2011 NBA All-Star Weekend Preview: The Winners and Why (with Video Analysis)
NBA All-Star Weekend is upon us. Everyone knows just how intense of an event All-Star games are: intense defense, hard fouls and chippy play all around.
With some solid analysis, however, we can predict who will emerge victorious from each event.
The five events are:
Haier Shooting Stars
Taco Bell Skills Challenge
Foot-Locker Three Point Contest
Sprite Slam Dunk Contest
All-Star Game
Haier Shooting Stars
1 of 5The Event
Haier Shooting Stars pits four three-person teams in a head-to-head shooting competition.
The teams are composed of a current NBA player, a WNBA player from the same city and a TNT broadcaster/previous NBA star. The team must hit one shot from eight different spots on the floor to stop the clock—the team with the fastest time by the end of Round 2 is victorious.
Who Is Playing (from NBA.com)
Team Atlanta: Al Horford (Hawks), Coco Miller (WNBA's Atlanta Dream), Steve Smith (Legend)
Team Chicago: Taj Gibson (Bulls), Cathrine Kraayveld (WNBA's Chicago Sky), Steve Kerr (Legend)
Team Los Angeles: Pau Gasol (Lakers), Tina Thompson (WNBA's L.A. Sparks), Rick Fox (Legend)
Team Texas: Dirk Nowitzki (Mavericks), Roneeka Hodges (WNBA's S.A. Silver Stars), Kenny Smith (Legend)
The Pick
In this very very intense event, things can get really heated. But at the end of the day, things come down to one shot: shot No. 8 (the half-court shot). In 2009, Pheonix went a perfect 7/7 from the first seven spots and headed to spot eight with a full head of steam...only to require 20 heaves in order to finally sink one.
With that in mind, I'm going to have to go with the experienced team, the team with prior championship experience and a winning pedigree...Team Texas.
Team Texas won it all last year, so they know exactly what is required. Kenny Smith is known primarily for his shooting and Dirk Nowitzki has about the sweetest stroke you'll see out of a seven-footer. Team Texas did lose WNBA star Becky Hammon, but Roneeka Hodges is a very capable replacement so Team Texas has a very good chance of repeating.
Winner: Team Texas
Taco Bell Skills Challenge
2 of 5The Event
Taco Bell Skills Challenge is a basketball oriented obstacle course/speed run. Top two times of Round 1 advance to Round 2, where the final two run through the same obstacle course again and the fastest time is crowned champion.
The obstacle course consists of two layups/dunks, a chest passes, a bounce passes, an outlet pass, weaving inbetween defender cutouts, and one mid-range jumpshot.
Who Is Playing (from NBA.com)
| Chris Paul | Hornets | 6-0 | 175 |
| Stephen Curry | Warriors | 6-3 | 185 |
| Derrick Rose | Bulls | 6-3 | 190 |
| John Wall | Wizards | 6-4 | 195 |
| Russell Westbrook | Thunder | 6-3 | 187 |
The Pick
I, for one, am horribly disappointed to see that ultra quick point guard Derek Fisher was not voted in by the fans. His speed and great handles could have really taken this competition to new heights. Instead, we're left with slowpokes like Derrick Rose and Russel Westbrook. Pft. The system needs to be changed when a gem like Fisher gets left behind.
All jokes aside, I believe Chris Paul is going to win it all...provided that he takes it seriously. He is a repeat participant, having participated three times prior. Each time he has participated, he has shaved seconds off of his run, starting at 42.6 his rookie year and getting it down to 29.9 in 2008. The hardest obstacle in the Skills Challenge are the passes, and Chris Paul's passing touch is undeniable. Derrick Rose will also be a factor as he is probably the fastest out of all the contestants.
Winner: Chris Paul
Footlocker Three-Point Contest
3 of 5The Event
The Footlocker Three-Point Contest is a shooting competition where six league-picked shooters shoot from five ball racks placed at specific points around the three-point arc. Each rack contains five balls: four normal (one point if made) and a moneyball (two points if made). Top three advance to the second round where the highest score goes home with the trophy.
Who Is Playing (from NBA.com)
| Ray Allen | Boston |
| Kevin Durant | Okla. City |
| Daniel Gibson | Cleveland |
| James Jones | Miami |
| Paul Pierce | Boston |
| Dorell Wright | Golden State |
The Pick
2565 threes speak for themselves. Although the three-point contest favors streaky shooters, Ray Allen, the all-time leader in three-pointers made, has a consistent enough stroke to take home the gold. Kevin Durant and Paul Pierce are streaky, dangerous shooters, and Dorell Wright won't be too shabby either. Ultimately, the man who has done it his entire career is too hard to bet against.
Winner: Ray Allen
Sprite Slam Dunk Contest
4 of 5The Event
The Sprite Slam Dunk Contest, also known as the main event of All-Star Saturday, is a streaky event. Some years, it features great athletes throwing down incredible dunks and becomes a rousing success (see Vince Carter/Jason Richardson/Dr.J).
Other years, it flops and has the audience wondering how the NBA can even broadcast this atrocity (Chris Andersen, Ricky Davis). The Dunk Contest features four contestants and two rounds of dunking, with the top two dunkers of Round 1 advancing. From there, the victor is decided through fan-based voting.
Who Is Playing (from NBA.com)
| DeMar DeRozan | Toronto | G | 6-7 | 220 |
| Blake Griffin | L.A. Clippers | F | 6-10 | 251 |
| Serge Ibaka | Oklahoma City | F-C | 6-10 | 235 |
| JaVale McGee | Washington | C | 7-0 | 252 |
The Pick
Blake Griffin has made me a believer. At first I was skeptical, but after watching him seemingly defy gravity, I believe that he has what it takes to win the Dunk Contest. The man recently hit his head by accident on the backboard. His head. He's a human highlight machine—all he needs to prove is that he has the creativity necessary. Luckily, his assigned dunk coach is previous judge Kenny Smith, who should ensure that Griffin's dunks are entertaining and exciting.
Other than that, Serge Ibaka is out of his depth, JaVale McGee is a similar athletic freak and can put together some impressive rim rattlers and DeMar DeRozan will entertain but fall short. Griffin's star power and hype will ensure his victory, unless the world is completely blown away by one of his competitors.
Winner: Blake Griffin
All-Star Game
5 of 5The Event
Ahh, the All-Star Game, also known as the game of lockdown D and hard fouls. This is just a regular game of basketball, played by the biggest stars in the game.
Who Is Playing
West: Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, Tim Duncan (starters)
East: Derrick Rose, Dwayne Wade, Lebron James, Amar'e Stoudemire, Dwight Howard (starters)
The Pick
The West has some great players, but simply cannot match the athleticism of the East. Stoudemire, Lebron, Howard, Rose, Rondo, Horford etc. will overwhelm the aging West after the half to win by 10
Winner: East, 146-136
