Live Thread: All Star Saturday (#MardiGras)
2017-02-18What happens when the NBA All Star Weekend collides with the first big parade of Mardi Gras? Well, the League and TNT can only hope it’s as big of a celebration as last year’s event in Toronto, which saw the virtual rebirth of the Slam Dunk Contest. After Adam Silver announced last summer that the NBA had made a decision to move the location of this year’s game from Charlotte to New Orleans (due to North Carolina’s controversial House Bill 2), the Big Easy had to hustle to host it’s second All Star weekend in the last four years (third in the last 10).
“It’s going to be one of the most interesting and complicated weekends we’ve ever had,” said President and CEO of the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau Steven Perry. “In addition to the All-Star Game, we have two citywide conventions that weekend, and, of course, Mardi Gras. We’re going to have a sold-out city.”
All Star Saturday night begins with the Skills Challenge, and will be followed up by the Three Point Contest where Kyrie Irving will attempt to win back the title he won in 2013. But, the real showcase of the night should be the rejuvenated Slam Dunk Contest, featuring the high flying exploits of last year’s runner up, Aaron Gordon (who probably should have won for his epic dunks). It should also feature Shaq throwing out 10s like so many strands of beads on Bourbon Street.
The action kicks off at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans at 8 p.m. (EST) on TNT, and the whole evening is once again sponsored by State Farm… so expect wall-to-wall CP3, DJ and Dame commercials).
Participants:
Devin Booker (Suns)
DeMarcus Cousins (Kings)
Anthony Davis (Pelicans)
Gordon Hayward (Jazz)
Nikola Jokic* (Nuggets)
Kristaps Porzingis (Knicks)
Isaiah Thomas (Celtics)
John Wall (Wizards)
* injury replacement for Joel Embiid
Prediction: The NBA has again decided to incorporate some big men with the small, and with good reason, as most of the selected bigs handle the ball extremely well. However, I think the smallest guy in the field will come out on top this time. Isaiah Thomas edges out former teammate, Boogie Cousins for the win.
Participants:
Eric Gordon (Rockets)
Kyrie Irving (Cavaliers)
Kyle Lowry (Raptors)
Wes Matthews (Mavericks)
CJ McCollum (Blazers)
Klay Thompson (Warriors)
Kemba Walker (Hornets)
Nick Young (Lakers)
Prediction: Even without gunners like Steph Curry, Kyle Korver, JJ Redick, or even current league leader Otto Porter (46.5%), this is a pretty deep field. Reigning champ, Klay Thompson, will be tough to beat, although weird things usually happen in this contest… so it wouldn’t be out of the question for someone like Swaggy P to catch fire and win it. Still, Kyrie has already gotten the world (both circular and flat) to put all eyez on him thus far this weekend… so, at the risk of extreme homerism, I’m gonna ride or die with Ky.
Participants:
Aaron Gordon (Magic)
DeAndre Jordan (Clippers)
Glenn Robinson III (Pacers)
Derrick Jones Jr. (Suns)
Prediction: Sadly, Zach Lavine’s season-ending ACL injury will prevent him from defending his title with another dynamic dunking display. Aaron Gordon is back, however, and if you ask me, there’s a pretty clear path to victory for him. Without CP3 to throw lobs to him, DJ probably goes the way of Andre Drummond last year (although the irony of him pulling off a dunk from the free throw line would not be lost). As for the other guys… I’m not sure I’ve ever seen Glenn Robinson dunk a ball… and I’m not sure I’ve ever seen Derrick Jones Jr. play period. Obviously, you never know… but I’d expect Gordon to grab the title he was (in my opinion anyway) somewhat robbed of last year with his fantastic throw downs.
Who do you like? And also, while we’re at it, feel free to throw out your beads of wisdom on any hot takes concerning trade deadline rumors…
What a choke job by Gordon on that last rack… 19 going in…
TIED!!!
Kyrie hit 7 of last 9… clutch
Your move Gordon!
Kyrie’s first two money balls rattled out
C’mon Ky!
Kemba gets less than the first round…
For Klay
I’m sure Ayesha thinks the fix is in…
If Kyrie wins… then the world is definitively flat…
Kyrie advances to final round. Klay doesn’t. All-star Weekend: made.
Steph just shakin his head at Klay’s failure…
Wonder if Klay has his feelings hurt not making the Finals
Who’s the final?
Gordon, Kyrie and Kemba…
Must have been hard for Chris to type this…
Down goes Frazier!
Klay krashes out!
Lowry was just embarrassing…
Kyrie advances…
Well… Kyrie in the Finals…
CJ, Wes and Kyle were out all night getting laid
Yikes CJ…
Three guys left to knock Kyrie out… CJ, Lowry and Klay…
Swaggy P!
Bricky p
Anybody but Thompson, and I hope it’s Kyrie
Gonna be tough with just 20… which sounds strange…
Wow. Gordon was wet
Gordon heating up…
Whoever said Wes Matthews was his dark horse just lost some money…
Kyrie starts out flat but rounds into form…
Good one Phil…
Kyrie barely got that last one off…
God, I hate Klay.
I agree. Change up that facial hair already.
Or just start doing porn
They should give Kyrie discs to shoot
Hey Zinger… if you squint, that trophy looks almost like the LOB…
The Zinger was primed
Three Point Contest yo!
Lol…
https://twitter.com/SInow/status/833128210003087360
Hahahahahahaha
That SI twitter account has some gems…
The Zinger! Here’s your Crow, EG.
http://thinkingrightblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/eating-crow.jpg
He’d be really good… if he wasn’t on the Knicks…
Right? I
That’s how bad Jackson and Dolan are:its not even Melo’s fault anymore.
http://scriptshadow.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/102645541-178574231.530×298.jpg
The Unicorn is victorious!
Hayward v. Unicorn in the final…
Isaiah let me down, missing four three balls to let Hayward take him out…
The Brow destroys The Joker for 90% of the skills, but misses his three… so Joker wins…
Unicorn takes down Boogie…
Here come the bigs…
Isaiah advances easily over Devin Booker…
Hayward eliminates Wall by hitting his three pointer first… this contest makes no sense…
Skills Challenge y’all…
Already seen the first new All State commercial… CP3 and DeAndre… what a surprise…