NBA All-Star Saturday Night 2010 Preview

In this article I will previewing each event at All-Star Saturday night in Dallas and will give my predictions on who will win each event.

H.O.R.S.E Challenge:

Kevin Durant is the returning champion who won last years inaugural event with a classic display of 3pt bombs in which he overcame challengers O.J Mayo and Joe Johnson. This year Durant will defend his crown against Rajon Rondo and Omri Casspi.

Durant will hold the advantage for two reasons: the first is that he has the most experience in this event and secondly he is the best shooter out of the bunch. Casspi looks to be the best challenge but I think Rondo will have a lot to prove as once again he is the underdog. Rondo relishes over getting the chance to silence his doubters. WINNER: Kevin Durant over Rajon Rondo in the final.

Haier Shooting Stars Competition:

Atlanta will bring Joe Johnson, WNBA's Angel Mccoughtry and Hawk legend Steve Smith into battle against Los Angele's team of Laker Pau Gasol, WNBA's Marie Ferdinand-Harris, and former LA Clipper, Brent Barry.

Sacramento's Squad consisting of Kings Rookie Tyreke Evans, WNBA's Nicole Powell and former King Chris Webber. Finally the hometown Texas will consist of Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki, WNBA's Becky Hammon and for Houston Rocket Kenny Smith.

The advantage in my mind has to go to the hometown Texas team, not only because it is in front of the sold out crowd but because it also possesses the best shooting tandem of the bunch. Winner: Texas over Atlanta

Skills Competition:

Derrick Rose will look to defend his title as the event sponsor switches from Playstation to Taco Bell this year. Rose will be challenged by young explosive rookie Brandon Jennings, Deron Williams who holds the course record with a 25.5 second finish, and finally the savvy veteran Steve Nash, who has the best passing skills of the group while also being the most consistent shooter.

Rose is nursing a hip injury which may slow him down and his outside jumper may also slow him down his time. Williams in my opinion is the favorite to win the event and I look for Nash to hold a strong challenge for second place. Winner: Williams over Nash...

Foot Locker Three Point Contest:

This years competition is starting to shape up as one of the better ones in recent memory.

The Participants: 

Stephen Curry of Golden State Warriors

Danilo Gallinari of New York Knicks

Daequan Cook of Miami Heat

Paul Pierce of Boston Celtics

Channing Frye of Phoenix Suns

Chauncey Billups of Denver Nuggets

The odds on favorite in this competition is Stephen Curry who is the son of Former 1992 and 1994 participant Dell Curry. Curry possesses the most solid stroke; on the other hand I am intrigued to see Danilo Gallinari who has guaranteed a win, but is nursing a arm injury.

Defending champ Daequan Cook is only shooting 30 percent this season but has a chip on his shoulder to repeat again this year. Pierce will also look for redemption since his lowly 13 point shooting in events past. Frye will simply be outmatched in my opinion as he is more of a set shooter who is not near the other participants level this season. Winner: Gallinari over Curry 

Sprite Slam Dunk Contest:

The Participants:

Gerald Wallace of Charlotte Bobcats

Demar Derozan of the Toronto Raptors—who won last nights dunk-in over Eric Gordon.

Nate Robinson of the New York Knicks who is the defending Champion

Shannon Brown of LA Lakers who is the favorite to win by many.

This contest is consolation prize of what it was supposed to be. Lebron James starting last season, said he would compete and asked for Vince Carter to return. In a perfect world the NBA gods would of granted that wish; instead we are stuck with the next best thing they could come up with.

While I think Defending Champ Nate Robinson is a heck of an athlete, I also think he has used up his creativeness last season but will look to defy the critics and return the hardware to New York in the end.

Shannon Brown competed in the McDonald's All-American game contest against Lebron James and lost, though he did perform quite well including a 360 dunk that put the crowd on its feet. Brown is an in-game dunker but will look to put his creation skills on display and bring home a win.

Derozan has stated he hasn't lost a dunk contest since the 9th grade and will look to bring out his bag full of tricks after lightly touching on them last night in the dunk-in. He is an extremely gifted athlete and has said to have many eye opening dunks to display.

Wallace is the veteran in this competition and also the least explosive and I look for him fare poorly against the better athletes in this group. It would of been better to see Rookie Terrence Williams in the competition, but maybe next season. Winner: Derozan over Brown.

Well that is a wrap on my prediction for All-star Saturday and a congrats goes to the Rookies for a shocking win last night over the Sophomore. The future is on display and its shining better than ever. Enjoy the festivities tonight and get ready for the big game Sunday.