NBA All Star Break

The NBA All Star break is upon us! Friday is the start of all star festivities with the Rookie challenge. Saturday is the Shooting Stars, Skills Challenge, Three Point shootout, and the Slam Dunk Contest. Sunday is the 58th NBA all star game.

The Bulls have one player in the Rookie challenge with Derrick Rose playing for the rookies. The other players for the rookie team are: Michael Beasley, Rudy Fernandez, Marc Gasol, Eric Gordon, Brook Lopez, O.J. Mayo, Greg Oden, Derrick Rose, and Russell Westbrook. Last year the sophomore team beat the rookie team. I think this year’s sophomore team (made of many of the same players as last year’s rookie team) will loose again. This year’s rookies have a lot more talent than the sophomore class so we will see how they will stack up. The sophomore team is made up of: Aaron Brooks, Wilson Chandler, Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, Al Horford, Luis Scola, Al Thornton, Rodney Stuckey, and Thaddeus Young. Who do you think will win?

Saturday is the Shooting Stars contest which is made up of teams representing a few different cities. These teams are made up of a current NBA player, WNBA player, and a retired NBA player. In the past Chicago has had a team representing them. This year they do not! Does anyone know why we don’t have representation? Last year the Chicago team made it to the semifinals where they lost. The four teams this year are San Antonio, Detroit, Los Angeles, and Phoenix.

The Skills challenge is made up of four point guards who show off their ball handling ability. The Chicago Bulls will have Derrick Rose playing. He is competing against Devin Harris, Tony Parker, and Mo Williams (replacing injured Jameer Nelson). This should be fun to watch, but I feel like last year’s competitor’s was probably a stronger group of Chris Paul, Jason Kidd, Dwyane Wade, and Deron Williams. Who do you think will win? My money is on Rose, but I am biased.

The three point shootout is made up of six players. Jason Kapono tries to become the first players to win the 3-point shootout since Craig Hodges did it from 1990 to 1992. I think Kapono will win it for the third consecutive time. Rashard Lewis and ex-bull Roger Mason Jr. may make it hard for him. Who do you think will win?

The Slam dunk contest is made up of four players and two of them won it before. Dwight Howard won it last year and is going to defend his title. Nate Robinson won it in 2006. Nate Robinson is the shortest of the competitors’ at 5-9. This makes all of his dunk’s look better because he has to get more elevation and jump higher. The others are 6-11 and Howard is the tallest at 6-11 so he makes it look so easy. I think Howard will win it again, but J.R. Smith will make things interesting. Who do you think will win?

The Bulls have no one in the NBA all star game. I would like to see the east win it. Who do you thin will win?