NBA All-Star Game: The Most Dysfunctional Eastern Conference All-Star Team Ever

Imagine for a second a pre-All Star game dinner table with LeBron James sitting next to Dwight Howard, Howard sitting next to Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce passing the dinner rolls over to Dwyane Wade and Al Horford peacefully sharing the mashed potatoes with Amar'e Stoudemire.

Having trouble picturing this image? You're not alone.

Every image that comes to my mind is of that dinner table being flipped over and the twelve Eastern Conference All-Stars breaking into a brawl the likes we haven't seen since Ron Artest at the Palace.

If these twelve could not even share a dinner table together how in the world are they going to play as a team?

Teams Represented

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ORLANDO, FL - FEBRUARY 08: Dwight Howard #12 of the Orlando Magic reacts to a foul during the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Amway Arena on February 8, 2011 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by dow

There are only six teams represented on the Eastern Conference All-Stars.The West has nine.

Furthermore all six of these teams are at the top of the East and battle each other regularly in the playoffs.

Paul Pierce and LeBron James

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BOSTON - FEBRUARY 13: LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat and Paul Pierce #34 of the Boston Celtics take a breather at TD Garden on February 13, 2011 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or

These two players have been at war in the playoffs for the last three years.

Pierce has had the better of James in the win loss column and made sure James knew about it on Twitter earlier when he posted this mocking jab:

"It's been a pleasure to bring my talents to south beach now on to Memphis."

Paul Pierce and Dwight Howard

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BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 06: Dwight Howard #12 of the Orlando Magic grabs the rebound before Kendrick Perkins #43 and Paul Pierce #34 of the Boston Celtics on February 6, 2011 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeated the Magic 91-80.

Remember last year's playoff series when the Celtics went up 3-0 and had been totally dominating the Orlando Magic?

In another Twitter controversy, it appeared Pierce posted this after the game:

Anybody got a BROOM?

Now allegedly the claim was that Pierce's Twitter had been hacked. I still think the story sounds fishy, but either way Howard has not enjoyed the Celtics success over them.

Dwight Howard and LeBron James

Dwight Mocks LeBron

Dwight Howard is not at all interested in the Miami Heat's big three. The off-season he had nothing positive to say about them and recently he mocked LeBron James before their game began.

LeBron didn't let his joking around go unnoticed and responded with a 51 point performance.

Kevin Garnett and Dwyane Wade

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BOSTON - APRIL 27: Kevin Garnett #5 of the Boston Celtics celebrates at the buzzer as Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat looks on during Game Five of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the 2010 NBA playoffs at the TD Garden on April 27, 2010 in Boston

The last time they were on the court together Wade gave Garnett a firm push to the chest after Garnett landed a strong screen on Mike Miller.

Not sure Garnett will be setting too many screens for Wade on Sunday night.

Kevin Garnett and Chris Bosh

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BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 26: Chris Bosh #1 of the Miami Heat has words with Kevin Garnett #5 of the Boston Celtics at the TD Banknorth Garden on October 26, 2010 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Heat lost 88-80. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agr

I highly doubt these two guys get along.

Shaquille O'Neal once called Chris Bosh the RuPaul of big men in the NBA. I'm sure KG shared some laughs with his teammate on that one.

Kevin Garnett and Derrick Rose

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BOSTON - NOVEMBER 05: Derrick Rose #1 of the Chicago Bulls takes a shot as Kevin Garnett #5 of the Boston Celtics on November 5, 2010 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeated the Bulls 110-105 in overtime. NOTE TO USER: User expres

Derrick Rose is a team oriented guy.

His teammate Joakim Noah was very public about how mean Kevin Garnett is to him on the floor.

Rose will have his real teammate's back over his All Star running mate.

Kevin Garnett and Spike Lee

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NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 02: Director Spike Lee courtside during the game between the New York Knicks and the Dallas Mavericks at Madison Square Garden on February 2, 2011 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by dow

If Spike Lee makes the trip out to L.A. to see the first Knicks All-Star starter since Ewing in 1997 I'm sure he will not be cheering for Amar'e's teammate. Garnett apparently said things to Spike Lee that were more offensive than anything Reggie Miller ever did. 

Now that's saying a lot.

Amare and Al Horford

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NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 16: (L) Amar'e Stoudemire #1 of the New York Knicks jostles with (R) Al Horford #15 of the Atlanta Hawks for a rebound at Madison Square Garden on February 16, 2011 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and ag

Amar'e speaking about Al Horford:

"He don’t want to see me. I watched him play in Florida, and I’ve seen him play a few years in Atlanta. We’ve got two different games, and we’ll see how it plays out tomorrow."

Al Horford's response:

I don’t understand what he means by that, ‘He don’t want to see me.’ Like we’re supposed to be scared of him. Ain’t nobody scared of him. We’re all grown men, so it’s all good.”

(quotes from http://dimemag.com/2011/02/amare-stoudemire-vs-al-horford-aint-nobody-scared-of-him/)

Amar'e and Al Horford can now see each other eye to eye as teammates.

Derrick Rose and LeBron James

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CLEVELAND - APRIL 27: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers talks with Derrick Rose #1 of the Chicago Bulls after defeating the Bulls 96-94 in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2010 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on

While there may not be as much bad blood between these two players as the other pairings, you get the sense that Rose will always have a chip on his shoulder wanting to prove he is enough for the Bulls to win.

Last summer with all the talks of LeBron or Dwyane Wade coming to Chicago, Rose seemed to be content with being the lone star in Chi town and refused to desperately recruit the two superstars.

Everybody Loves Joe?

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ATLANTA - NOVEMBER 03: Joe Johnson #2 of the Atlanta Hawks against the Detroit Pistons at Philips Arena on November 3, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User

It seems like Joe Johnson is the one neutral party in this dysfunctional family. All I could think of was maybe some jealousy toward him for having signed the largest contract this off-season?

Doc Rivers Calling The Shots

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BOSTON - FEBRUARY 13: Coach Doc Rivers of the Boston Celtics reacts against the Miami Heat at TD Garden on February 13, 2011 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics won 85-82. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or

How funny would it be to see Rivers bench the Miami Heat Big 3 and sub in his four Celtics, not even put in a fifth guy, and very Hoosier-esque shout out, "My team is on the floor!"

Or he could bench his four Celtics stars and have the Big 3 of Miami, along with Rose and Howard, play 48 minutes in an all out full court press.

East Versus East

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PHOENIX - FEBRUARY 15: LeBron James #23 of the Eastern Conference laughs during the 58th NBA All-Star Game, part of 2009 NBA All-Star Weekend at US Airways Center on February 15, 2009 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and ag

The biggest battle this Sunday night will not be between the East and the Western Conference All-Star teams. The real battle is the East versus themselves.