ALL STAR GAME
I still enjoy the NBA All Star game. When I was a kid, I loved seeing Michael Jordan and Larry Bird on the same team. Or Magic Johnson running a fast break with Tom Chambers, Clyde Drexler and Karl Malone.
Nowadays, guys move around and the image of the game is a bit down....but my excitement still remains. We will get to see Steve Nash flinging the ball to Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan and Tracy McGrady. We'll see the East with a lineup of Wade, LeBron and Iverson. Great!!
So here is the All Star Rosters
EASTERN CONFERENCE: Allen Iverson, Dwayne Wade, LeBron James, Jermaine O'Neal and Shaquille O'Neal......Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton, Chris Bosh, Vince Carter, Paul Pierce, Rasheed Wallace and Ben Wallace [note, Jermaine O'Neal won't play, so I think the NBA will put one of the Wallaces in his place and add Gilbert Arenas to the team].
WESTERN CONFERENCE: Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, Tim Duncan and Yao Ming.....Ray Allen, Tony Parker, Elton Brand, Kevin Garnett, Pau Gasol, Shawn Marion and Dirk Nowitzki.
SNUBS?? Well, sure. In a perfect world, Yao Ming wouldn't have been on the All Star team due to his injuries and performance. There is no Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Gilbert Arenas [though I think that will get corrected], Michael Redd or Dwight Howard. But, that is the nature of the beast when you only have 24 spots and fans voting for the starters.
ROOKIE V SOPHOMORES
This has become one of the better events during the weekend. It is a great marketing tool by the NBA to promote their younger players, guys that most people don't get to watch play since they are, usually, on bad teams. Here are those rosters...
ROOKIES: Andrew Bogut, Channing Frye, Danny Granger, Luther Head, Sarunas Jasikevicius, Chris Paul, Nate Robinson, Charlie Villenueva and Deron Williams.
SOPHOMORES: Luol Deng, Ben Gordon, TJ Ford, Devin Harris, Dwight Howard, Andre Iguodala, Nenad Krstic, Jameer Nelson, Andres Nocioni, Emeka Okafor [who is injured].
SLAM DUNK CONTEST
This event has taken much heat lately, as well it should. Aside from the occassional young guy trying to get his shine on [see LeBron and Kobe winning this event], it is essentially a no-name event with marginal dunks. Only one of this year's players is a full time starter.
Andre Iguodala, Nate Robinson, Josh Smith and Hakim Warrick.
SKILLS COMPETITION
This has become an up-and-coming event showcasing a variety of basketball skills and can still draw some of the NBA's top names...
LeBron James, Steve Nash, Dwayne Wade and Chris Paul.
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