The Too Early All Star Picks

[Craig]

Gonna throw out East vs West All Star rosters for 1989 as of Day 40 in my opinion. Went with 2 players at each position (where they are currently listed) and added 2 wild cards to get each roster to 12.


East
Starters:
C Moses Malone (Toronto Raptors) A C D+ A- A C
30.6ppg, 11.6rpg, 2.5apg, 0.9spg, 2.6bpg, 3.4topg, .534 FG%, .826 FT%, .000 3P%, 60.8 TS%, 38.1 USG% (33.1mpg)
Moses is still taking names at age 34 and in his new home in Toronto. He’s 2nd in the league in scoring, 7th in FG%, and 5th in rebounds. He just continues to do what he does as one of the most reliable offensive hubs in the league and controls the paint on both ends. There are some heavy hitters at Center in the East, but Malone still stands above the rest.

PF Steve Johnson (Cleveland Cavaliers) B+ D+ D- A- B+ C
23.0ppg, 10.7rpg, 1.3apg, 1.3spg, 1.5bpg, 3.2topg, .479 FG%, .661 FT%, .000 3P%, 52.7 TS%, 32.5 USG% (34.4mpg)
Was a tough decision between Johnson and Roy Tarpley here, but ended up giving the edge to Johnson’s rebounding and team success. The Cavs have slowly been losing backcourt scorers over the years but they haven’t missed a beat due in large part to Johnson’s prowess on the glass and his ability to take on an increased scoring load.

SF Tom Chambers (New Jersey Nets) B+ B+ D+ B+ C+ C
21.2ppg, 7.2rpg, 2.3apg, 0.9spg, 0.7bpg, 1.6topg, .451 FG%, .886 FT%, .447 3P%, 54.6 TS%, 25.2 USG% (36.1mpg)
Chambers is just a do-it-all SF for the Nets. He scores inside and out, rebounds well for his position, is a solid positional defender, and does his scoring without a crazy usage rate or high amounts of turnovers. He doesn’t have quite the gaudy numbers of some other All Star starters but seems to be pretty comfortably the top SF in the East this season.

SG Byron Scott (Boston Celtics) B- A- B+ A C- C
26.4ppg, 5.1rpg, 4.4apg, 2.8spg, 0.2bpg, 3.2topg, .493 FG%, .839 FT%, .463 3P%, 59.0 TS%, 29.3 USG% (38.6mpg)
Another multi-skilled wing, Scott is the engine that drives the Celtics’ vehicle. The Celtics have sputtered a bit out of the gate with the rest of the team struggling to put the ball in the hole, but Scott is doing everything he can to keep them afloat as he awaits some help from the incoming Buck Williams. There’s really nothing on the floor he can’t do.

PG Mitchell Jordan (New Jersey Nets) C+ A- B A C- D
16.9ppg, 4.7rpg, 9.5apg, 2.7spg, 0.3bpg, 3.0topg, .485 FG%, .703 FT%, .345 3P%, 55.1 TS%, 20.4 USG% (38.8mpg)
The oldest 24-year old in the league, Jordan has been by far the best PG in the East this season. He scores efficiently, defends his butt off, and feeds his scorers on the wing well. With the recent commitment to spacing/shooting on the Nets, their marketing team is even starting the “MJ for MVP” campaign.


Bench:
C Joe Barry Carroll (Miami Heat) B+ C C- A- A- D
24.4ppg, 11.4rpg, 2.4apg, 0.9spg, 4.6bpg, 2.6topg, .480 FG%, .731 FT%, .000 3P%, 53.9 TS%, 29.6 USG% (37.0mpg)
Big Joe Barry Carroll has a pretty underwhelming Heat roster sitting just above .500 mostly due to his brilliance. He’s 9th in the league in scoring, 6th in rebounding, and 1st in shot blocking. It’s sometimes tough for Carroll to get all the accolades playing a position with such high-end star power, but he’s unquestionably one of the best players in the league.

PF Roy Tarpley (Philadelphia 76ers) A- C- D+ B+ B B
25.3ppg, 9.1rpg, 2.5apg, 0.8spg, 1.3bpg, 2.1topg, .449 FG%, .715 FT%, .000 3P%, 51.0 TS%, 38.4 USG% (32.1mpg)
Tarpley was shipped to Philadelphia in the off-season in exchange for Moses Malone and hasn’t really missed a beat. He’s putting up a career high in scoring, albeit on slightly decreased efficiency due to increased workload and decreased roster quality on the re-building Sixers. You’d like to see him protect the paint a bit better but there aren’t too many post scorers as threatening as he is.

SF Drazen Petrovic (New Jersey Nets) C+ A- C A- C+ A
18.9ppg, 6.8rpg, 2.7apg, 2.0spg, 0.8bpg, 3.8topg, .459 FG%, .708 FT%, .469 3P%, 55.0 TS%, 25.7 USG% (34.4mpg)
SF in the East has a bit of a cluster of similarly productive players here in Petrovic, Clark Kellogg, and Michael Ray Richardson. Petrovic gets the nod here due to the mini-tear he’s been on since joining the Nets, as well as his team’s stellar W/L record (but he's barely been on this team wtf man?). His propensity to turn the ball over is concerning but there is no denying that he’s an elite shooter and he also does work on the boards and defensively.

SG Trent Tucker (Atlanta Hawks) B B+ B C+ C C
19.2ppg, 5.7rpg, 5.1apg, 1.1spg, 0.2bpg, 1.4topg, .488 FG%, .791 FT%, .419 3P%, 57.3 TS%, 22.7 USG% (37.1mpg)
Reggie Theus and Jim Spanarkel were considered here, but ultimately Trent Tucker’s offensive efficiency wins out. He puts up 19ppg on very efficient shooting and stellar ball control while also being arguably the Hawks’ most effective facilitator. His defensive effort leaves something to be desired but nobody will be playing defense in the All Star game anyway.

PG Derek Harper (Cleveland Cavaliers) C B- A- B C- B
7.1ppg, 3.9rpg, 8.8apg, 1.5spg, 0.2bpg, 1.7topg, .394 FG%, .750 FT%, .256 3P%, 46.0 TS%, 11.8 USG% (35.8mpg)
The pool of talent gets pretty thin at PG in the East after Jordan this year. Pooh Richardson has been extremely inefficient and Isiah Thomas is having a down year. So we’re going with the steady hand of Derek Harper and his 5.2 ast:to ratio, which has been an underrated part of the Cavs’ success over the years. He’s not exactly a scoring threat, but will feel right at home feeding superstar scorers in the All Star game.

Wild Cards:
C Hakeem Olajuwon (Cleveland Cavaliers) B+ C+ C- A- B+ B
21.1ppg, 10.0rpg, 2.8apg, 1.4spg, 4.3bpg, 2.8topg, .426 FG%, .882 FT%, .333 3P%, 53.7 TS%, 31.6 USG% (31.5mpg)
Hakeem gets onto my expanded roster as clearly a top 12 player in the East this year. You’d like to see him shoot a little straighter from the field, but his free throw shooting helps offset that. He’s also one of the top rim protectors in the league at 4.3bpg (2nd to Carroll). #1 player on the #1 team in the East so he is an easy inclusion.

PF Buck Williams (Boston Celtics) A- D D B A- B
22.8ppg, 9.4rpg, 1.7apg, 1.5spg, 1.0bpg, 1.9topg, .468 FG%, .538 FT%, .000 3P%, 49.0 TS%, 34.4 USG% (31.9mpg)
Newcomer to the Eastern conference, Buck Williams has been a very good scorer on a surprisingly good Kings team this season. Moving to the Celtics, he is hoping to jump start their sputtering offense alongside Byron Scott to push them up the standings.

Also considered:
Pooh Richardson (ORL), Clark Kellog (NY), Sam Bowie (ATL), Kevin Duckworth (NY), Jim Spanarkel (TOR)

West
Starters:
C Ralph Sampson (Vancouver Grizzlies) A- C C- A- A- B
25.6ppg, 12.7rpg, 3.1apg, 1.5spg, 3.8bpg, 2.6topg, .478 FG%, .777 FT%, .000 3P%, 54.9 TS%, 32.1 USG% (35.0mpg)
Sampson is probably the most decorated player in the league outside of Moses Malone, having won two championships and Finals MVP’s in back-to-back years with two different teams, as well as being the only player in the league to have won a regular season MVP besides Moses. He is continuing his dominance this season, now with the Vancouver Grizzlies after a blockbuster trade. He may have made the Grizzlies the favorites to win the championship for the second straight year. He has no holes in his game and is just superb.

PF Melvin Turpin (San Antonio Spurs) B+ C C A- B+ C
19.7ppg, 13.0rpg, 4.0apg, 1.5spg, 4.1bpg, 3.0topg, .488 FG%, .657 FT%, .182 3P%, 53.7 TS%, 23.7 USG% (38.6mpg)
Melvin Turpin has come into this season and quite possibly established himself as the best all-around PF in the league. The whole Spurs team is having a remarkable season, and Turpin’s league best rebounding and top 4 shot blocking numbers are a big reason why. He’s also having a career year in scoring AND FG%. He will be an integral part of the Spurs’ title contention this season.

SF Oscar Schmidt (Sacramento Kings) B+ B+ D A- B C
27.5ppg, 8.8rpg, 2.3apg, 2.8spg, 0.2bpg, 1.7topg, .520 FG%, .806 FT%, .389 3P%, 59.9 TS%, 27.8 USG% (38.3mpg)
Oscar is just a model of consistency and efficiency. He’s hovering around 60% True Shooting on very high volume and under 2 turnovers per game. You cannot ask for more from your #1 offensive option. He is also a bruising rebounder from the SF position and is top 10 in the league in steals. He is a superstar in every sense of the word.

SG Michael Jordan (Portland Trailblazers) A- A- C A- C C
32.0ppg, 6.2rpg, 3.2apg, 2.9spg, 0.3bpg, 3.4topg, .503 FG%, .889 FT%, .375 3P%, 58.9 TS%, 34.3 USG%, (37.9mpg)
Michael is pacing the league in scoring at a high level of efficiency and is also one of the best defensive wings in the league as well. The only slight blemish in his game is that he is currently committing more turnovers than assists, on average. But otherwise, he is another backcourt superstar in the West that will be tough for the East to contain.

PG Jim Brogan (Los Angeles Clippers) C+ B+ B+ B C B
21.7ppg, 5.6rpg, 9.0apg, 1.6spg, 0.1bpg, 2.9topg, .469 FG%, .760 FT%, .381 3P%, 54.9 TS%, 24.1 USG%, (40.9mpg)
This was probably the toughest decision for me. Between Brogan, Kevin Johnson, and Kenny Smith, the West has 3 PG’s who have very similar production. Ask me again in an hour and Brogan might not be on the team in favor of the other two. Ultimately gave Brogan the edge due to him being the only one of the three under 3 turnovers per game, which is a hot button for me, considering all of the other metrics are so similar with the competition.

Bench:
C Christian Welp (Sacramento Kings) B C- C- B- B C
15.2ppg, 10.5rpg, 1.6apg, 1.1spg, 2.2bpg, 1.3topg, .478 FG%, .688 FT%, .000 3P%, 53.1 TS%, 23.1 USG%, (29.3mpg)
Who? Yeah, I said the same thing. Admittedly, centers in the West outside of Sampson is not the deepest pool, but Welp has been a very efficient cog in the Kings’ lineup all year. He’s putting up an efficient double-double at under 30mpg and also protecting the rim well. Wanted to make sure his production does not go unnoticed.

PF Charles Barkley (Denver Nuggets) B C D- A A B
15.5ppg, 9.8rpg, 1.4apg, 1.2spg, 2.2bpg, 1.7topg, .464 FG%, .558 FT%, .167 3P%, 49.5 TS%, 29.4 USG%, (27.1mpg)
Another rather weak crop of options, as Barkley has been injured quite a bit this year. But when he does play, he offers really great all around play as a good scorer, great rebounder/rim protector, and is taking care of the ball as well. Also considered Danny Manning here but felt his numbers were a bit more volume-based than anything.

SF Larry Bird (Denver Nuggets) B B C+ B B D
23.4ppg, 8.2rpg, 4.3apg, 1.6spg, 0.2bpg, 3.7topg, .432 FG%, .872 FT%, .469 3P%, 52.5 TS%, 30.8 USG%, (37.4mpg)
Bird is having another really solid year for the Nuggets. You’d like to see him shoot with more accuracy and turn the ball over less, but the 33-year old is what he is at this point, which is still one of the better all-around SF’s in the league. He shoots from 3 well and playmakes/rebounds at a high level for a wing.

SG Magic Johnson (Vancouver Grizzlies) B+ C+ A A C C
25.7ppg, 6.9rpg, 5.8apg, 3.2spg, 0.0bpg, 2.5topg, .477 FG%, .797 FT%, .246 3P%, 54.4 TS%, 28.7 USG% (38.3mpg)
West SG is easily the deepest position to pull from this season. Magic is a two-way superstar the the reigning Finals MVP. He can credibly play multiple positions and this year is putting up 26/7/6/3 per game. He pairs with Ralph Sampson for arguably the most deadly duo in the league.

PG Kevin Johnson (San Antonio Spurs) B- B A B D+ C
19.6pg, 4.4rpg, 10.0apg, 1.8spg, 0.3bpg, 3.8topg, .459 FG%, .826 FT%, .389 3P%, 53.8 TS%, 24.3 USG% (38.9mpg)
With almost identical numbers to Kenny Smith, KJ gets the nod at this minute as the engine for the 19-9 Spurs, who are legitimate title contenders. He has broken out in his 3rd year to the tune of a practically 20/10 stat line from the PG position. You’d like him to take care of the ball a bit better but otherwise he’s top notch.

Wild card:
SG Darrell Griffith (Seattle Supersonics) A- B C+ A+ C- C
28.4ppg, 4.9rpg, 4.2apg, 2.9spg, 0.2bpg, 3.0topg, .475 FG%, .824 FT%, .346 3P%, 55.1 TS%, 33.4 USG% (38.1mpg)
Griffith sneaks into one of my extra spots at a loaded position as a Wild Card. He’s been one of the best SG’s in the league for a half-decade and is looking to lead his new team, the Sonics, out of the cellar of the West and into title contention. He’s another two-way best with little to no holes in his game and gaudy numbers.

SG Roberto Brunamonti (Utah Jazz) C A C A- C C
23.4ppg, 5.8rpg, 3.4apg, 3.9spg, 0.6bpg, 2.1topg, .489 FG%, .925 FT%, .518 3P%, 60.6 TS%, 23.8 USG% (40.3mpg)
The last spot goes to the sharpshooting Roberto Brunamonti, one of the league’s first prolific 3-point shooters (and boy is he ever, 52% on 5.5 attempts per game). He also has ridiculous anticipation skills on the defensive end to the tune of almost 4 steals per game. It was tough to leave off my boy Kenny the Jet but Roberto is a deserving pick.

Also considered:
Kenny Smith (PHX), Hersey Hawkins (SA), Danny Manning (GS), Steve Stipanovich (MIN), Leon Wood (UTA)

[offtheheezy]

Nice article seems about right. Only surprise is the lack of good Western Conference centers. I'd probably have Stipanovich over Welp due to record, Sabonis has been doing quite well on the Jazz as well. (4.1 APG from the C spot is nothing to laugh at)

Centers in the East and SG in the West are loaded

[lukeyrid13]

Good article. SG out West is definitely a very stacked position.

Spanarkel was definitely a surprise as I didn't have him on my radar at all.

[vincent1469]

Looking at Christian Welp reminds me of when Mychal Thompson was the All-Star starter

[Foxyg1396]

Good stuff, Barkley had the whole first sim as a backup so he wasn’t getting his proper stats. But good stuff

[UOducksTK1]

Scott hasn't been an all-star in 4 years. Thanks!

[duckyoubeavers]

appreciate the spanarkel mention! i said he was MRR lite when i signed him but think hes better now imo. basically the same stats but spanarkel turns it over less

[duckyoubeavers]

id probably go with kellogg over drazen. similar stats but kellogg is a lot more efficient

[Craig]

id probably go with kellogg over drazen. similar stats but kellogg is a lot more efficient

I went back & forth on that one too. Definitely a reasonable take.

[dd10snoop28]

Stats are pretty even but like Craig said, Drazen has been pwning lately and we are looking like contenders.

[duckyoubeavers]

Stats are pretty even but like Craig said, Drazen has been pwning lately and we are looking like contenders.

fair enough. if he was in your offense all season, hed definitely be in there

[offtheheezy]

I hope Drazen gets his first all-star appearance dude has been grinding the West and not making it because of Schmidt, Bird, etc.

[Craig]

West backcourt vs East frontcourt would be crazy to watch.

Definitely had a hard time deciding with:

-Smith vs Brogan vs Johnson for West PGs.

-Drazen vs Kellogg for East backup SF

-Welp vs Stipanovich for West backup C

-Buck vs Duckworth, Kellogg, Bowie for the last East wildcard

[Zyme]

West backcourt vs East frontcourt would be crazy to watch.

Definitely had a hard time deciding with:

-Smith vs Brogan vs Johnson for West PGs.

-Drazen vs Kellogg for East backup SF

-Welp vs Stipanovich for West backup C

-Buck vs Duckworth, Kellogg, Bowie for the last East wildcard

Its Kellogg and its not close, he's missed the ASG once in his career with identical stats as last year. Prob not with duck.

[Zyme]

I hope Drazen gets his first all-star appearance dude has been grinding the West and not making it because of Schmidt, Bird, etc.

And he's now up against the ironman Kellogg and Chambers, unless he takes the next step he's perennially the bride's maid and not the bride.