Some of the greatest moments in All-Star weekend history occurred the day before the All-Star game. Larry Bird repeatedly draining threes effortlessly, Cedric Ceballos and Dee Brown throwing down dunks in their own special and never-before-tried ways, and who can forget the huge rookie games Khalid Reeves and Lamond Murray had once upon a time.
|  | | Steve Francis would have won the dunk contest last year. But there was Vince. |
OK, so not everything that happens on Saturday of All-Star weekend is memorable, but the point is there's plenty to watch. From the rookie game to 2ball, to the Shootout to the Dunk contest, here's a primer on what to watch and who to watch on Saturday.
Rookie Challenge
As you might have heard, the current crop of rookies isn't very good. That's not to say that in a few years Darius Miles and Mateen Cleaves won't rock, but this season, the new class looks nothing like last year's crew. Let's put it this way: In 1999 the draft provided NBA fans with Steve Francis, Elton Brand, Lamar Odom, Andre Miller and a whole lot more. This was one of the most loaded rookie classes ever.
This year, it's all about that other Marc Jackson. And he was drafted in 1997 and honed his skills in Turkey. Yes, Turkey.
Until last season, the Rookie game was all first-year guys, but after the lockout season, the league decided to pit rookies against second-year players. We must admit, it made for a pretty decent game in Oakland last season. But this year, it might be a big-time blowout. Francis, Brand, Odom and Miller weren't named All-Stars this year, but that's not because of anything they did wrong. The league would have been hard pressed to come up with two teams from this year's class.
Why to watch: The sophomore class is loaded, but to be fair to the rookies, they do have some size. Marc Jackson and Kenyon Martin are each 6-10 and will give Brand a workout on the boards. Miles is very athletic and probably has something to prove since he can't find playing time on his team, the Clippers. But Francis and Miller could have a field day against the rookie backcourt, which can't compete. Watch the team-oriented Miller feed Francis for some pretty dunks, and for Miles to show off as well.
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| Odom |
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| Brand |
Records that could fall: Brand set the record for rebounds last year with 21, but with the shooters the rookies have, Jackson could get there. Brand broke the previous mark by 9. Kobe Bryant holds the mark for points with 31, and we figure Francis will go after that, since he believes he should be on stage Sunday, not Saturday.
We'll be happy if...: ...this game is competitive. Because it really shouldn't be. And we wouldn't mind seeing some of these big dunkers -- Francis, Shawn Marion, Miles -- to put on a show.
2ball contest
Whoever wins this year's 2ball competition will have a lot of explaining to do. Why is that? Well, this is the third time there's been this event and three of the four people who helped their team win the first two are each retired now (Jeff Hornacek, Clyde Drexler and Cynthia Cooper). Only Natalie Williams remains. So, play well here and get Richard Hamilton, ready to call it a career, right? Didn't think so.
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| Hamilton |
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| Hornacek |
Anyway, Hornacek, who won the final with a 7-point shot at the buzzer last year, was teamed with the WNBA's Starzz' Williams, and she is back this time with Bryon Russell. Jason Kidd and Richard Hamilton are the only other players to return from last year.
What to watch: There was definite drama in this event last year, and no reason to believe it won't continue. Russell and Williams would have to be considered among the favorites this year, since Williams has been here before. But the main thing to watch: In what has been a poor season for Washington pro basketball fans (Georgetown and Maryland have the nation's capital still buzzing about hoops), the MCI Center crowd might give a big boost to hometowners Hamilton and Nikki McCray. A year ago the Oakland crowd had nothing to root for all weekend, once Antawn Jamison pulled out of action. So it would be nice if Hamilton and McCray could be successful.
Records that could fall: The Drexler-Cynthia Cooper pairing netted a 73-point round in 1998. The Hornacek-Williams duo got 72. Will any team approach these numbers this weekend? For comparison, the Hamilton-Chamique Holdsclaw team scored 28 points last year.
We'll be happy if...: ...the winners show as much class as the previous winners do. And they keep playing ball for years to come.
Long distance Shootout
Hornacek also won this event last year, becoming yet another repeat champion for the shootout. In 14 years only eight people have won this event, but that number will become nine since we're guaranteed to have a new winner. Each of last year's runners up, Ray Allen and Dirk Nowitzki, are here. Utah's Russell and fellow forwards Rashard Lewis and Predrag Stojakovic are as well. So is Pat Garrity! Pat Garrity?
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| Allen |
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| Nowitzki |
What to watch: Definitely Nowitzki. This guy is 7-feet tall, can score from anywhere, is among the leaders in threes made and he put on a show last year despite falling in the finals. Remember when 3-point shooting was a short man's game (Michael Adams, Mark Price, Craig Hodges)? Dirk is big. Another European import is Sacramento's Stojakovic, who also has a beautiful stroke.
Records that could fall: If you thought that Larry Bird held all the records, you'd be incorrect. Craig Hodges actually made 19 straight shots in 1991. That's incredible. Hodges holds the record with 25 points in a round (1986) and Tim Legler had the best three-round score (1996). Hodges' 19 straight seems unbreakable, but the other marks are up for grabs with Dirk, Peja and Ray Allen in town.
We'll be happy if... ...someone gets on a roll and gets the crowd moving. We think we'll end up happy.
Slam Dunk contest
OK, so Vince, Kobe, Tracy, Stevie, Dominique, MJ, you name it, they ain't here. Well, MJ is here, but not in this event. He's just here watching. The slam dunk contest stole the show in Oakland last February, but apparently the event is going in a different direction now. Nothing against Stromile Swift, Corey Maggette, DeShawn Stevenson and friends, but we also enjoyed seeing dunkers over the years who at least were key members of their NBA teams. And were old enough to drink.
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| Bender |
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| Davis |
Of the six entrants this season, only Charlotte's Baron Davis is starting regularly and producing much of anything. Swift, the No. 2 pick in the draft, still isn't playing a whole lot even after incumbent power forward Othella Harrington was sent packing. Jonathan Bender and Desmond Mason play, but you wouldn't call them critical to their teams. Maggette and Stevenson don't play much at all. Sure, these cats can dunk, but if you haven't heard of them, doesn't that take away from things a bit?
What to watch: There are more teenagers here than in an episode of Dawson's Creek. While we admit we'll miss the aura surrounding what Vince Carter did last year, maybe we'll meet some new dunk stars this time around. Other than Baron Davis, a 6-3 point guard who jumps out of the gym, you don't see the other guys in SportsCenter highlights much. We make Davis the favorite, but with so much youth, we're bound to see enthusiasm and some crazy things. And maybe, just maybe, Michael Jordan will make a cameo, take off his tie and throw one down.
Records that could fall: A perfect score? Happens all the time, so it's not a big deal at all. But you'd think that the record for highest three-round score would go to Mr. Jordan, wouldn't ya? 'Nique? Wrong, it's Kenny Walker. Don't even try to say you knew that.
We'll be happy if... ...Vince has a sudden change of heart and shows up. Sorry, DeShawn, it's the right thing to do.
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All-Star Sunday Viewer's Guide
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