While even the casual basketball fan looks forward to the annual showcase of the NBA’s biggest stars in a overhyped exhibition called the NBA All Star Game, some of the more hard-core hoop-heads actually prefer watching the events of Saturday night highlighted by the Shooting Stars Contest, Skills Competition, 3 Point Shoot-Out, and Sprite Slam Dunk Contest.
In year’s past, the dunk contest, billed as the main event of the night, has been what everyone tunes in for, but with a lot of the league’s top stars passing on this season’s event like Lebron and Howard, the other so called “minor” events may provide for some of the best competition of the entire evening and possibly boasts a bigger star studded line-up.
We will have more in depth coverage of the dunk contest including some video footage previewing each contestant later this week. Now more on previewing the other events on All Star Saturday Night.
Haier Shooting Stars Competition
For the first time in the history of the event, a member of the TNT broadcast crew will be a part of each team, consisting of a WNBA, NBA, and NBA legend, with an announcer representing the older player on each team. At first, the idea seemed interesting, but then I realized that Barkley or McHale, who are the only true legends for TNT will not be competing. Instead we will have the pleasure of watching Kenny Smith, Steve Smith, Brent Barry, and Chris Webber in the contest.
Last year’s winner, Team Detroit, will not get the chance to repeat since they were not one of the cities chosen to participate. Inaugural winners in ’04, Los Angeles, will be led by Pau Gasol, Marie Ferdinand-Harris(no Lisa Leslie?), and former dunk champion Brent Barry. The hometown Texas team boasts Dirk Nowitzki, Becky Hammon, and former Rockets player, Kenny “The Jet” Smith. Team Atlanta offers Joe Johnson, Angel McCoughtry, and former sharpshooter, Steve Smith. The team from Sacramento features rookie Tyreke Evans, Nicole Powell, and 5 time All star Chris Webber.
Prediction:
In an event which focuses on shooting, Team Dallas has to be the choice since Dirk can hit from anywhere, Becky Hammon is a star as a WNBA 1st teamer, and Kenny Smith has to be able to still be able to nail a few jumpers.
Taco Bell Skills Competition
The field which featured Steve Nash, Deron Williams, Derrick Rose, and Brandon Jennings was set up to be possibly the best ever in the history of the event. With 3 former champions(Nash ’05, Williams ’08, Rose ’09) and a brash, upstart rookie in Jennings, this could have been the most entertaining event of the entire evening, until Rose pulled out because of getting the late nod to appear in Sunday’s All Star Game.
Those that witnessed last year’s event were treated to Rose as a rookie, blowing away the field and event finishing the event in grand fashion by dunking the ball as he crossed the finish line. There is no word as to who will be nabbed to replace Rose.
Jennings is a wild card in the event. No doubt he has the speed, as he has proven to be a blur on the court this season, but does he possess the experience and maple moxey of the two former champs? Pure speed in the event isn’t always a good thing as evidence of Dwyane Wade’s infamous turnover in the ’08 event.
In an event that will feature a repeat of some nature, will we see Nash or Williams win their 2nd crown or will Jennings become just the 2nd rookie to ever win the event?
Prediction:
Steve Nash may not be the fastest in the event, but he has proven all season long that age is just a number and will use his vast edge in experience to take the trophy back to Phoenix.
Check out Rose’s fantastic finish in ’09:
Foot Locker Three Point Shoot-Out
In another loaded field, defending champion, Daequan Cook of the Miami Heat, will get a chance to repeat against a tall field featuring Paul Pierce, Chauncey Billups, Danilo Gallinari, Steph Curry, and Channing Frye.
Frye is an interesting selection since he is 6’11 and has a career .285 3PT%, although he is knocking down treys at a .435% clip this season. He also is only the 2nd center to ever compete and is the 2nd tallest ever behind Dirk Nowitzki(7’0), who won the event in ’05.
Although Curry is the youngest in the contest, he has to be a dark-horse to win as he probably has the best stamina out of the field to make it deep into the competition. Pierce and Billups have the experience, while Gallinari has led the NBA in 3PT% virtually all season, and Cook has proven to have the skills to win last season.
No word yet if Billups will pull out because of being a late replacement in Sunday’s game for Chris Paul.
Prediction:
It’s a toss up. If Billups competes, he probably is the favorite since the bigger contestants haven’t fared that well overall. Although Curry and Pierce would be my 2nd or 3rd options.
Who are your favorites?
Allen Moll is an avid NBA and College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen is a regular columnist for thehoopdoctors.com, Bleacherreport.com, UpperDeckblog.com, and his own site, Hoops Haven.
