All-Star Saturday Night is live from the United Center in Chicago tonight at 7pm central time, 8pm eastern. Back again are the usual competitions, with familiar faces in each. Jayson Tatum returns to the skills competition to defend his 2019 win, Joe Harris looks to repeat in the 3-point contest, while Dwight Howard returns to the Slam Dunk competition for the first time since 2009, where he lost to Nate Robinson. Here are a list of the competitors in each and my picks to walk away with each victory.
Skills Competition participants: Spencer Dinwiddie (Brooklyn Nets), Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics), Khris Middleton (Milwaukee Bucks), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder), Patrick Beverley (Los Angeles Clippers), Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat), Domantas Sabonis (Indiana Pacers), Pascal Siakam (Toronto Raptors)
Pick: Tatum is the defending champion, but I have Siakam winning it this year. Siakam's blend of size, speed, and ball handling makes him an ideal candidate for this competition. My only worry with him is on the passing component, but, there aren't any true point guards in the competition anyway. I think his speed and long stride are advantages in this competition that none of the others have. He can also knock down the outside shot (he's a 36% shooter from beyond the arc).
3-Point Contest participants: Trae Young (Atlanta Hawks), Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns), Zach Lavine (Chicago Bulls), Buddy Hield (Sacramento Kings), Devonte Graham (Charlotte Hornets), Duncan Robinson (Miami Heat), Davis Bertans (Washington Wizards), Joe Harris (Brooklyn Nets)
Pick: Harris is the defending champion, and I think he gets a repeat tonight. He's not the most complete shooter in the field, but I think the format of the competition always suits stand still, catch and shoot guys the best. Guys like Young, Hield, Booker, and Lavine are great shooters, but they do a lot of their damage off the dribble. Though they have the greatest advantages over Harris with the new deep ball feature to the contest, I still think Harris does enough to repeat.
Slam Dunk Competition participants: Dwight Howard (Los Angeles Lakers), Derrick Jones Jr. (Miami Heat), Aaron Gordon (Orlando Magic), Pat Connaughton (Milwaukee Bucks)
Pick: Howard, as mentioned above, is participating for the first time since 2009. While he is exceptional and has the uniqueness of being the biggest guy in the competition who is capable of doing things that the other guys aren't, I think that Jones. Jr will win it tonight. Gordon put on one of the best shows we've ever seen in the contest back in 2016, but with him I wonder what else can he do? Connaughton is a dark house who is under the radar and doesn't get as much publicity as the others, and honestly he is the guy I think who will surprise people the most tonight. Jones Jr., to me though, will win it. His leaping ability and length is very special, and I think he is the guy who will produce the biggest "wow" factor. His confidence and calmness about the competition in an interview earlier on TNT is another factor in my decision. I think he wants to prove that he is a level up from where he was in his 2017 Dunk Contest appearance, when he finished second to Glenn Robinson III.
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