NBA All-Star Reserves

Here is a quick recap of your All-Star reserves:

East:
Paul Pierce (Boston Celtics)
Luol Deng (Chicago Bulls)
Roy Hibbert (Indiana Pacers)
Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers)
Joe Johnson (Atlanta Hawks)
Deron Williams (New Jersey Nets)

West:
Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas Mavericks)
LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland Trail Blazers)
Marc Gasol (Memphis Grizzlies)
Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves)
Steve Nash (Phoenix Suns)
Tony Parker (San Antonio Spurs)
Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder)

Remember, the All-Star Game is live from the Amway Center on February 26 on TNT, coverage starting at 6pm. So after you watch the Daytona 500 on FOX, just flip it straight to TNT!

2012 All Star Game Starters and All Star Weekend Schedule Announced

The NBA All-Star Starters were announced last night and seeing that this is fan voting, not many surprises.

East All-Star Starters
G- Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls)
G- Dwayne Wade (Miami Heat)
F- Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks)
F- LeBron James (Miami Heat)
C- Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic) (Leading Vote Getter)

West All-Star Starters
G- Chris Paul (L.A. Clippers)
G- Kobe Bryant (L.A. Lakers)
F- Blake Griffin (L.A. Clippers)
F- Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder)
C- Andrew Bynum (L.A. Lakers)

Is it me, or is there a pattern? Yeah, there is. In both conferences, there are two pairs of teammates in the starting lineup. But I really don't have a problem with that, all of them have been superior in their positions this year.

What I'm worried about is the All-Star reserves. Will Kevin Love, Josh Smith, Chris Bosh among others make it? Find out when the All-Star reserves are announced Thursday night on TNT during NBA Tip-Off.

And the 2012 All-Star Weekend will be held in Orlando, Florida at the Amway Center, home of the Orlando Magic. The schedule is as follows:

Friday Night:
Sprint NBA All-Star Celebrity Game: 7:00 pm on ESPN from the Orange County Convention Center
NBA Rising Stars Challenge: 9:00 pm on TNT

Saturday Night:
NBA All-Star Saturday Night presented by State Farm: 8:00 pm on TNT
Events Include:

• Haier Shooting Stars
• Taco Bell Skills Challenge
• Foot Locker Three-Point Contest
• Sprite Slam Dunk Contest

Sunday Night:

The 61st Annual NBA All-Star Game: 7:00 pm on TNT from the Amway Center in Orlando

The Disarray in the NBA

As the lockout shortened season enters its first month, the casualties resulting from little to no rest start to mount. Recently, Hawks C/F Al Horford tore a muscle in his shoulder that required surgery, leaving the perennial All-Star out until the playoff push or the playoffs in general. Add to that list Memphis' Zach Randolph, who is out for a similar amount of time and two rising stars are out. Couple that with injuries to Dwayne Wade, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony among many more and this leaves the NBA in limbo. With all that being said...the NBA standings are a little different. Boston and New York have struggled big time and the 76ers have taken the Atlantic Division and if these two teams aren't careful, they'll runaway with it. The Southeast is up to its usual tricks again...Miami, Atlanta and Orlando are in playoff spots as usual. The Central has a newcomer to the division title race: the Indiana Pacers and no, its not "Miller Time" but it is a new day and Indy could be a #6 in the highly competitive East. As for the West...of course when you add CP3 to the Clippers they would be a playoff team. But I'm not quite ready to crown them West champs. Speaking of champs, the Mavs picked up Lamar Odom to replace Tyson Chandler. And they are so so right now but the team that they beat in the West Finals, the OKC Thunder is ready for a run for gold..."Thunder Up"! The team that is silent but deadly is the Portland Trail Blazers...yeah, I know you had to take a sec to look up the team, its ok. But Wallace, Aldridge and Crawford are putting teams to shame. Add the other LA and a resurging Spurs team, and the West is wilder than ever. I said all that to say this: It's mid January. WE STILL HAVE 3 JAM PACKED MONTHS OF BASKETBALL LEFT BEFORE THE PLAYOFFS! And I can't wait.