2011 NBA All-Star Game: Dwight Howard, LeBron James Lead Eastern Conference Starters

The NBA released the final voting results on TNT, revealing the starters for the 2011 NBA All-Star Game, which will be at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 20. Kobe Bryant was the leading vote-getter in the NBA, while Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic led all players in the Eastern Conference in votes. Here is the full starting lineup for the Eastern Conference:

• Point Guard: Derrick Rose, Chicago
• Shooting Guard: Dwyane Wade, Miami
• Small Forward: LeBron James, Miami
• Power Forward: Amare Stoudemire, New York
• Center: Dwight Howard, Orlando

This is the first All-Star start for Rose, who made the squad as a reserve last season. Both James and Wade are making their seventh All-Star appearance. Reserves will be picked by a vote of NBA coaches. Each conference will add seven reserves, including two guards, two forwards, and one center. All-Star reserves will be announced next Thursday, Feb. 3, also on TNT.

The coach of the team with the best record in the Eastern Conference after play on Feb. 6 will coach the East. Doc Rivers of the Celtics has the inside track on those coaching duties. Gregg Popovich of the Spurs will coach the West.

NBA All-Star Game: Kobe Bryant Named All-Star Starter For 13th Time

The 2011 NBA All-Star Game will be held in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 20, and the Staples Center fans will have a familiar name to cheer when lineups are introduced. Kobe Bryant was the leading vote-getter in the NBA, and has been named a starting guard for the Western Conference for the 13th time in his career. Bryant, who was named an All-Star starter but missed the game with a sprained left ankle, has won three All-Star MVP awards in his career (2002, 2007, and 2009). The starters were announced on TNT tonight.

Bryant is averaging 24.9 points per game this season, sixth in the NBA, but his scoring average is his lowest in seven seasons. However, Kobe's Player Efficiency Rating (PER) is 24.7, his highest total in four years. Bryant has led the Western Conference in All-Star voting in each of the last four seasons. He also led the NBA in All-Star votes in 2003.

Here are the Western Conference starters:

• Point Guard: Chris Paul, New Orleans
• Shooting Guard: Bryant
• Small Forward: Carmelo Anthony, Denver
• Power Forward: Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City
• Center: Yao Ming, Houston

Yao is out for the season, and will need to be replaced. Pau Gasol, who was third in voting among forwards in the West, could be a candidate to replace Yao in the starting lineup. Gasol started 31 games at center this season before Andrew Bynum was hurt. Gregg Popovich, coach of the NBA-best San Antonio Spurs, will coach the Western Conference.

For more news on Kobe Bryant, be sure to read Silver Screen and Roll.