Talking Hoops-All Star Weekend

Posted by Tom Blaz on 02/07/2013 | 2 Comments

Tags: Eric Bledsoe, Jeremy Evans, Kenneth Faried, Gerald Green, Terrence Ross, James White, Paul George, Kyrie Irving, Steve Novak, Ryan Anderson, Matt Bonner, Stephen Curry, Tony Parker, Damian Lillard, Jeremy Lin, Brandon Knight, Jrue Holiday, Jeff Teague

As we approach the NBA break, more details are emerging about All-Star weekend. We know Alicia Keys will be performing at halftime of the main event and we also can pass along particpants in the Sprint Slam Dunk, Taco Bell Skills Challenge and Foot Locker 3-point contest. All events, including the Sears Shooting Stars competition will take place Saturday night February 16th, with the main event on Sunday. Everything will be carried LIVE on TNT from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.

Play free fantasy basketball at Fleaflicker where you can sign up your league, join a league or move your commissioner based league over with ease.

Have an iPhone or iPad? Get the #1 selling fantasy baseball tool this season! Fantasy Alarm's award winning 2013 Fantasy Baseball App!

Participants in the Sprite Slam Dunk competition have been annouced and its a new format pitting Eastern against Western Conference in all events. There will be two rounds with the highest scorer from each side squaring off for the title.

Sprite Slam Dunk Contest

WEST

Eric Bledsoe, LA Clippers

Jeremy Evans, Utah

Kenneth Faried, Denver

EAST

Gerald Green, Indiana

Terrence Ross, Toronto

James White, New York

Evans is defending his crown, so he must be given consideration. Green is a fantastic dunker and is my pick to represent the Eastern Conference. I am going out on a limb and picking point guard Bledsoe to not only unseat Evans, but defeat Green to take the Slam Dunk crown!

Much like the Slam Dunk event, the Foot Locker 3-point shootout will feature a battle between the two conferences. The top scorer from each will square off for the 3-point title. Ryan Anderson is the lone returnee from last year with Kevin Love injured and unable to defend his title.

Foot Locker 3-point shootout

EAST

Paul George, Indiana

Kyrie Irving, Cleveland

Steve Novak, New York

WEST

Ryan Anderson, New Orleans

Matt Bonner, San Antonio

Stephen Curry, Golden State

Anderson is the top shooting stretch four in the Association and has experience from last season, but I expect Curry to outlast both he and Bonner in a very close competition. Look for Novak, the best big marksman in the East to advance to the finals. I like Anderson over Novak in the championship by the narrowest of margins!

Two rounds of competition in the Taco Bell Skills Challenge with the best of the Western Conference advancing to face the fastest in the Eastern Conference for the title.

Taco Bell Skills Challenge

WEST

Tony Parker, San Antonio

Damian Lillard, Portland

Jeremy Lin, Houston

EAST

Brandon Knight, Detroit

Jrue Holiday, Philadelphia

Jeff Teague, Atlanta

Parker returns to defend his title and should outlast rookie Lillard but must content with Lin and the home crowd. I like Parker to emerge  (despite the home cooking- and scoring) to face Holiday from the East. In the finals, I look for Parker to successfully repeat with a close win over Holiday. 

Listen to The Fantasy Alarm Show Saturday 10 PM- 1 AM EST, Sunday 7 PM to 10 PM EST and Wednesday 11:00 PM EST to 1:00 AM EST on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio XM channel 87/Sirius 210.

Tom Blaz is a writer for Fantasy Alarm and co-owner of The Recruiting Eagle a website focusing on Auburn University Athletics.