The NBA season has almost reached it's midway point... I know crazy how quickly it's come isn't it? Anyway I was wondering who all you guys thought should be the starters for the Eatern and Western Conference teams? Here are my choices, respectively:
LeBron James                               Kobe Bryant
Dwayne Wade                              Kevin Durant
Amare Stoudemire                        Blake Griffin
Derrick Rose                                 Steve Nash
Dwight Howard                            Tim Duncan
Let me know what you think?

I just hope that Derrick Rose makes it, and wins the All Star MVP to go along with the regular season MVP that he will win.

I don't know who's going to start, but I do know that this will be quite possibly the most talent ever assembled on the same basketball court. Think about all the athletes and play makers that this game will feature!!! I just hope they actually "play" and don't treat it like a typical All-Star game.

The players will never treat it like a real game.  There is no incentive for them to do that.

Ivey, that's not true. Yeah it will never be taken as seriously as game seven of the NBA Finals, but there are occasions where the players treat it like a real game. For example, in 2001 there was this post-Michael Jordan "who is going to step up and be 'The Guy,'" feeling lingering over the All-Star game. Kobe wanted to show he was the next big thing not just Shaq's side-kick,Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett were vying for the title of best power forward, Jason Kidd and Gary Payton were in a similar battle for best point guard on the planet, Vince and T-mac wanted to prove they didn't need there cousin and Iverson was saying "the league is mine." All-Star games can be taken seriously when the players feel they have something to prove and I feel like that is the case this year. LeBron and Wade want to silence all the critics, Derrick Rose is like a crazy girlfriend who still feels slighted that LeBron never called him back before "The Decision," Amare is ready to take that step up to the next level, young guys like Durant and Blake Griffin want to establish themselves as the Western Conference next superstar and Kobe and Duncan are out to show that they are still the best.
I know that this is still an exhibition game and in general I'm not a fan of All-Star games in any sport, but I think this year is going to be different...

Without seeing the game you mentioned again, I can't really say anything about it.  You might be right about this year's game.  There is a lot of pressure on certain players involved, and others may want to use the game to further prove their case as being some of the best players in the league.  However, there is still no real reward for playing hard & winning the game.  It won't help any player's team in the regular season standings, it won't put them any closer to winning a championship, and it doesn't truly affect their place in MVP voting.  I'm sure that ego will play a part to some extent, but I don't see this game being anywhere near an NBA playoff game, or probably even a meaningful regular season game.  If I'm wrong though, we (the fans) will all win.

I think you're right Ivey... It won't match the intensity of even a regular season game but just think... If this group of players comes out with even 1/3 of their usual intensity it will be amazing

A moment that always sticks out in my mind, is the game where Shaquille O'Neal launched a three pointer that was a complete airball.  After the miss, I remember them showing Shaquille O'Neal & Mitch Richmond laughing about it.

The All-Star rosters are set:
Eastern Conference                                  Western Conference
Starters                                                 Starters
Derrick Rose                                             Chris Paul                                
Dwayne Wade                                          Kobe Bryant
LeBron James                                           Carmelo Anthony
Amare Stoudemire                                    Kevin Durant
Dwight Howard                                        Yao Ming
Reserves                                               Reserves

Kevin Garnett                                          Manu Ginobili
Paul Pierce                                              Tim Duncan
Rajon Rondo                                           Dirk Nowitzki
Ray Allen                                                Pau Gasol
Al Horford                                              Deron Williams
Joe Johnson                                           Russel Westbrook
Chris Bosh        Blake Griffin

Well the game didn't disappoint... Not in my eyes at least. I thought it was awesome, and as much as I hate Kobe he actually played the game like it should be played. Props to LeBron... I hate you too but you played like a "G."