SI.com's experts select their starters and reserves

The fans' selections for All-Star Game starters were revealed Thursday night, while the coaches' reserve choices (two guards, two forwards, one center and two players regardless of position) will be announced Feb. 1. Which players deserve a trip to Las Vegas for the Feb. 18 midseason showcase? SI.com's experts make their picks.

MARTY BURNS PAUL FORRESTER CHRIS MANNIX JACK McCALLUM IAN THOMSEN WESTERN CONFERENCE STARTERS Steve Nash G, Suns The undisputed catalyst of one of the league's best teams. He's on pace for career highs in points (19.5) and assists (11.6). Steve Nash G, Suns How do you follow up back-to-back MVP campaigns? By producing the best numbers of your increasingly illustrious career. Steve Nash G, Suns Nash is the hands-down favorite to win his third consecutive MVP award. Period. Steve Nash G, Suns I keep hearing about how popular he is, yet the fans won't vote the possible MVP three-peat to a starting spot. Steve Nash G, Suns How does Nash keep getting better? But he does. Kobe Bryant G, Lakers He's scoring less but doing a better job as a leader. Despite injuries to several Lakers, he has kept L.A. among the NBA's top teams. Kobe Bryant G, Lakers He's shooting less and deferring more and his teammates don't seem frustrated. Wait, are we sure this is Kobe? Kobe Bryant G, Lakers He grows more Jordanesque by the game. Though his scoring is down seven points, the Lakers are four games ahead of last season's pace. Kobe Bryant G, Lakers In case you haven't noticed, the purple and gold is doing well despite an injury to Lamar Odom. No. 8 -- oops, No. 24 -- is the main reason. Kobe Bryant G, Lakers As good as he's been so far, just wait until Bryant leads the Lakers into the playoffs. That's when he'll be truly frightening. Dirk Nowitzki F, Mavericks The German Bird is the best player on the league's best team and a leading MVP candidate (along with his starting Western Conference backcourt). Dirk Nowitzki F, Mavericks As if the league's most versatile 7-footer needed to improve, Nowitzki is hitting a career-high 50 percent from the floor. Dirk Nowitzki F, Mavericks Nowitzki has become a better team player and a more consistent defender. That he also has made the Mavs into playoff performers gives (some) credibility to the Larry Bird comparisons. Dirk Nowitzki F, Mavericks Regardless of where the fans have him in my book he's first among forwards. He's scoring a little less and the powerful Mavs are enjoying it more. Dirk Nowitzki F, Mavericks He's the top MVP challenger to former teammate Nash. Kevin Garnett F, Timberwolves He has better numbers than Tim Duncan in points, rebounds and assists, and has done his usual yeoman's work in keeping the T'wolves competitive. Kevin Garnett F, Timberwolves Someone this consistently excellent deserves a front office that isn't so consistently bad. Kevin Garnett F, Timberwolves Garnett has elevated his game despite myriad distractions and one of the most dysfunctional rosters in the NBA. Kevin Garnett F, Timberwolves He seems to be rejuvenated, even though his team will be fighting for a playoff spot. Kevin Garnett F, Timberwolves Forget the talk that he's lost his fastball. KG is back to his dominant old self. Tim Duncan C, Spurs Yao Ming would get the nod here but he's out with a broken leg. Duncan, though technically listed as a forward on the ballot, is as much a center as anybody else in the West. Tim Duncan C, Spurs With the deserving Yao sidelined, the West finds a way to get in perhaps the league's least appreciated MVP candidate. Tim Duncan C, Spurs He has quietly put together another MVP-caliber season, leading the team in scoring, rebounding and blocks while shooting the highest percentage since his rookie year. Tim Duncan C, Spurs Yao's injury leaves it wide open to put one of these terrific West forwards at center. Marcus Camby C, Nuggets When Yao went down, Camby emerged as the classiest all-around center in the West, a double-double guy who fills up the box score while protecting the rim.