This year, the LA Lakers and Clippers are playing hosts to the madness that can only be the NBA All-Star Weekend. In addition to the All-Star game, three time-honored competitions will be slamming Staples Center harcourt this month - namely, the slam dunk contest, three-point shootout and skills challenge. 

Here's your guide to one of the biggest hoops event of the year. For event times, check our schedule  here.  

The NBA All-Star Game

For the Western Conference, the fans voted Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, and Yao Ming as the starters. The coaches selected Blake Griffin, Pau Gasol, Dirk Nowitzki, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Deron Williams, and Russell Westbrook as the supporting cast. Since Yao will not be able to participate in the game due to injury, Griffin was promoted to the starting position and Kevil Love was picked to take Yao’s slot.

The fans voted for Derrick Rose, Dwayne Wade, LeBron James, Amar’e Stoudemire, and Dwight Howard to start for the East. Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Chris Bosh, Al Horford, and Joe Johnson were tapped to back them up.

The expectations are high for this year’s All-Star game as a bunch of exciting players made it to the lineup. Griffin and Westbrook, both first timers, are both fixtures in the weekly countdown of the best plays. Fans expect them to bring their high-flying acts to Los Angeles.

Fans are waiting to see how the Miami Thrice will co-exist with Boston’s Big Four. The basketball world is also buzzing with anticipation as Griffin will have two premiere point guards in Paul and Williams throwing him lobs.

Slam Dunk Contest

NBA fans celebrated when Blake Griffin was named as one of the contestants for the Slam Dunk Contest. Going up against him are two high-leaping centers in JaVale McGee and Serge Ibaka and the energetic DeMar DeRozan.

The fans expect Griffin to bring the house down in the Slam Dunk Contest as most of his in-game dunks are already good enough to get him the Slam Dunk Contest Trophy. However, McGee, Ibaka, and DeRozan will attempt to make this a competition and not a coronation. This year’s Slam Dunk Competition can be one for the history books.

Three-Point Shootout

Paul Pierce will be back to defend his Three-Point Shootout title and he will be up against his teammate Ray Allen who is very close to surpassing Reggie Miller in the NBA’s All-Time list in three point shots made. Also joining this competition are Dorell Wright from the Golden State Warriors, Daniel Gibson from the Cleveland Cavaliers, Kevin Durant from the Oklahoma Thunder, and James Jones from the Miami Heat.

Skills Challenge

Only one player has been named to compete in the Skills challenge and that is Chris Paul. Fans were given the chance to vote for eight players (Derek Fisher, Baron Davis, Tyreke Evans, Tony Parker, Stephen Curry, Derrick Rose, John Wall, and Russell Westbrook) and the top four vote-getters will join the event.

NBA All-Star Rookie Challenge

The yearly All-Star Weekend Rookie Challenge is also much anticipated as a lot of the league’s young talent have made it to the lineups. The Rookies are going to be handled by San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Mike Budenholzer with Amare’s Stoudemire and Kevin McHale assisting him. The Rookies are bannered by John Wall and Blake Griffin, but Griffin is expected to pass up on this game.

The Sophomores will be handled by Boston Celtics assistant coach Lawrence Frank and he will be assisted by Carmelo Anthony and Steve Kerr. Stephen Curry, Tyreke Evans, Brando Jennings, and Jrue Holiday will carry the fight for the Sophomores while Slam Dunk Contestants DeRozan and Ibaka are expected to bring in the excitement.

Catch all the exciting side events as BTV airs the 2011 NBA All-Star Saturday Night on February 20 at 9 am. The NBA All-Star Rookie Challenge will be aired on February 19 at 10 am and the NBA All-Star game will be aired on February 21 at 9 am live on BTV.