NBA All-Star Weekend brings many Interesting Experiences

The NBA All-Star weekend is perhaps one of the best All-Star weekends in all major American sports. Between the Rookie Challenge, Skills Challenge, three-point challenge, slam dunk contest and the actual game itself there are numerous interesting avenues to explore.

The Rookie Challenge will be cool because this is the first year where many of the Rookies should actually be on the Sophomore Roster (first class forced to play college 1 year). Of course looking at the roster, only Kevin Durant would have skipped college (unless foreign) and gone to the NBA a year ago. Mike Conley was the 4th pick but certainly was destined for 1 year in college. Guys like Al Hortford and Jeff Green were seasoned veterans in the college game. Maybe a year in college did not help the 1 and dones so much after all. The injury to Greg Oden probably hurts the odds of a Rookie upset over the Sophomores but they will have a descent chance.

Gerald Green returns as the Slam-Dunk winner from a year ago. Rudy Gay, Jamario Moon and Dwight Howard are also participating, with no player shorter than 6-8. Call me crazy but I like guys who soar through the air like Spud Webb and even Michael Jordan who is short compared to this years crop.

The Three-Point Shootout is lead by big names like Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash. I’d be shocked if either guy won the contest and I firmly believe Kobe is a wimp for skipping the Dunk Contest once again. Kobe shoot a three-pointer just fine but I don’t want to watch it.

Jason Kapono (defending champ) and Peja Stojakovic (2-time champ) are the guys who’ll lead the 3-point pack. It would be nice to see Larry Legend snap those wrists once again.

The Skills Challenge features Jason Kidd, Chris Paul, Dwayne Wade and Deron Williams. Chris Paul has somehow not won this thing and I’ll be rooting, and will to bet that he can pull it out this year. Paul is an absolute stud and great to watch weave his magic.

Looking at the All-Star game rosters, I like the West squad by 15 points. Kevin Garnett is injured, which won’t help but that’s not why I like the West squad; they are better anyway. 
However, you can check the All-Star game odds for yourself.

Allen Iverson has the starting nod over Steve Nash, which is up for debate. Tim Duncan and Yao Ming give the West a decisive advantage underneath the basket. In All-Star games it’s not about playing good defense, rather, it’s about making people miss once in awhile and remembering to rebound—once in awhile. Between Yao and Duncan both of these feats will be accomplished—once in awhile.

The East will be lead by LeBron James and Dwight Howard but a somewhat slumping Dwayne Wade and very old Jason Kidd don’t exactly create enthusiasm for the starting lineup. Chris Bosh will need to do some dirty work underneath if they want to have a chance, which the do, albeit small.

Overall, this is not an earth shattering All-Star Weekend for the NBA but once again it should prove to be a good time.