After years and years of watching the NBA, you'd think anybody would easily be able to predict who will play in the All-Star Game. Sure anybody can say LeBron and Kobe (and Yao), but after that it's anyone’s guess. It’s hard to forecast the whole NBA All-Star team, but I’m going to try and do it anyway. These guys are the guys who should be keeping you awake at night while you try to figure out how to guard them in your upcoming online league game.
Head Coach: Mike Brown
Derrick Rose - Chicago Bulls - Point Guard
Jason Kidd is out West and Chauncey Billups is starting to show his age a bit. It looks like it could be time for the number one pick to take the reigns as the Eastern Conference’s top signal caller. A hot start would definitely get the fans in Chicago to the polls.
Dwyane Wade - Miami Heat - Shooting Guard
The Heat had the second pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. The team took Michael Beasley, but the Heat will be getting Dwyane Wade back as well. He was injured most of last season, but anybody who watched the Olympics would be hard pressed to argue he’s rusty.
LeBron James - Cleveland Cavaliers - Small Forward
Despite speculation that LeBron is bolting for Brooklyn in 2010, he’ll be in Cleveland this season giving the same effort he did last year. He was the All-Star Game MVP in 2008, and he's a favorite along with Kobe to be the NBA MVP this year.
Kevin Garnett - Boston Celtics - Power Forward
The cover boy got the monkey off his back by winning his first NBA championship. At an accomplished 32-years-old, will KG pump the brakes and let the young Celtics take over? The Big Ticket is still one of the most beloved players in the NBA and an absolute pain for defenses. So, expect Kevin Garnett to play his heart out until the wheels fall off.
Dwight Howard - Orlando Magic - Center
Dwight Howard burst onto the scene at last season’s All-Star Game with his dunk contest performance. A two time All-Star already, Howard is only 22 and the rebound machine doesn’t look like he's letting up anytime soon.
Bench
Elton Brand - Philadelphia 76ers - Power Forward
He’s been a consistent force for Los Angeles for most of the seven seasons he was there, but Elton Brand never got much love in February. With a clean slate in Philadelphia, expect Brand to make his third All-Star team.
Antawn Jamison - Washington Wizards - Power Forward
Paul Pierce - Boston Celtics - Small Forward
Joe Johnson - Atlanta Hawks - Shooting Guard
Devin Harris - New Jersey Nets - Point Guard
Richard Hamilton - Detroit Pistons - Shooting Guard
Eddy Curry - New York Knicks - Center
Eddy Curry is by far the biggest stretch on either team. Curry should have been an All-Star two seasons ago but didn’t make the squad. He took a huge step back last year, but with Shaq out of the East the squad could be looking for a big man.
Head Coach: Jerry Sloan
Chris Paul - New Orleans Hornets - Point Guard
One year older and one year wiser, it’s hard to believe Chris Paul will decline in his fourth season. The Hornets shocked the world last year, challenging Kobe, Pau, and the Lakers for the top seed in the Western Conference. Paul will put New Orleans on his back again this year as his team tries to go deeper in the playoffs.
Kobe Bryant - Los Angeles Lakers - Shooting Guard
The NBA MVP will continue his quest for his fourth championship, while putting up numbers similar to last year's. He could miss every shot this season and he would still be voted in.
Carmelo Anthony - Denver Nuggets - Small Forward
After a successful Olympic trip and the departure of Marcus Camby, Carmelo Anthony will have to shoulder the load even more in Denver. Allen Iverson could be traded before the All-Star Game, which would put all of the pressure on Carmelo. Based on his one year at Syracuse, we all know he’s capable of doing just that.
Amare Stoudamire - Phoenix Suns - Forward/Center
With Shaq there to clog up the middle and Head Coach Terry Porter’s defensive minded gameplan, Amare Stoudemire will be playing a different game than what he’s used to. He’s still a freak athlete who will be catching passes from Steve Nash, which is enough to assume he’ll have a monster season.
Yao Ming - Houston Rockets - Center
Unless the Internet in China goes down for the next six months, Yao will get the starter’s nod no matter what he does this year. He should still be a force assuming he’s 100 percent from his ankle injury.
Bench
Deron Williams - Utah Jazz - Point Guard
Coach K saw something special in Deron Williams when he got more burn at the Olympics than Jason Kidd. Deron should build on that experience with his first All-Star appearance.
Brandon Roy - Portland Trail Blazers - Guard
Carlos Boozer - Utah Jazz - Power Forward
Tracy McGrady - Houston Rockets - Small Forward
Dirk Nowitzki - Dallas Mavericks - Forward
Tim Duncan - San Antonio Spurs - Power Forward
Greg Oden - Portland Trail Blazers - Center
He hasn’t played a game yet in the NBA, but Greg Oden will get a second chance at his rookie year. He does look like a grizzled vet but the 20-year-old is still the number one pick from two years ago. Now, though, he has a confident Blazers team that isn’t relying solely on the big man from Ohio State.
So is Greg Oden really 20-years-old? Will Eddy Curry cut out the donuts from his diet and come to play for his new head coach? Do Raptors fans hate me now? Pick your NBA All-Stars and rip mine using the comment box below.