NBA All-Stars

With the All-Star game just weeks away and the voting set to end next week, I've decided to put in my opinion on which players should be included on the All-Star teams. I've used the same formula that I use to determine my MVP rankings, but I've removed the use of team record as a measurement, since All-Stars should be the best players, and should not be limited to players on winning teams.

East

Starters

F LeBron James

F Amare Stoudemire

C Dwight Howard

G Dwyane Wade

G Derrick Rose

Bench

F Carlos Boozer

F Paul Pierce

C Al Horford

G Raymond Felton

G Joe Johnson

F Chris Bosh

F Joakim Noah

F Josh Smith (injury replacement, if necessary)

It looks like the voters have actually got the starting lineup right for the first time for as long as I can remember. The coaches have a few tough decisions, and I assume they will probably choose Rondo over one of the guards I've selected, but I believe this is the best team the East can put on the floor, and a downright scary starting five.

West

Starters

F Kevin Love

F Kevin Durant

C Pau Gasol

G Russell Westbrook

G Kobe Bryant

Bench

F Blake Griffin

F Dirk Nowitzki

C Zach Randolph

G Monta Ellis

G Deron Williams

F LaMarcus Aldridge

F Carmelo Anthony

F Rudy Gay (injury replacement, if necessary)

You may have noticed that both centers I listed on the West roster are actually power forwards, but with the lack of quality centers in the West right now and the injured Yao Ming leading the voting, I looked to a couple of big forwards who play more like centers to fill those slots. Leaving Chris Paul off my ballot may be a little controversial, but Westbrook and Williams are both playing better at the point this year, and Monta Ellis is one of the most exciting players that noone gets to watch. I would start Love over Anthony, which the voters wouldn't, but there is no more dominant inside player in the NBA right now than the Timberwolves' big man, Amare and Dwight Howard included.

NBA Player of the Day

Derrick Rose - CHI - 29 pts, 10 reb, 5 ast, 2 blk, 11-21 FG, 3-6 3P, 4-5 FT

Rose continued his stellar play with a double-double big man style last night. You don't expect 10 rebounds and 2 blocks from your point guard, but Rose does everything well, and he has the Bulls winning, which is what has made him an MVP candidate so early in his career.

Predictions - 15 Jan

Upset picks are in italics.

College Basketball

Virginia at (1) Duke - Duke by 30

Penn State at (2) Ohio State - Ohio State by 25

Nebraska at (3) Kansas - Kansas by 19

Cincinnati at (4) Syracuse - Syracuse by 11

Seton Hall at (5) Pittsburgh - Pitt by 19

(6) San Diego State at New Mexico - San Diego State by 2

Maryland at (7) Villanova - Villanova by 3

(9) Connecticut at DePaul - UConn by 11

(12) Missouri at (13) Texas A&M - Texas A&M by 7

Oklahoma at (14) Texas - Texas by 24

LSU at (15) Kentucky - Kentucky by 26

(16) Illinois at (21) Wisconsin - Wisconsin by 6

Marquette at (17) Louisville - Louisville by 7

(19) Georgetown at Rutgers - Georgetown by 5

Texas Tech at (20) Kansas State - Kansas State by 18

(22) UCF at Southern Miss - Southern Miss by 2

(23) Temple at Duquesne - Duquesne by 5

Northwestern at (24) Michigan State - Michigan State by 7

Vanderbilt at Tennessee - Vanderbilt by 1

UNLV at Air Force - UNLV by 7

Campbell at Belmont - Belmont by 25

Santa Clara at Saint Mary's - Saint Mary's by 24

Arizona State at Arizona - Arizona by 21

NFL

Ravens at Steelers - Steelers by 5

Packers at Falcons - Packers by 2

Seahawks at Bears - Bears by 14

Jets at Patriots - Patriots by 12

NBA

Rockets at Hawks - Hawks by 5

Raptors at Wizards - Wizards by 1

Hornets at Bobcats - Hornets by 4

Kings at Pistons - Pistons by 5

Heat at Bulls - Bulls by 1

Magic at Timberwolves - Magic by 7

Mavericks at Grizzlies - Mavericks by 1

Cavaliers at Nuggets - Nuggets by 17

Nets at Trail Blazers - Trail Blazers by 10

Prediction Results - 14 Jan

NBA: 8/11 (.727) 288/402 overall (.716)

Upsets: 1/2 (.500) 60/104 overall (.577)