Aligning the Stars: Predicting the 2012 All-Star Rosters

With a condensed season heroes can emerge from nowhere and players can fall from grace in the blink of an eye. That being said, a short season has the possibility to breed an intriguing all-star lineup, quite exciting. With only a few games checked off the schedule, here's who I think will be playing in Orlando on February 26th.




West Starters:

PG Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers

SG Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers

SF Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder

PF Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers

C Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers

Head Coach: Vinny Del Negro, Los Angeles Clippers

East Starters

PG Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls

SG Dwayne Wade, Miami Heat

SF LeBron James, Miami Heat

PF Amar'e Stoudemire, New York Knicks

C Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic

Head Coach: Tom Thibodeau, Chicago Bulls

West Reserves:

PG Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder

SG Marcus Thornton, Sacramento Kings

SF Rudy Gay, Memphis Grizzlies

PF Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks

PF, LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland Trailblazers

C Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves

SG Monta Ellis, Golden State Warriors

East Reserves:

PG Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics

PF Chris Bosh, Miami Heat

SG Joe Johnson, Atlanta Hawks

SF Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks

C Andrew Bogut, Milwaukee Bucks

PG John Wall, Washington Wizards

SF Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia 76ers

Biggest Snubs:

SF Danny Granger, Indiana Pacers

C Al Jefferson Utah Jazz

PF Luis Scola, Houston Rockets

PG Ty Lawson Denver Nuggets

SF Kevin Martin, Houston Rockets

C Tyson Chandler, New York Knicks

Jam of the Week 1/6

It's not often that in sports that an organization sides with a moody, young and erratic player over the team's head coach. The NBA is no normal league, as advertised, it's where amazing happens. There's just no better word to describe how I felt with the Sacramento Kings actions this week, amazed. Coach Paul Westphal was canned after notorious punk and current starting Kings center, DeMarcus Cousins demanded a trade. The Kings made a pretty clear statement with their decision spelled out in this elaborate chart I have created just for you:

Cousins >Westphal

Because of the major, what I'm going to call, "Phal-Out" between the Kings and their former head coach, the dunk of the week goes out to Cousins, the inciter. Keep mixing it up big guy.



"The STRENGTH of DeMarcus Cousins.

Jam of the Week 12/30

During the short off season, there was a lot of chatter about a few teams out west. The chatter was centered mostly around Dallas, both LA squads and Denver. But now, they're talking about the Blazers. After a 3-0 start the Portland is clicking on all cylinders with their multi-threat offense, and pernicious defensive prowess. With cornerstones Lamarcus Aldridge and Wesley Matthews alongside key additions Raymond Felton and Jamal Crawford, I'd have to say that this is a top 5 NBA team and a legit contender. They're deep, efficient and downright dirty. For that, this week's dunk goes out to the Portland Trail Blazers.

Christmas Day Predictions, Pt. 2

On November 28th, COA predicted the three Christmas games that were initially scheduled:

Christmas Day Predictions!

New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics

Everybody and their dog knows that the Knicks traded everything but the kitchen sink for superstar Carmelo Anthony before the trade deadline last year. Between Anthony, Stoudemire, and Billups, the Knicks have the perfect concoction of youth, experience and talent to be a special team this year. With role player Landry Fields and first round draft pick Iman Shumpert picking it up on D, D'Antony's Knicks could be dynamic in the Big Apple. Boston showed their age down the stretch in the playoffs last year, and I think this fatigue is bound to catch up to these aging superstars. Lookout Boston Three Party, there's a new sheriff out East.

Winner: New York Knicks

Miami Heat vs. Dallas Mavericks

Ya hate 'em or you love 'em, though cliché, nothing could be truer about this team. Most people expected the Heat to roll through the league with ease, but when they stumbled along the way, doubts began to arise. The Heat fell well short of NBA analyst, Jeff Van Gundy's, 72 win prediction, and people no longer felt the Heat to be favorites for the Eastern Conference crown. LeBron's Heat proved the doubters wrong and galloped into the NBA Finals. They met an unbelievably hot Mavericks team, and what can you say, they got Dirked. A little food for thought: this was the first year these three were together and they came within inches of the trophy. LeBron, Wade and Bosh are too good, too tenacious and too hungry to let the Mavs thwart them again on Christmas Day.

Winner: Miami Heat

Chicago Bulls vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Many had the Bulls riding that number 1 seed to the NBA Finals last year, but inexperience and fatigue seemed to set in as the Heat took the series easily 4 games to 1. Out west, Los Angeles seemed to show their age down the stretch, being swept handily by Dallas. Pau faded, Kobe and Artest (are we supposed to say Metta World Peace yet?) looked old and their frustration began to show. I think this will be the best game of the day and probably the closest. As a tiebreaker, I'll give it to the better conference.

Winner: Los Angeles Lakers

After this was posted 2 more games were scheduled for Christmas Night, here are our predictions for tonight's games:


Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Orlando Magic

Durant and Westbrook will be a heavy load no doubt, but the Thunder never addressed a gaping hole that ultimately led to their downfall last year, post D. The game is in Orlando and Dwight Howard is going to look to prove that he still wants to play, no way he just lies down and takes it. He's too much of a superstar. I also think that the Magic supporting cast is underrated as well Resigning J-Rich was huge and I like the Magic in this game.Orlando is always in a Christmas game and this experience will work in their favor. Howard will be too much to handle for undersized Perkins and Serge Ibaka.

Winner: Orlando Magic


Los Angeles Clippers vs. Golden State Warriors

Two Words: Lob City.


Winner: Los Angeles Clippers

Old School Pic of the Week: Christmas Edition

Merry Christmas from Court of Appeals! (and Ervin Johnson)

Twas the Night Before Tip-Off

Twas the night before tip-off across the U. S. of A,

not a player was fouling, well, maybe Monta.
All the jerseys were hung in the locker room with care,
Awaiting Pau Gasol and his unruly hair.

The Heatles were nestled all snug in their beds,
while visions of Dirk's fadeaway danced in their heads.
With C-Witt in his throwback and me in my in Jazz cap,
in great and heavy anticipation, our buckles we did strap.

When on the court there arose such a clatter,
though it was only Marv Albert yelling, "drops the sledgehammer!"
Away to the TV we flew like the Flash,
jumped up and proclaimed, "what a pass from Steve Nash!"

Alongside Marv Albert, we saw something killer,
we remembered his color man was the great Reggie Miller.
When we awoke in a daze, our ending seemed too cliché
it was all a dream, and the NBA was still one day away!

So from Court of Appeals, to hoop fans everywhere,
we extend this message from our hearts with care,
"Happy Hoops and thank goodness the NBA is back,
stay tuned with COA and we'll keep you on track!"

Happy Holidays from Court of Appeals!

And (Metta) World Peace to All!

Jam of the Week 12/23

Two. More. Days.