[cavairo7Participant]

With the season almost 2 months old, here are my picks for the Rising Stars Challenge during the 2016 NBA All Star Weekend. Here are the rules for choosing each team as depicted by the NBA: the 2 teams are composed of 1st & 2nd year NBA players, one team will be composed of USA born players and the other team will be composed of foreign born players, a minimum of 3 rookies and 3 sophomore players must be chosen for each team, each team must have 4 backcourt, 4 frontcourt, & 2 swingman per squad. Considerations that I took while choosing each team; I attempted to pick 5 rookies and 5 sophomores per team (2 BC, 2 FC, & 1 SW) to give each class an equal representation, when choosing both teams, I looked to not have a redundancy of players who have close to identical skill sets [(e.g.) Willie Cauley-Stein & Nerlens Noel or Joffrey Lauvergne & Nikola Mirotic], and I chose to include an injury alternative for each team.

USA Team:

Zach LaVine BCS
Elfrid Payton BCS
D’Angelo Russell BCR
Devin Booker BCR
Rodney Hood SWS
Stanley Johnson SWR
Nerlens Noel FCS
Julius Randle FCS
Frank Kaminski FCR
Jahlil Okafor FCR
Jordan Clackson ALT

In looking at the backcourt I had a tough time picking between Zach LaVine and Jordan Clarkson. Both have similar stats but as of right now, LaVine has a higher PER and is playing 8 minutes less than Clarkson. Justice Winslow has been good but Stanley Johnson is just playing better. Jabari Parker was under consideration for both SW and FC and will most likely play in the actual game but I felt Rodney Hood and Nerlens Noel were more deserved to be picked for the USA Team at this time.

World Team:

Nik Stauskas BCS
Andrew Wiggins BCS
Emmanuel Mudiay BCR
Raul Neto BCR
Bojan Bogdanović SWS
Mario Hezonja SWR
Clint Capela FCS
Nikola Mirotic FCS
Kristaps Porzingis FCR
Karl Anthony-Towns FCR
Nikola Jokic ALT

For the backcourt slots I was considering Marcelo Huertas but chose Raul Neto instead due to having more responsibilities with the Jazz this season. For the frontcourt I didn’t know if I should take Nikola Mirotic or Joffrey Lauvergne so I ended up choosing Mirotic due to him having a significant role on a playoff bound team as opposed to a lottery bound team.

Who would you guys pick for both teams? Did I miss anyone you think is deserving?

[daggers818Participant]

 Good post.  I like the format of this game and hope there is some pride involved to help keep the game somewhat competitive.

[daggers818Participant]

 Good post.  I like the format of this game and hope there is some pride involved to help keep the game somewhat competitive.

[thetruth87Participant]

If this is how the rosters actually turn out I think the World team is going to win in a land slide. Can’t wait to see Towns and Porzingis play together. 

[thetruth87Participant]

If this is how the rosters actually turn out I think the World team is going to win in a land slide. Can’t wait to see Towns and Porzingis play together. 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 We also get to see how Okafor does against Porzingas.

I usually really like the Rising Stars challenge.  Lots of intrigue.  In some ways it is more interesting to watch than the regular All-Star Game.  

… now I am wondering who will be in the dunk contest.  Hopefully the reigning champ Lavine gets his teammate Andrew Wiggins to participate this year.

And, if Jabari Parker gets in then I would like to see how he does against Wiggins.  Those were the two flashiest names in that draft, but Jabari hasn’t played too much.  

Both teams look good.  The World team looks better.  

I would rather watch most guys on these two teams than the regular All Stars.  I mean, the All Stars are great, but I have been watching these guys for YEARS.  I like the newness factor of the Rising Stars Challenge.

 

 

 

 

 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 We also get to see how Okafor does against Porzingas.

I usually really like the Rising Stars challenge.  Lots of intrigue.  In some ways it is more interesting to watch than the regular All-Star Game.  

… now I am wondering who will be in the dunk contest.  Hopefully the reigning champ Lavine gets his teammate Andrew Wiggins to participate this year.

And, if Jabari Parker gets in then I would like to see how he does against Wiggins.  Those were the two flashiest names in that draft, but Jabari hasn’t played too much.  

Both teams look good.  The World team looks better.  

I would rather watch most guys on these two teams than the regular All Stars.  I mean, the All Stars are great, but I have been watching these guys for YEARS.  I like the newness factor of the Rising Stars Challenge.

 

 

 

 

 

[Hype Machine]

 I wish this format was in the all star game.

If it was seriously competitive, its the only real way to challenge to ‘Team USA’.

Hoops Summit is my favourite exhibition game for this reason.

[Hype Machine]

 I wish this format was in the all star game.

If it was seriously competitive, its the only real way to challenge to ‘Team USA’.

Hoops Summit is my favourite exhibition game for this reason.

[Toronto16Participant]

 Lol looking at these rosters, the World team would destroy.

[Toronto16Participant]

 Lol looking at these rosters, the World team would destroy.

[dmo21Participant]

My picks.

 

 

Team USA:

 

BC1: Payton, Russell

 

BC2: Clarkson, Harris

 

Swing: Hood, Winslow

 

FC1: Noel, Johnson

 

FC2: Okafor, Randle

 

Team World:

BC1: Mudiay, Neto

BC2: Bogdanovic, Stauskas

Swing: Wiggins, Bjelica

FC1: Porzingis, Mirotic

 

 

fin.

[dmo21Participant]

My picks.

 

 

Team USA:

 

BC1: Payton, Russell

 

BC2: Clarkson, Harris

 

Swing: Hood, Winslow

 

FC1: Noel, Johnson

 

FC2: Okafor, Randle

 

Team World:

BC1: Mudiay, Neto

BC2: Bogdanovic, Stauskas

Swing: Wiggins, Bjelica

FC1: Porzingis, Mirotic

 

 

fin.

[natevalParticipant]

 Give me Smart over Russell. 

[natevalParticipant]

 Give me Smart over Russell. 

[Hype Machine]

 And anyone over Stauskas.

 

 

[Hype Machine]

 And anyone over Stauskas.

 

 

[OhCanada-Participant]

Stauskas has been playing terrible basketball on the worst basketball team ever. Such a dissapointment. Replace him with Bjelica.

[OhCanada-Participant]

Stauskas has been playing terrible basketball on the worst basketball team ever. Such a dissapointment. Replace him with Bjelica.

[Author]

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