Media Hype Allstars vs TPR Allstars

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Media Hype Allstars vs TPR Allstars  
By: Joe Schaller
Date: January 30, 2003

The media pundits may criticize the fans for selecting Vince Carter to the
allstar game however the fans merely vote in accord with the media hype
heaped upon their darlings. Since SportsCenter highlights focus on high
flying dunks and high scorers, the viewer's voting reflects who has received
the media spotlight. Unfortunately those most deserving often don't receive
the spotlight.


It has also become apparent that the coaches are also greatly influenced by
the media, playing follow the leader without a clue as to whom are truly
responsible for any success a team may have.


Here are the criteria which the media pundits seem to use when selecting
their allstars.

1. The current half season's performance is enough. Anything that happened
last season doesn't matter.

2. Points scored is of number one importance. Missed shots and missed free
throws are inconsequential.

3. Turnovers don't count.

4. Rebounding doesn't count unless you are Ben Wallace. Each year there may
be one or two non-scorers (referred to as "role" players) who are recognized
for rebounding- Dennis Rodman and Dikembe Mutombo are examples. Rebounding
doesn't count for anyone else, especially if you are David Robinson.

5. Disruptive Defense doesn't count unless you are Ben Wallace.

6. One on one Defense doesn't count.

7. Team Defense doesn't count.

8. Game Pace doesn't count. Tough luck for Eddie Jones.


You would think a team with the worst record would certainly not have any
allstars. Just one player of allstar caliber should be enough to lift a team
to a level of some respectability. Yet the name of Ricky Davis was tossed out
by Charles Barkley and Zydrunas Ilgauskas was actually selected by the
coaches.
Ilgauskas has never come close to his rookie season 115 TPR after numerous
foot injuries and currently could be described as merely a "good" scorer- 42%
is not exactly what you expect a center to shoot. His rebounding is average
and overall defense unimpressive. Oh yes, he turns the ball over often. His
98 TPR has improved over last years 80 however this allstar choice rates as
bad as last years Wally Szczerbiak selection.
Considering 3 of my top 4 Eastern forwards were omitted, a selection such as
Ilgauskas is lunacy.


SchallerTPR: A rational process for allstar selection.

Here's my criteria:
1. Half a season does not an allstar make: How many times do we see a first
half flash fizzle down the stretch? Or a slow starter like Karl Malone have a
sterling second half run?
The current season counts half and the previous season half. This takes into
account consistency and durability.
By this reasoning rookies are not allowed! Helloooo! You have to pay your
dues, people! There's no way Yao Ming should be allowed on the ballot.

2. Minutes played are factored: Players who did not have the durability or
coaches confidence are essentially penalized despite their outstanding TPR.
Kerry Kittles, Ron Artest, Michael Redd and Jon Barry all missed my team
primarily for this reason.
On the other hand Shareef Abdur-Rahim make my East team due to his extensive
playing time, both this season and last.

3. Flexibility: The East is loaded with guards and weak at forward- solution;
6 guards, 4 forwards.
The West is loaded with forwards- solution; 6 forwards, 4 guards.

4. No room for sentimentality: Even Michael Jordan has to earn his way.
Allstar selections should be all about truth and justice and when an
undeserving player is selected it means a deserving player is slighted.


WHO'S BEING SLIGHTED, ANYHOW?

I could only laugh when sportswriters felt compelled to ask Jalen Rose if he
felt slighted yet nobody asked Donyell Marshall that same question. Rose is a
one-dimensional player who scores 23 points a game while shooting under 41%,
turns the ball over way too much and contributes practically nothing on
defense or the boards. He is better fitted for Sixth Man duties. As it is the
club is going nowhere with him as the "go-to-guy".
Meanwhile Marshall has been phenomenal as the difference between last years
cellar dwellers and this years possibility of the playoffs. He may not score
as many points as Rose however his Scoring Rating is as good. When his
amazing rebounding is considered along with his disruptive defense his value
becomes far superior and considering his outstanding seasons in Utah Marshall
should be a starting forward in the East, superior than the actual selections
other than Jermaine O'Neal.


Stephon Marbury and Shawn Marion
The Suns are just not good enough to have 2 allstars. Both Marbury and Marion
score 21.5 points a game and that's where the similarities end. Marion is a
complete player and superior to Marbury in virtually every category. Marbury
is one-dimensional like Rose and Antoine Walker.
Considering the tremendous depth of talent in the West Marbury's selection
becomes particularly offensive.


Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker
We're currently seeing how well the Celtics perform without Antoine, a streak
shooter who loses as many games with horrible shooting as he wins with good
shooting. Of course SportsCenter prefers to only highlight his good games. As
a power forward he contributes little that can be called powerful and he is
perennially one of the leaders in turnovers.
Pierce may have a turnover problem however he contributes so much at the foul
line, rebounding and defensively he can be regarded as a true superstar.


Jerry Stackhouse and Michael Jordan
Despite a huge decline from his glory days and inferior Scoring Rating than
Stackhouse, MJ is far superior to Jerry in every other aspect of the game and
is deserving of the allstar game. Stackhouse makes my Eastern Top 20 but not
my allstar team.


Jamal Mashburn and P J Brown
Once again the one-dimensional streak shooter (Mashburn) and the "role
player", P J Brown, who has been spectacular in every phase of the game
except points per game- 10+ points per game at 50% ain't bad though. Any
success the Hornets have had can be attributed to Brown.
It's a shame that he, Like Donyell Marshall, has not even been given a
passing thought by the mindless media.


East and West
Considering the huge disparity of talent between East and West can anybody in
the East really have a complaint. Only McGrady, Kidd, Pierce and Wallace
could even make the West team.
Heck, Andrei Kirilenko is more deserving than any Eastern forward.


These are just a few examples of what I consider to be compelling evidence of
an NBA mythology which stretches all the way to the Hall of Fame.


COMING SOON! MY EASTERN AND WESTERN ALLSTAR TEAMS.


Total Performance Ratings (The Total 12)

Scoring

Scoring Efficiency

Ballhandling

Rebounding

Disruptive Defense

One on one Defense

Team Defense

Team Game Pace

Positional Norms

Schedule Strength

Projected Improvement or Decline

Teams Wins Adjustment