leaves the low-post presence of the West a complete mystery at the moment.

TRUTH

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 06: The 2011 NBA All-Star logo is unveiled by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Eric Gordon of the Los Angeles Clippers, NBA deputy commissioner Adam Silver, AEG CEO Tim Leiweke and NBA legend James Worthy before Game Two of

The truth is, there is very little meaning to this game at all and no one really cares about it—and that includes the players. 

It's fun to watch, and the dunks are usually phenomenal, but the lack of defense just drives me up the wall. This game will come down to whoever shoots the best, and that's basically it.

It's a Toss Up

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NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 24: Amar'e Stoudemire #11 of the New York Knicks on court against the Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden on January 24, 2011 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/o

It's hard not to go with the East, so I will.  I think that a team of D-Wade, LeBron, Rose, Howard and Stoudemire is just going to beast it.

This being said, who knows what could happen.  Both teams are loaded with talent—and it's a shooting and dunking contest—yet I still give the East the edge.