EAST STARTERS
Dwyane Wade, G - Last season when Wade's body finally buckled under the weight of carrying the Heat, people wondered if he was crashing and burning too early; another Penny Hardaway in the making. He's only responded by lifting the Heat to a top-6 seed in the East with the most impressive statistical season of his stellar career. Averaging a league-leading 29 points with 5/7/2 steals and somehow 1.5 blocks as a 6'4" guard, playing in all 43 games so far. Enough said.
Joe Johnson, G - There was a void in the East's top four when Detroit semi-imploded this season, and Atlanta's stepped up and claimed the spot (even through an injury to Josh Smith) largely due to Johnson's antics. He's served as their primary scorer/playmaker/perimeter defender, doing 21.5/4.5/6 in 40 minutes. He hasn't shot the ball incredibly well, but has had numerous clutch performances to lift the Hawks to Ws, saving his best for when it matters most.
LeBron James, F - My mid-season MVP, here because his team's destroying the opposition along with any expectations attached to them pre-season. They sit atop the East, haven't lost at home, and own the league's highest point differential by a wide margin. Even with a marked drop in his numbers, they're arguably the most impressive in the league, especially with Lebron spending many a fourth quarter on the bench, watching the Cavs play out a 25-point lead.
Kevin Garnett, F - His numbers have fallen off this year, which is only to be expected with Garnett getting a year older and the Celts' reserves continuing to emerge as legit talents. Still, the Celtics (aside from their meltdown earlier this month) have been playing some of the best ball in the league, and they're still winning with defense, which has to be credited to Garnett if anyone. He's playing amazing D with an intensity that would intimidate Steve Nash into locking someone down and must be rubbing off on the rest of his team.
Dwight Howard, C - Oh, you were expecting Andrew Bogut? Really, what other center in the conference deserves to don an All-Star jersey this year? Howard's been such a beast compared to the rest of the East's bigs that his presence here needs no explanation, but 20/14/3 blocks and a Top-3 record league-wide should end any debate.
RESERVES
Chris Bosh, F - The Raps have sucked more than a Dyson vacuum this year but Bosh has had the kind of season that would put him in the MVP discussion if his team wasn't so horrendous.
Danny Granger, F - Another great player on a shitty team; Indiana's 14th in the East but his emergence into an all-league scorer can't be ignored. Here's a classic example of a guy who needs to play (only the holy trinity of Kobe, Lebron and Dwyane are scoring more than him) but probably won't becuase of his teammates' shortcomings.
Devin Harris, G - He's become as deadly a scorer as he is a crafty playmaker, and has the Nets performing above what anyone expected of them this season. After a year of insider trading allegations and the requisite ridiculous beef with league policy, he remains Mark Cuban's biggest mistake.
Paul Pierce, F - Like Garnett, he's earned his spot not through impressive stats but tough defense and his presence as leader on a team that's proving it'll be very tough to wrestle the championship from. Pierce leads the Celts in scoring and remains one of the league's most dangerous guns in the clutch.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas, F - Following in the footsteps of Jamaal Magloire, Dale & Antonio Davis, and even himself, Z's this year's odd man out: the back-up East center who's having a fine season but is clearly out his element among the league's greats.
Andre Iguodala, F - AI (he's taken his spot as the Sixers' sparkplug and on the All-Star team, he might as well take nickname while he's at it) has brought a dynamic presence on the wing, leading a recent surge by a team that lost its "best" player and hasn't looked better all season.
Jameer Nelson, G - Nelson's been playing some incredible basketball recently, dropping 24/6 in 3 wins over division leaders that helped launch Orlando into the "contender" conversation. I hate saying that a team "needs" a second All-Star, but in a conference that's had so many disappointments, Nelson's surprising success needs to be rewarded as much as his team's.
All-Snub Team: Mo Williams, Rashard Lewis, Ray Allen, Antawn Jamison, Allen Iverson
WEST STARTERS
Kobe Bryant, G - You know the story by now: 26/5/5, All-Defense calibre play on the wing, most potent weapon in the clutch since MJ, blah blah..whatever...The difference this year, and this has never been said before, is that Bryant enters the break as the unquestioned leader of a squad that's running away with the West and is favored by many to be last team standing in June. A no-brainer.
Chris Paul, G - ...Has just been ridiculous this year. Last year Paul compiled one of the most flawless statistical arsenals ever by a point guard and has found a way to improve upon it. He dominates both sides of the ball, comfortably leading the league in assists and steals while finding time to drop 21ppg (...as a 6 foot point guard....on 50% shooting) and grab over 5 boards.
CP3 has the Hornets among the top of the West again this year with the steadiest and purest game in the league. Another no-brainer.
Tim Duncan, F - Like Kobe, Timmy D's had this spot reserved for the past decade and given nothing but the same dominance this year. When Manu and Mr. Longoria went down for much of the season's first two months, Duncan kept a shallow (by Spurs standards) team above water by himself, a team that now sits second in the West. His still-declining numbers aside, if you look at his impact on his team, no big man out West has topped him this season.
Dirk Nowitzki, F - I hate doing this, but I have to. I still don't think the Mavs will make the playoffs; of the teams fighting for the last spots out West they're the most susceptible to a late-season meltdown. But even if they fall short, Dirk will have gone out gunning. I tried really fucking hard to convince myself Amar'e deserved this but 26/8.5 and Dirk's typical stellar shooting are too starter-worthy.
Yao Ming, C - Surprisingly, Yao's been the healthiest star on a Rockets squad that just can't get the injury bug to fuck off. His numbers have fallen a bit, and Houston's season has had a few ups and downs, but he's been their steadiest and best player, and at a shade under 20/10, easily the best center in the West.
RESERVES
Chauncey Billups, G - Another performance that transcends his numbers, has been a contagious presence in Denver, his arrival immediately triggering a resurgence that's vaulted the Nugs into the West's Top 3 even without Melo.
Brandon Roy, G - Has been consistently impressive and occasionally unconscious, leading a Blazers squad that's made the league take notice that last year's playoff push was no joke.
Amar'e Stoudemire, F- Has fallen victim to Terry Porter's anti-D'Antoni approach and failed to dominate the league's best big-man debate (as he did at the end of last year), but 21/9 on 54% is nothing to complain about.
Al Jefferson, F - With injuries to Boozer and Melo, there's no reason not to reward Jefferson for the 22/11 and stellar defense he's played this year. Even if it's for the Wolves.
Shaquille O'Neal, C - No, this isn't an honorary selection based on his legendary career or the game's location; he's shaken his beached whale-status been the second-best center in the West this year.
Pau Gasol, F/C - No longer stuck being the man on an awful team, Pau looks better than ever on the Lakers even if his numbers have fallen; clearly he's more comfortable as Kobe's #2.
Tony Parker, G - He's come back from injury to have a career-year and the Spurs are again defying those who say their window's closing and look like a serious threat in the West.
All-Snub Team - Steve Nash, Carmelo Anthony, Jason Terry, Zach Randolph, David West
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