Bill Simmons' All-Star Predictions

[Conroy]

Sports Guy Bill Simmons here and with the All-Star game fast approaching, I figured now was as good a time as any to try to get some predictions in. I'll give my predictions and my reasoning behind them. Feel free to rip mine and add your own below.

We'll start in the Eastern conference.

Starters:
C: David Robinson
PF: Charles Barkley
SF: Chris Mullin
SG: Reggie Miller
PG: Tim Hardaway

Reserves:
PG: John Stockton
SG: Stacey Augmon
SF: Glenn Rice
PF: Horace Grant
C: Alonzo Mourning

David Robinson and Charles Barkley are no-brainers. Robinson is the league's MVP so far which has been even more evident due to the Knicks recent struggles with him sidelined with an injury. Chris Mullin averages close to 4 more points per game than Rice giving him the starting nod. Who to pick to start out of Miller and Augmon was by far my hardest decision, I eventually went with Miller since he is such a great 3PT shooter and I feel that is an important skill for a Shooting Guard. Hardaway vs Stockton was also tough, similar assist numbers, Hardaway averages a few more TOs but scores a little better giving him the edge in my opinion. And I wouldn't have my reputation of biggest homer in sports journalism if I didn't go with my guy Zo. But if it's between him and Ewing for the reserve spot, they are averaging almost same PPG, with Zo have a 2 RPG edge and a 1.6 BPG advantage, as well as better FG%.

For the Western Conference.

Starters:
C: Hakeem Olajuwon
PF: Karl Malone
SF: Danny Manning
SG: Michael Jordan
PG: Kevin Johnson

Reserves:
C: Shaquille O'Neal
PF: Shawn Kemp
SF: Ron Harper
SG: Drazen Petrovic
PG: Mark Price

Like in the East the Starting C and PF spot was easy, with Malone and Olajuwon having amazing seasons so far. The small forward position in the league in general lacks starpower. But Danny Manning is having a nice season and not having a letdown after being selected to All NBA Third-Team last year. MJ is still arguably the best shooting guard in the league making that decision easy, and the West is loaded with solid Point Guards, KJ seems to be the biggest "star" out of them all though. But it did make picking the reserve PG difficult. I finally went with Mark Price because his stats across the board were impressive. I took the rookie Shaq over Daugherty for the reserve C spot. Shaq has a slight edge in points, rebounds, and blocks per game putting the #1 and #2 picks in the all-star game as rookies. Shawn Kemp is a beast it's crazy he is coming off the bench. Ron Harper is also quietly putting together a nice season. Kemp gets all the love for the Warriors success, but Ron Harper is doing it all, scoring, rebounding passing, and stealing. Petrovic is a pure scorer and no other SG in the West (other than Jordan) is within 5 ppg of him.

There's my All-Star Game Predictions stay tuned later in the day, where I'll tackle the 3 Point Contest, Dunk Contest, and the Rookie-Soph. game.

[Conroy]

For the 3 point contest I think the participants will be Hersey Hawkins, Reggie Miller, John Stockton, Glenn Rice, Hubert Davis, and Jeff Hornacek. The first 4 have yet to miss a 3 point contest during All-Star Weekend. Hornacek and Davis are both having outstanding years from beyond the arc. I see Hornacek, Miller, and Rice making the final round with Miller getting his first ever 3 pt contest win.

The 6 participants for the Dunk Contest, that I'd like to see are Steve Smith, Stacey Augmon, Michael Jordan, Latrell Sprewell, Cedric Ceballos, and Shawn Kemp. I think Stacey Augmon would put on a show, I hope he's asked and he decides to participate, if so I think he wins.

The Rookie - Sophomore game has an even series so far with each squad winning one game. I think the rosters will end up looking like this:

Rookie Starting 5:
C: Shaquille O'Neal
PF: Christian Laettner 
SF: Latrell Sprewell
SG: Jon Barry
PG: David Wesley
Reserves
C: Alonzo Mourning
PF: Tom Gugliotta
SF: Jim Jackson
SG: Anthony Peeler
PG: John Crotty

Sophomores Starting 5:
C: Dikembe Mutombo 
PF: Larry Johnson
SF: Steve Smith
SG: Stacey Augmon
PG: Greg Anthony
Reserves
C: Stanley Roberts
PF: Chris Gatling
SF: Billy Owens
SG: Bobby Phills
PG: Terrell Brandon

I think it will be a very close game, with the experience of the Sophomores being the difference. Stacey Augmon brings home MVP honors in a game that comes down to the last few possessions.

[Deleted]

Nailed it pretty much Conroy

[IamQuailman]

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