NBA All-Star Weekend: The Ideal Candidates For The Festivities Before The Game
The NBA All-Star Weekend is one of the most, if not most, fun events in the sporting world.
The events held on Saturday, the day before the actual game, might draw more attention than the game itself. The three most prominent events are the Skills Challenge, Three-Point Shootout, and, of course, Slam Dunk Contest.
The Skills Challenge is a relatively recent creation, but the latter two have been around for quite some time now. While it used to be that many of the league's stars would compete in the events, recently that has not been the trend.
Ray Allen, widely considered as the best shooter in the league, has not participated since 2006. Rip Hamilton and Ben Gordon, two other elite UConn shooters, have only been in the contest a combined one time (Gordon has never participated).
The contest has been more partial to the likes of Damon Jones, Daniel Gibson, Roger Mason, and Channing Frye. The contest sorely needs bigger names (who just happen to be, by the way, better shooters) if it truly wants to crown the best three-point shooter in the NBA.
As for the Slam Dunk Contest, it is a shame that some of the league's best dunkers don't participate. The first name that comes to mind is LeBron James, who has never participated in the contest.
Since the current format was adopted in 2003, the only truly elite dunkers to participate in the contest have been Jason Richardson, Amare Stoudemire, Nate Robinson, and Dwight Howard.
Other participants, such as Josh Smith, Hakim Warrick, and DeMar DeRozan, have been considered to be solid dunkers, but if the league's stars participated, the presence of these individuals wouldn't be missed.
The NBA All-Star Weekend needs the league's biggest stars to participate in the events, and the following players would be constituents of the ideal NBA All-Star Weekend Saturday.
Skills Challenge: Steve Nash
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Steve Nash is aging, but as his NBA career is coming to a close, his skills have yet to diminish. As a two-time winner of the event (including the previous season), Nash should be a lock to participate in the challenge.
What he lacks in explosiveness he makes up in the form of great shooting, pinpoint passing, and surprising quickness.
Perhaps this will be his last time participating in the Skills Challenge, and the former Santa Clara Bronco should have the opportunity to walk out on top.
Relevant Stats:
Assists Per Game: 10.9
Steals Per Game: .6
Three-Point Field Goal Percentage: 39.6 percent
Skills Challenge: Derrick Rose
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Derrick Rose is not only the most explosive point guard; he is currently the league's Most Valuable Player.
His value to his team is unmatchable, as are his skills with the rock. Rose is a very quick and skilled dribbler, and shouldn't have a problem with speed in this event.
What could be his demise, however, is his inconsistent shooting (Memphis, anyone?) and passing abilities.
As the winner of the 2009 Skills Challenge, Derrick Rose has proven that he is capable of success in this competition. Injury didn't allow him to defend his title last year, and he will be eager to claim the title again.
What didn't allow him to take his SAT, however, is a completely different story...
Relevant Stats:
Assists Per Game: 8.1
Steals Per Game: 1.1
Three-Point Field Goal Percentage: 37.8 percent
Skills Challenge: Russell Westbrook
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Coming off of a successful season in 2009-10, the Oklahoma City Thunder figured to be led by Kevin Durant.
If the season were to end today, however, many would argue that Russell Westbrook is the MVP of the Thunder.
The third-year point guard out of UCLA has had a career year, and will be hungry to win the competition after failing to do so last year.
Relevant Stats:
Assists Per Game: 8.4
Steals Per Game: 1.9
Three-Point Field Goal Percentage: 24.4 percent
Skills Challenge: John Wall
4 of 14It is always fun to see rookies participate in the NBA All-Star Weekend, and John Wall will enjoy doing just that.
The fun-to-watch Wall has been a bright spot in an otherwise forgettable season for the Washington Wizards.
As a fast dribbler and accurate passer, Wall should excel in this event. If he does win, one may wonder, will he do the signature "John Wall Dance?"
Relevant Stats:
Assists Per Game: 9.2
Steals Per Game: 1.8
Three-Point Field Goal Percentage: 30.9 percent
Three-Point Shootout: Paul Pierce
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By virtue of being the defending champion of the competition, Paul Pierce should compete again this year.
The self-proclaimed "best player" and "best shooter" in the world has outdone his previous selves this year, shooting a career best percentage from downtown.
While most don't think that Pierce is indeed the best shooter in the world, it is pretty feasible that he truly believes it. With his swag, he has the potential to be a back-to-back champ of the Three-Point Shootout.
Relevant Stats:
Three-Point Field Goals Made: 64
Three-Point Field Goal Percentage: 42.7
Three-Point Field Goals Made Per Game: 1.5
Three-Point Shootout: Shawne Williams
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He may not have the most well-known name, but Shawne Williams sits atop the NBA leaderboard for three-point field goal percentage.
The Knicks' swingman has been a prolific three-point shooter and thrived in Mike D'Antoni's uptempo system.
How will he fare against the more experienced shooters seems to be the only question.
Relevant Stats:
Three-Point Field Goals Made: 38
Three-Point Field Goal Percentage: 53.5 percent
Three-Point Field Goals Made Per Game: 1.4
Three-Point Shootout: Mike Bibby
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Mike Bibby has thrived this season for the Atlanta Hawks while shooting less shots than he has been accustomed to throughout his NBA career.
Having participated in the event in 2000 and 2009, Bibby will want to prove the "third time's the charm" motto correct, while also holding the title of best three-point shooter in the league.
Relevant Stats:
Three-Point Field Goals Made: 95
Three-Point Field Goal Percentage: 46.3 percent
Three-Point Field Goals Made Per Game: 2.1
Three-Point Shootout: Stephen Curry
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Ever since his college days as a Davidson Wildcat, Stephen Curry has been the purest shooter on the court every time he plays.
During this year's shootout, Curry will be looking to avenge his second-place finish to Paul Pierce last year and finish atop the standings.
If he is unable to win, he will join his father, Dell, in losing the competition twice.
Relevant Stats:
Three-Point Field Goals Made: 66
Three-Point Field Goal Percentage: 41.3 percent
Three-Point Field Goals Made Per Game: 1.8
Three-Point Shootout: DeShawn Stevenson
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Before naysaying, take numbers into consideration. DeShawn Stevenson has attempted 158 three-point field goals this season, as compared to 52 two-point field goals.
Not only that, but he has made 17 more three-point field goals than he has attempted two-point field goals.
Another tidbit: He attempted a grand total of 15 three-point field goals in the 2005-06 season, making only two. Two for 15!!! You can't make these stats up.
Now Stevenson will have a chance to show off the new model.
Relevant Stats:
Three-Point Field Goals Made: 69
Three-Point Field Goal Percentage: 43.7 percent
Three-Point Field Goals Made Per Game: 1.7
Three-Point Shootout: Ray Allen
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For those of you who know me: You didn't think I would forget Ray, did you? Ray Allen, the flat-out best shooter of all-time, won the contest in 2001, and will look to win his second title exactly a decade later.
That stat sums up his longevity and effectiveness. Also, he is shooting career-bests from the field and from three-point territory at 35 years-old.
The Three-Point Shootout without Ray Allen is like crowning the second-best shooter in the NBA. Let's hope that Ray will compete and be able to back up these statements.
P.S. 23 more three-point field goals until the all-time record for three-point field goals made belongs to Ray, taking the title from Reggie Miller.
Relevant Stats:
Three-Point Field Goals Made: 93
Three-Point Field Goal Percentage: 45.1 percent
Three-Point Field Goals Made Per Game: 2.2
Slam Dunk Contest: Rudy Gay
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While the field has already been selected for the 2011 Slam Dunk Contest (Blake Griffin, Javale McGee, Serge Ibaka, and Brandon Jennings), the field could be better.
Obviously the first player mentioned should still be in this "ideal" competition, but someone who isn't in the field is Rudy Gay. Gay participated in the 2008 Slam Dunk Contest, and disappointed viewers with a two-dunk score of 85.
His second dunk, however, received a 48, previewing his potential. The second time around, Gay would not let the viewers down.
Relevant Stats:
Height: 6-8
Dunks This Season: 51
Slam Dunk Contest: Dwight Howard
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Dwight Howard is the premier big-man dunker in the NBA today, with an unfathomable vertical leap paired with a nearly 7-foot frame.
Howard has participated in the event three times, coming out on top just once, yet his dunking potential is unlimited. He has the rare ability to amaze us feet (yes, that is in fact plural) above the rim.
All NBA fans would love to see Howard take a stab at the Slam Dunk Contest once again.
Relevant Stats:
Height: 6-11
Dunks This Season: 100
Slam Dunk Contest: LeBron James
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All LeBron James has to do is enter the Slam Dunk Contest just once... And amaze us.
Combining size, jumping ability, force, and skill better than anyone else on this planet, James has the power to make people rewind their televisions 100 times.
His in-game dunks have amazed us; now just imagine what he could do with no defenders and unlimited time.
Relevant Stats:
Height: 6-8
Dunks This Season: 41
Slam Dunk Contest: Blake Griffin
14 of 14Ah, Blake Griffin.
Recently adopting the nickname "Blake Superior," Griffin has dunked like no other rookie ever before him has dunked.
The athletic big must hate rims (and Timofey Mozgov); that seems to be the only reason why he has been viciously attacking them all season long.
Griffin will be behind the (kind of) home crowd in Los Angeles, and it is hard to imagine him losing the Slam Dunk Contest.
Height: 6-10
Dunks This Season: 99
