It's kind of crazy to be thinking about selecting all-stars after the season is only 20 games old, but there are a lot of crazy things about this shortened season, so I guess we will just go with the flow.

A team's record, injuries, and the simple fact that coaches haven't seen everyone will make it difficult to have accurate selections, particularly for the coaches selecting the reserves. It's easy to look at winning teams and pick multiple players but in this case, I'll give the nod to one player on each team with the question, "would the team be performing as consistently without him?" For the fans, it's easy as the popularity contest rolls on regardless of the season.

-- Paul Jones, sportsnet.ca

We have asked our panel of experts who they think should start this year's NBA all-star game which will be played on Feb. 26 in Orlando. The game's starters will be announced on Feb. 2. On Monday, we unveiled the choices for Eastern starters. You can also let us know who you think should be starting here.

	Guard	Guard	Forward	Forward	Centre
Michael Grange sportsnet.ca @michaelgrange	Steve Nash	Kobe Bryant	Kevin Durant	Kevin Love	Andrew Bynum
Paul Jones Sportsnet 590 The Fan @Paul__Jones	Chris Paul	Kobe Bryant	Kevin Durant	Kevin Love	Marc Gasol
Kevin Nielsen sportsnet.ca @Kevin_H_Nielsen	Russell Westbrook	Kobe Bryant	Kevin Durant	Dirk Nowitzki	Al Jefferson
Evan Rosser Sportsnet Magazine	Chris Paul	Kobe Bryant	Kevin Durant	Kevin Love	DeAndre Jordan
Eric Smith Sportsnet 590 The Fan @Eric__Smith	Russell Westbrook	Kobe Bryant	Kevin Durant	LaMarcus Aldridge	Nene
Dave Zarum Sportsnet Magazine @DaveZarum	Steve Nash	Kobe Bryant	Kevin Durant	Kevin Love	Marc Gasol

G - Steve Nash (PHO): An oldie but a still goodie; shook off some early injury woes to hit every shot (it seems) and drop dimes.

G - Kobe Bryant (LAL): Still bringing it. Will he eventually be the top scorer in NBA history?

F - Kevin Durant (OKC): Watching LeBron and KD play 1-on-1 would be cool.

F - Kevin Love (MIN): If Paul Millsap could shoot he'd be Kevin Love. That's high praise.

C - Andrew Bynum (LAL): I really hope he gets a full season without getting bitten by the injury bug. Great presence.

G - Chris Paul (LAC): It's hard to argue with the impact he has had on the Clippers, and if you wanted to point to his teammate Chauncey Billups and give him this spot, I would have no argument. Russell Westbrook is another that could easily be given the nod here. But Paul's attitude in accepting a trade to the "Clip joint" has helped change the perception of the franchise. His play isn't that shabby either.

G - Kobe Bryant (LAL): At the age of 33, Bryant is putting up amazing numbers and carrying the Los Angeles Lakers while they adjust to a new offensive system. Yep, the fans will get this one right.

F - Kevin Durant (OKC): In addition to his superb skills, his tete-a-tete with teammate Russell Westbrook shows that he is not afraid to speak up and is becoming the team's leader. As well as Westbrook is playing, Durant is still the Thunder's main man.

F - Kevin Love (MIN): There are a number of people who will give the nod here to others, and again, no argument if you want to go with established stars like Pau Gasol, Blake Griffin or Dirk Nowitzki, as I'm sure some fans will in the popularity contest portion of the voting. LaMarcus Aldridge is another worthy candidate. But I'll give the nod to a guy who is second in the NBA in rebounding.

C - Marc Gasol (MEM): He is one of a handful of players, seven to be exact, to average a double-double as this is being crafted. When Zach Randolph went down, many thought Memphis's hopes would go to the training table with him. True, it has been a team effort with the likes of Rudy Gay and Mike Conley playing well, but Gasol is a "lunch pail, hardhat" kind of player on both ends of the floor.

G - Russell Westbrook (OKC): It sometimes seems like the Thunder is a one-man show, but Westbrook is a big reason why it sits atop the Western standings.

G - Kobe Bryant (LAL): Bryant is playing at a high level with an ugly wrist injury that would send 99.9 percent of the league to the training table.

F - Kevin Durant (OKC): If LeBron isn't the best player in the game right now, KD is. 'Nuff said.

F - Dirk Nowitzki (DAL): The big German deserves some respect for carrying his team to the title last season. Not the best start this year, but he will step up when it counts.

C - Al Jefferson (UTH): After a rough first couple of games for Big Al and the Jazz, they have turned things around and are the league's biggest surprise.


G - Chris Paul (LAC): Perfect set-up man, plus a clutch scorer with great handles.

G - Kobe Bryant (LAL): League's leading scorer, competitive enough to step up for the All-Star Game.

F - Kevin Durant (OKC): 29.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 10,000 fast-break dunks per game.

F - Kevin Love (MIN): A stat machine (double-doubles in 16 of 17 games) who takes a beating and deserves some proper credit.

C - DeAndre Jordan (LAC): It's the All-Star Game: Start the guy who blocks every ball twice and can dunk with his face.


G - Russell Westbrook (OKC): Chris Paul is sure to get a lot of love and the "old guard" (no pun intended) of guys like Tony Parker, Steve Nash, and Jason Kidd has run its course (at least as far as starting goes). Westbrook rebounds the ball well for a guard. While he may not rack up the assist totals, he's still a sold playmaker and, undoubtedly, a dynamic scorer. He may be the fastest player in the league -- especially with the ball in his hands.

G - Kobe Bryant (LAL): Mike Brown has handed the keys to Kobe in L.A., and some would argue that the philosophy isn't working given the Lakers' up-and-down struggles. But I believe the issue for L.A. has more to do with depth and age and not the Black Mamba specifically. He's still as dangerous as any elite player in the game and a bona fide starter.

F - Kevin Durant (OKC): Like LeBron in the East, this is a no-brainer. As Bryant only gets older, let the debate rage on -- James or Durant: who is the best in the league, and who would you build your franchise around?

F - LaMarcus Aldridge (POR): - This may be the most-debated spot in either conference. Do you consider Paul Millsap, Blake Griffin or Dirk Nowitzki? All are worthy. But Aldridge got robbed last year and is just-as-deserving this year -- especially when you factor in the absence of Brandon Roy now.

C - Nene (DEN): Given the Lakers' "average" season to this point, you can't give Andrew Bynum the nod and you can't deny Bryant his spot. L.A. can't have two guys in the starting five. L.A.'s other centre in Clipperland, DeAndre Jordan, isn't quite there yet either. It's all about Nene in the West.

G - Steve Nash (PHO): Until he stops averaging double-digit assist numbers, he gets the nod.

G - Kobe Bryant (LAL): The points are nice, but mainly I just want to see him continually give Nash the death stare while refusing to give up the ball.

F - Kevin Durant (OKC): Because this season's MVP should be an ASG starter.

F - Kevin Love (MIN): It pains me to leave Aldridge out, but at nearly 25 points, 14 boards and two threes per game, this is a no-brainer.

C - Marc Gasol (MEM): 15 pts, 10+ boards, and 2.5 blocks per while adjusting to life without Zach Randolph.