...NBA All-Star Picks...

The NBA All-Star weekend is in a couple of weeks time, and while the annual event's main feature is the All-Star game, I'd say one of the best days to watch would be the Saturday night showcase. While the Rookie-Sophomore game is a glimpse of the young ones, and the All-Star game is an exhibition of the best selection in the NBA, there are times that the games are played for entertainment and not as competitive, as they tend to focus more on dazzling fans than winning the game; which is great, really, but sometimes you just want to see a close game. The Saturday showcase, that's where fun and competition are always truly at play.  They will dazzle with skills, but they will be dazzling to win. Here are my picks for the Saturday showcase:


Seers Shooting Stars
Team Harden: James Harden (Houston Rockets), Tina Thompson (Seattle Storm), Sam Cassell (Legend)
Team Westbrook: Russel Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder), Maya Moore (Minnesota Lynx), Robert Horry (Legend)
Team Bosh: Chris Bosh (Miami Heat), Swin Cash (Chicago Sky), Damien Wilkins (Legend)
Team Lopez: Brook Lopez (Brooklyn Nets), Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever), Mugsy Bogues (Legend)

This is probably one of the hardest ones to pick, but one of the most enjoyable to watch. I'm rooting for the West here, with Team Harden ultimately winning this competition. Team Lopez will be carried by Catchings and Bogues rather than Lopez, I think. I think Team Bosh will be finish last in this.

Skills Challenge:
Jrue Holiday (Philadelphia 76ers)
Brandon Knight (Detroit Pistons)
Jeff Teague (Atlanta Hawks)
Damien Lillard (Portland Trailblazers)
Jeremy Lin (Houston Rockets)
Tony Parker (San Antonio Spurs)

Tony Parker may have won this challenge before, but those are really fast guys right there. Jeremy Lin could challenge, but despite his pinpoint passing, he may not be fast enough as the other guys. I'm thinking this will be between Jeff Teague, Jrue Holiday (who's been amazing this year, and earned his first All-Star nod), and Damien Lillard (Rookie of the Year, hands down). I'm not counting everyone else out, especially Brandon Knight, who could actually challenge these guys. However, I think the three guys mentioned are having great years for their teams that it would be amazing to top off their year with a win. I'm looking at Jrue Holiday winning this one, with Lillard going in second.

Three Point Shootout:
Paul George (Indiana Pacers)
Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers)
Steve Novak (New York Knicks)
Ryan Anderson (New Orleans Hornets)
Matt Bonner (San Antonio Spurs)
Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)

There are game shooters, and there are competition shooters. Game shooters don't usually perform that well in competitions because of either the way they shoot, or the circumstances that go with it. That said, I think I'd eliminate Paul George and Steph Curry early. Kyrie Irving is a game shooter who I think will make a good showing in this competition, and who doesn't want Uncle Drew to win this one? Steve Novak, Ryan Anderson, and Matt Bonner are set shooters who will do great here. My heart goes to Uncle Drew, but this looks like a battle between the three set shooters, with Novak winning and Bonner surprising everyone to go second. Watch out for the "Title Belt" gesture after Novak's performance.

Sprite Slam Dunk:
Gerald Green (Indiana Pacers)
Terrence Ross (Toronto Raptors)
Eric Bledsoe (Los Angeles Clippers)
James White (New York Knicks)
Kenneth Faried (Denver Nuggets)
Jeremy Evans (Utah Jazz)

Truth be told, the selection last year kinda sucked, considering the fact that the year prior, LeBron James hinted at joining the competition. Without James, it was won by Jeremy Evans, a relatively unknown rookie that was hardly in the Jazz rotation last year. Not much has changed for his career, and now he's back to defend his crown. He's got hops, but there's also awesome competition this year. James White may turn heads, as he's another relative unknown with major hops. Kenneth Faried is a power dunker, but I don't think he could be as creative as Blake Griffin using that power and vertical leap. Eric Bledsoe, as a small guy, would be as fun to watch as Nate Robinson. Terrence Ross is a versatile wing on the Raptors and could be a favorite. But my money's on the returning Gerald Green. After winning the competition while with the Boston Celtics, he was banished to relative obscurity because he turned out to be a one-dimensional player that couldn't make the final cuts of teams. After bouncing around the league and out of it (he had stints in China and Russia), he makes his return to the competition after being unseated by Dwight Howard's "Superman" Dunk in 2008. I think he's going to claim his rightful place among the best dunkers in the league by winning this one, with James White and Terrence Ross probably going with him to the later rounds.