2012 NBA Rising Stars Challenge: Breaking Down Team Chuck vs. Team Shaq

The picks are in and the squads are set for the 2012 NBA Rising Stars Challenge, leaving us with little to do but critique the clubs of rookies and sophomores put together by Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal.

"Commissioner" Kenny Smith smartly added New York Knicks sensation Jeremy Lin to the mix, along with Miami Heat guard Norris Cole, to keep the teams even on body count alone.

But as good as Linsanity may be, he'll have plenty to prove while competing against some of the best young players in the league next Friday.

Let's have a look then, at the collections of guards and forwards assembled for Team Chuck and Team Shaq and predict a winner as best we can.

As if pegging the victor of an All-Star exhibition is anything other than a futile enterprise.

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Team Chuck's Guards

What Team Chuck lacks in pure point guards, it more than makes up for in versatility, athleticism and scoring ability.

Cleveland Cavaliers rookie Kyrie Irving (18.2 points. 5.1 assists, 3.5 rebounds) and Washington Wizards sophomore John Wall (16.7 points, 7.6 assists, 4.9 rebounds) figure to handle most of the ball-handling duties up top. Both are more than capable of getting to the bucket whenever and from wherever they want; Irving with his array of crafty moves and Wall by way of his jaw-dropping athleticism.

New Jersey Nets shooting guard MarShon Brooks (13.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists) ranks second among rookies in scoring. He'll serve as Team Chuck's primary slasher and scorer off the wing, even with his prosthetic leg.

Gordon Hayward of the Utah Jazz (9.9 points, 3.2 assists, 2.9 rebounds) and Evan Turner of the Philadelphia 76ers (8.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists) are both do-everything-type guards capable of making plays in every phase of the game.

The real gem, though, may well be Paul George of the Indiana Pacers (12.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists). The 6'8" sophomore can fly with the best of them—he'll be in the Slam Dunk Contest as well—and currently ranks among the league leaders in three-point shooting percentage.

Team Shaq's Guards

Expect to see plenty of entertaining play from Team Shaq, which sports four point guards and a fifth (Norris Cole) who doubles as a combo guard.

Minnesota Timberwolves rookie Ricky Rubio (10.7 points, 8.6 assists, 4.3 rebounds) figures to rack up his fair share of spectacular assists, especially with Blake Griffin playing up front.

Kemba Walker (13.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists) has been the lone bright spot in an otherwise dismal season for the Charlotte Bobcats. He'll bring to the table a distinctive blend of toughness and fearlessness attacking the paint.

As previously mentioned, Norris Cole (8.7 points, 2.4 assists, 1.6 rebounds) can play both backcourt spots, as he has for the Miami Heat this season. The same goes for Brandon Knight (12.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists), a big, brainy playmaker who still has a ways to go before he develops into a full-blown point guard for the Detroit Pistons.

The big story for Team Shaq, if not for the entire Rising Stars Challenge, is the pairing of New York Knicks sophomores Jeremy Lin (12.7 points, 5.1 assists, 2.4 rebounds) and Landry Fields (10.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists). Linsanity will lend a hefty dose of star power to Team Shaq's backcourt alongside Fields, whose jack-of-all-trades game should blend beautifully on a team chock-full of ball handlers. 

Team Chuck's Forwards

Say what you want about Sir Charles, but the guy picked himself a perfectly complementary package of big men to hold down his team's frontcourt.

Minnesota Timberwolves wing Derrick Williams (7.5 points, 4.2 rebounds) is a versatile high-flying act who is too big for small forwards and too quick and athletic for power forwards to handle.

San Antonio Spurs teammates Tiago Splitter (9.7 points, 5.4 rebounds) and Kawhi Leonard (6.8 points, 4.8 rebounds) bring with them a blend of smarts, defensive toughness and determination on the boards that's purely Popovichian.

But the "center" of attention for Team Chuck will belong to DeMarcus Cousins (16.3 points, 11.3 rebounds). The beefy sophomore from the Sacramento Kings has emerged this season as a skilled scorer capable of doing serious damage in the low post.

When he's not busy losing his cool or berating his coach, that is.

Team Shaq's Forwards

Team Shaq will go into the Rising Stars Challenge without a truly imposing post presence, though that shouldn't take away too much from what this foursome of forwards is capable of.

Blake Griffin (21.2 points, 11 rebounds) is far and away the best of this bunch. The two-time All-Star from the Los Angeles Clippers will have no shortage of opportunities to oop the alleys thrown his way by Rubio and the rest of Team Shaq's stable of point guards.

Don't sleep on Detroit Pistons sophomore Greg Monroe (16.6 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists), who can do a little bit of everything in the paint and is an underrated passer on the interior.

Phoenix Suns rookie Markieff Morris (7.9 points, 4.9 rebounds) is a methodical wing-forward who can stretch opposing defenses with his long-range shooting (43.1 percent on threes).

And last, but...well, least, is Cleveland Cavaliers first-year forward Tristan Thompson (6.5 points, 5.1 rebounds). The big guy out of Texas is still raw, but can hustle, rebound and block shots with the best of 'em in this bunch. 

And the Winner Will Be...

Team Chuck.

It's hard not to like the squad that Barkley put together here. His squad is replete with versatile players who know how to defend, crash the boards and share the ball when they're not scoring themselves. Team Chuck's inside-out balance should also play well on the break and in the half-court game.

That is, assuming the game slows down at some (or any) point. 

Team Shaq, though, holds a clear edge in "wow" factor, thanks to the potential spate of Rubio-to-Griffin connections and the crowd-pleasing impact of Linsanity.

But, as entertaining as Team Shaq may be, the squad's overall ledger is a bit too skewed toward point guards and perimeter play—and away from the paint—to make it the betting favorite.

Then again, it's an exhibition featuring a bunch of ballers in their early 20s, so, realistically, anything can and likely will happen.