NBA: Picking some way too early All-Star Team rosters

Eastern Conference Starters

Backcourt: Malcolm Brogdon, Indiana Pacers; Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn Nets

The Indiana Pacers are yet again resisting the step back predicted every year for them, currently sitting at 6-3 with the third-best record (and point differential) in the Eastern Conference. While this team is stocked with good players, Malcolm Brogdon has been the best of them. He is averaging a career-best 23.4 points per game and hitting 47.5 percent of his 6.6 triples per game. Even if his shooting comes back to earth, he has taken steps forward in his playmaking and is playing typically elite defense.

He joins Kyrie Irving, who qualifies despite his recent mysterious absence. The numbers when he plays are just too good to place him anywhere else. Irving is pouring in 27.1 points, 6.1 assists and a career-best 5.3 rebounds per game. He’s also a pristine 22-for-22 from the free throw line. What is somewhat different for Irving is how much he is hustling, getting back on defense and making effort plays. The Brooklyn Nets have the East’s second-best point differential and Irving is perhaps the primary reason why.

Frontcourt: Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets; Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers; Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics

Another key reason for the Nets’ success is of course Kevin Durant, who came right back from his Achilles injury to play at an elite level. While he has not brought back everything that had him challenging LeBron James for the league’s throne, he is not looking like a player who took 18 months off to rehab one of the worst injuries in basketball. The “Slim Reaper” is scoring 29.3 points per game, getting to the line 9.6 times per game, and is top-10 in the league in win shares per 48 minutes.

Joel Embiid ranks fourth on that list, and his general availability has helped to propel the Philadelphia 76ers into a tie for first-place in the Eastern Conference. Embiid is third in the league in Defensive Rating, traumatizing anyone who looks to drive, and he is thriving offensively with the increased spacing on the 76ers this year.

Finally, Jayson Tatum just beats out teammate Jaylen Brown for a starting slot. The Boston Celtics have weathered injuries and contact tracing inactives to make it to a first-place tie in the East. Tatum ranks sixth in the league in points-per-game (26.9), is passing at a career-best level and continues to shoot at a scorching percentage from outside (43.8 percent from 3 on a whopping 8.0 attempts per game). His size and role in the Celtics’ offense edges Tatum past Brown here, but it’s close enough for game-by-game changes there.