Rising stars challenge? WTF?

[Calinks]

No more rookies vs sophomores? Why? The whole draft class pride thing is being thrown out the window.

[Krapinsky]

No more rookies vs sophomores? Why? The whole draft class pride thing is being thrown out the window.

I think they did this so they could put Irving and Rubio on different teams. Rubio gets to play for the rookies, right?

[yowyOw]

No more rookies vs sophomores? Why? The whole draft class pride thing is being thrown out the window.

I think they did this so they could put Irving and Rubio on different teams. Rubio gets to play for the rookies, right?

I think it will be a mix of rookies & sophomores.

.

[Klomp]

No more rookies vs sophomores? Why? The whole draft class pride thing is being thrown out the window.

I think they did this so they could put Irving and Rubio on different teams. Rubio gets to play for the rookies, right?

In the old format, yes. Will be very interesting to see how high Rubio goes. Chuck likes his PGs in an AllStar game setting:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XixBwzJ4KTk[/youtube]

[Breakdown777]

From what I've read it sounds like Shaq and Barkley get to pick teams? Why? I hope there's a pool, because I don't want Shaq picking random guys who play for teams he likes, and I don't want Barkley picking some guy who gets 5 minutes per game on the team with the best record in the league to award "winning". Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought I read it as Shaq and Chuck get to pick teams.

[Yes We Kahn]

From what I've read it sounds like Shaq and Barkley get to pick teams? Why? I hope there's a pool, because I don't want Shaq picking random guys who play for teams he likes, and I don't want Barkley picking some guy who gets 5 minutes per game on the team with the best record in the league to award "winning". Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought I read it as Shaq and Chuck get to pick teams.

It will be a pool

@JerryZgoda
New format for former All Star rookie-soph game: Shaq and Chuck will draft players to teams from chosen players named Wed by NBA assistants

[Beas]

That's how I understand it as too Breakdown. Personally I think the whole idea is dumb, it was fine how it was. I'll have to see how it works out I guess but I don't see the need for change.

[Klomp]

From what I've read it sounds like Shaq and Barkley get to pick teams? Why? I hope there's a pool, because I don't want Shaq picking random guys who play for teams he likes, and I don't want Barkley picking some guy who gets 5 minutes per game on the team with the best record in the league to award "winning". Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought I read it as Shaq and Chuck get to pick teams.

There's a pool. I'm guessing there will be 18 players (9 rookies and sophomores, as in years past), from those 18 comes each team.

[Calinks]

I don't like this. I can see it leading to more competitive games but I really like seeing the rookies pay dues or in some recent cases, punk out the Sophomores and embarrass their class. This had been going on for 10-12 years and I thought it was a good tradition. Now they are scraping it? This does seems fishy that it's the year or Kyrie and Rubio. Maybe they feel like the rookies have no chance this year.

[C.lupus]

I actually like the idea of mixing up the two classes and having a draft. I don't like the idea of TNT completely running the thing, though. That just makes it seem like more of a circus sideshow than it already is.


If it were me, I think I might pick someone like Cousins first. That way you'd have your big man and still be guaranteed one of Rubio, Irving, or Wall.

[Klomp]

I don't like this. I can see it leading to more competitive games but I really like seeing the rookies pay dues or in some recent cases, punk out the Sophomores and embarrass their class. This had been going on for 10-12 years and I thought it was a good tradition. Now they are scraping it? This does seems fishy that it's the year or Kyrie and Rubio. Maybe they feel like the rookies have no chance this year.

In one way though, its tough when some classes barely have any good bigs or guards. That one year Blair went off, he was practically the only big on the rookie team

Omri Casspi (Kings) F 6-9/225 Israel
DeJuan Blair (Spurs) F-C 6-7/265 Pittsburgh
Stephen Curry (Warriors) G 6-3/185 Davidson
Tyreke Evans (Kings) G 6-6/220 Memphis
Jonny Flynn (Timberwolves) G 6-0/186 Syracuse
Taj Gibson (Bulls) F 6-9/225 USC
James Harden (Thunder) G 6-5/220 Arizona State
Brandon Jennings (Bucks) G 6-1/169 Lottomatica Virtus Roma (Italy)
Jonas Jerebko (Pistons) F 6-10/231 Sweden

They were going against a team where Westbrook was the only "point" guard on the team

Michael Beasley (Heat) F 6-9/245 Kansas State
Marc Gasol (Grizzlies) C 7-1/265 Spain
Danilo Gallinari (Knicks) G-F 6-10/225 Italy
Eric Gordon (Clippers) G 6-3/222 Indiana
Brook Lopez (Nets) C 7-0/260 Stanford
Kevin Love (Timberwolves) F-C 6-10/260 UCLA
O.J. Mayo (Grizzlies) G 6-4/210 USC
Anthony Morrow (Warriors) G 6-3/190 Georgia Tech
Russell Westbrook (Thunder) G 6-5/210 UCLA

In cases like that, I think a pick'em makes much more sense.

I'm not in love with the switch because we're scrapping tradition, but I do think it will make things interesting. To make it more interesting, what if the sophomore who won ROY and one of the rookies considered a ROY frontrunner put the teams together? For example, this year would be Griffin and either Irving or Rubio. BTW I hope whoever has the first pick and takes Griffin will take Rubio with the next pick. The other guy will have to say

[Klomp]

If it were me, I think I might pick someone like Cousins first. That way you'd have your big man and still be guaranteed one of Rubio, Irving, or Wall.

Blake Griffin says hi

[C.lupus]

I'm assuming Griffin won't participate since he's in the real deal.

[EscapoTHB]

Wonder who the last guy picked will be. That will be funny

Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk

[Klomp]

I'm assuming Griffin won't participate since he's in the real deal.

Good call, I forgot he's a wuss. In that case, I personally might take Monroe over Cousins

[Klomp]

Another way to look at this.

They are doing this as a trial run. If it is successful, they will then use it on the ASG. That would then eliminate part of the reasoning behind the current conference setup. They'd eliminate conferences, and make divisions more based on geography like what the NHL has done.



Playoffs in the NHL are top four teams in each of their four "conferences." For the NBA, I would simply take the top 16 records.

[Klomp]

Joining Rubio and Williams in the pool of players are rookies MarShon Brooks (New Jersey), Kyrie Irving (Cleveland), Brandon Knight (Detroit), Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio), Markieff Morris (Phoenix), Tristan Thompson (Cleveland) and Kemba Walker (Charlotte), and sophomores DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento), Landry Fields (New York), Paul George (Indiana), Blake Griffin (L.A. Clippers), Gordon Hayward (Utah), Greg Monroe (Detroit), Tiago Splitter (San Antonio), Evan Turner (Philadelphia), John Wall (Washington).

My guess:

1. Blake Griffin
2. Kyrie Irving
----------
3. Ricky Rubio
4. DeMarcus Cousins
---------
5. John Wall
6. MarShon Brooks
--------
7. Paul George
8. Greg Monroe
--------
9. Derrick Williams
10. Brandon Knight
--------
11. Kemba Walker
12. Gordon Hayward
-------
13. Kawhi Leonard
14. Evan Turner
------
15. Tristan Thompson
16. Landry Fields
-------
17. Tiago Splitter
18. Markieff Morris

[Iommi]

absolutely 100 percent could not care less about the sanctity or tradition of the Rookie/Sophomore game. have them consistently rotating teams as the game progresses for all i care. this may add some fun, and has made it so I will watch the selection process and the first bit of the game. while having tnt run the show will certainly engender a sideshow atmosphere, lets keep in mind that this is an exhibition game in the middle of vacation time between two fictional teams, and lets also not forget that it is, in fact, a sideshow. I hope neither Rubio nor Williams break a sweat or put undue pressure on their knees.

[C.lupus]

So Griffin is really going to take part in this? That surprises me.

[funkatron101]

Another way to look at this.

They are doing this as a trial run. If it is successful, they will then use it on the ASG. That would then eliminate part of the reasoning behind the current conference setup. They'd eliminate conferences, and make divisions more based on geography like what the NHL has done.



Playoffs in the NHL are top four teams in each of their four "conferences." For the NBA, I would simply take the top 16 records.

This is the first thing I thought as well. I'll pretend in my own little world that the NBA brass visited this board a while back, saw my idea and liked it!

I personally thought there are more of a rivalry with the Rookie/Sophomore game, as there is a sense of pride with a draft class, that I think is absent in the East/West setting. With the rookies playing with a chip on their shoulder, proclaiming that they are more talented, and the Sophomores claiming more experience and NBA-readiness. So this idea is a little bittersweet.

Having Shaq and Barkley pick the players is "meh." I would rather have them incorporate my coach idea with this.