Here are the starters for the NBA All-Star Game:

EAST: Gilbert Arenas, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Shaquille O’Neal

WEST: Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett and Yao Ming

After comparing these lineups to my picks a few days ago, I have a few questions:

Why is Shaquille O’Neal even on the team, much less a starter?

As voting closed, O’Neal had appeared in four games and averaged 14.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game, while shooting 45% from the field. Meanwhile, a guy by the name of Dwight Howard played in 41 games, and averaged 17.0 points, 12.5 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game, while shooting 56.5% from the field. Is Howard really a center? That’s debatable, but he was listed at center on the ballot and should be starting for the East. O’Neal shouldn’t even be on the 12-man roster.

Why can’t the back-to-back MVP get some love?

Steve Nash is on pace to set career highs in points, assists, FG% and 3PT%. Plus, he is the leader of the Suns, the team with the second-best record in the league. He was replaced in the starting lineup by Tracy McGrady, who has managed to keep the Rockets afloat without Yao Ming. One could argue that McGrady deserves a spot on the team, but with his 42.7 FG%, he’s not a starter. Not when you have Nash sitting there.

Are Americans stlll upset about WWII?

Apparently. That’s the only credible reason for leaving Dirk Nowitzki out of the starting lineup. The Mavs have the best record in the league and Dirk’s numbers are better than both Duncan and Garnett. Sure, both those guys play better defense, but the Mavs’ success hinges on Nowitzki’s play, and he deserves to start.

Other thoughts: I don’t have a problem with Chris Bosh being selected over Jermaine O’Neal. The two were statistically similar and the Raptors and Pacers are pretty close in the Eastern standings…Carlos Boozer deserves to start, but it’s not surprising that Duncan and Garnett were selected before him. The way balloting is currently set up, it’s a popularity contest and Boozer hasn’t been popular since he left the Cavs in a lurch a few years ago…I have to hand it to the fans, they got Gilbert Arenas right. For a while there, it was looking like Vince Carter was going to start, but Arenas made a push and finished 3,010 votes ahead of Carter, the fourth-closest margin in history.

Heading into Sunday’s conference championship games, I was rooting for a Saints/Colts Super Bowl. With that matchup, there would so many great storylines…the city of New Orleans bouncing back after Katrina…Peyton Manning going to his first Super Bowl after so many near misses…Archie Manning’s connection with both franchises. Also, the two teams are much better on offense than on defense, so that Super Bowl matchup would promise to be entertaining, at least for the first half. But the Saints won’t be going to Miami this year and head coach Sean Payton has only himself to blame.

Why didn’t the Saints run the ball? Not counting Drew Brees’ eight-yard scamper, they finished with 11 carries for 48 yards, a 4.4 average. Payton was intent on throwing on just about every down and his quarterback finished with 49 pass attempts. Sure, a lot of those came in the fourth quarter when the Saints were down big, but the playcalling wasn’t balanced in the first half when the game was still close. Not counting the Saints’ final drive in the first half when they were in hurry-up mode, Payton called 18 passes and only six rushes. On those six rushes, the team gained 17 yards. That’s certainly not a great average, but it’s not like the Bears completely shut the running game down.

On the season, the Saints were in the middle of the pack in rushing yards, but Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush had just racked up 195 yards in the Divisional round against the Eagles and 236 yards in their last meaningful regular season game against the Giants, so the team had to be feeling good about their rushing attack.

And what about that vaunted Bears defense? Over their last five meaningful games (Vikings, Rams, Bucs, Lions, Seahawks), the Bears gave up a total of 550 yards on 117 carries to running backs (a 4.7 yard per carry average), and that included two teams (Bucs & Lions) that finished near the bottom in total rushing offense this season. They proved throughout the second half of the season that they were vulnerable to the run, as Ronnie Brown gained 157 yards in Week 9 and Tiki Barber rushed for 141 in Week 10. The yards were there; the Saints just didn’t go after them. Hopefully, Payton learns from this and doesn’t repeat this mistake in the future…but really, how many chances do you get to go to the Super Bowl?

At least the Colts came back to win. I don’t think I could have handled a Bears/Pats matchup.

The All-Star balloting has come to a close and TNT will announce the starters for each conference before their doubleheader on Thursday. There has been a bit of movement in the last three weeks (since I released my initial choices), so it’s a good time to release an update. Since the ballot is broken up into sections for guards, forwards and centers, I will use that methodology when discussing the starters, so it won’t matter if I have two shooting guards or two power forwards starting for a particular team.

Here’s a look at my current list of the top 12 players from each conference based on their statistical performance through January 21st. Special consideration is given to those players from winning teams.

EPG = ((Points + Rebounds + Assists + Steals + Blocks) - ((Field Goals Att. - Field Goals Made) + (Free Throws Att. - Free Throws Made) + Turnovers)) / (Games Played)

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Starters:

Gilbert Arenas, G, Washington Wizards (24-16)
25.1 epg, 29.7 ppg, 6.3 apg, 4.5 rpg, 2.0 spg
Arenas is a bonafide star and the Wizards are tied for first in the East. He’s definitely a scoring point guard, but his 6.3 assists are nothing to sneeze at. Moreover, he’s a former second-round pick, which makes his ascension all the more impressive.

Dwyane Wade, G, Miami Heat (18-22)
27.8 epg, 28.2 ppg, 7.9 apg, 4.8 rpg, 48.1 FG%
Even though Miami has struggled without Shaq, Wade has the league’s second-highest efficiency rating and has his team just a half game out of the playoffs.

LeBron James, F, Cleveland Cavaliers (24-16)
25.5 epg, 27.1 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 6.1 apg
King James has the Cavs tied for first in the East, and barring injury or change of locale, he’ll have this starting spot wrapped up for the next several years.

Jermaine O’Neal, F, Indiana Pacers (20-20)
23.5 epg, 19.3 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 3.1 bpg
This is a tossup between O’Neal and Bosh, but O’Neal gets the nod because the Pacers have one extra win and O’Neal has appeared in a higher percentage of his team’s games.

Dwight Howard, C, Orlando Magic (22-19)
22.9 epg, 17.0 ppg, 12.5 rpg, 1.9 bpg, 56.5 FG%
As of January 11th, Shaquille O’Neal had garnered more votes than Howard, which goes to show just how flawed the All-Star system is. Howard will surely make the team, but he deserves to start.

Reserves:

Chris Bosh, F, Toronto Raptors (19-22)
23.8 epg, 21.7 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 1.3 bpg
Bosh is the main reason that the Raptors are even in the hunt for the Atlantic title. If he can stay healthy, Toronto might just catch the aging Nets.

Caron Butler, F, Washington Wizards (24-16)
23.5 epg, 21.0 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 4.1 apg, 2.0 spg, 48.3 FG%
Those are All-Star caliber numbers. If Butler doesn’t make the team, it will probably be the most egregious snub of the year. (Anyone think the Lakers are regretting that Butler for Kwame Brown swap?)

Jason Kidd, G, New Jersey Nets (20-20)
23.9 epg, 14.4 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 9.1 apg, 1.9 spg
Kidd’s rebound numbers are amazing for a guard. The Nets have had a tough start, but Kidd’s play has them atop the Atlantic.

Chauncey Billups, G, Detroit Pistons (23-16)
21.2 epg, 18.1 ppg, 8.0 apg, 3.4 rpg
Billups has been steady this season and has the Pistons just a half game out of first place in the East.

Michael Redd, G, Milwaukee Bucks (17-23)
21.1 epg, 27.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.2 apg. 46.2 FG%
As of the last returns, Stephon Marbury had more votes than Redd, which is a travesty. His knee injury has hurt his resume, but he deserves a spot on the team.

Vince Carter, G, New Jersey Nets (20-20)
21.9 epg, 25.0 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 4.2 apg
Carter and Kidd give the Nets one of the best backcourts in the league. That’s good, because with Richard Jefferson out, they don’t have much else.

Luol Deng, F, Chicago Bulls (23-15)
19.1 epg, 17.9 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.2 apg, 52.9 FG%
Ben Gordon has been coming on of late, but Deng has been steady all season and the Bulls should be represented.

Alternate:

Emeka Okafor, F, Charlotte Bobcats (14-25)
21.8 epg, 14.9 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 2.9 bpg
This team is sorely lacking in size and has a dinged up player (Redd). Okafor is the next logical candidate at either forward or center.

Close, but no cigar: Paul Pierce, Richard Hamilton, Joe Johnson, Tayshaun Prince, Ben Gordon, Ben Wallace, Antawn Jamison

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Starters:

Steve Nash, G, Phoenix Suns (32-8)
24.7 epg, 19.3 ppg, 11.5 apg, 3.2 rpg, 53.1 FG%
Nash just keeps on truckin’ and is the cog that makes the Suns go. As far as point guards go, he’s the class of the West.

Kobe Bryant, G, Los Angeles Lakers (26-15)
25.3 epg, 27.9 ppg, 5.6 apg, 5.3 rpg, 47.0 FG%
Bryant has done a terrific job of setting his teammates up while taking over when necessary. That formula has the Lakers in the fifth spot in the West despite the loss of Lamar Odom.

Dirk Nowitzki, F, Dallas Mavericks (34-8)
27.4 epg, 24.9 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 3.1 apg, 50.0 FG%
Along with the Suns, the Mavs are the class of the West and Nowitzki is having another season that has him in the running for league MVP.

Carlos Boozer, F, Utah Jazz (27-14)
27.0 epg, 22.2 ppg, 12.0 rpg, 3.2 apg, 56.1 FG%
Boozer is probably the biggest surprise starter this year. His play has helped the Jazz ascend to first place in the Northwest, and he’s one of only four players averaging 20+ points and 10+ rebounds this season.

Yao Ming, C, Houston Rockets (25-16)
26.5 epg, 25.9 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 2.2 bpg, 52.2 FG%
Prior to his injury, Yao was dominating the competition and is the best true center in the league.

Reserves:

Kevin Garnett, F, Minnesota Timberwolves (20-19)
29.5 epg, 22.2 ppg, 12.8 rpg, 4.3 apg
KG keeps the Wolves afloat, which means he probably won’t be traded anytime soon. It would be scary to see what he could do with another star on his team.

Carmelo Anthony, F, Denver Nuggets (20-17)
25.8 epg, 31.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 4.1 apg, 50.3 FG%
Prior to the “bitch slap,” ‘Melo was on pace for a starting spot, but Boozer gets the nod for controlling his temper, unlike Anthony.

Shawn Marion, F, Phoenix Suns (32-8)
24.9 epg, 18.7 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 2.1 spg, 51.5 FG%
The Matrix fills up the stat sheet and deserves another All-Star bid. He’s got an ugly shot, but he’s a very efficient scorer.

Tim Duncan, F, San Antonio Spurs (29-13)
24.4 epg, 19.8 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 2.1 bpg, 54.1 FG%
The Big Fundamental just keeps on chugging. He’s injury-free this year and is showing that he has plenty of gas left in the tank.

Allen Iverson, G, Denver Nuggets (20-17)
22.8 epg, 29.5 ppg, 7.5 apg, 2.1 spg
The Nuggets made a great move trading for AI, who has helped them stay afloat during ‘Melo’s suspension. It will be interesting to see how the two will co-exist.

Elton Brand, F, Los Angeles Clippers (19-21)
24.5 epg, 20.6 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 2.0 bpg, 55.4 FG%
After a slow start, Brand has come on of late and continues to be a bright spot on a shaky Clippers team.

Josh Howard, F, Dallas Mavericks (34-8)
20.4 epg, 19.8 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.0 apg
Howard continues to improve and is proving to be a wonderful sidekick to Nowitzki.

Close, but no cigar: Tracy McGrady, Zach Randolph, Amare Stoudemire, Baron Davis, Chris Paul, Rashard Lewis, Ray Allen, Pau Gasol, Kevin Martin

Here’s an interesting stat…the four NFC playoff games have been decided by a total of ten points, including one overtime game.

Even though most pundits don’t think the NFC representative in the Super Bowl will have much of a chance, the parity in the conference has made for some very exciting playoff games.

The Sixers bought out Chris Webber’s salary and waived the forward, which makes free to sign with any other team as soon as next week. Like many fallen stars, he wants to play for a contender and has identified five teams - Pistons, Heat, Spurs, Mavs and the Lakers - that he’d like to play for.

As of Friday, Detroit is the frontrunner due to their immediate interest, their needs in the frontcourt and Webber’s ties to the area. He is just one year removed from a 20/10 season, but has struggled mightily this season. I don’t think he’d be a very good fit with the Mavs, a team built around speed and agility. They wouldn’t be able to offer much playing time, either. The Spurs don’t appear to be interested, as they’ve made it clear they want young, athletic players at the forward positions.

The Heat and Lakers are two teams that could use Webber’s services, assuming his knees are holding up. The Heat’s depth is always a problem and Webber’s jumper would keep defenses from double-teaming Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O’Neal. Likewise, his scoring and passing would probably be a good fit in the Lakers’ triangle offense.

This is an interesting move by the Sixers. With the buyout, they will pay Webber for the remainder of this season ($20 M) and next season ($22 M), but the total amount paid will be reduced by $5 M, which will bring Sixers under the luxury tax threshold. The other option was to keep Webber for the remainder of the season and try to get something via trade next summer/season from a team looking to dump salary. The problem with that plan is that the Sixers would have to take on comparable salary and it is unlikely that any team would be willing to give up a combination of good, young prospects and draft picks for a $22 M 34 year-old with creaky knees.

Have some thoughts on what’s going to this weekend? The Colts travel to Baltimore, Philly visits New Orleans, the Bears host Seattle and the Patriots head west to face the Chargers.

Bullz-Eye.com’s Anthony Stalter broke down all four games and will follow the playoffs through the Super Bowl on Feb. 4. Let’s hear what you think will happen this weekend.

As I sit here watching the Rose Bowl at my in-laws’, it occurs to me: who cares? Despite being the “granddaddy of them all,” the game has no championship implications other than to muddy the waters. If Michigan looks great and Florida lays an egg against Ohio State in the title game, there will be a lot of talk about how there should have been an OSU/Michigan rematch. If USC dominates and the Gators get blown out, I’m sure all the Trojan fans will complain that they got screwed. You don’t hear this kind of talk after a playoff. The championship is settled on the field, right where it should be.

This ongoing BCS mess is befuddling. Everyone I’ve talked to is in favor of a playoff in college football and opposing arguments are mostly half-hearted, devil’s advocate-type responses. (I know it’s not a statistically accurate survey, but the results are overwhelming.) When was the last time there has been such a consensus amongst the sports public without any positive movement whatsoever?

Click here to read the rest of the article.

Now that it’s the New Year and the NBA season is two months old, it’s a good time to revisit our Power Rankings.

TOP FIVE:

1. Dallas Mavericks (25-7)
The Mavs started 0-4, which means they’ve won 25 of their last 28. That Finals hangover sure didn’t last long. Dirk Nowitzki is on the short list for league MVP.

2. Phoenix Suns (23-8)
In November and December, the Suns rattled off 15 straight, and have won 22 of their last 25. If that’s not enough good news, Amare Stoudemire is looking great. The Suns are going to be a tough out in the playoffs.

3. San Antonio Spurs (23-10)
The Spurs went 12-3 in December, but have dropped two close ones in January against the Cavs and Timberwolves. Tim Duncan is healthy and playing well.

4. Utah Jazz (23-9)
After a red-hot start, a 9-5 December indicates that the Jazz have fallen back to Earth. Utah is probably the team most hurt by the Allen Iverson trade (except, of course, for the Sixers).

5. Chicago Bulls (19-13)
Sure, they’re in third place in their division, but after starting 3-9, the Bulls have won 16 of their last 20 and are establishing themselves as the class of the East. Scott Skiles moved Ben Gordon to the bench and he is the frontrunner for Sixth Man honors, averaging 23.1 points in December.

Falling out: Orlando Magic (19-14), Houston Rockets (20-12)

BOTTOM FIVE:

26. New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets (12-19)
First they lose David West and Peja Stojakovic. Now Chris Paul is out. The Hornets are in trouble.

27. Memphis Grizzlies (8-25)
The return of Pau Gasol is enough to move the Grizzlies up three spots, but I don’t see the Grizzlies competing for a playoff spot this season.

28. Philadelphia 76ers (9-23)
Trading away AI should allow AI2 (Andre Iguodala) to develop into a star, but it’s going to be a few seasons before the Sixers are competitive again.

29. Atlanta Hawks (9-20)
After a great start (by Atlanta standards), the Hawks have dropped nine of their last ten and they just lost Josh Smith to injury.

30. Charlotte Bobcats (9-22)
Brevin Knight is out with injury, allowing Raymond Felton to assist up a storm, but Bobcat wins are hard to come by.

Rising above: Portland Trailblazers (13-20), New York Knicks (14-21)

The All-Star balloting is in full swing, and since it’s pretty much a glorified popularity contest, there are always some odd choices made once the final results are in. Here’s a look at my current list of the top 12 players from each conference based on their statistical performance through the end of December. Special consideration is given to those players from winning teams.

EPG = ((Points + Rebounds + Assists + Steals + Blocks) - ((Field Goals Att. - Field Goals Made) + (Free Throws Att. - Free Throws Made) + Turnovers)) / (Games Played)

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Starters:

Gilbert Arenas, PG, Washington Wizards (17-13)
25.2 epg, 30.3 ppg, 6.3 apg, 4.3 rpg
A former second round pick, Arenas keeps posting monster numbers night after night for the Wizards.

Dwyane Wade, SG, Miami Heat (13-17)
26.7 epg, 27.5 ppg, 7.8 apg, 4.4 rpg
Unlike LeBron, D-Wade hasn’t been able to carry the Heat to a winning record. Of course, other than Shaq, Miami’s roster is pretty devoid of talent.

LeBron James, SF, Cleveland Cavaliers (18-12)
26.0 epg, 27.3 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 6.2 apg
King James hasn’t had much help this season, but the Cavs have the second best record in the East.

Dwight Howard, PF, Orlando Magic (19-14)
23.4 epg, 16.9 ppg, 12.5 rpg, 1.9 bpg
Howard is the star on a surprising Magic squad that finds itself in first place in the Southeast.

Jermaine O’Neal, PF/C, Indiana Pacers (17-15)
23.6 epg, 19.3 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 3.1 bpg
O’Neal has shrugged off numerous injuries to post consistent double-doubles while leading the league in blocks.

Reserves:

Paul Pierce, SG, Boston Celtics (11-19)
24.1 epg, 26.6 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 4.3 apg
Before getting hurt, Pierce was on pace for another All-Star season, but will he return in time to play in Vegas?

Chris Bosh, PF/C, Toronto Raptors (13-18)
22.9 epg, 20.5 ppg, 12.2 rpg, 1.1 bpg
Even though Bosh has missed some time with injury, the Raptors are actually contending in the lousy Atlantic. If he gets back to 100%, they just might win the division.

Caron Butler, SF, Washington Wizards (17-13)
22.8 epg, 20.5 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 3.6 apg
I wonder if the Lakers are regretting trading Butler away for Kwame Brown. Caron has become Arenas’ sidekick and is a potent second option for the Wizards.

Jason Kidd, PG, New Jersey Nets (13-18)
22.7 epg, 13.4 ppg, 9.2 apg, 8.2 rpg
Kidd just keeps chugging along, posting triple-doubles every other game. Hell, he’s almost averaging a triple-double.

Michael Redd, SG, Milwaukee Bucks (16-15)
21.5 epg, 27.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.2 apg
Some have argued that Redd has become the best shooting guard in the East, or is at least playing that way. That’s quite the rise for the former second round pick.

Chauncey Billups, PG, Detroit Pistons (18-11)
21.2 epg, 18.0 ppg, 8.1 apg, 3.3 rpg
Detroit’s best player is as consistent as they come. Billups is going to become a free agent this summer.

Joe Johnson, SG, Atlanta Hawks (9-20)
20.1 epg, 26.1 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 3.8 apg
This is a toss-up between JJ and Vince Carter. The Nets don’t deserve two All-Stars, so JJ gets the nod for keeping the Hawks competitive. But look out, Mo Williams is making a case with his recent play (19.9 ppg, 6.6 apg, 5.8 rpg in December).

Bubbling Under: Vince Carter (NJ), Emeka Okafor (CHA), Antawn Jamison (WAS), Andre Iguodala (PHI), Mo Williams (MIL), Rip Hamilton (DET)

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Starters:

Steve Nash, PG, Phoenix Suns (22-8)
25.3 epg, 20.6 ppg, 11.3 apg, 3.2 rpg
After a slow start, the Suns are rolling now and Nash is the guy that makes them go.

Kobe Bryant, SG, LA Lakers (20-11)
25.3 epg, 28.7 ppg, 5.2 apg, 5.1 rpg
Even though he’s recovering from a knee injury, Bryant is playing great ball for the upstart Lakers.

Carmelo Anthony, SF, Denver Nuggets (16-13)
25.8 epg, 31.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 4.1 apg
Before the bitch-slap, Anthony was on his way to his best season. His field goal percentage (50.3%) is especially impressive.

Dirk Nowitzki, PF, Dallas Mavericks (25-7)
25.9 epg, 23.2 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 3.2 apg
Even though KG has better numbers, Dirk gets the nod because the Mavs have the league’s best record.

Yao Ming, C, Houston Rockets (19-12)
26.5 epg, 25.9 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 2.2 bpg
There’s no debate: Yao Ming is the best true center in the game.

Reserves:

Kevin Garnett, PF, Minnesota Timberwolves (14-15)
28.9 epg, 21.7 ppg, 12.1 rpg, 4.3 apg
Minnesota continues to hover around .500, which is bad news for those that want to see KG traded to a contender.

Carlos Boozer, PF, Utah Jazz (22-9)
25.8 epg, 21.5 ppg, 11.6 rpg, 53.9 FG%
Boozer’s steady play has helped the Jazz tally the league’s second best record. He’s a rebounding machine.

Tim Duncan, PF/C, San Antonio Spurs (23-9)
24.5 epg, 20.4 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 56.1 FG%
Duncan is healthy and playing great ball, proving that he’s got a lot of gas left in the tank.

Shawn Marion, SF, Phoenix Suns (22-8)
24.2 epg, 19.2 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 1.5 bpg
The Matrix may lose his spot to teammate Amare Stoudemire, but it’s Marion that deserves the nod.

Allen Iverson, PG, Denver Nuggets (16-13)
23.7 epg, 30.6 ppg, 7.7 apg, 2.4 spg
This is looking like a great trade by the Nuggets. Things will get interesting when ‘Melo returns.

Chris Paul, PG, New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets (12-19)
21.6 epg, 18.4 ppg, 9.0 apg, 4.4 rpg
A case could be made for Baron Davis and even Deron Williams. But Paul’s got a rep now and he’s lived up to it despite a recent injury.

Josh Howard, SG, Dallas Mavericks (25-7)
20.0 epg, 19.2 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 43.3 3PT%
This team needs a shooting guard and Howard is next on the list due to his improved play and the Mavs’ terrific record.

Bubbling Under: Elton Brand (LAC), Zach Randolph (POR), Rashard Lewis (SEA), Marcus Camby (DEN), Baron Davis (GS), Amare Stoudemire (PHX)