NBA ALL-STAR Weekend: 2009

[HD MM]

The NBA All-Star weekend kicks off tonight. Here's a peak at the schedule of upcoming events from Phoenix, Arizona.......

Friday – February 13th

McDonald's NBA All-Star Celebrity Game
Jam Session -- Center Court
Time: 7pm, TV: ESPN

T-Mobile Rookie Challenge and Youth Jam
U.S. Airways Center
Time: 9pm, TV: TNT


Saturday – February 14th

NBA D-League All-Star Game
Jam Session
Time: 4pm, TV: NBA TV

NBA All-Star Saturday Night
Haier Shooting Stars
Playstation Skills Challenge
Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout
Sprite Slam Dunk
U.S. Airways Center
Time: 8pm, TV: TNT


Sunday – February 15th
58th NBA All-Star Game
U.S. Airways Center
Time: 8pm, TV: TNT

 

[BillD1984]

HD,
you probably already know this, but LeBron will be the analyst for the rookie game tonight. He'll be alongside Kevin Harlan and Kenny "the Jet" Smith. :up

 

[HD MM]

HD,
you probably already know this, but LeBron will be the analyst for the rookie game tonight. He'll be alongside Kevin Harlan and Kenny "the Jet" Smith. :up

I heard that and think it's a great idea. Just another perk to make this rook/soph challenge that more enjoyable.

 

[HD MM]

2009 Rookie Challenge: In Depth Preview

THE EVENT
The T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam will be played on Friday, Feb. 13 (9 p.m. ET, TNT) in Phoenix during NBA All-Star 2009. For the 10th year running, a team of nine rookies and a team of nine sophomores, selected by the NBA's assistant coaches, will play against each other to tip off All-Star weekend.

THE RULES
Instead of the regulation four-quarter, 48-minute official NBA format, the game will be played in two 20-minute halves. Individual foul totals will be kept, but a player cannot foul out. A team will be in the penalty situation after 10 team fouls or after the second foul in the final two minutes of each half. In the event of a tie, there will be a two-minute overtime to determine the winner. The clock will stop after each successful field goal in the last minute of each half.

THE PARTICIPANTS

Rookie Team Roster
Michael Beasley (Heat)- F
Rudy Fernandez (Trail Blazers)- G/F
Marc Gasol (Grizzlies)- C
Eric Gordon (Clippers)- G
Brook Lopez (Nets)- C
O.J. Mayo (Grizzlies)- G
Greg Oden (Trail Blazers)- C
Derrick Rose (Bulls)- G
Russell Westbrook (Thunder)- G

Sophomore Team Roster
Aaron Brooks (Rockets)- G
Wilson Chandler (Knicks)- F
Kevin Durant (Thunder)- G/F
Jeff Green (Thunder)- F
Al Horford (Hawks)- F/C
Luis Scola (Rockets)- F/C
Al Thornton (Clippers)- F
Rodney Stuckey (Pistons)- G
Thaddeus Young (Sixers)- F

WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH
Kevin Durant and Co. will try to make it seven straight victories for the Sophomores in the event, but it could get interesting seeing how there are only four holdovers from last year's Rookie team on the Sophomore squad (Durant, Thunder teammate Jeff Green, the Hawks' Al Horford and the Rockets' Luis Scola).

Durant will be involved in several pairings to watch. At the forefront is the marquee matchup between Durant and Portland rookie Greg Oden, who was selected No. 1 in 2007 but missed all of last year after microfracture surgery. Durant has been playing some minutes at center for Oklahoma City, so we could actually see him guard Oden for a possession or two.

The Rookies should have the edge in the backcourt with Chicago's Derrick Rose (16.7 points, 6.7 assists per game) and Memphis' O.J. Mayo (19.1 points, 4.1 rebounds) facing off against Houston's Aaron Brooks (10.0 points, 2.6 assists) and Rodney Stuckey (13.9 points, 5.0 assists).

Heat guard Dwyane Wade is the Rookies honorary assistant coach while Magic center Dwight Howard will be on the bench toting a clipboard for the Sophomores. A bonus to look for in this year's game: The official team jerseys were designed by 18-year-old Tim Ahmed from East Meadow, Long Island. Ahmed won the NBA LIVE Jersey Creator Contest hosted by EA Sports, beating out thousands of other entries with his desert-themed design.

Recent history of the game
Sophomore sharpshooter Daniel Gibson gave the Rookies 11 good reasons why experience pays off.

The Cavs' combo guard nailed a record 11 3-pointers in his 20 attempts and scored 33 points as the Sophomores beat the Rookies 136-109 in the 2008 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam at New Orleans Arena. The Sophmores' victory was their sixth straight over the Rookies.

Jazz guard Kyle Korver held the previous record for 3-pointers in the annual contest when he made seven in 2005.

 

[Ramy]

I can't wait to watch some of the things going on. I just wish that the big stars would participate in the Slam Dunk contest.

 

[HD MM]

2009 3-Point Shootout: In Depth Preview

The Event
The Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout is one of the headlining competitions of All-Star Saturday Night. The contest boasts 22 years of history and is one of the weekend's most-anticipated attractions. Defending champion Jason Kapono leads the list of six sharpshooters gunning for this year's title.

The Rules
Six shooters compete in a two-round competition. The field is made of the previous year's champion and the current season's top 3-point shooters. Each participant has one minute to take as many shots as possible.

Five shooting stations are set up around the 3-point line, with four orange plus one multi-colored ball in each rack. Each participant has one minute to take as many shots as possible. Orange balls are worth one point. The multi-colored (money) ball is worth two points. The money ball may be shot only after all four orange balls.

Players may not start on or over the 3-point line while shooting. A basket does not count if the line is violated. At the discretion of the referee, TV instant replay may be consulted for clarification of rules compliance.

The top three shooters from the first round advance to the finals. In the event of a first-round tie, a 24-second shootout will break the tie. If there is still a tie, the process will be repeated until the tie is broken.

In the finals, players will shoot in ascending order of first-round scores (lowest goes first). In the event of a tie in the finals, a full 60-second shootout follows.

The Participants
Mike Bibby (Hawks)
Daequan Cook (Heat)
Danny Granger (Pacers)
Jason Kapono* (Raptors)
Rashard Lewis (Magic)
Roger Mason (Spurs)

Why you should watch
Jason Kapono is out to etch his name alongside a couple of Three-Point Shootout legends. The long-distance gunner from Toronto is aiming to become the third person to win three consecutive titles, joining Hall of Famer and noted Celtics finger waver Larry Bird (1986-88), and Craig Hodges (1990-92).

Kapono already shares one record with Hodges -- the most points in a single round. He scored 25 in the finals last year in New Orleans. The only other two-time winners are Mark Price, Peja Stojakovic and Jeff Hornacek.

Kapono faces a stacked field in Danny Granger, Rashard Lewis, Mike Bibby, Roger Mason and Daequan Cook. Kapono's challengers are all shooting better than 40 percent from beyond the arc and each has more the 100 3-pointers this season. Kapono has only 52 makes from downtown.

Mason is shooting 45.0 percent, the highest in the field and fifth-best in the league. Lewis' 137 3-pointers lead the NBA, with Granger tied for second at 120. Lewis and Granger are also reserves on the Eastern Conference All-Star team.

 

[BillD1984]

How was Eddie House not invited to the 3-point shootout??

 

[HD MM]

2009 Dunk Contest: In Depth Preview

The Event
The Dunk Contest is part of the events on NBA All-Star Saturday Night, 8:00 PM EST on Feb. 14th, live on TNT when you can text your vote to decide the 2009 Sprite Slam Dunk Champion. “They Dunk. You Decide.”

The Rules
For the second straight year, fans will have the final say in deciding the winner of the competition. Following the concluding round of dunks, fans will be able to cast their votes via SMS TXT message and at NBA.com to determine this year's winner. The dunker with the most fan votes will be named the winner of the Sprite Slam Dunk.

The two dunkers with the highest first round scores will advance to the final round. The dunker with the lowest total score from the first round will compete first in the final round. Dunks then will alternate until each player has completed two. Time limit rules still apply. In the final round, fan voting polls will open via SMS TXT message and at NBA.com. The combined results from SMS TXT voting and NBA.com will determine the champion.

The Participants
Dwight Howard (Magic)
Rudy Fernandez (Trail Blazers)
J.R. Smith (Nuggets)
Nate Robinson (Knicks)

Past Winners
1984 Larry Nance (Phoenix)
1985 Dominique Wilkins (Atlanta)
1986 Spud Webb (Atlanta)
1987 Michael Jordan (Chicago)
1988 Michael Jordan (Chicago)
1989 Kenny Walker (New York)
1990 Dominique Wilkins (Atlanta)
1991 Dee Brown (Boston)
1992 Cedric Ceballos (Phoenix)
1993 Harold Miner (Miami)
1994 Isaiah Rider (Minnesota)
1995 Harold Miner (Miami)
1996 Brent Barry (L.A. Clippers)
1997 Kobe Bryant (L.A. Lakers)
2000 Vince Carter (Toronto)
2001 Desmond Mason (Seattle)
2002 Jason Richardson (Golden State)
2003 Jason Richardson (Golden State)
2004 Fred Jones (Indiana)
2005 Josh Smith (Atlanta)
2006 Nate Robinson (New York)
2007 Gerald Green (Boston)
2008 Dwight Howard (Orlando)

 

[HD MM]

2009 NBA All-Star Game- East vs. West: In Depth Preview

The Event
58th NBA All-Star Game. Sunday February 15th. 8 PM EST, TNT.

Eastern Conference Starters
F - LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
F - Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics
C - Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
G - Allen Iverson, Detroit Pistons
G - Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat

Eastern Reserves
F - Rahard Lewis, Orlando, Magic
F - Danny Granger, Indiana Pacers
F - Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics
G - *Mo Williams, Cleveland Cavaliers (Replaced injured: Chris Bosh, Toronto Raptors)
G - Devin Harris, New Jersey Nets
G - *Ray Allen, Boston Celtics (Replaced injured: Jameer Nelson, Orlando Magic)
G - Joe Johnson, Atlanta Hawks


Western Conference Starters
F - Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix Suns
F - Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
C - Yao Ming, Houston Rockets
G - Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers
G - Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets

Western Reserves
G - Chauncey Billups, Denver Nuggets
F - Pau Gasol, L.A. Lakers
F - Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
C - Shaquille O'Neal, Phoenix Suns
G - Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs
G - Brandon Roy, Portland Trail Blazers
F - David West, New Orleans Hornets

 

[HD MM]

How was Eddie House not invited to the 3-point shootout??

Good question Bill. House would've definitely given Kapono a run for his money.

 

[SabresRule]

Who'll win the ASG MVP Award?

 

[HD MM]

A montage of Nate Robinson's "Krypto-Nate" Dunk.......