3 All-Stars This Season?

[Spicoli]

Blakely thinks Tatum will be an All-Star reserve.

https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/nbc-sports-bostons-nba-eastern-conference-all-stars-volume-1#slide-8

Reserves: Jayson Tatum, Boston
20.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists

The third-year forward has started playing with more consistency to warrant being talked about as one of the best in the East. While his shooting numbers are slightly down (40.9 percent, compared to 45.0 a season ago), he’s taking more than five more shots per game while still posting career marks in rebounds, assists and steals.

Tatum has a higher ceiling than Brown, but I think it’s hard to say he’s been better *this year*. Their counting stats per 36 are almost identical and Brown has been more efficient - TS of 58 vs 51.

And that’s just looking at offense. Factor in defense and Brown is head and shoulders above Tatum.

Brown is not a better defender than Tatum. But that's just my opinion.

[Hoopvortex]

Blakely thinks Tatum will be an All-Star reserve.

https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/nbc-sports-bostons-nba-eastern-conference-all-stars-volume-1#slide-8

Reserves: Jayson Tatum, Boston
20.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists

The third-year forward has started playing with more consistency to warrant being talked about as one of the best in the East. While his shooting numbers are slightly down (40.9 percent, compared to 45.0 a season ago), he’s taking more than five more shots per game while still posting career marks in rebounds, assists and steals.

Tatum has a higher ceiling than Brown, but I think it’s hard to say he’s been better *this year*. Their counting stats per 36 are almost identical and Brown has been more efficient - TS of 58 vs 51.

And that’s just looking at offense. Factor in defense and Brown is head and shoulders above Tatum.

Brown is not a better defender than Tatum. But that's just my opinion.

Not just yours.

But after a certain point judging ‘better’ or ‘worse’ isn’t very useful. They’re both terrific.

Boston’s team D has been creeping up the last two weeks (even while Brother Marcus has been unavailable), now second in the league:

http://www.espn.com/nba/hollinger/teamstats/_/sort/defensiveEff/order/false

There’s still a big gap to catch Milwaukee for #1.



Defense Four Factors         
eFG%        TOV%         DRB%         FT/FGA
.500           14.2           77.2            .194
   6               4               15               1

So striking that a young team can lead the league in fewest FT makes per FG attempt.

[Moranis]

Boston's record makes 3 possible, but I do think it will just be Walker and Tatum.  What is interesting is the balance in the conference and the fact that several of the top tier teams only have 1 player that clearly looks like an all star statistically.  So what do the coaches do if they have one final spot and are trying to pick between Boston's 3rd player (either Tatum or Brown) and say Milwaukee's 2nd player (Middleton).  Clearly the Boston player has better stats, but I wonder if Middleton gets a boost being the 2nd player on the best team in the conference.  To a lesser extent that would apply to Simmons or Horford in Philly, Bam in Miami, etc.

Right now this is what my all star team would be

Starters - Walker, Butler, Giannis, Siakam, Embiid
Reserves - Tatum, Bam, Drummond, Sabonis, Dinwiddie, Lowry, Beal

I needed another forward so that is why Sabonis is there, and especially given how good Indiana has been it felt weird to not have anyone on the all star team from them.  The bench guards were a real struggle for me as there are so many solid options in Young, Simmons, and Brown in addition to the 3 I put on the bench.  I ultimately felt like Lowry should be rewarded for how good Toronto has been (it isn't all Siakam).  I went with Dinwiddie for basically really elevating his game in Irving's absence and keeping the Nets above .500.  I went with Beal for that 3rd spot given his veteran status, solid defense, and strong stats.  But it was really hard to keep Young off of the team as there aren't many guys in history that average 29 ppg, 8.5 apg, and 4.5 rpg.  His defense is awful and the Hawks are atrocious, which keep him off of my all star squad (though he does probably make it).  I also think Simmons is going to be hurt by his lack of development of an outside shot, though he still has pretty solid counting stats so I could see him make the team.  I think Brown doesn't make it because there are so many good guard candidates and it is hard to get a 3rd all star.  Now if you call Brown a forward then he has a better shot at making the team, I just think he is a SG and thus won't make it over the other guys.

[Jvalin]

The 24 players I believe will make it (not necessarily the ones I'd vote for):

starters (5 from each conference)

Luka
Harden
Kawhi
LeBron (team captain)
AD

Kemba
Beal
Siakam
Giannis (team captain)
Embiid

14 bench players (regardless of conference)

Lillard - Trae Young - Westbrook - Kyrie (assuming health)
Mitchell - Middleton/Brown
George - Butler
Sabonis - Tatum/Porzingis
KAT -  Jokic - Aldridge - Drummond

- Imo, if the Bucks are top of the league next February, Middleton has the upper hand over Brown. Booker is playing great as well, but the Suns suck.
- As things stand right now, I'd pick Tatum over Zinger. Imo, if Tatum gets in, then Brown is out.
- I guess Westbrook is gonna make the bench. If it was up to me, I would never pick him.
- The Hawks suck big time, but Trae is putting up insane numbers. I believe he'll get selected.

Personally speaking, I'd love to see Ja Morant dunking over people in the All-Star game! No way he makes it. Just saying.

[Who]

No point in having 3 of Sabonis, Drummond and Bam behind Embiid.

All Star game needs only 1 of those guys.

[Who]

Middleton should definitely get in. He has been fantastic.

No way Milwaukee has only 1 all star with their record.

[Jvalin]

Starters - Walker, Butler, Giannis, Siakam, Embiid
Reserves - Tatum, Bam, Drummond, Sabonis, Dinwiddie, Lowry, Beal

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think you can put Butler in the backcourt. I've already voted and I can't see the options anymore.

[celticsclay]

WHoever said Horford could make it must not be following the nba this season. He is averaging 13, 6.8 and 3.8 and a career low from the field. There would be at least 30 players in the east that would make it before him including 4 on our team and three on his own.

[PAOBoston]

Honestly think the Cs max out at 1 guy (Kemba). I think both JB and JT will have a tough time squeezing in.

[Moranis]

Starters - Walker, Butler, Giannis, Siakam, Embiid
Reserves - Tatum, Bam, Drummond, Sabonis, Dinwiddie, Lowry, Beal

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think you can put Butler in the backcourt. I've already voted and I can't see the options anymore.

I've seen them a few times and I always think of Butler as the SG with Robinson as the SF

[Who]

East

Guards - Kemba & Beal, Trae Young & Jaylen, Brogdon
Forwards - Giannis & Siakam, Jimmy Butler & Middleton, Tatum
Centers - Embiid, Sabonis

West

Guards - Doncic & Harden, Lillard & Booker, Westbrook & D.Mitchell
Forwards - Kawhi & LeBron, PG13 & Porzingis
Centers - Anthony Davis, Karl Towns, Jokic

[Moranis]

No point in having 3 of Sabonis, Drummond and Bam behind Embiid.

All Star game needs only 1 of those guys.

front court is weak, though if Butler is in the front court and not the backcourt he would knock one of them out and open up a spot for Young on my team.

[LilRip]

Blakely thinks Tatum will be an All-Star reserve.

https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/nbc-sports-bostons-nba-eastern-conference-all-stars-volume-1#slide-8

Reserves: Jayson Tatum, Boston
20.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists

The third-year forward has started playing with more consistency to warrant being talked about as one of the best in the East. While his shooting numbers are slightly down (40.9 percent, compared to 45.0 a season ago), he’s taking more than five more shots per game while still posting career marks in rebounds, assists and steals.

Tatum has a higher ceiling than Brown, but I think it’s hard to say he’s been better *this year*. Their counting stats per 36 are almost identical and Brown has been more efficient - TS of 58 vs 51.

And that’s just looking at offense. Factor in defense and Brown is head and shoulders above Tatum.

Brown is not a better defender than Tatum. But that's just my opinion.

You’re not alone in your opinion. TP to you good sir

[Monkhouse]

I think Tatum and Brown are about good defenders but for different reasons. Tatum is great at being beat, and coming behind for the chase down block, and using his height + length as an excellent team help defender. Whereas, Brown is probably better at guarding stronger forwards, but has defensive versatility from 1-4, and is a better man to man defender. 

[Jvalin]

I think Tatum and Brown are about good defenders but for different reasons. Tatum is great at being beat, and coming behind for the chase down block, and using his height + length as an excellent team help defender. Whereas, Brown is probably better at guarding stronger forwards, but has defensive versatility from 1-4, and is a better man to man defender.

Lol at the bolded part!

Btw, Tatum isn't all that long. He's 6'8 with a 6'11 wingspan. That's about average length in my book.

I believe Tatum is an adequate defender when it comes to team D. He's a below average defender when it comes to on-ball D though.

All things considered, I don't think he's a 2-way player like Brown is.