Western Conference

The maestro: Steve Nash is averaging a career high in assists for the first-place Suns. Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

POLL Who should be the reserve center on the West All-Star team? Tyson Chandler, NO Marcus Camby, DEN Chris Kaman, LAC Amaré Stoudemire, PHO  View Results

MAILBAG Submit a comment or question for Chris. Your name: Your e-mail address: Your home town: Enter your question:

Guards

Fans' starters: Allen Iverson (Nuggets), Kobe Bryant (Lakers)

My reserve picks: Steve Nash (Suns), Chris Paul (Hornets)

Gotta go with the present and the future here. Two-time MVP Nash is actually averaging a career high in assists (11.9) and has once again seamlessly incorporated a new player (Grant Hill) into the Suns' offense. Paul has been positively Nash-esque this season, probing the paint like a surgeon while averaging 20.6 points and 10.7 assists. This is the start of a lengthy All-Star run for Paul.

With apologies to: Deron Williams (Jazz), Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili (Spurs)

Williams and Paul have gone back and forth: Paul was the superior rookie, Williams the better sophomore. Now, Paul has a slight edge in his third season while a worthy Williams loses a numbers game. The same goes for Parker and Ginobili, who just can't compete this season with two of the best point guards in the NBA.

Forwards

Fans' starters: Carmelo Anthony (Nuggets), Tim Duncan (Spurs)

My reserve picks: Carlos Boozer (Jazz), Dirk Nowitzki (Mavericks)

Few power forwards are as consistently productive as Boozer, who puts up double-doubles with uncanny ease (31 for the season). Reigning MVP Nowitzki has recovered from a slow start to average 22.3 points and 8.3 rebounds for the resurgent Mavericks, who are 11-2 in January.

With apologies to: Stephen Jackson (Warriors)

The Warriors are 1-6 without Captain Jack in the lineup and 26-13 with him. Need I say more? OK, I will. Jackson is playing 39.3 minutes a game for the free-wheeling Warriors and averaging 20.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists. Another season, that might be good enough.

Center

Fans' starter: Yao Ming (Rockets)

My reserve pick: Tyson Chandler (Hornets)

Want to know how close this vote is? I changed mine three times while writing this. Statistics aside, Chandler gets my vote for two reasons: First, he's on the team with the West's best winning percentage; and second, he's playing for the team hosting the game. The differences between Chandler and his competition are razor thin, so those factors put him over the top.

With apologies to: Marcus Camby (Nuggets), Amaré Stoudemire (Suns), Chris Kaman (Clippers)

Camby, the league's top shot-blocker and second-leading rebounder, is hurt by the fact that two of his teammates (Anthony and Iverson) are starting. I have a hard time voting in a third player from a team that isn't that great. Omitting Stoudemire was painful. Kaman deserves recognition for becoming Elton Brand in Brand's absence, but playing for a team with 13 wins doesn't help his cause.

Wild cards: Brandon Roy (Trail Blazers), Baron Davis (Warriors)

Someone from the Trail Blazers has to get picked. Roy, the Wicked Wade of the West, has matured into one of the league's most complete guards and a force in the fourth quarter. The same can be said for Davis, who after years of struggling with injuries has finally established himself as a top five point guard.