BBVA Rising Stars Challenge
| Team Shaq | Team Chuck |
| Damian Lillard Kyrie Irving Andrew Nicholson Klay Thompson Harrison Barnes Chandler Parsons Dion Waiters Michael Kidd-Gilchrist Tyler Zeller Kemba Walker | Anthony Davis Kenneth Faried Kawhi Leonard Bradley Beal Ricky Rubio Tristan Thompson Nikola Vucevic Brandon Knight Isaiah Thomas Alexey Shved |
Prediction:
Team Shaq (148) over Team Chuck (136)
MVP: Kyrie Irving
While this game is essentially unwatchable, I will still eat my hat if Shaq's team doesn't win. Talent-wise, it's not even close. The problem with a game like this is that so little of it actually resembles a real basketball game, that sometimes talent doesn't really matter as much as it normally would. So, maybe I should take back what I said about eating my hat. I'll definitely eat something though. Maybe a nice piece of pizza or a steak. That's pretty much the same thing, right?
Team Shaq (148) over Team Chuck (136)
MVP: Kyrie Irving
While this game is essentially unwatchable, I will still eat my hat if Shaq's team doesn't win. Talent-wise, it's not even close. The problem with a game like this is that so little of it actually resembles a real basketball game, that sometimes talent doesn't really matter as much as it normally would. So, maybe I should take back what I said about eating my hat. I'll definitely eat something though. Maybe a nice piece of pizza or a steak. That's pretty much the same thing, right?
Sears Shooting Stars
Taco Bell Skills Challenge
East:
Jrue Holiday
Brandon Knight
Jeff Teague
West:
Tony Parker
Damian Lillard
Jeremy Lin
Prediction: Damian Lillard
My other prediction is that I fall asleep watching, startle myself awake as they're presenting the trophy, only to realize that I still don't care who won, and go back to sleep.
East:
Paul George
Kyrie Irving
Steve Novak
West:
Ryan Anderson
Matt Bonner
Stephen Curry
Prediction: Stephen Curry
It's always easier for bigger guys to win this contest, that's why I'm choosing the little guy with the bad ankles. It's also why I should never go to Vegas.
East:
Gerald Green
Terrence Ross
James White
West:
Eric Bledsoe
Jeremy Evans
Kenneth Faried
Prediction: James White
I'm actually pretty excited for this one. Not because last years contest was so good (it wasn't) and not because I think the Toronto player will win (he won't). But because I have honestly been waiting for James White to be in an NBA Slam Dunk Contest since 2001. If you don't believe me, I've got the super low res .avi files from the 2001 McDonald's Slam High School Dunk Contest still saved on my computer to prove it. That's pre-YouTube folks. I also still have the 2006 NCAA Contest as well, which, if he just could have got that last attempt down, might have been one of the greatest ever.
Trust me, I've been waiting on this dude for a while.
Prediction: East (155) over West (143)
MVP: LeBron James
I think the West has the better team. I do. But if there's one thing I learned watching last years game, it's simple: LeBron James is better at basketball than anyone else on the planet. And I'm not talking a little bit better. I mean, noticeably better. Even when sharing the floor with the nine next best players, he is still head and shoulders better anyone else. The West should have the advantage, but the team with the best player on the floor at any given time, should never be counted out.
| Team Harden | Team Westbrook |
| James Harden Sam Cassell Tina Thompson | Russell Westbrook Robert Horry Maya Moore |
| Team Bosh | Team Lopez |
| Chris Bosh Dominique Wilkins Swin Cash | Brook Lopez Muggsy Bogues Tamika Catchings |
Prediction: Team Harden
Speaking of unwatchable… I'll go with the home town team because they've got the best (and maybe only) shooters, but if you expect me to delve any deeper into it than that, then you're even crazier than that NBA Executive that keeps renewing this event every year.
Speaking of unwatchable… I'll go with the home town team because they've got the best (and maybe only) shooters, but if you expect me to delve any deeper into it than that, then you're even crazier than that NBA Executive that keeps renewing this event every year.
Taco Bell Skills Challenge
East:
Jrue Holiday
Brandon Knight
Jeff Teague
West:
Tony Parker
Damian Lillard
Jeremy Lin
Prediction: Damian Lillard
My other prediction is that I fall asleep watching, startle myself awake as they're presenting the trophy, only to realize that I still don't care who won, and go back to sleep.
Foot Locker Three-Point Contest
East:
Paul George
Kyrie Irving
Steve Novak
West:
Ryan Anderson
Matt Bonner
Stephen Curry
Prediction: Stephen Curry
It's always easier for bigger guys to win this contest, that's why I'm choosing the little guy with the bad ankles. It's also why I should never go to Vegas.
Sprite Slam Dunk Contest
Gerald Green
Terrence Ross
James White
West:
Eric Bledsoe
Jeremy Evans
Kenneth Faried
Prediction: James White
I'm actually pretty excited for this one. Not because last years contest was so good (it wasn't) and not because I think the Toronto player will win (he won't). But because I have honestly been waiting for James White to be in an NBA Slam Dunk Contest since 2001. If you don't believe me, I've got the super low res .avi files from the 2001 McDonald's Slam High School Dunk Contest still saved on my computer to prove it. That's pre-YouTube folks. I also still have the 2006 NCAA Contest as well, which, if he just could have got that last attempt down, might have been one of the greatest ever.
Trust me, I've been waiting on this dude for a while.
My only fear is that it's been over 10 years, and he's now in his 30's. Perhaps the between-the-legs dunks from the foul line (!) that he used to do are a thing of the past. A distant memory from his younger days. I'm hoping not.
But even if White isn't what he used to be, Gerald Green is back, and it seems like he's jumping even higher than ever. Add in Bledsoe, who might be one of the best athletes in the league, and it's shaping up to be a good one. Hopefully...
62nd NBA All-Star Game
Eastern Conference
|
Western Conference
|
LeBron James Kevin Garnett Rajon Rondo Dwyane Wade Chris Bosh Tyson Chandler Luol Deng Paul George Jrue Holiday Kyrie Irving Brook Lopez Joakim Noah | Blake Griffin Dwight Howard Kobe Bryant Chris Paul LaMarcus Aldridge Tim Duncan James Harden David Lee Tony Parker Zach Randolph Russell Westbrook |
Prediction: East (155) over West (143)
MVP: LeBron James
I think the West has the better team. I do. But if there's one thing I learned watching last years game, it's simple: LeBron James is better at basketball than anyone else on the planet. And I'm not talking a little bit better. I mean, noticeably better. Even when sharing the floor with the nine next best players, he is still head and shoulders better anyone else. The West should have the advantage, but the team with the best player on the floor at any given time, should never be counted out.
Start eating that hat my man! Or pizza or steak. Sucker! (Side note/question about the BBBBVA Rising Stars Challenge) Does each player on the winning team really receive a $25,000 bonus?
ReplyDeleteYou have the James White 2001 McDonald's Slam High School Dunk Contest clip...but you don't share it?
You neglected predictions for the Celebrity game, what gives?
Yup, I really should eat that hat... only one prediction right out of the whole lot. In fact, most of my picks never even made it out of the first round of their various competitions. Pretty lame. I even was wrong on my non-predictions, "...not because I think the Toronto player will win (he won't)." (He did...)
ReplyDeleteI know the players and coaches get money if they're on the winning team in the All-Star Game (actually, I think everyone gets money, they just get more money if their team wins) so it wouldn't surprise me if the same rang true for the Rising Stars Game. Although I can't say for certain, especially in regards to an exact dollar amount.
I didn't share the James White clips for 2 reasons: 1. Because I've watched at least 4 Dunk Competitions that he's been in, and he often does the same dunks from one competition to the next. So if you were planning to watch the NBA Dunk Comp on Saturday, but read my predictions on Friday, I didn't want to spoil it. And 2. Because the video files that one downloaded back in 2001 were pretty low quality. Combined with a pretty bad camera angle, and it's actually embarrassing to admit that I probably watched those 8 second clips somewhere close to 50 to 75 times...
Lastly, the Celebrity Game is a joke. It's awful. The only reason I even checked the highlights was to see if Usian Bolt's raw athletic ability translated to the court at all (a couple of dunks, but otherwise unimpressive). BAsically, all you need to know about this game was the final score: 58-38, that should tell you all you need to know about the quality of play, and the reason I prefer to pretend that the 'game' doesn't even exist.