Carmelo Anthony vs. LeBron James: Who Starts in 2012 All-Star Game?

Carmelo Anthony's new home with the New York Knicks makes him eligible for the Eastern Conference's All-Star team next year. Only problem is, he plays the same position as LeBron James of the Miami Heat. 

This could get interesting. 

With all the big trades going down this week I wanted look at how the movement of these big names affects my favorite game of the year, the All-Star game. Specifically how the newly, even more loaded, Eastern conference's starters would shake out—seeing as there are only five spots to go around. 

My belief is that the two guard spots are locked up in the East for the next couple years with Derrick Rose and Dwyane Wade. No one is going to come close to beating Rose for the one spot in the All-Star game for the next three to four years (Sorry, Deron). I'm as confident in that statement as I am that Ronnie from Jersey Shore is on 'roids—it's not written in stone anywhere, but it's happening. 

With Wade, try to name a shooting guard in the Eastern Conference who is better or more popular than Wade?

No, it's cool, I'll wait. 

Exactly. 

So we can agree that both guard spots will be occupied and we know Dwight Howard will be the starting center at least until 2012 or he forces a trade to the Lakers. (Quick thought bubble: Howard to the Lakers in 2012 would mean that the Mayans were not only right, but they were also from Boston.) 

That leaves the two forward spots. Now the usual suspects will be there—Garnett, Pierce, Bosh, Boozer and Stoudemire. 

I think the Boston boys will have a good run at one of the spots every year but won't ever have the juice to pull an upset. The reason this gets interesting is that Amar'e has become a staple in New York and was the "first" star to say yes to the Big Apple. As long as Amar'e keeps up his level of play, he will become a lock at one of the forward spots. 

Yes, I believe that. Well...

The reason I'm going with this theory is two fold: 1) I'm a basketball purist and I want a power forward and a small forward in the All-Star game, not two small forwards or two power forwards; it's about balance. 2) I don't like the answer to this amazing puzzle being as simple as, 'Melo and 'Bron are both starting forwards.

It's like Highlander—"There can only be one!" 

Let's look at the numbers—this year LeBron received 2,053,011 fan votes in a time where he is on a winning super team and most people have gotten over "the decision" (except Cleveland. By the way Cleveland, enjoy "checked out Baron Davis").

Carmelo, conversely, had 1,299,849 votes on a smaller-market team that hated him at the time for putting their franchise between a rock and a hard place. Not to mention he basically said, "Your city isn't a big enough deal." 

Now, we have Carmelo being dubbed the "savior" of basketball in NEW YORK. I wouldn't sleep on the city that never sleeps when it comes to fan voting for the All-Star game. 

That is what is so phenomenal about this question—it's more about public image and the market they play in then actually who is more deserving.  

In a perfect world they would just play one on one for the spot, and that would be more entertaining than the actual All-Star game. 

So here is the kicker—I think there is a chance LeBron is not selected as a starter for next year's All-Star game. 

I know it's basketball blasphemy to say that LBJ won't be starting in the game next year, but it's a big possibility. 

And it's up to New York. 

Miami needs to "fan up" to get their two larger-than-life stars in the All-Star game. While NYC lives for being the mecca of basketball and this is the empire state's chance to knock "the King" off his All-Star throne.

I wouldn't bet against the city that has taken down the likes of King Kong, would you? 

The Knicks have two legitimate stars and the power of the tri-state area behind them. That may be enough to bump LeBron from a starting spot. 

According to my belief, the Eastern Conference All-Star starters should shake out something like this: G Derrick Rose (CHI), G Dwyane Wade (MIA), F Carmelo Anthony (NY), F Amar'e Stoudemire (NY), C Dwight Howard (ORL). 

With LeBron James coming off the bench.

It is a lot more likely than you think. Trust me.