2012 NBA All-Star Game Time, TV Schedule And More - SB Nation

Read More: Paul Pierce (F - EAST), Rajon Rondo (G - EAST), Luol Deng (F - EAST), LeBron James (F - EAST), Dwyane Wade (G - EAST), Derrick Rose (G - EAST), Tom Thibodeau (A - BOS), Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Boston Celtics

The 2012 NBA All-Star Game features Derrick Rose and Luol Deng of the Chicago Bulls, but Bulls fans better tune in early if they want to catch a glimpse of either on the court, because it's highly probably that they won't be on for long. Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau will coach the East All-Stars this year, and with both Rose and Deng having battled injuries this season, he's likely to severely limit the minutes that both players see in the game, even with Deng playing in his first.

Thibodeau's ability to limit the minutes of his own players is one of the underlying advantages (well, maybe the only advantage) of being able to coach in the All-Star game, but he'll also be able to dole out minutes to players like LeBron James and Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat and Rajon Rondo and Paul Pierce of the Boston Celtics. Of course, Thibodeau isn't going to purposefully run his rivals ragged, but the push-pull will be on everybody's mind.

For updates on All-Star festivities, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage, head over to SB Nation's NBA news hub.

26 Feb, 2012