The 2012 NBA All-Star Game will be played at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida, but the game could feature a very Los Angeles feel. The NBA All-Star starting lineups will be announced on Thursday afternoon on TNT, and there is a good chance the Western Conference starting lineup will feature four players from Los Angeles.
Kobe Bryant is a lock to start at guard, as he has led the position in fan voting as each round of results were released. Bryant has led the Western Conference in All-Star votes for each of the past four seasons. Bryant will likely be joined by his Los Angeles Lakers teammate Andrew Bynum, who had a commanding lead at center in the last round of voting.
Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers has been in second place among Western Conference guards throughout the balloting, with a huge lead over Ricky Rubio of the Minnesota Timberwolves. The closes race might be for the second forward behind Kevin Durant, as Blake Griffin tries to fend off Dirk Nowitzki.
If one or both of Paul or Griffin start the All-Star Game, they would be the first Los Angeles Clippers player(s) to do so. The only Clippers All-Star ever, since the franchise moved from Buffalo, was World B. Free in 1980, when the team was in San Diego.
The All-Star starters will be announced on "Inside the NBA" on TNT at 4 p.m. PST as part of the pregame show before the Chicago Bulls battle the New York Knicks in the first game of a doubleheader on the network. The Clippers host the Denver Nuggets in the nightcap at Staples Center.
The 2012 NBA All-Star Game will be played on Sunday, February 26, 2012 at Amway Center in Orlando. For more news and information on the Lakers and Clippers, be sure to read Silver Screen and Roll and Clips Nation.