Tonight, on the TNT pregame show at 7 PM EST, the commentators will announce the starting lineups participating in the 60th NBA All-Star Game held on February 20, 2011 at the renowned Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (The reserves are announced in a week)
Here are my picks for the Western Conference - both the starting lineup and the reserve players. Here, the only position that is a given is the starting SG (Kobe Bryant). For every other position, two+ players could take the starting slot.
Click Here for my predictions on the 2011 Eastern Conference Roster
I will present to you the starting lineup and my analysis of the starters and reserve selections:
Western Conference Starting Lineup:
PF: Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers (22.6 ppg, 3.5 apg, 12.8 rpg)
PF: Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets (23.6 ppg, 3.1 apg, 8.0 rpg)
C: Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers (18.6 ppg, 3.9 apg, 10.5 rpg)
Analysis of Starting Lineup
Point Guard
This position is almost a toss-up between Wake Forest alum and current Hornet Chris Paul and Illinois alum and current Jazz Deron Williams. The difference would be that Paul had more tribulations with the team (wanting to get traded, the possible movement of the entire franchise), yet he is a possible MVP candidate with his team at 30-16 (5th place in the West). Williams, on the other hand, has Al Jefferson, Andrei Kirelinko and Paul Millsap taking off some of the load. Paul only has Emeka Okeafor and David West. EDGE: Paul
Small Forward
Depending on how the league plays this position, any one of multiple players could take this slot. I believe last year's runner-up to the MVP - Kevin Durant - will grab the starting SF position, since he is playing at a really high level right now that makes him almost unguardable. Because of the Carmelo Anthony trade speculation, he will make it as a reserve.
Power Forward and Center
Two of these talented power forwards (Blake Griffin, Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol or Kevin Love) could crack the starting lineup should the NBA not choose a true center like Tyson Chandler or Nene Hilario. The question is: Who?
I believe Blake Griffin's monster season (12.5 rebounds per game WITH 22.6 points per game), the attention he gets nationwide, as well as being the runaway Rookie of the Year may make him the first player to be invited to the Sprite Dunk Contest, the T-Mobile Rookie versus Sophomore Challenge AND the All-Star Game.
Pau Gasol of the LA Lakers has been the glue guy for the team this season, averaging a double-double (18.6 points per game and 10.5 rebounds per game) and the most assists/game since his 2004 season with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Another reason is that both are playing for teams in Los Angeles. And guess where the All-Star festivities are being held? Los Angeles, of course!
UPDATE (1/28/10):
As of 7:30 PM on Thursday, Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets made the team over Clippers fan favorite Blake Griffin. I guess it was the popularity that clinched the spot for 'Melo.
Western Conference Reserves:
SF: Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets (23.6 ppg, 3.1 apg, 8.0 rpg)
PF: Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers (22.6 ppg, 3.5 apg, 12.8 rpg)
PF: LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland Trail Blazers (21.1 ppg, 2.1 apg, 8.8 rpg)
PF: Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs (13.6 ppg, 3.0 apg, 9.4 rpg)
Just Missed the Cut:Tim Duncan, Nene Hilario, Tyson Chandler, Lamar Odom, Rudy Gay, Zach Randolph, Eric Gordon, Chauncy Billups, Steve Nash, Monta Ellis and Jason Kidd
Analysis: (UPDATE: 2/3/11):
The big issue here is if there is a true center position (if so, Nene/Chandler would make the team and Love wouldn't. How weird is it that Duncan is NOT an All-Star, and that the leading rebounder in the NBA, who also averages 20/10 also won't make it?).
Looks like Duncan made the cut, mainly because of his credentials in past years, and Love will replace the injured Yao Ming. (What are the Chinese thinking??? Just because he's famous does not mean he deserves to play in the All-Star game!)
Rudy Gay and Monta Ellis are also having outstanding years, but there are too many other great SG/SF's that are playing just as well as they are right now.
The veteran point guards that normally play during the All-Star game (Billips, Kidd and Nash) are having down seasons and are being outplayed (stats-wise) by the younger stars (Deron Williams, Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook).
Click Here for my predictions on the 2011 Eastern Conference Roster
Here are my picks for the Western Conference - both the starting lineup and the reserve players. Here, the only position that is a given is the starting SG (Kobe Bryant). For every other position, two+ players could take the starting slot.
Click Here for my predictions on the 2011 Eastern Conference Roster
I will present to you the starting lineup and my analysis of the starters and reserve selections:
Western Conference Starting Lineup:
PG: Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets (16.4 ppg, 9.6 apg, 4.0 rpg, 2.7 spg)
SG: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers (24.9 ppg, 4.8 apg, 5.0 rpg)
SF: Kevin Durant (28.1 ppg, 2.9 apg, 6.4 rpg)
PF: Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets (23.6 ppg, 3.1 apg, 8.0 rpg)
C: Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers (18.6 ppg, 3.9 apg, 10.5 rpg)
Analysis of Starting Lineup
Point Guard
This position is almost a toss-up between Wake Forest alum and current Hornet Chris Paul and Illinois alum and current Jazz Deron Williams. The difference would be that Paul had more tribulations with the team (wanting to get traded, the possible movement of the entire franchise), yet he is a possible MVP candidate with his team at 30-16 (5th place in the West). Williams, on the other hand, has Al Jefferson, Andrei Kirelinko and Paul Millsap taking off some of the load. Paul only has Emeka Okeafor and David West. EDGE: Paul
Small Forward
Depending on how the league plays this position, any one of multiple players could take this slot. I believe last year's runner-up to the MVP - Kevin Durant - will grab the starting SF position, since he is playing at a really high level right now that makes him almost unguardable. Because of the Carmelo Anthony trade speculation, he will make it as a reserve.
Power Forward and Center
Two of these talented power forwards (Blake Griffin, Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol or Kevin Love) could crack the starting lineup should the NBA not choose a true center like Tyson Chandler or Nene Hilario. The question is: Who?
I believe Blake Griffin's monster season (12.5 rebounds per game WITH 22.6 points per game), the attention he gets nationwide, as well as being the runaway Rookie of the Year may make him the first player to be invited to the Sprite Dunk Contest, the T-Mobile Rookie versus Sophomore Challenge AND the All-Star Game.
Pau Gasol of the LA Lakers has been the glue guy for the team this season, averaging a double-double (18.6 points per game and 10.5 rebounds per game) and the most assists/game since his 2004 season with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Another reason is that both are playing for teams in Los Angeles. And guess where the All-Star festivities are being held? Los Angeles, of course!
UPDATE (1/28/10):
As of 7:30 PM on Thursday, Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets made the team over Clippers fan favorite Blake Griffin. I guess it was the popularity that clinched the spot for 'Melo.
Western Conference Reserves:
PG: Deron Williams, Utah Jazz (21.9 ppg, 9.4 apg, 3.7 rpg)
PG: Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder (22.4 ppg, 8.4 apg, 5.0 rpg)
SG/SF: Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs (18.7 ppg, 4.9 apg, 3.9 rpg)
PF: Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers (22.6 ppg, 3.5 apg, 12.8 rpg)
PF: Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs (13.6 ppg, 3.0 apg, 9.4 rpg)
PF: Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks (23.3 ppg, 2.4 apg, 7.1 rpg)
PF: Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves (21.6 ppg, 2.6 apg, 15.7 rpg)
Just Missed the Cut:
Analysis: (UPDATE: 2/3/11):
The big issue here is if there is a true center position (if so, Nene/Chandler would make the team and Love wouldn't. How weird is it that Duncan is NOT an All-Star, and that the leading rebounder in the NBA, who also averages 20/10 also won't make it?).
Looks like Duncan made the cut, mainly because of his credentials in past years, and Love will replace the injured Yao Ming. (What are the Chinese thinking??? Just because he's famous does not mean he deserves to play in the All-Star game!)
Rudy Gay and Monta Ellis are also having outstanding years, but there are too many other great SG/SF's that are playing just as well as they are right now.
The veteran point guards that normally play during the All-Star game (Billips, Kidd and Nash) are having down seasons and are being outplayed (stats-wise) by the younger stars (Deron Williams, Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook).
Click Here for my predictions on the 2011 Eastern Conference Roster
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