NBA Shooting Stars Competition
(http://thesource.com/2014/02/06/nba-all-star-saturday-participants-announced-including-skills-challenge-3-point-contest/)
Team Curry: Steph Curry, Becky Hammon, Dell Curry
Team Durant: Kevin Durant, Skylar Diggins, Karl Malone
Team Bosh: Chris Bosh, Swin Cash, Dominique Wilkins
Team Hardaway: Tim Hardaway Jr., Elena Delle Donne, Tim Hardaway Sr.
This one is essentially a toss up for me but what the heck. For those of you who don't know the teams competing in this event consist of one current NBA player, one current WNBA player, and one retired NBA player (rosters above are listed in that order). There are designated spots on the floor the team must shoot from until they make the shot, finishing with a half court shot. The team that makes all the shots in the shortest time wins.
Anyone who watches this event knows that it always comes down to who can make the half court shot the quickest. Since skill plays very little role in who actually wins this competition I'm finding it difficult to predict a winner. But I am committed to providing my three avid readers only the best analysis, so I will not let you down! The winner will be Team Curry because...*runs away*
Prediction: Team Curry
NBA Skills Challenge
(http://thesource.com/2014/02/06/nba-all-star-saturday-participants-announced-including-skills-challenge-3-point-contest/)
West Teams: Damian Lillard and Trey Burke; Goran Dragic and Reggie Jackson
East Teams: Michael Carter-Williams and Victor Oladipo; DeMar DeRozan and Giannis Antetokounmpo
The Taco Bell Skills Challenge (gotta love sponsors) allows these young guards to display their prowess in various facets of the game as they shoot, dribble, and pass their way through an obstacle course. However, the NBA, in their never ending wisdom, has decided to make this a "team event" as four teams of two battle it out to be crowned champions.
The best duo from the West will be pitted against the best team from the East to see which can post the best combined time. This new format makes this much more difficult for me to choose. Before I was aware of the rule change I was trying to decide between Damian Lillard and Goran Dragic. Not only are they not on the same team but since they're in the same conference both of them can't make it to the finals. I need more time to think about this one so I'm going to start with the East.
I don't personally see this as being very competitive as I see one team as distinctly better than the other. Micael Carter-Williams and Victor Oladipo are just too skilled overall to not represent the East in the final round. While neither boast the most consistent shooting ability they both are adept at passing and ball handling. DeMar DeRozan and Giannis Antetokou blah blah (you try saying it!) don't have any skills that jump out at me that will help in this competition. DeRozan is a talented scorer but isn't known for ball handling or passing. Giannis is very tall (6'9") and lanky which doesn't normally equate to being able to navigate this course quickly.
Alright so I suppose I have to pick a Western winner now. Between Dragic and Lillard I think it's a wash. The winner is most likely to be determined by Reggie Jackson and Trey Burke. Jackson is in the midst of a breakout year as he has filled in wonderfully for the injured Russell Westbrook. Trey Burke is a rookie out of Michigan who was the National Player of the Year during his last season in college. Since being taken only ninth overall in the 2013 NBA Draft I think Burke has a chip on his shoulder and is going to take this opportunity to show everyone what he can do, propelling his team into the final round.
From there I think Lillard and Burke will run away with it against the East. All it takes is one missed shot and one missed pass and the team of Oladipo and MCW just don't have the shooting ability to make me pick them comfortably. Lillard has already won this competition once and I am a big believer in Burke, giving them the edge and winning them the Taco Bell Skills Challenge...presented by Taco Bell (in case you missed that).
Prediction: Damian Lillard and Trey Burke
NBA 3-Point Contest
(http://thesource.com/2014/02/06/nba-all-star-saturday-participants-announced-including-skills-challenge-3-point-contest/)
East Participants: Joe Johnson, Arron Afflalo, Kyrie Irving, Bradley Beal
West Participants: Steph Curry, Kevin Love, Damian Lillard, Marco Belinelli
This is a pretty straightforward. Each contestant has limited time to take 25 three point shots from set locations around the arc. The player with the highest score from each conference will move on to compete in the final round for the win. There is plenty of analysis one could do in order to try to pick a winner for this contest, such as looking at threes attempted and three-point shooting percentages. I say nah. This is a gut feeling decision with just a little bit of the "eye test".
Kyrie Irving is the reigning champion of this event but I don't see him winning it again. You may think I only say that because he went to Duke. Well to that....I plead the fifth. I'm picking Bradley Beal to represent the East in the final round. He just has such a smooth motion and has very little body movement for each shot, which comes in handy since there is no time to waste.
From the West I can't pick against Steph Curry. His shot is just oh so pretty. And quick. Curry is perhaps the definition of "in the gym range" as he can make it rain from seemingly anywhere on the court. And he normally does this with defenders in his face. Wide open? Game over. In the final round it'll be a close battle but I think Curry pulls it out.
Prediction: Steph Curry
NBA Slam Dunk Contest
(http://thesource.com/2014/02/06/nba-all-star-saturday-participants-announced-including-skills-challenge-3-point-contest/)
Participants: Terrence Ross, Paul George, John Wall, Damian Lillard, Harrison Barnes, Ben McLemore
This year the NBA has changed the rules and format of this competition and if you really care then click this link to see. However, I'm not worried with which conference will "win", I'm just here to say who I think will be the best dunker tonight. All of these players possess a unique leaping ability and can throw it down like very few can. While this may not be the dunk contest filled with big name superstars that everyone wants to see (*cough cough* LeBron James) but I think it is going to be better than people are giving credit for. The sleeper to watch out for in this group is rookie Ben McLemore. Despite the less than stellar start to his career, there is no doubt that this young man can sky. He gets up above the rim without looking like he is even trying.
Another man to keep an eye on is Damian Lillard (a name you should be very familiar with by this point in my post). He just always seems to be playing angry with a chip on his shoulder and has proven he doesn't shrink when the spotlight is on him. Look for him to take some of that anger out on the rim tonight as he throws it down with surprising force.
The player I think will come out on top tonight, however, is Paul George. Obviously he is a phenomenal dunker, but so are the rest of the contestants. So what sets him apart? For those of you who don't remember George participated in the dunk contest back in 2012 and felt that he got robbed of a well deserved victory (for highlights of his dunks click here). He has openly expressed his frustration at not winning last time he competed and I think he intends on coming into the gym tonight and righting that wrong from two years ago.
Prediction: Paul George
Comment below with your picks for all the events tonight!
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