2010 ASW Skills Challenge

The field has been set. Steve Nash, Deron Williams and Brandon Jennings will join defending champion Derrick Rose in this year's contest.

The Chicago Bulls' Derrick Rose will defend his title in the 2010 Taco Bell Skills Challenge against Brandon Jennings of the Milwaukee Bucks, Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns and Deron Williams of the Utah Jazz, as part of NBA All-Star Saturday Night on Feb. 13, at American Airlines Center in Dallas. The 2010 field features three of the event's six previous winners.

Deron had a great final run the year he won it. If no one has had a better time than him since, he's still got the record for the fastest time.

Williams still holds the record. I'd say that as usual, the twenty foot jumpshot will be the difference between winning and losing.

It'll take Brandon Jennings three weeks to make that jump shot

I'll say Rose repeats

Interesting line up. I'm betting on Jennings to win. Anyone wants to bet? Winner gets to at losers.

I'll say Rose repeats

I'll go with Rose too, but in my case it's a completely homerish pick.

the twenty foot jumpshot will be the difference between winning and losing.

With that being absolutely true, I think it will take Jennings a while to make the shot which will eventually cost him.

Williams still holds the record. I'd say that as usual, the twenty foot jumpshot will be the difference between winning and losing.

Nash is IMHO the best shooter of the bunch, though I just watched the 2006 Skills Challenge and he managed to miss all 5 of his jumpshots.

Even though he had some nagging injuries back in 2008, I still get a kick out of Dwyane Wade's horrific run that year . Lost the ball during the dribbling part, jumpshot wasn't falling, the 2nd chest pass wasn't going through, and he managed to screw up the last lay-up twice .

I think Rose will repeat, but I really hope that Jennings can make the jumper quickly enough and win it.

Deron is my pick. The guy can really shoot and pass. Nash is probably the best shooter but Deron isnt too far off him.

I'm going with the old vet in Nash. He's the best shooter of the bunch and might be a little excited to win it where he got his career rolling in Texas.

my homo pick is Nash

Rose is automatic from midrange, anyway.

Rose is automatic from midrange, anyway.

45% on jumpers is automatic?

45% on two-point jumpers isn't THAT bad actually, probably would've ranked him top-30 in the league last year. (He was only at 43% though.)

And his 10.6 points per 36 off of two-point jumpers would've been second in the league to only Dirk. (He had 6.6 last year.)

For some perspective on two-point jumpers, last year's top fifteen:

Code:

bonner,matt   .533
novak,steve   .507
nelson,jameer   .505
terry,jason   .491
nash,steve   .487
allen,ray   .484
george,devean   .483
smith,craig   .482
paul,chris   .480
korver,kyle   .477
fisher,derek   .476
thomas,kurt   .475
nowitzki,dirk   .475
mcdyess,antonio   .474
morrow,anthony   .465

fair enough, was looking for better stats and couldnt find them. Will admit i didnt look long.

I wasn't disputing your claim, I don't consider 45% to be automatic either, but in perspective on two-point jumpers it's not as bad as 45% on all jumpers considering the best players only shoot about 48-49%. (Bonner is clearly an outlier, Novak and Nelson are close enough to being one.)

And I don't know if you can find that jumper breakdown info elsewhere, I had to do it myself in my file.

I pick Brandon Jennings.

Nash needs to redeem himself for his 2006 performance.

I'd rather see big men do it.
Kendrick Perkins, Reggie Evans, Darko, and Eddy Curry.

Atleast make them dodge some huge spiked pistons or something while dribbling between cones. Make them jump over a pit of acid for a rebound, and have their wives tied up in a guillotine where the blade will cut off their heads if the player doesn't finish the course in a certain amount of time.

Make them do it "five-legged" with a badger.

Make something electrified and we've got ourselves an event....
just to make it interesting some of the basketballs would be electrified and others would not.

They should throw in some American Gladiators instead of pylons, do the hole tossing further up as in the audience where they could potentially hit some (or they get free balls), and raise the rim to 12 feet. That's a fun event.

each team sent a cheerleader to compete in the event

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Since the dunk contest now has all those gimmicks, I guess it wouldn't hurt to spice things up for the skills challenge. Start a petition!

So long as we ban capes. Such theatrics shouldn't matter, especially in the face of electrified obstacles and equipment, American Gladiator-style courses and challenges, pits of acid and wildlife.

Rose is out, Westbrook in..this change anyone's picks? lol

Im sticking with Deron

There isn't a Shooting Stars thread or a general All-Star Saturday thread...so I'll say it here. First time I've seen a CLIPPER grouped with Team LA in the Shooting Stars competition (they took Brent Barry as the retired dude).

I forgot how much I liked the Shooting Stars competition.