Tagged As: NBA, Lakers, Magic, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, All Star Game

They have not chosen the reserves yet and the Eastern Conference has no coach, but the starters have been chosen and speculation over the NBA All Star Game on February 15, 2009 has already begun.

Despite three wins in the last four years, the starting roster for the East has always seemed to pale in comparison to the gigantic names coming out of the West. It helps that these contests do not mean anything and about as much defense is played there as a typical street ball game.

However, this year, the starting five look even for the first time since the ‘90s. The West is starting Chris Paul at point, Kobe Bryant at shooting guard, Amare Stoudemire at “small” forward, Tim Duncan at power forward, and Yao Ming at center.

The East is countering with Allen Iverson at point guard, Dwayne Wade at two-guard, LeBron James at small forward, Kevin Garnet at power forward, and Dwight Howard at center.

For the first time I want the NBA to take a lesson from MLB and make the game count for something. Perhaps make the winning conference the home team in the finals. I know that the conferences play each other so there is no real argument for such a move, but I want to see these five go at each other.

The first half season headlines have already been rife with games between the stars. Kobe and the Los Angeles Lakers have already proved themselves by pretty easily putting away LeBron and the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Staples Center.

However, the Orlando Magic and Dwight Howard had come in the game before and upset the Lakers at home for a message game that announced they were the best team in the NBA.

Dwayne Wade has been equally stellar, keeping his very thin Miami Heat in the playoff chase and putting together big games in match ups with other superstars.

The point is that this season has been the season of the star and this game gets them all together. I want to see them scowl, hip check, and scratch each other on the court in an intense competitive game.

Let the three-point contest, the slam dunk contest, the skills contest, and whatever other sideshow there is provide some light hearted entertainment. If David Stern wants to get his fan base excited and spread hoop fever like an epidemic, then a battle of the strongest wills is the answer.

If this were a real game would Yao be able to handle Howard’s quickness down low? Would Howard be able to counter Ming’s height? Would Kobe be run ragged by a constant attack from Wade and LeBron? Is Wade’s defense so intense that he can keep Kobe in check? Could Chris Paul out penetrate A.I.? There are too many awe-inspiring questions for a basketball fan, but give the games culture as a raucous good time the incredible parity of these lineups will be lost on the family-friendly entertainment value of side line reports and a desperate half time show.

At least the second half of the season will give me more chances to watch which stars can align themselves with the championship.

This mix of highlights from Ravens5686 on YouTube shows you the action you’ve been missing

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