Predicting NBA All-Star Weekend

(newsweek.com)

The NBA is speeding up All-Star Weekend this year by having all 3 events and the All-Star game on the same night. Sunday, March 7th will see the best collection of stars come together, plus the skills challenge, 3 point contest, and dunk contest. The skills challenge and the 3 point contest will be before the game; the dunk contest will be at halftime. The participants have been announced for each event, so let’s pick who we think will take home the crown. Warning: I’ll probably be wrong and predictions are hard.

Skills Challenge: Chris Paul

(@NBAAllStar)

The first event of the night is the Skills Challenge. The Skills Challenge is definitely the stepchild of the group, but can be fun at times. The NBA announced it would be changing the format to "Bigs vs Littles" in an attempt to highlight the well rounded big men of the league. It has worked so far and the big men have won 4 of the past 5 years. This year’s participants are Robert Covington, Julius Randle, Luka Doncic, Domantas Sabonis, Chris Paul, and Nikola Vucevic. Everyone, besides Convington, is an All-Star on the night as well. I wanted to pick a big man, but I feel like Paul can take it. This is the first time he’s been in the skills challenge in over 10 years and has never won it. Paul is one of the best point guards of all time and this seems like the perfect competition for him to win. I almost went with Randle, and he’s my favorite for the bigs, but the Chris Paul Skills Challenge Revenge Tour is too juicy.

(azcentral.com)

3 Point Contest: Stephen Curry

(@NBAAllStar)

Yeah I picked the overwhelming favorite, sue me. But only if I’m right. This year's 3 Point Contest is stacked with sharp shooting All-Stars. The participants are Jaylen Brown, Zach LaVine, Mike Conley, Donovan Mitchell, Stephen Curry, and Jayson Tatum. The homer in me wants to go with one of the Celtics, but I can’t honestly do it. Devin Booker was initially in the contest, and would’ve been my pick, but is being injury replaced by Mike Conley. This will be the 7th time Curry enters the 3 point contest, winning it only once. He is having one of the best seasons of his career and may want to avenge his 2nd place loss from 2019, the last time he was in the event. I know, picking the best shooter of all time is easy, but it’s easy for a reason. And cut me some slack, I was gonna take Book. A couple dark horses for me are Zach LaVine and Donovan Mitchell.

(Randy Vazquez/Bay Area News Group)

Dunk Contest: Cassius Stanley

(ca.nba.com)

The field for the dunk contest is a bit underwhelming this year. Everyone is already crapping on the participants, but let’s at least give them a chance to dunk. The contest is only 3 participants this year instead of 4, probably due to the contest being at halftime. The dunkers are Knicks rookie Obi Toppin, Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons, and Pacers rookie Cassius Stanley. They will be dunking twice in the first round and once in the final round. A grand total of three dunks each, down from the normal 4. Although these guys may not be huge names, they do have hops. Toppin was known to throw down in-between the legs dunks in game during college, Simons already has some NBA posters, and Stanley recorded a higher vertical leap than Zion Williamson. I’m taking Cassius Stanley because he can really, really fly. His dunk highlights from high school and his time at Duke are a very entertaining YouTube search. Plus, he's is also only 6-5, which makes dunking look more impressive. Just ask Nate Robinson. If this dunk contest sucks, we’ll have a reason to complain, but let’s give them a chance to put on a show.

(USA Today Sports)

All-Star Game MVP: Damian Lillard

(skysports.com)

I’m taking Dame Lillard to snatch the MVP off the bench this year. Dame is currently in the MVP race and having an incredible year leading the Trail Blazers. Despite Portland’s struggles to remain healthy, Lillard has them 5th in the West with a record of 21-14. He was also the biggest snub to the starting line-up this year and a chip on his shoulder is all Lillard needs to show out. His ability to shoot from insanely deep and drive to the basket should get him a handful of points against All-Star game defense. I also believe he will be on the court for the ending of the game, considering he is one of the most clutch players in the league. Other names that came to mind were Luka Doncic, James Harden, and LeBron, but Dame seems more likely to go out and try to get it. He has never won the MVP throughout his 6 previous All-Star appearances. He deserves a big award on his mantlepiece, I think he hunts down the MVP this weekend.