My picks:
All-Star Game Winner: WestA lot of players are out injured and replaced, but the replacements are legitimate All-Stars, too. They've got a lot more firepower, and if they're on target from downtown, it could get very lopsided very quickly.
All-Star Game MVP: Klay ThompsonIt's not that point guards don't win the MVP award, we've certainly seen it happen in the past. But I'll take Thompson over Curry, as players who light it up and score a lot of points often grab attention more than the players who are getting them the ball. I think Thompson will light it up.
Sprite Slam Dunk Contest Winner: Giannis AntetokounmpoTough call, because there's no standout Vince Carter-like competitor in the field. However, we've seen The Greak Freak do some spectacular things, and I think he'll prevail over Zach LaVine in the final round.
2015 Foot Locker Three-Point Contest: Kyle KorverA very talented field, and I'm hoping that we'll see some records broken. I'll go with Korver, because he's simply on fire so far this season.
2015 Rising Stars Game Winner: United StatesCould be a close one, but I think Team USA just has a bit more talent.
2015 Rising Stars MVP: Michael Carter-WilliamsMC Dub seems like the most likely player on Team USA to have a standout performance, and since I'm picking them to win, I'll say that he takes home the hardware.
2015 Taco Bell Skills Challenge Winner: Brandon KnightLike I said on the Podcast earlier this week, Knight seems like the perfect dark horse candidate to win this. He's not the biggest name on the roster, he's not an All-Star, and he did
this and
this. So who would pick him?
Well, for a start, he does actually have legitimate talent; everyone is unlucky or messes up at some point. Also, the way this contest can turn on a dime, with a couple of errant passes or missing that jumpshot from the top of the key...we can see frontrunners blow their chance very suddenly. So I'm going with the guy who doesn't have the most name recognition or acclaim.
2015 Degree Shooting Stars: Team CurryTeam Bosh has pulled out the win two years running, and it wouldn't be a shock if they somehow make it three in a row. However, I'll pick Team Curry as I did last year, and say that they'll actually do it this time. Like the Skills Challenge, this one can turn on a dime when they get to the midcourt shot, and either make the Hail Mary immediately, or brick attempt after attempt. Hot shooting in all the previous stations can be quickly nullified, but nevertheless, I'll go with Team Curry.
