Game Thread: All-Star Weekend

[MHSL82]

Thread for predictions, comments, articles, pre/post game threads, and other events surrounding the All-Star weekend festivities.

 

[nuraman00]

I didn't want to post predictions because I didn't think you'd like this weekend.

Other than sexy Maya Moore (see the running joke in the game thread last year).

 

[nuraman00]

1. Celebrity Game MVP. (Teams are decided at tip-off, so can't pick winner in advance).

Two-time MVP Kevin Hart will play alongside Victoria's Secret model, actress and philanthropist Erin Heatherton; "America's Got Talent" host Nick Cannon; ESPN Radio's "Mike & Mike" hosts Mike Golic and Mike Greenberg; Jesse Williams ("Grey's Anatomy"); Columbus Short ("Scandal"); Michael B. Jordan ("That Awkward Moment"); U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan; three-time NBA Champion and ESPN NBA analyst Bruce Bowen; "E! News" anchor Terrence Jenkins; NBA TV's "NBA Inside Stuff presented by Samsung Galaxy" co-host Kristen Ledlow; ESPN anchor Stan Verrett; and WNBA stars Skylar Diggins of the Tulsa Shock and Elena Delle Donne of the Chicago Sky. Tickets for the game, airing live on ESPN from Sprint Arena at NBA All-Star Jam Session, will go on sale today Wednesday, Jan. 29, at 11 a.m. ET/ 10 a.m. CT.


2. Rookie Challenge and MVP:

Round Pick Pos. Player Team R/S
1 1 F/C Anthony Davis New Orleans Pelicans Sophomore
2 4 G Michael Carter-Williams Philadelphia 76ers Rookie
3 6 G Tim Hardaway, Jr. New York Knicks Rookie
4 8 G Trey Burke Utah Jazz Rookie
5 10 F Jared Sullinger Boston Celtics Sophomore
6 12 F Mason Plumlee Brooklyn Nets Rookie
7 14 G Victor Oladipo Orlando Magic Rookie
Draw C Steven Adams Oklahoma City Thunder Rookie
Draw F/C Kelly Olynyk Boston Celtics Rookie
Head Coach: Rex Kalamian (Oklahoma City Thunder)
General manager: Chris Webber


1 1 F/C Anthony Davis New Orleans Pelicans Sophomore
2 4 G Michael Carter-Williams Philadelphia 76ers Rookie
3 6 G Tim Hardaway, Jr. New York Knicks Rookie
4 8 G Trey Burke Utah Jazz Rookie
5 10 F Jared Sullinger Boston Celtics Sophomore
6 12 F Mason Plumlee Brooklyn Nets Rookie
7 14 G Victor Oladipo Orlando Magic Rookie
Draw C Steven Adams Oklahoma City Thunder Rookie
Draw F/C Kelly Olynyk Boston Celtics Rookie
Head Coach: Rex Kalamian (Oklahoma City Thunder)
General manager: Chris Webber
Round Pick Pos. Player Team R/S
1 2 G Damian Lillard Portland Trail Blazers Sophomore
2 3 G Bradley Beal Washington Wizards Sophomore
3 5 C Andre Drummond Detroit Pistons Sophomore
4 7 F Harrison Barnes Golden State Warriors Sophomore
5 9 F Terrence Jones Houston Rockets Sophomore
6 11 F/G Giannis Antetokounmpo Milwaukee Bucks Rookie
7 13 C Jonas Valančiūnas Toronto Raptors Sophomore
Draw G Dion Waiters Cleveland Cavaliers Sophomore
Draw F/C Pero AntićINJ Atlanta Hawks Rookie
— C Miles PlumleeREP Phoenix Suns Sophomore
Head Coach: Nate McMillan (Indiana Pacers)
General manager: Grant Hill



3. D-League All-Star Game and MVP:


Chosen to the NBA D-League All-Star Futures team are Hilton Armstrong (Santa Cruz), Seth Curry (Santa Cruz), Dewayne Dedmon (Santa Cruz), Justin Hamilton (Sioux Falls), Manny Harris (Los Angeles), Pierre Jackson (Idaho), Kevin Jones (Canton), DeAndre Liggins (Sioux Falls), Malcolm Thomas (Los Angeles) and Chris Wright (Maine).


Selected to play on the NBA D-League All-Star Prospects team are Isaiah Canaan (Rio Grande Valley), Robert Covington (Rio Grande Valley), Troy Daniels (Rio Grande Valley), Ike Diogu (Bakersfield), Devin Ebanks (Texas), Melvin Ely (Texas), Ron Howard (Fort Wayne), Othyus Jeffers (Iowa), Christapher Johnson (Rio Grande Valley), and Jarvis Varnado (Iowa).

4. Shooting Stars and Halfcourt Shot: (Halfcourt shot can be made during either 1st round or final round)


2014 NBA Shooting Stars Competition Rosters
Western Contestants
Team Name Members Team
Team Curry Stephen Curry Golden State Warriors
Becky Hammon San Antonio Silver Stars
Dell Curry (retired)
Team Durant Kevin Durant Oklahoma City Thunder
Skylar Diggins Tulsa Shock
Karl Malone (retired)
Eastern Contestants
Team Name Members Team
Team Bosh Chris Bosh Miami Heat
Swin Cash Chicago Sky
Dominique Wilkins (retired)
Team Hardaway Tim Hardaway Jr. New York Knicks
Elena Delle Donne Chicago Sky
Tim Hardaway (retired)


5. Skills Challenge

2014 NBA Skills Challenge
Eastern Contestants
Pos. Player Team Height Weight
G Michael Carter-Williams Philadelphia 76ers 6-6 185
G DeMar DeRozan Toronto Raptors 6-7 216
G Giannis Antetokounmpo Milwaukee Bucks 6-9 205
G Victor Oladipo Orlando Magic 6-4 215
Western Contestants
Pos. Player Team Height Weight
G Damian Lillard Portland Trail Blazers 6-3 195
G Goran Dragic Phoenix Suns 6-3 190
G Reggie Jackson Oklahoma City Thunder 6-3 208
G Trey Burke Utah Jazz 6-1 190


6. 2014 NBA Three-Point Contest

Eastern Contestants
Pos. Player Team Height Weight
G Kyrie Irving Cleveland Cavaliers 6-3 193
G Bradley Beal Washington Wizards 6-5 207
G Joe Johnson Brooklyn Nets 6-7 240
G Arron Afflalo Orlando Magic 6-5 215
Western Contestants
Pos. Player Team Height Weight
G Stephen Curry Golden State Warriors 6-3 185
G Marco Belinelli San Antonio Spurs 6-5 210
F Kevin Love Minnesota Timberwolves 6-10 243
G Damian Lillard Portland Trail Blazers 6-3 195



7. 2014 NBA Slam Dunk Contest


Eastern Contestants
Pos. Player Team Height Weight
F Paul George Indiana Pacers 6-9 220
G John Wall Washington Wizards 6-4 195
G/F Terrence Ross Raptors 6-6 195
Western Contestants
Pos. Player Team Height Weight
G Damian Lillard Los Angeles Clippers 6-3 195
F Harrison Barnes Golden State Warriors 6-8 210
F Ben McLemore Sacramento Kings 6-5 195



8. 8. All-Star game winner and MVP



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_NB...ar_Game#Roster




9. Chariots Of Backfire rematch: Shaq, Webber, Ernie, and Kenny will have some kind of sports competition (Baseball, soccer, golf, and dunk-your-coworker into a pool of water) to determine who's the best.

Who will win?

 

[nuraman00]

1. Bruce Bowen MVP.

2. Team Webber

Anthony Davis MVP

3. Futures Team, Pierre Jackson. (I like his name).

4. Miami Heat, Chris Bosh.

5. Lillard, Dragic, and Carter-Williams are probably the best.

I'll go with Dragic, he might be the fastest?

6. I'd like to see Joe Johnson or Kevin Love win it.

Wow I did not remember that Kevin Love already won this.

I'll go with Lillard.

7. Terrence Ross and Paul George probably have the most versatility. I'll go with Ross. I think I pick a lot of Raptors for the dunk contest, lol.

8. East, Paul George.

(My 2nd pick will be John Wall).

I think the East has a lot of steals and blocks. It's the kind of thing that might stand out in an exhibition more than a real game.



9. Ernie.

 

[nuraman00]

I watched the first 14 minutes of the first half of the Rising Stars challenge. I liked it for what it was.

But then I got bored, it's just not real basketball. Everything is a dunk or 3-pointer.

I watched the entire halftime commentary.

Then I watched the first 3 mins of the 2nd half, then the last two minutes of the game.

Nice to see Drummond with those rebounds and blocks.

Also, the Plumbee brothers were interesting.

Valanciunas was both on the receiving end, and punishing end, of a few plays.

Olynyk with some 3's, lol.

 

[nuraman00]

Anyways, I don't know if I'll watch Saturday Night's events late tonight, or sometime tomorrow.

 

[MHSL82]

I know you didn't wanted to do vBookie, but they do have a few bets on the All-Star activities. At least check it out, you don't have to participate.

SportsHoopla.com Sports Forums - vBookie

If you decide to have a little fun, in the text boxes on the right side of each participant, you can place a certain number of points. You can bet for more than one person, but if only one person can win, obviously you're hedging your bets. Then there's a button below it and you press "Bet now." You can't just post your bets below in a post. You have to put in the numbers and press the button. It's fun.

 

[nuraman00]

I'll look at it tomorrow, I don't have time right now.

 

[nuraman00]

Thread for predictions, comments, articles, pre/post game threads, and other events surrounding the All-Star weekend festivities.

Are you going to make predictions in the items I mentioned above, like you did last year?

 

[Sackataters]

Rising stars challenge, Trey got a C- and his play was paralleled to summer league. I see some potential in the kid, but his shooting has been atrocious. Jazz are clearly better with him in the game, but he is clearly run down at this point and looking ragged.

 

[MHSL82]

I only saw the Championship Round but it seems like Malone has been used to finishing in second. He finished second three times in the NBA Finals and second as all-time scorer. He was probably the second most popular Jazz player. No, he is first as a power forward.

The shooting challenge, he made his only normal shot in the shooting challenge. Half-court, of course, is random and he didn't make it.

 

[MHSL82]

I didn't see the ending of the dunk contest, but that was the dumbest thing ever. Maybe they wanted to speed up the process?

I remember Stockton saying that what got to him in the three point contest was the time - he shot too quickly, as opposed to running out of time.

I loved watching Stockton in basketball no matter the importance- preseason, regular season, All-Star, or post-season. Winning or not - his competitiveness, skill/talent, professionalism, and respect for the game. It's a shame they made old-school Stockton lengthen his shorts - the reason he didn't finish out his career with 7 Championships.

 

[nuraman00]

I didn't see the ending of the dunk contest, but that was the dumbest thing ever. Maybe they wanted to speed up the process?

I remember Stockton saying that what got to him in the three point contest was the time - he shot too quickly, as opposed to running out of time.

I loved watching Stockton in basketball no matter the importance- preseason, regular season, All-Star, or post-season. Winning or not - his competitiveness, skill/talent, professionalism, and respect for the game. It's a shame they made old-school Stockton lengthen his shorts - the reason he didn't finish out his career with 7 Championships.

What was dumb? How was it sped up?

I guess the Freestyle Round this year was faster than the 4 contestants having two dunks each, in the 1st round, in previous years. Didn't feel that much faster, IMO. I just know the entire Saturday Night ended at about 8:30 PM PST, which is when it usually does.

 

[nuraman00]

I only saw the Championship Round but it seems like Malone has been used to finishing in second. He finished second three times in the NBA Finals and second as all-time scorer. He was probably the second most popular Jazz player. No, he is first as a power forward.

The shooting challenge, he made his only normal shot in the shooting challenge. Half-court, of course, is random and he didn't make it.

The halfcourt shot is my favorite part of Shooting Stars.

 

[MHSL82]

What was dumb? How was it sped up?

I guess the Freestyle Round this year was faster than the 4 contestants having two dunks each, in the 1st round, in previous years. Didn't feel that much faster, IMO. I just know the entire Saturday Night ended at about 8:30 PM PST, which is when it usually does.

I would rather have the rounds for each dunker. Also, I didn't like the DJ being there. Also, I like having a score for each dunk. I started to rationalize it by saying that they could still show replays of the dunk at different angles and adding another player was creative. However, I realized that you could do that already. The positives were neutral and the negatives were there.

As far as speed goes, I'm assuming the rest of the program was longer and they sped this part up. If they did the dunk contest the regular way, it would have ended past 8:30.

 

[MHSL82]

Rising stars challenge, Trey got a C- and his play was paralleled to summer league. I see some potential in the kid, but his shooting has been atrocious. Jazz are clearly better with him in the game, but he is clearly run down at this point and looking ragged.

NBA All-Star Game 2014: Skills Challenge grades - ESPN

 

[nuraman00]

NBA All-Star Game 2014: Skills Challenge grades - ESPN

From the link (since it's slow to load):

++++++++++++++++++++

The champions seemed to want this more than anyone else. Damian Lillard was perfect through his first run and Trey Burke moved fastest through the dribbling drills of any competitor. That hustle allowed Lillard and Burke to overcome two missed shots apiece and pull off the narrow victory by one-tenth of a second over Team Carter-Williams/Oladipo.

 

[nuraman00]

I would rather have the rounds for each dunker. Also, I didn't like the DJ being there. Also, I like having a score for each dunk. I started to rationalize it by saying that they could still show replays of the dunk at different angles and adding another player was creative. However, I realized that you could do that already. The positives were neutral and the negatives were there.

As far as speed goes, I'm assuming the rest of the program was longer and they sped this part up. If they did the dunk contest the regular way, it would have ended past 8:30.

I guess to me if it ends at 8:30 or 8:40, it doesn't make much of a difference. It's already been 3 hours, that's a long time. (Also I'm not sure when it really ended this year, I was guessing from memory).

As for not having the scores, a positive is that it avoids controversy. No instances where the judges might want to give a dunker a higher score than he deserved, because they want to see him in the Finals.

They just say which dunker they liked best.

On the other hand, the score helps differentiate how well each dunker did.

So some pros and cons.

I'll make a full post with my thoughts on all of the format changes, later. Maybe today, maybe later in teh week.

 

[nuraman00]

I watched the intros; the Craig Sagar Suit or Sofa game; then the first 2-3 minutes of the game; then 1-2 minutes after the first substitution in the 1st quarter; then the Obama interview with Barkley at halftime, then the last 7 minutes of the game.

It was ok, Irving; all of the James to Noah plays, were the highlights for me.

And seeing Silver give his first trophy presentation as Commissioner.

 

[MHSL82]

I guess to me if it ends at 8:30 or 8:40, it doesn't make much of a difference. It's already been 3 hours, that's a long time. (Also I'm not sure when it really ended this year, I was guessing from memory).

As for not having the scores, a positive is that it avoids controversy. No instances where the judges might want to give a dunker a higher score than he deserved, because they want to see him in the Finals.

They just say which dunker they liked best.

On the other hand, the score helps differentiate how well each dunker did.

So some pros and cons.

I'll make a full post with my thoughts on all of the format changes, later. Maybe today, maybe later in teh week.

They could still advance somebody who did not deserve to advance because they wanted them in the finals. I feel the scores make it harder to do that without being obvious. For taking an overall round is you take whoever you want and act like it was just subjective on the whole body of work. Just my thoughts.

But then again, I wish they just couldn't use props. To me it cheapens the thing. Griffin did not jump over the car he jumped over the hood. Jordan and a lot of others could have done that; I want to see him try to something Jordan couldn't/didn't. I don't think he could - at least be better than everyone else at standard dunks.