NBA all stars

I just wanted to voice my opinion on the all star selections, both starters and reserves. I'll start with the Eastern Conference.

Starters:

F -- Amar'e Stoudemire, New York

F -- LeBron James, Miami

C -- Dwight Howard, Orlando

G -- Derrick Rose, Chicago

G -- Dwyane Wade, Miami

There is no way around it, these are by far the top 5 players in the Eastern Conference right now. The only somewhat argument you could make is putting Rondo over Rose. However Rose is in my opinion the MVP of the league right now averaging 24.6 ppg, 8.2 apg, and add 1 steal a game to that too. Rondo's early season assist numbers are staggering (12.5 asp) however he is not scoring on an effective enough level to be starting over Rose. Also note that Rose is winning games without his starting center in Noah, and he won many without Boozer. LeBron and Wade were obvious picks, both averaging over 25 a game. Amar'e is having the best season of his career (26 ppg, 8.7 rpg and 2.2 blocks), and is also an MVP candidate. Dwight is questionably the only true all-star center in the NBA, especially since Yao how been out all season. 2nd in the league in rebounding with 13.7 boards a game, also a great choice. No arguments whatsoever with the starters in the East.

Reserves

G --Rajon Rondo, Boston

G -- Ray Allen, Boston

F -- Paul Pierce, Boston

F -- Kevin Garnett , Boston

F -- Chris Bosh, Miami

G -- Joe Johnson, Atlanta

C -- Al Horford, Atlanta

The talented in the East is unlimited right? Not so much. Many people along with myself have been especially complaining about Bosh making the all-star game, while only averaging 18.3 ppg, 8.1 rpg. Your telling me Kevin Love has to get picked as a replacement player but Bosh can make it in the East? It really says a lot about the weak and top heaviness of the East this year. Rondo was obviously deserving, but none of these other players would have made it in the West. Due to the weakness, i definitely agree with the 4 Celtics, because they do the most for their teams and all contribute and compete on the offensive and defensive side of the ball every night. Horford is having a great season (16 ppg 10 rpg), a double double almost every night will get you in the all star game. Not to mention he is one of the top post defenders in the league. Johnson however for a guard is hard to take into the game. Averaging 20.5 ppg and 5.6 apg are good numbers, however not all star numbers for a scoring guard. I would have put Raymond Felton (17.3 ppg, 8.9 asp) because of the assist numbers mostly, and he is averaging 17 and not the true go to scorer on his team like Johnson is. In terms of Bosh again, sure i really do not think he deserves it. However, with Granger and Iguodala having down years on bad teams and Boozer having missed so much time with injury, there is really no one to replace him as a forward. Bottom line, the East has a lot of talent at the top, but not the spread of talent like there is in the West.

West

Starters:

Guard	Kobe Bryant	Lakers
Guard	Chris Paul	Hornets
Forward	Carmelo Anthony	Nuggets
Forward	Kevin Durant	Thunder
Center	Yao Ming	Rockets

There you have it, the starting lineup for the true power conference this year, similar to every year, in the NBA. Starting right from the top with Kobe was a given. With the Lakers having the second best record in the league and Kobe averaging 25.5 again, it is no surprise he is in the starting lineup. A really tough call at starting point between Chris Paul, Russel Westbrook and Deron Williams. I highly disagree with the starting of CP3 over Williams. Williams is averaging 5 more points (21.9ppg) and only .2 less assists (9.5). Sure CP3 is the flashy and more popular pick for the fans which is why he was voted a starter, however Williams is certainly having a more star powered season. This is not to say Paul shouldn't have made the game though, he without a doubt deserves it. Carmelo is just above Dirk in scoring with 24 a game, and stats wise he is certainly a starter. Dirk could have took his spot if not for the injury plagued season he has had. However, if Carmelo man average 24 while slacking some games, being benched the others because of "lack of effort in practice" it is certain that he has all the talent to be a deserving starter this year. Kevin Durant, 29 a game, third in the West, enough said. Give this guy a LOT of MVP consideration. We all know its a joke, thank China for all their voters voting for him. Only playing 2 games this year, and being out for the season this obviously does not matter. He was already replaced on the roster, by the fully deserving Kevin Love who is averaging 15.6 rebounds per game. I give full credit to the commissioner for making the right call and putting the most deserving guy out of the all star game, into it where he belongs.

Reserves:

G--Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs

F--Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks

F--Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers

G--Deron Williams, Utah Jazz

G--Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder

F--Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers

C--Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs

The level of criticism I have with this list of all stars is ridiculous. As I have stated above, I believe that Deron WIlliams and Russel Westbrook were both highly deserving. I already talked a lot about Williams but Westbrook is having his best season yet, the Thunder are a top 10 team in the NBA and being the second option on the Thunder he is averaging 22.5 points, 8.6 assists and 5.1 rebounds. The only other player that can put up these kind of numbers in the league is LeBron. Highly impressive, and he even deserved thought as a starter. Also I talked about Dirk, and how he is having an incredible season. If not for injury problems, he would be the starter over Melo in my opinion. The last out of these that I have no problem with is Manu Ginobli. Manu is on the best team in the league, and has becoming the leader on the court. Averaging 18.5 points and 5 assists, might not be flashy but he has been playing clutch for the best team in the NBA. Have to say this was a great call. That is hard to say while taking out Steve Nash, Eric Gordon and Monta Ellis. However Manu is on the best team in the NBA, they aren't which really is a huge factor. The only one i wouldn't have a problem making it over Manu would be Nash because of the 11 assists a game. Though Ellis is a star with 25.3 points a game, how long has it been since the warriors were relevant? And sure Gordon is playing great basketball in L.A, but its hard to be undershadowed by Blake. I could go on for days about how much I disagree with Tim Duncan making the game. But I am just going to say this. Duncan is having his worst statistical season ever, and he made it over the NBA's leading rebounder in Kevin Love. I have the same issue with Blake Griffin. Though averaging 22 points and 11 boards as a rookie, he only made the all star game because of the jaw dropping dunks. But I have to sit back and ask myself, if he couldn't dunk like that, would he make the game? Probably not, Love would make it over him. Just a little food for thought. The last person is Pau Gasol. Not needed to say, Love should have made it over him as well. Averaging 18.7 points and 10.5 rebounds he has good numbers. However, Love should have made it over him, and it was a toss up between Pau, Aldridge and Odom. However, what is done is done. This should be a good all star game. Oh wait, they don't have those anymore.