NBA Rising Stars Challenge: What Bettors Need to Know
By Covers.com
The NBA is taking a cue from the revamped NHL All-Star Game when it comes to their annual showcase of young talent, the NBA Rising Stars Challenge.
Rather than split the teams into rookies and sophomores, like the league has done since adding second-year players to the game in 2000, they handed the rosters over TNT analyst and former NBA stars Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal (AKA The Black Pat Riley), picking teams in a draft-style format.
Handicapping these kinds of games is nearly impossible. But, if there are odds on it, we’re going to be betting it. So, here’s a breakdown of both sides - by position – giving the edge to either Team Chuck or Team Shaq for Friday’s NBA Rising Stars Challenge.
GUARDS
Barkley used the second-overall pick on Cleveland rookie Kyrie Irving, who has returned from a concussion to average 18.6 points in his last five games. Irving is pretty much a shoe-in to win Rookie of the Year, leading all first-year players in scoring and keeping the Cavs out of the Central Division basement.
Joining Irving is fellow former No. 1 overall selection John Wall from Washington. While Wall may be falling short of his point guard duties in the nation’s capital, the speedy slasher is built for these types of games. He record 22 assists in last year’s Rookie Challenge, winning MVP, and gets to team with former Kentucky stud DeMarcus Cousins again after the two dominated the 2011 showcase.
Paul George from Indiana and MarShon Brooks from New Jersey will serve as the other guards on the Team Chunk roster. Brooks is second in rookie scoring with just over 14 points a night.
Team Shaq has an international feel in the backcourt with New York sensation Jeremy Lin teaming with Minnesota’s Spaniard Ricky Rubio. Lin is averaging 24 points a night since exploding on the scene earlier in the month, priced as a +400 fave to win MVP, and Rubio has been a highlight reel factory, finally giving T-Wolves fans something to be excited about.
Shaq’s squad has a deeper backcourt, which may serve him well in a more open, up-tempo game. NCAA Tournament star Kemba Walker from Charlotte, Lin’s teammate Landry Fields, Detroit’s Brandon Knight, and Miami’s spark plug Norris Cole round out the guards. Cole, who is putting together a solid first season among the stars in South Beach, is a nice dark-horse pick to win MVP at +1,000.
EDGE: Team Shaq
FORWARDS
Team Chuck went heavy on the forwards, but has some versatile players - like Evan Turner, Kawhi Leonard, Gordon Hayward and Derrick Williams – that can fill the lanes and finish on the fastbreak. Barkley went with Cousins with his second pick of the draft, after he dominated last year’s Rookie-Sophomore game with 33 points and 14 rebounds.
Cousins was really the only post presence for Team Chuck until Spurs tweener Tiago Splitter pulled out due to injury, extending an invite to Utah’s Derrick Favors. The 6-foot-10 sophomore is averaging eight points and five rebounds per game.
Team Shaq took Clippers star Blake Griffin as the No. 1 overall pick in the fantasy draft, instantly giving O’Neal the best player in the game. Griffin’s talents are no secret, especially come All-Star Weekend. Although, with Los Angeles in the mix in the Western Conference and an ASG appearance Sunday, The Blake Show could be taking it easy. That appears to be the case after declining a spot in the dunk contest.
Pistons big man Greg Monroe is Shaq’s starting center, with Phoenix’s Markieff Morris and Cleveland’s Tristan Thompson rounding out a so-so frontcourt. Monroe has some value at +750 to win MVP, with his ability to score, rebound and pass. He’s averaging 16.7 points, 10 boards and 2.5 assists on the year.
EDGE: Team Chuck
INTANGIBLES
This is the first year for the new draft format, mixing first and second-year players together. Team Shaq boasts six rookies and four sophomores while Team Chuck’s roster consists of six sophomores and four rookies.
Before switching to the current format, the Sophomores won eight of the last 12 showcases by large margins. However, the Rookies won the final two Rookie Challenge games, with a 148-140 victory in 2011.
Team Shaq is being coached by Chicago assistant Ron Adams and former Bulls shooter and Phoenix GM Steve Kerr. Oklahoma City assistant Maurice Cheeks is on the other sideline for Team Chuck, joined by former NBA head coach Mike Fratello, perhaps giving Barkey’s squad the edge when it comes to coaching. However, this is an All-Star Weekend event, so…
There’s no love lost between Barkley and Shaq, but O’Neal may have some added motivation to defeat his TNT broadcast partner after Sir Charles spoofed Shaq during his latest stint on Saturday Night Live.
And, as we all know, ring count matters: Shaq 4, Chuck 0.
EDGE: Team Shaq
Rising Stars Challenge MVP odds
Blake Griffin (Team Shaq) +550
DeMarcus Cousins (Team Chuck) +550
Gordon Hayward (Team Chuck) +1200
Greg Monroe (Team Shaq) +750
Jeremy Lin (Team Shaq) +400
John Wall (Team Chuck) +600
Kemba Walker (Team Shaq) +550
Kyrie Irving (Team Chuck) +550
Landry Fields (Team Shaq) +900
Paul George (Team Chuck) +750
Ricky Rubio (Team Shaq) +600
Field (Any other player) +1000