Tonight kicks off what always seems to be one of my favorite weekends of the year. It’s a weekend full of old friends, friendly wagers, Kentucky Fried Chicken, booze and mass quantities of videogame battles. While you may think this sounds like the stereotypical romantic St. Valentine’s Day weekend, I’m actually referring to our traditional festivities around the NBA All-Star festivities.
T-Mobile Rookie Challenge
Tonight brings us the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge, and the rookies will indeed have their work cut out for them. The Rooks will be led by their dazzling backcourt players such as Tyreke Evans, Stephen Curry, Brandon Jennings and Jonny Flynn. While these guys will be able to push the tempo (which is important in these no-defense exhibitions), it’s unfortunate for them that all of their best players play the same position. Look for Evans and Curry to swing over to the off guard, and look for them to shoot at nearly every glimpse of an opportunity they get.
The Sophomore team is much more well-rounded by position, seasoned, and ultimately more talented. While Derrick Rose was excused from the game given his selection to the East All-Star team (Anthony Morrow ultimately replaced him) the Sophs have a wealth of other studs to lean on. They have backcourt players like O.J. Mayo, Russell Westbrook and Eric Gordon who are all fully capable of lighting it up. But it’s their front court that should have an absolute heyday – we’re talking about Kevin Love, Michael Beasley, Marc Gasol and Brook Lopez (who should be dominant) going up against guys like Taj Gibson and Jonas Jerebko. Check, please.
The Sophomore team almost always is dominant in these games, and I wouldn’t expect any different this year. Over the past nine times this game has been held, the Sophs have averaged over 127 points per game. I might also add that the Sophs haven’t lost since 2002, in a game which featured then-rookies Pau Gasol, Tony Parker and Joe Johnson. I don’t think this year is a season that will buck the winning ways of the Sophomores.
My prediction: Sophomores by 15
Halftime Dunk-In
Let’s not forget that this year’s Rookie Challenge will also feature a dunk-off between Eric Gordon and Demar DeRozan. This face-off will take place during halftime, and the winner will round out the final field for tomorrow’s actual Sprite Slam-Dunk competition. Gordon, being the shorter player, will likely be able to demonstrate some more crowd-pleasing finishes, but DeRozan is built like a dunker and will probably take some people by surprise.
My prediction: Demar DeRozan
