Today's topic - All Star Game. More specifically I am here to talk about the rosters. I am going to do a prediction article in this segment talking about which players I think are going to be selected. My thought process behind this was pretty simple, I am taking the top two players at each position of each conference. There are some huge names in the list of players who are repeat all stars, while we have a few first timers. We also equally have some big names for players who didn't make the rosters due to the limit I set forth. I am not honestly sure if that is how the game does it, given that I never really paid attention enough to see if it is always done that way. This seemed like the best way to do it so I did it. So with that let's get into the All Star selections. Of note, I also did not include any players that were traded this season in the rankings.
Center
East Starting Center - Hakeem Olajuwon Boston Celtics (2nd All Star Selection)PTS ORB DRB AST TO A/T STL BLK PF FG% FT% 3P%
25.7 3.0 7.7 2.7 3.1 0.87 0.7 3.4 3.3 .541 .707 .111
I am going to borrow another Wigism and try not to talk about my own players too much. Hakeem got the starting nod here over a pretty deep amount of worthy bigs in the East. He edged out Nance and Moses for the starting spot. Leading the league in rebounding will help with that though.
Reserve Center - Larry Nance Washington Bullets (4th All Star Selection)
PTS ORB DRB AST TO A/T STL BLK PF FG% FT% 3P%
29.5 2.1 6.4 2.2 2.7 0.79 0.6 2.0 2.5 .564 .732 .000
This feels dirty. Moses, the long running number two in NPBSL was not selected for this exercise. It may not be the same, and I am sure NY_Garrett hopes it is not. However, I think Nance has a strong argument to be included over Moses, playing maybe the best season of his life right now. He is scoring almost 30 a game, averaging 2 blocks a game, and is tenth in FG percentage. He is also the anchor of the second best defense in the game right now. Nance has consistently been a great Center and will probably wind up on the all league list at the end of the season again.
West Starting Center - Patrick Ewing Houston Rockets (1st All Star Selection)
PTS ORB DRB AST TO A/T STL BLK PF FG% FT% 3P%
30.7 3.2 7.3 2.4 3.3 0.73 0.6 3.1 3.8 .551 .759 .000
Ewing is continuing the trend of top end picks playing very well in their first season. He is dominating in his first season in H-town. When some GMs said his dominance was an illusion after the first sim of playing against a 6-3 Center, Ewing took that personal and has continued to smack around any big that he is faced against wether they should be playing Center or not. What really sticks out to me is that he is doing it on both ends of the court, placing top eight in scoring, rebounding, and blocks. This guy should have been the first pick in the draft and it is astounding that he was not. The only blemish on his record is a 3.8 foul per game average but he is still playing 28 mins a game. Looks like the frozen envelop 2.0 proved fruitful for the Rockets and will get some more points out of Ewing as an All Star Game.
West Reserve Center - Danny Schayes Seattle SuperSonics (1st All Star Selection)
PTS ORB DRB AST TO A/T STL BLK PF FG% FT% 3P%
21.4 2.5 6.1 1.7 3.3 0.52 0.6 1.3 3.8 .534 .785 .000
Now here is a guy that just keeps getting better. Schayes was originally drafted with the 18th pick by the Sonics back in 1981 and had some quiet seasons in his rookie contract years. In 1983, he got the most improved player after getting inserted into the starting lineup and has not looked back since. This season he is playing very well on a bad team, having to share the court with Wilkins for a while before becoming the main focus of the team. I will say, I don't know that the game will agree with me on this one and will go for another big. I can see maybe Bowie, Cartwright, or Parish in this spot instead. However, Schayes I think has done enough to show his value not just to his team but to be selected in to play in the finest of exhibitions.
Notable Omissions:
Moses Malone
Joe Barry Carroll
Sam Bowie
Bill Cartwright
James Edwards
Robert Parish
Power Forward
East Starting Power Forward - Kevin McHale Milwaukee Bucks (6th All Star Selections )PTS ORB DRB AST TO A/T STL BLK PF FG% FT% 3P%
34.6 3.0 7.1 2.1 2.7 0.76 0.4 3.1 2.2 .578 .783 .385
You know how I said Moses was the long running #2 in NPBSL? I think McHale replaced him in that slot a few seasons ago. The finals MVP is putting up insane numbers again. Averaging almost a double double and being second in points, while also having over 3 blocks a game. Hell, he even is shooting over .300 from deep! He is in no small part a reason the Bucks are so good right now and deserves the starting spot. Not much to write about here honestly because this is as close to a forgone conclusion that you can get.
West Starting Power Forward - James Worthy Portland Trailblazers (1st All Star Selection)
PTS ORB DRB AST TO A/T STL BLK PF FG% FT% 3P%
27.0 1.7 4.5 2.5 2.0 1.23 0.9 0.9 2.6 .563 .769 .182
Not only are we looking at a first time All Star, but I think we may be looking at the most improved player too. Worthy really went into another gear this season knowing that his second contract is around the corner. He has gotten better across the board, with every efficiency stat showing that he has gone from a complimentary player to someone Wig can build around. His PER, EWA, and true shooting all went up and his Offensive Efficiency to Defensive Efficiency is now at a wider gap, with his DEFF sub 100 to a OEFF that is over 110. I have a feeling we will start to see him around these games more often.
East Reserve PF - Cliff Robinson Atlanta Hawks (1st All Star Selection)
PTS ORB DRB AST TO A/T STL BLK PF FG% FT% 3P%
28.5 2.6 6.5 1.8 3.3 0.56 0.9 0.5 4.1 .486 .730 .500
Cliff is playing very respectfully right now for a team that is struggling. The rudderless Hawks, who really only have three guys on their roster (and only a handful going into TC for that matter), are really relying on those guys. Cliff is not disappoint though. He is putting in the hustle and it shows. Where not only is he scoring a lot and doing it all over the court, but is also fouling a lot too - showing that he is leaving it all on the court. The all star selection is well earned accolade for a player who has gone from a championship team to trying to lead another team to respectability.
West Reserve PF - Kiki Vandeweghe San Antonio Spurs (6th All Star Selection)
PTS ORB DRB AST TO A/T STL BLK PF FG% FT% 3P%
28.6 1.2 4.0 2.1 2.1 1.00 0.5 0.1 3.1 .602 .858 .414
Mr. Benedict Arnold himself. Kiki comes to the halfway point of another season showing that he is truly still a top end player. A continuing theme I am seeing is that these bigs really know how to shoot, with Kiki scoring .414 from deep. How is Dale Ellis the only guy on the 3 point stat page?! The two time ASG MVP may just be in a situation to do it again, coming off the bench here.
Notable Omissions:
Darryl Dawkins
Terry Cummings
Mike Mitchell
Bill Laimbeer
Tom Chambers
Small Forward
East Starting SF - Bernard King New York Knicks (5th All Star Selection)PTS ORB DRB AST TO A/T STL BLK PF FG% FT% 3P%
32.8 2.3 5.5 4.9 3.8 1.29 1.0 0.3 3.3 .553 .726 .000
For playing on what is now his fifth team, Bernard King really is a guy who just keeps balling. I would dare say that he may be the best player on the Knicks team right now. The former slam dunk champ is third in scoring in NPBSL and has a considerably higher +/- to his running mate in the big apple. He seems to be bullying other wings, getting to the paint and then using his hops to score He is an athletic freak that not many people have figured him out, both the GMs who have him and those that play against him, except for NY_Garrett. I could see King also fighting for ASG MVP this season based on his play this year.
West Starting SF- Magic Johnson Los Angeles Lakers (6th All Star Selection)
PTS ORB DRB AST TO A/T STL BLK PF FG% FT% 3P%
34.6 2.1 7.2 9.7 3.3 2.96 2.3 0.4 2.6 .615 .828 .294
We get it, he is good. Moving on...
East Reserve SF - Buck Williams Washington Bullets (3rd All Star Selection)
PTS ORB DRB AST TO A/T STL BLK PF FG% FT% 3P%
22.5 2.3 7.2 2.7 2.6 1.04 0.6 0.9 2.7 .580 .694 .000
Buck is another guy that is kinda like King, but because he is younger more people have had their eyes on him. He is an absolute athletic beast. What is crazy to think too is that he is 25 and could keep getting better. The Bullets have built a great core with Williams and Nance at the Center of it that should last for several seasons.
West Reserve SF - Larry Bird Houston Rockets (6th All Star Selection)
PTS ORB DRB AST TO A/T STL BLK PF FG% FT% 3P%
19.5 2.6 7.2 5.9 2.9 2.01 1.8 0.6 3.0 .521 .924 .375
While this will not happen because he is out with an injury, Larry Bird very much is still a really good player and deserving of matching Magic, Kiki, and McHale with a 6th ASG appearance. His numbers dipped slightly, but he is still a dog on the court who is helping the Rockets be good this season, along with Ewing. I think Paxson or Barkley will get the nod in Larry's place.
Notable Omissions:
Chris Mullin
Jim Paxson
Alex English
Charles Barkley
Detlef Schrempf
Mark Aguirre
Shooting Guard
East Starting SG- Sidney Moncreif Cleveland Cavaliers (6th All Star Selection)PTS ORB DRB AST TO A/T STL BLK PF FG% FT% 3P%
23.3 2.1 3.7 4.8 3.3 1.47 1.8 0.2 2.9 .518 .846 .231
I never would have guessed Sidney Moncreif has been to every all star game so far. I don't think of him in the same way I think of the other guys mentioned in that same list... Way to go JLM, I guess?
West Starting SG - Michael Jordan San Antonio Spurs (2nd All Star Selection)
PTS ORB DRB AST TO A/T STL BLK PF FG% FT% 3P%
19.4 1.4 5.3 6.1 3.2 1.94 2.1 0.5 2.9 .555 .839 .308
I was a little surprised by this one. I was initially going to put "MJ is good we get it..." but then looking at his stats, he is not playing like the MJ of real life. Some of this is because of the logjam that Eazy has to fight with to give everyone the ball in San Antonio. However, shooting over .500 as a guard is wild. He is playing very well on a team that is very good. So let's meet in the middle shall we? MJ is good, he gets it.
East Reserve SG - Dale Ellis Brooklyn Nets (1st All Star Selection)
PTS ORB DRB AST TO A/T STL BLK PF FG% FT% 3P%
22.0 2.8 4.2 3.5 3.5 1.00 1.5 0.2 2.2 .531 .809 .398
This guy solely deserves to play in this game because he is STILL on the 3 point % list in the league leader page. I hope that he can end the season there and RPF can be the first team to claim that stat. He isn't a one trick pony though, with his % all over the floor being really good.
West Reserve SG - Clyde Drexler Denver Nuggets (2nd All Star Appearance)
PTS ORB DRB AST TO A/T STL BLK PF FG% FT% 3P%
18.3 2.7 4.0 6.1 3.7 1.67 1.2 0.4 2.8 .545 .807 .309
While the guys on Wig's podcast were fan girling over Clyde's potentials, his currents are still pretty good. He still has a long way to go before realizing that. However, Jedihero don't fret, he is still playing at an all star level on a team that is finding its groove as well.
Notable Omissions:
Jeff Malone
Darrell Griffith
Point Guard
East Starting PG - Fat Lever Brooklyn Nets (1st All Star Selection) PTS ORB DRB AST TO A/T STL BLK PF FG% FT% 3P%
12.1 2.3 4.0 11.2 2.4 4.61 1.7 0.1 2.8 .468 .741 .231
The guy who created a rule is showing why it was worth it for RPF. Lever is averaging a double double, sub 2.5 TOs and over 1.5 steals. He still has some room to grow and will become an even better player, but is already showing his worth to the Nets.
West Starting PG - Reggie Theus San Diego Clippers (6th All Star Selection)
PTS ORB DRB AST TO A/T STL BLK PF FG% FT% 3P%
22.8 1.4 2.6 11.2 3.5 3.22 1.8 0.1 2.9 .564 .847 .417
The non-alpha is back in his starting role as the starting PG for the West again. He has made this his residency again this year, looking like Wayne Newton with his lasting power. The former ASG MVP will look to keep the ball rolling this season. Every year that Theus keeps playing this good, is another season that everyone should laugh at Darth for his article on Reggie.
East Reserve PG - Doc Rivers Milwaukee Bucks (1st All Star Selection)
PTS ORB DRB AST TO A/T STL BLK PF FG% FT% 3P%
11.2 0.8 2.8 11.2 2.2 5.20 1.9 0.2 3.1 .464 .846 .206
The PGs in NPBSL are really good right now. They often get overshadowed by the bigs and the type of play of this era, but man they are good. Doc is a PG who you would think maybe starts at PG based on his numbers, but the quality is just that high at the top right now.
West Reserve PG - John Stockton Pheonix Suns (1st All Star Selection)
PTS ORB DRB AST TO A/T STL BLK PF FG% FT% 3P%
15.8 1.0 1.8 12.5 3.1 4.02 2.2 0.1 2.6 .464 .840 .299
Another PG who should maybe be starting most seasons. Was equally surprised to see based on his stats last season he didn't make it. However, he breaks through the glass ceiling in this experiment. Hopefully for Dr.K he makes it in real life this season.
Notable Omissions:
Johnny Moore
Maurice Cheeks
Darnell Valentine
