EAST<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>LeBron James, ClevelandAverages: 26.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 6.7 APGBreakdown: In Las Vegas you find a lot of playing cards and in a deck of cards you find four kings. Well, somebody make room for King James to join the mix. James owns the three-spot in the East and will for long time. Paul Pierce, BostonAverages: 26.6 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 4.3 APGBreakdown: Pierce is in the prime of his career and seems to have his young supporting cast playing the right way. Just look at the C's five-game win streak for evidence. The Truth is eyeing his sixth All-Star appearance in nine years. Chris Bosh, TorontoAverages: 20.5 PPG, 12.2 RPG, 2.0 APGBreakdown: If Bosh can recover from his left knee injury and get back on the court, a repeat all-expenses-paid trip to All-Star weekend is in his reach. CB4 is second in the league in rebounding and had a sick 23-point, 22-rebound game against the Warriors on Nov. 14. Jermaine O'Neal, IndianaAverages: 18.5 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 3.0 APGBreakdown: It's amazing that O'Neal has become an elder statesman of the league after starting his career in Portland right out of high school. Now in his 11th season, O'Neal is near the top of the leaderboard with 3.0 blocks per game and the five-time All-Star is in line for selection No. 6. Caron Butler, WashingtonAverages: 19.3 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 3.6 APGBreakdown: With Gilbert and Antawn on the squad, it's no surprise that Caron flys under the radar. Butler is putting up career highs in points, rebounds and assists, and making a pretty strong case for some All-Star spotlight in February. Antawn Jamison, WashingtonAverages: 18.8 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 1.8 APGBreakdown: At 6-9, 235 pounds, Jamison's frame helps him board, but it also helps him shoot over smaller defenders out on the perimeter. The versatile power forward is shooting a career-best 81 percent from the foul line. Emeka Okafor, CharlotteAverages: 15.4 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 1.3 APGBreakdown: Emeka is back from an injury-induced sophomore slump and making his presence felt around the league. He adds a career-best 3.1 swats per game to his bundle of stats. Now, if only he could do something about only going 55 percent from the charity stripe. Luol Deng, ChicagoAverages: 17.7 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 2.4 APGBreakdown: Deng is shooting a ridiculous 54 percent from the field as Kirk Hinrich has made him his favorite target when leading the fast break. He is averaging a career high in points in his third season out of Duke. Andre Iguodala, PhiladelphiaAverages: 15.0 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 4.5 APGBreakdown: There is still one A.I. in Philadelphia. Iguodala is averaging career highs in points, rebounds, assists and steals. If he keeps improving like he has, he will be doing more than just the dunk contest at future All-Star weekends. Rasheed Wallace, DetroitAverages: 13.5 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 1.7 APGBreakdown: 'Sheed continues to play his part as the inside-presence and outside-shooting force in the Pistons' ensemble. The Next FiveJosh Smith, AtlantaAverages: 12.7 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 3.4 APGTayshaun Prince, DetroitAverages: 15.4 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 2.6 APGAl Harrington, IndianaAverages: 16.1 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.5 APGAndres Nocioni, ChicagoAverages: 16.3 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 1.4 APGWally Szczerbiak, BostonAverages: 18.1 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.1 APG</div>WEST<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Carmelo Anthony, DenverAverages: 31.0 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 4.1 APGBreakdown: Is this the year? Melo ranks second in the league in scoring, averaging a career-high 31.0 points per game. He's also shooting a career-high .498 from the field and is putting up career highs in assists (4.1) and steals (1.60), leading the Nuggets to an impressive 12-8 start. He barely missed out last season, but Melo's trip to Vegas is all but booked. Carlos Boozer, UtahAverages: 22.6 PPG, 12.3 RPG, 3.2 APGBreakdown: This time a year ago, Boozer was in the middle of a prolonged absence with an injured hamstring. Now, he's receiving MVP consideration as he ranks second in the NBA in rebounds and double-doubles (16) and seventh in field goal percentage (.569), while the Jazz have the best record in the NBA. Dirk Nowitzki, DallasAverages: 24.5 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 3.2 APGBreakdown: As the Mavs try to finish what they started, Dirk has picked up where he left off. Dallas is near the top of the Western Conference standings and Nowitzki leads the team in scoring, rebounding and free throw percentage. He's got 14 double-doubles and of course, he's the most unique player in this league. Kevin Garnett, MinnesotaAverages: 21.5 PPG, 12.0 RPG, 3.8 APGBreakdown: You know the West forwards are deep when KG ranks fourth on this list. The Big Ticket leads the league with his 18 double-doubles in 20 games and he leads the T-Wolves, back in the playoff hunt at 10-10, in points, rebounds, steals and blocks. Zach Randolph, PortlandAverages: 25.3 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 1.4 APGBreakdown: You know the West forwards are deep when Z-Bo ranks fifth on this list. Averaging a double-double and scoring a career-high 25.3 points per game, Randolph is having the finest season of his career. Also note that he's second in the NBA in free throw attempts, and shooting them at an impressive .838 clip. Tim Duncan, San AntonioAverages: 21.4 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 3.6 APGBreakdown: You know the West forwards are deep when Timmy ranks sixth on this list. The Big Fundamental has clearly recovered from the foot problems of last season, leading the Southwest Division leading Spurs in points, rebounds, blocks and trips to the line. His 14 double-doubles rank sixth in the league. Shawn Marion, PhoenixAverages: 20.2 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 2.0 APGBreakdown: You know the West forwards are deep when Matrix ranks seventh on this list. If we threw in blocks (1.7), steals (2.1) and threes (1.3), Marion would move up a couple of spots. And he's shooting .521 from the field too. Rashard Lewis, SeattleAverages: 22.6 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 2.2 APGBreakdown: You know the West forwards are deep when ... OK. You get the picture. Lewis is having the best scoring and shooting (.497) season of his career, while he has only topped his 6.8 boards per game twice in his previous eight seasons. Lamar Odom, L.A. LakersAverages: 17.5 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 4.9 APGBreakdown: Before spraining the MCL in his right knee on Tuesday (he could miss a month), Odom was having the finest season of his career, leading, along with Kobe Bryant, the Lakers to a strong 15-7 start. Elton Brand, L.A. ClippersAverages: 18.6 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 2.2 APGBreakdown: Boy, the West forwards are deep! The Next FiveRon Artest, SacramentoAverages: 16.9 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 3.1 APGJosh Howard, DallasAverages: 17.8 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 4.0 APGMike Miller, MemphisAverages: 13.9 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 4.0 APGPeja Stojakovic, NO/Oklahoma CityAverages: 17.8 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 0.8 APGCorey Maggette, L.A. ClippersAverages: 14.1 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 1.4 APG</div>Players I wanna see make it that might notLuol Deng Caron ButlerZach Randolph
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BuLLzDoMaIn @ Jan 5 2007, 03:56 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>EASTWESTPlayers I wanna see make it that might notLuol Deng Caron ButlerZach Randolph</div>This was over 2 weeks ago, I really hope Bosh can make the starting lineup this time. That would be a real raptor moment.
