Voting for the 2012 NBA All-Star teams began on January 4, 2012. Here are my picks for the Eastern Conference starters.
Generally speaking, I try to select an all-star team that fairly reflects a standard NBA lineup; though the league insists - for reasons I've never understood - on lumping all "guards" and "forwards" together in two groups, I prefer to select a point guard and a shooting guard, and a small forward and a power forward. I'll make exceptions on occasion... and this year's Eastern Conference roster is one such occasion.
Voting continues until January 31st. Teams will be announced on February 2nd.
Center - Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
The Eastern Conference is much deeper at the center spot than the West, with Atlanta's Al Horford, New York's Tyson Chandler and Chicago's Joakim Noah all deserving of mention. But this spot belongs to Dwight Howard unless (until) he gets traded to a Western Conference club.
Forward - Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks
Rebecca Taylor/MSG Photos
Ordinarily, I prefer to pick a true power forward and a true small forward on my all-star ballot, but this year I'm making an exception because 'Melo is putting up some eye-popping numbes for Mike D'Antoni's Knicks. If you'd rather Amar'e Stoudemire in this slot, I won't object.
Forward - LeBron James, Miami Heat
Getty Images Sport - Mike Ehrmann/Staff
Who else? Joke all you want about James' late game troubles in the playoffs... that doesn't change the fact that he's the best all-around player in the game today.
Guard - Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
Doug Benc/Getty Images
Another absolute no-brainer, especially now that Wade and his buddy LeBron seem to be working out the whole "who is the real top dog in Miami" thing.
Guard: Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
Elsa/Getty Images
I gave Boston's Rajon Rondo the (slight) edge at this spot last season, but his play tailed off in the second half while Rose led the Bulls to the league's best record and was named league MVP.
New Jersey's Deron Williams also deserves consideration here... at this point, I'd put Williams behind Rose, ahead of Rondo.
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