NBA All-Star Game Predictions

After watching Daniel Gibson drop eleven three-pointers on the rookies, Tim Duncan make a half-court shot during the Haier Shooting Contest, Deron Williams complete the Playstation Challenge in record time, Jason Kapono win the three-point contest again, and Dwight Howard dress up as superman and win the dunk contest, I am ready for the All-Star Game. I predict that...

1. Kobe Bryant will NOT be MVP.                                    

Kobe's possible dislocated finger has him wanting to not play at all. But league rules say that if you are healthy enough to play the last game before the break and the first one after you cannot be excused from the game. For once in his life, he cares about his organization and does not want to risk dislocated his finger again.

2. Shaquille O'Neal will make sure his presence is known.

After 14 consecutive All-Star games (NBA record-tying streak), he will have to sit the 2008 NBA All Star game out. He has been all over New Orleans and the All-Star events, don't expect him to miss this one.

3. Dwight Howard will dunk, dunk, and...dunk.

He will not miss his chance of glammer. Howard won the dunk contest by a huge margin Saturday night, and will look to make himself look like a true All-Star during the game. Once Yao Ming and the West take a little break, he will have some fun with the basket.

4. Charles Barkley will make negative remarks about Steve Nash or the Suns.

Barkley, a former Sun, seems to always criticize the Suns and their style of play during a national broadcast. He did slip a little though, he said the Suns are a better team with Shaq. He is just jealous that they might win the championship and his team in Phoenix never won.

5. Everytime Kidd's name is announced Mark Cuban will get excited.

Mark Cuban loves Jason Kidd, and would love for Kidd to play for him and the Mavericks. Saturday night, at the Playstation Skills Challenge, Cuban was cheering for Kidd as he was announced and when he completed the challenge. The announcers called the competition an "audition" for Mark Cuban.

6. The West bench will outscore the East bench by at least 20 points.

First, Steve Nash shouldn't even be on the bench, he'll put on a little show probably including a few ally oops. Dirk, last year's MVP, will be coming off the bench and he'll make a few fade-aways. The West also has two electrifying players on the bench, Chris Paul and Amare Stoudemire. I don't think the East's bench matches up with the West bench.

7. The West will beat the East AGAIN (but only by a few points, not by 21).

The Western Conference is much better than the Eastern Conference in regard to players. Look at the rosters. Who do you think is going to win?

Eastern Conference:

Jason Kidd (NJ), Dwayne Wade (MIA), Lebron James (CLE), Dwight Howard (ORL), Ray Allen (BOS), Chauncey Billups (DET), Chris Bosh (TOR), Richard Hamilton (DET), Antwan Jamison (WAS), Joe Johnson (ATL), Paul Pierce (BOS), Rasheed Wallace (DET)

Western Conference:

Kobe Bryant (LA), Allen Iverson (DEN), Carmelo Anthony (DEN), Tim Duncan (SA), Yao Ming (HOU), Carlos Boozer (UTA), Steve Nash (PHX), Dirk Nowitzki (DAL), Chris Paul (NO), Brandon Roy (POR), Amare Stoudemire (PHX), David West (NO)