Jan. 25 -- I was all set to write about 24 once again, but well, just coming off that episode, and there's no doubt it was one of those patented "transition" episodes---in other words, disappointing. I still have Veronica Mars to look forward to this Wednesday, though.

So, instead, I'll go with the easy route: Kobe Bryant. The game was pretty magical and all that, but I was actually a little disappointed with the performance. Instead of seeing Kobe drop 81 (how long until "81" t-shirts come out?), how much cooler would it have been to see Kobe set up Sasha Vujacic for a dunk over Chris Bosh? We know Kobe can score, so if the game is really going to turn into an exhibition, why not get everyone involved?

Chucky Atkins just signed with the Grizzlies this past week, so you know everything I said about Antonio Burks? It's all invalid. Instead, put Atkins in his place, except instead of expecting the unknown, you know what Atkins provides: a boatload of threes and solid assists. Downgrade the red-hot Bobby Jackson as well -- he's been accumulating 35.2 minutes per game this month, and he's simply not suited to that kind of court time. With Atkins around, expect the minutes to decrease.

The Blazers are pretty maddening -- haven't run through different guards every single month? The new flavor is Steve Blake, and, surprisingly enough from the former second-round pick, he's playing out of his mind. Since being handed the starting job December 16th, he's averaged 5.3 assists and 1.3 threes per game, but the most important numbers are the 45-plus shooting percentage from the field and the astronomical assist-to-turnover ratio (6.2 the past month), which will make it nearly impossible for Nate McMillan to remove him from the starting lineup. If he's still available, snap him up.

Did you know Delonte West was shooting 58.5% this month? West has found his footing after a hiccup in production, one that caused some owners to get antsy and dump him. He has really found his shot the past few months -- he's even shooting 55.6% from beyond the arc this month, and put up 44.1% last month -- so hopefully you listened to my early-season advice and hung onto him.

Being an All Star means different things to different people. Often times a player is evaluated as an All Star due not just his individual excellence, but also his contribution to his team. To more casual fans, an All Star is simply someone they really want to see, regardless of anything else. Fantasy-wise, no one cares if you're an All Star or not as long as you're putting up the requisite numbers. If Vince Carter performs like Trenton Hassell, well, no offense to Hassell, but Carter is going to get dumped.

All-Star balloting officially closed January 22nd -- this past Sunday -- so I figured now's as good a time as any to share the picks I turned in with everyone else. I made it a point to wait until the very last day; why not take all the time I need? I made my picks based mostly on who I really thought is the best at the position: not just for the past three months, but when looking back on the season who I think will still be the best, which accounts for those who played above their heads. What in the world does this have to do with fantasy, you ask? You know those obligatory awards that you always see? That's really what this is, to be honest, just dressed up a little more fancily (now I know why they do it). What works for the goose works for the gander is the attitude I'm adopting this week, so deal with it.

Center: Chris Kaman, LAC: His stats for the year don't look that fantastic (10.9 points, 9.1 rebounds) compared to other candidates like Brad Miller and Marcus Camby, but he's averaged over a double-double the past two months, shooting well over 50%, and is now a commanding -- yes, I described Chris Kaman as a commanding -- presence. I'm also a little biased, since I get to see the Clippers play every other day and I'm a huge Clipper fan.

Forward: Elton Brand, LAC: Brand went to great lengths to slim down this past off-season, and now he's quicker and more explosive on both ends of the floor. He's getting to the line a career-high number of times (7.9 per game) and has upped his scoring average by four-and-a-half points from last year, and tying a career high in blocks (2.6). In short, Brand's been everything you want from your best player, making him an MVP candidate for the improved Clippers.

Forward: Tim Duncan, SAS: If you're making a list about the best players in basketball, it's irrelevant without Tim Duncan aboard. He's proving he's no longer one of the fantasy elite -- he's shooting just 65.1% from the line this year and blocking a career-low 2.1 shots this year -- but the man is Tim Duncan! If only defense (opposing power forwards are shooting just 43.9% against him) was a fantasy stat....

Guard: Manu Ginobili, SAS: You know how I said earlier that many fans just pick the player they want to see the most? Chalk this pick up as that, although I'm definitely not ashamed to say he's one of, if not the, very best perimeter player in the game. Regardless, he's been consistently hurt this season starting from day one, and has never got it going. Ginobili doesn't rack up fantasy stats, either, because of Spurs' team-first philosophy, but just have some more patience and he'll reward you. Not that you could get anything substantial right now for him anyway.

Guard: Steve Nash, PHO: I think it's safe to say Nash is better than we all thought. On fantasy-friendly Phoenix, Nash has racked up stats -- he's one of, if not the, very elite at his position in every stat but steals and blocks -- without Amare Stoudemire, while still leading his team to first place in the Pacific Division. I'm the guy who said the Suns would not make the playoffs without Stoudemire. Nash just blew me away.

Center: Ben Wallace, DET: No, it's not Shaq this time. Due to injury and age -- you could say they're one and the same -- Wallace is the correct choice. While he, too, is getting up there in age (he's 31 in his free-agent year), he's not quite ready to decline, and is as stout as ever on the defensive end.

Forward: LeBron James, CLE: Pretty easy choice. When you're averaging over 30 points, six rebounds, six assists, get to the line nearly 10 times a game, and do all of this while shooting 49.4% from the field, there is no argument against you.

Forward: Paul Pierce, BOS: Pierce is having a career year, and it's largely going unnoticed amidst all the Kobe headlines. He's doing all the usual things he's done throughout his career, but the biggest difference is his efficiency: His 48.8% mark from the field is eighth among all guards, which is remarkable considering that night-in and night-out he's the No. 1 option for defenses to stop. Pierce is also a rebounding fiend, with only Bonzi Wells matching his 7.6 mark out of all guards.

Guard: Allen Iverson, PHI: Yeah, we knew Iverson could score, but do you realize he's shooting his highest field goal percentage (45.3%) since his sophomore season? He's never shot a higher percentage from beyond the arc (36.6%) and he's getting to the line at a career-high 11.2 times a game, making him one of the most efficient players in the NBA. That, and he's averaging over 33 points while dishing out over seven assists.

Guard: Dwyane Wade, MIA: Despite looking very hard for someone to overtake Wade for this spot (Gilbert Arenas and Jason Kidd were possibilities, but simply didn't play enough defense), it's not happening. Wade is even better this year than last, which is quite a surprise to me. He's getting to the line more often, shooting a higher percentage from both the line and the field, averaging one more rebound per game, and improving his assists, and he's doing all of this with significantly fewer turnovers. You just have to bow down to that kind of dominance.

Yes, that's right: Either Brand or Duncan is going to be playing small forward and either LeBron or Pierce will go against them in the post. Picking the best players is more important than position, right?

Adam Madison is a fantasy expert for NBA.com. His column The Tao of Roto runs every Wednesday as part of the NBA.com Premium Scouting Report. Contact him at Adam@TalentedMrRoto.com.

The views expressed by the TalentedMrRoto.com represent only the views of the writers; they do not represent the views of the NBA or any NBA team.