We are still in the early part of the season.  Teams are still trying to establish an identity and players are trying to establish chemistry with their teammates.  There has been one coach firing and one trade since the season began.  Now is the time to start talking about NBA All Stars.  I’m going to list my starting five NBA All Stars from the Eastern Conference and my starting five NBA All Stars from the Western Conference.  These players separate themselves from other players by being the best at their position so far this season.  Feel free to argue and disagree.  Check out the list below:

Eastern Conference:

Guard: Dwyane Wade

The Reason:  He’s not a point guard but he is one of the two best guards in the East right now.  He can play the point if necessary and he will start at point for this year’s NBA All Star game.

The Stats:  29.7 points, 5 assists, 2.11 steals

Shooting Guard: Joe Johnson

The Reason:  He’s the best player on his team.  He’s a leader and he has his team at the top of the Eastern Conference standings.  Yes, the Hawks have a better record than the Celtics, the Cavs, and the Magic.  They would not be here without Joe.

The Stats:  23 points, 4.5 assists, 5.6 rebounds

Small Forward: LeBron James

The Reason:  King James is hands down the best small forward in the game, let alone the Eastern Conference.  Need I say more?

The Stats:  27.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 7.6 assists

Power Forward: Chris Bosh

The Reason:  I love Kevin Garnett (KG) and many people would think that Kevin Garnett belongs in this spot, but those people are wrong.  My boy Chris Bosh is averaging more points and more rebounds than KG.  He is flat out playing better.  His team sucks, but that should not hinder him from starting over KG.  Besides, KG started over power forwards that played on better teams before.  Remember when he played for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Stats: 27.7 points, 11.6 rebounds, 1 block

Center: Dwight Howard

The Reason:  He’s the best center in the East.  No other center is touching him right now.  He’s Superman.

The Stats:  18.7 points, 10.7 rebounds, 1.8 blocks

Western Conference:

Point Guard: Steve Nash

The Reason:  He’s turned back the hands of time and is playing remarkable ball.  He leads the league in assists with 11.5 a game.  His team has returned to the run and gun offense and Nash is thriving.

The Stats:  17.6 points, 11.5 assists, 45.7% three point percentage

Shooting Guard: Kobe Bryant

The Reason:  Arguably the best player in the NBA.  He’s leading the league in scoring and is playing with a renewed hunger.

The Stats:  30.1 points, 2.2 steals, 4.8 rebounds

Small Forward: Carmelo Anthony

The Reason:  The best small forward in the Western Conference.  He is second in the league in scoring.  Melo is dedicated to doing what is necessary for his team to win.  Not only does he score well, he has demonstrated the ability to rebound and play good defense.

The Stats:  29.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.7 steals

Power Forward: Dirk Nowitzki

The Reason:  He’s playing very good ball and has his team atop the Southwest Division for the second best record in the West.  In short, he has been balling.

The Stats:  26.3 points, 9 rebounds, 1.6 blocks

Center: Amar’e Stoudemire

The Reason:  Yao Ming is out and Tim Duncan has been injured, so therefore, Amar’e is the next best thing.  He has returned to form after last year’s season ending eye injury and he is ready to ball.  He is not averaging a double-double, but I expect to production to increase as the season moves along.

The Stats: 19.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, 53.6% field goal percentage

• Manu Goes Bonkers! Ginobilli had the following to say about the game: "I think we're going to score, we just got to play better defense.  We were talking before the season about trying to be the best team in the league defensively, and so far we're not even close." Chris Bosh said......
• Is Tracy McGrady Ready To Return? Tracy McGrady (T-Mac) has expressed interest in returning to the court.  The Houston Rockets' star shooting guard /small forward is rehabbing from microfracture knee surgery and practiced with the team on Monday.   T-Mac thinks he is ready to play but his coach Rick Adelman has other thoughts.  ......

• Australian Receiving Formation – Both Back - 1st Point of the Match **This UDF works well at club level play, USTA league play, junior and high school matches as well as college matches. This (UDF) Unusual Doubles Receiving Formation puts the receiver and partner on the same side of the court.  One player is in the deuce court near the deuce......
• Mattek-Sands Keeps U.S. Fed Cup Team in Running Bethanie Mattek-Sands had consecutive singles and doubles wins in Alabama on Sunday, ensuring that the US will meet Italy, who will be defending their championship, in November to battle for the Fed Cup. The United States hasn’t won a Fed Cup in 10 years. The last US win was in......