Game Thread: NBA All Star 2015 Weekend - Victor and Elfrid Edition

[OrlandO]

RISING STARS CHALLENGE - FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13

[tweet]https://twitter.com/OrlandoMagic/status/566014849906647042[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/OrlandoMagic/status/566040602157260801[/tweet]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpz6bzyURiM[/youtube]

USA Roster
Victor Oladipo (Magic)
Elfrid Payton (Magic)
Trey Burke (Jazz)
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (Pistons)
Robert Covington (76ers)
Zach LaVine (Timberwolves)
Shabazz Muhammad (Timberwolves)
Nerlens Noel (76ers)
Mason Plumlee (Nets)
Cody Zeller (Hornets)

World Roster
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)
Bojan Bogdanovic (Nets)
Matthew Dellavedova (Cavaliers)
Gorgui Dieng (Timberwolves)
Dante Exum (Jazz)
Rudy Gobert (Jazz)
Nikola Mirotic (Bulls)
Kostas Papanikolaou (Rockets)
Dennis Schroder (Hawks)
Andrew Wiggins (Timberwolves)


SKILLS CHALLENGE - SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14

[tweet]https://twitter.com/SunSportsFOXFL/status/566050048106958849[/tweet]
Participants
> Elfrid Payton (Magic)
> Patrick Beverley (Rockets)
> Trey Burke (Jazz)
> Brandon Knight (Bucks)
> Kyle Lowry (Raptors)
> Dennis Schröder (Hawks)
> Jeff Teague (Hawks)
> Isaiah Thomas (Suns)
> John Wall (Wizards)


SLAM DUNK CONTEST - SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14

[tweet]https://twitter.com/VicOladipo/status/566064111449296896[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/NBAAllStar/status/566041615215906816[/tweet]

Participants
> Victor Oladipo (Magic)
> Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)
> Zach LaVine (Wolves)
> Mason Plumlee (Nets)

[LBPTarHeel27]

Nice thread.

It is going to be great exposure for our guys and hopefully they perform well. I can't see either of them winning their respective event...hopefully one can grab the MVP in the Rising Stars game.

[j-ragg]

Oladipo always seemed like the energetic type to get a crowd involved. Hopefully he gets some recognition Saturday night.

[rcklsscognition]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/BillSimmons/status/566292015693168640[/tweet]

[instagram]http://instagram.com/p/zDNqJhidBx/[/instagram]

[eyriq]

Hoping for the best!

[rcklsscognition]

I actually think Oladipo will win the dunk contest, him and Lavine in the final at least. I'm pretty used to disappointment from Magicians in the AS event but I'm hopeful with him. Could be big for his career. Feathery is going to be involved somehow.

[Orlwillbeback]

I hope one of the dunks involves elfrid's hair

[UCFJayBird]

I hope one of the dunks involves elfrid's hair

I was thinking that he could balance the ball in his hair and Oladipo jumps and grabs it in midair, and then does either a 360 or between the legs (or both?) dunk.

[LBPTarHeel27]

I actually think Oladipo will win the dunk contest, him and Lavine in the final at least. I'm pretty used to disappointment from Magicians in the AS event but I'm hopeful with him. Could be big for his career. Feathery is going to be involved somehow.

I can't see Dipo winning. Unless Levine just straight up blows dunks and can't put the call through the hoop, he is going to win pretty easily.

"Feathery" also doesn't strike me as something that wins dunk contests. Descriptions like "Thor's Hammer" or "Dwight's Crotch Grab" strike more fear and give me more confidence.

[TreasureCoast]

Yeah he can tee up the ball in Elfrid's hair no problem.

[Nemesis21]

Great thread!! Hope our guys do good! I think Vic wins the Dunk Contest!

[tooler]

I'm actually hyped for All-Star Weekend for the first time in forever but I know it's still going to be awkward and boring most of the time. The Rising Stars game was awful last year, for example.

I love the hair idea. I'd also like to see him dunk off a piano after singing with an R&B legend or something. I know people hate props though.

Simmons is such a troll. Keep building up that chip on Smart's shoulder!

[UCFJayBird]

I actually think Oladipo will win the dunk contest, him and Lavine in the final at least. I'm pretty used to disappointment from Magicians in the AS event but I'm hopeful with him. Could be big for his career. Feathery is going to be involved somehow.

I can't see Dipo winning. Unless Levine just straight up blows dunks and can't put the call through the hoop, he is going to win pretty easily.

"Feathery" also doesn't strike me as something that wins dunk contests. Descriptions like "Thor's Hammer" or "Dwight's Crotch Grab" strike more fear and give me more confidence.

Yea but I feel like the favorite almost never wins anymore, unless i'm crazy. Like Dwight wasn't favored when he first entered it, and then when he was favored he was upset by Nate.

[ChosenSavior]

Excited to see these guys rep the Orlando Magic with pride tonight!

[woosah]

yay!

I hope the guys make a huge impression.

[Dcebucks11]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UYkav9BnJk[/youtube]

[rcklsscognition]

That was a pretty bad commercial.

[MrShow]

omg Stuart Scott died

[rcklsscognition]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/OrlandoMagic/status/566396677507276800[/tweet]

I wish we had this design in sleeves instead of those terrible grey ones we wear.

[tooler]

That was a pretty bad commercial.

I liked "which one?"