Well it’s finally here, 2009 All-star Weekend in Phoenix. Next to the NBA playoffs this is the greatest part of the season for me. Why? Because aside from the excitement of all of the games and partying by the NBA during All-star Weekend, I know that following the weekend all the teams that have a legitimate shot at making the playoffs are really going to turn it up. Player’s vying for the big individual awards are going to start lighting it up. And we are going to start getting a better idea of potential playoff match-ups in the coming weeks to months.
But for now let’s stay focused on the fun and games at hand. 2009 NBA All-star Weekend in Phoenix, Arizona. I know most of you out there (myself included) are most excited for the Dunk Contest and the All-star Game itself, but let’s take a complete look at all of the events, and i’ll give you my predictions for who will win in each. Dr. Dime’s All-star predictions are as follows:
| Rookie vs. Sophomore Game | |
| Rookie Team Roster: | Sophomore Team roster: |
| Michael Beasley (Heat) Rudy Fernandez (Trail Blazers) Marc Gasol (Grizzlies) Eric Gordon (Clippers) Brook Lopez (Nets) O.J. Mayo (Grizzlies) Greg Oden (Trail Blazers) Derrick Rose (Bulls) Russell Westbrook (Thunder) Head Coach — TBD Assistant Coach — Dwyane Wade |
Aaron Brooks (Rockets) Wilson Chandler (Knicks) Kevin Durant (Thunder) Jeff Green (Thunder) Al Horford (Hawks) Luis Scola (Rockets) Al Thornton (Clippers) Rodney Stuckey (Pistons) Thaddeus Young (Sixers) Head Coach — TBD Assistant Coach — Dwight Howard |
| Prediction – Sophomores | |
| Shooting Stars Competition | 2009 Skills Competition Challenge |
| Teams: | Player (Team) |
| San Antonio – Tim Duncan, David Robinson, Becky Hammon Detroit – Aaron Afflalo, Bill Laimbeer, Katie Smith Los Angeles – Derek Fisher, Michael Cooper, Lisa Leslie Phoenix – Leandro Barbosa, Dan Majerle, Tangela Smith |
Devin Harris (Nets) Tony Parker (Spurs) Derrick Rose (Bulls) Mo Williams (Cavaliers) |
| Prediction – Los Angeles | Prediction – Devin Harris |
| Foot Locker 3-pt Shootout | Sprite Slam Dunk Contest |
| Player (Team) | Player (Team) |
| Mike Bibby (Hawks) Daequan Cook (Heat) Danny Granger (Pacers) Jason Kapono (Raptors) Rashard Lewis (Magic) Roger Mason (Spurs) |
Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic) Rudy Fernandez (Portland Blazers) Nate Robinson (New York Knicks) J.R. Smith (Denver Nuggets) |
| Prediction – Jason Kapono | Prediction – J.R. Smith |
| 2009 East vs. West All-star Game | |
| Eastern Conference Team | Western Conference Team |
| * Allen Iverson (Detroit) * Dwyane Wade (Miami) * LeBron James (Cleveland) * Kevin Garnett (Boston) * Dwight Howard (Orlando) * Joe Johnson (Atlanta) * Ray Allen (Boston) * Danny Granger (Indiana) * Paul Pierce (Boston) * Mo Williams (Cleveland) * Devin Harris (New Jersey) * Rashard Lewis (Orlando) Head Coach: Mike Brown (Cleveland) |
* Kobe Bryant (L.A. Lakers) * Chris Paul (New Orleans) * Tim Duncan (San Antonio) * Amare Stoudemire (Phoenix) * Yao Ming (Houston) * Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas) * Shaquille O’Neal (Phoenix) * Brandon Roy (Portland) * Chauncey Billups (Denver) * Pau Gasol (L.A. Lakers) * David West (New Orleans) * Tony Parker (San Antonio) Head Coach: Phil Jackson (L.A. Lakers) |
| Prediction – Western Conference | |
