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5* Louisville -3 (-115) (9:05 PM)
NBA
3* Rookies +6.5 (9:10 PM)
ESPN
Rookies
Blake Griffin, PF, Clippers: Um, if you're not sure what you're going to see from Griffin, you've been living in a cave for the past four months. Griffin's power dunks are one of the top NBA stories this season, and no one will try to get in his way Friday night (except for maybe DeJuan Blair) and risk being on the bad end of a SportsCenter highlight.However, if there's one guy who will make some easy passes and not search for the limelight, it's Griffin, who will need to save some energy for the big game on Sunday.
John Wall, PG, Wizards: Most guards love to showcase their scoring talents in exhibitions, but Wall has to do that every night for the Wizards. So it wouldn't surprise me if his goal is getting 20 assists. I'd also expect him to feature his midrange jumper, which has looked better lately.Comfortable in the spotlight, which has been dimmed in DC for months now, Wall will attract lots of attention given the opportunity to display all of his significant talent.
Eric Bledsoe, PG, Clippers: Wall gets all the attention as arguably the fastest guy in the league, but I see Bledsoe perhaps as his equal in the sprinter category. He is very difficult to stay in front of and, in a game like this, should make a number of highlight plays. I'm looking forward to seeing him paired with Wall in the backcourt again, a combination sure to ramp up the pace even more. With the big men from the sophomore class likely to hit the offensive glass, Bledsoe will get a bunch of pace-pushing layups going the other way, even after makes.
Wesley Johnson, SF, Timberwolves: Johnson limps into this game coming off four straight poor-shooting performances and making just 8 of his past 37 3-pointers. A reluctant driver all season, he'll see plenty of opportunities and open lanes Friday night. While he has the hops to make plays above the rim, he has lacked the quickness and ball skills to get there. Perhaps some monster plays Friday will spark him.
DeMarcus Cousins, PF, Kings: The big guy is must-see TV, sometimes for the wrong reasons as much as the right ones. He's a terrific talent who occasionally loses his cool. He'll be his animated and fun self Friday night. The pairing with Griffin will be one of the best tandems at the big spots we've ever seen in this game, and if their guards feature them the Rooks will have a chance to win. Too bad we won't see how Cousins can handle a Tyreke Evans foray into the paint. His Kings teammate is out with an injury.
Derrick Favors, PF, Nets: Favors is caught in a tough situation in New Jersey, playing alongside veterans and for a tough coach. Those things will end up helping him down the line (unless he's winds up in Denver, where he'll be given the royal jelly from Day 1), and no one should be concerned about his future. He's going to get lots of alley-oops and tip dunks in this game, causing everyone watching to say, "Now I know why Denver wants him so much."
Landry Fields, G, Knicks: If Fields was just a spot player in New York, I'd expect him to play all out in the Rookie Challenge. But he's logged more minutes than almost anyone else in this game, so his hustling game will not be top notch.
Still, knowing so many teams passed on him in the draft will serve as an excellent motivator on this night. Plus, Fields plays with an arrogance that assured us he expected to play in this game all along, so he won't be willing to play second fiddle to anyone. He can score, folks.
Gary Neal, G, Spurs: Among the four undrafted players and second-round picks in this game, Neal is perhaps the most unlikely participant of all. He belongs, though, and is the player on this team who will most likely be making meaningful shots in May. A 3-point specialist on the Spurs, we'll see his full array of talents as a ball handler in this game.
Greg Monroe, PF, Pistons: One of the more pleasant surprises this year following a slow start, he can easily rack up a double-double in this game because the pace will be lightning fast and he has a great feel for the game. I suspect we'll also see him try some dribbling moves -- a talent he rarely can show in league games.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sophomores
DeJuan Blair, F, Spurs: If anyone has what it takes to challenge Griffin in the paint in this game, it's Blair. He's more athletic than you think, but more importantly, he oozes toughness from every pore. Someone is going to have to remind him that this is an exhibition game because it's not in his personality to let guys have free rein at the rim. Oh, and he might pull down 20-plus rebounds because no one will want to mess with him. (The last thing Griffin wants is to get banged up before the dunk contest and Sunday's game.)
DeMar DeRozan, SG, Raptors: We can certainly expect DD to show off some of his second-rate dunks, saving his top ones for Saturday night. But I'd expect him to launch some 3-balls, too, something he rarely does in league games (with good reason, since he's 2-for-28 from deep this season). He's become a solid midrange shooter, so it won't be a surprise when his 3 starts dropping.
Jrue Holiday, PG, 76ers: Holiday is a big point guard and a smooth athlete. But he has one of the better "off-foot" dunks in the game, extending his left hand after his right leg jump. He'll catch guys by surprise because most athletes jump better off of the leg opposite their regular shooting hand.
Holiday is my pick to win the Rookie Challenge MVP trophy, since I expect him to have the ball in his hands a lot. And unlike Stephen Curry and Brandon Jennings, who are required to be scorers for their teams, Holiday will enjoy the break from having to run a team and can look more to get buckets.
Brandon Jennings, PG, Bucks: Since returning from injury, Jennings has really struggled as a shooter -- he's making just 33 percent of his shots in February and 21 percent (8-for-38) from 3. But none of that matters in this game. His quickness will get him to the rim at will, with little help offered. Perhaps this game will jumpstart him for the second half of the season.
Stephen Curry, PG, Warriors: Curry is amazing at executing pick-and-rolls, even when teams are loading up toward the ball side to offer help. In this game, in which help defense will be nonexistent, Curry will have a field day either getting an easy look for himself or a dunk for a teammate. My guess is he'll have 5 to 7 lob-dunk assists ... in the first half. Also, if anyone has the potential to score 40 points in this game, it's Curry, who can go 8-for-11 from 3.
Serge Ibaka, PF, Thunder: Considering how far Ibaka has come, and his personality, he'll lead the game in electric smiles. His development is something the rest of the league will study. Ibaka is not just blocked shots and energy, either, as his maturing offensive game will show Friday night. He'll be very involved in this track meet and he'll have a lot of wide-open jumpers to shoot, which he does far better than you'd think. His ability to guard wings allows the Sophs to "go big" if they want, with Ibaka at the 3.
Taj Gibson, F, Bulls: Gibson is a lot like Ibaka, although he's better in the low post. He gets about seven shots a game (like Ibaka) in Chicago, so seeing him more aggressive on offense would not be a surprise. Most players think they can do more than what their coaches ask of them. But Gibson is a smart player who will stay within his comfort zone and play the right way.
Wesley Matthews, G, Trail Blazers: Matthews' story, like Ibaka's, Gibson's and Blair's, tells us all we need to know about this class overall. Almost every team had a chance to draft each of those guys, and in the case of Matthews many passed him up twice. An undrafted player has even more incentive in a game such as this to show how wrong the teams were on draft night.
Matthews is a relatively short and compact player for his position, but he makes a lot of explosive plays. He is also one of the tougher guys at the 2-guard spot and could team up with Blair to decide that the Sophs aren't going to just sit back and watch the Blake Show.
James Harden, G, Thunder: Evans' injury replacement, Harden was a terrific scorer in college. The Thunder drafted him because he could be a scorer and a role player if asked. He's the second-best passer on this team and, though he rarely shows it, is capable of some astounding dunks. Now that he's in the game, we can hope he'll want to remind everyone that he could light up the scoreboard if he wasn't on the same team as Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant.
I'll take a shot with Wall, Griffin & Cousins in this one!
GOOD LUCK!
5* Louisville -3 (-115) (9:05 PM)
NBA
3* Rookies +6.5 (9:10 PM)
ESPN
Rookies
Blake Griffin, PF, Clippers: Um, if you're not sure what you're going to see from Griffin, you've been living in a cave for the past four months. Griffin's power dunks are one of the top NBA stories this season, and no one will try to get in his way Friday night (except for maybe DeJuan Blair) and risk being on the bad end of a SportsCenter highlight.However, if there's one guy who will make some easy passes and not search for the limelight, it's Griffin, who will need to save some energy for the big game on Sunday.
John Wall, PG, Wizards: Most guards love to showcase their scoring talents in exhibitions, but Wall has to do that every night for the Wizards. So it wouldn't surprise me if his goal is getting 20 assists. I'd also expect him to feature his midrange jumper, which has looked better lately.Comfortable in the spotlight, which has been dimmed in DC for months now, Wall will attract lots of attention given the opportunity to display all of his significant talent.
Eric Bledsoe, PG, Clippers: Wall gets all the attention as arguably the fastest guy in the league, but I see Bledsoe perhaps as his equal in the sprinter category. He is very difficult to stay in front of and, in a game like this, should make a number of highlight plays. I'm looking forward to seeing him paired with Wall in the backcourt again, a combination sure to ramp up the pace even more. With the big men from the sophomore class likely to hit the offensive glass, Bledsoe will get a bunch of pace-pushing layups going the other way, even after makes.
Wesley Johnson, SF, Timberwolves: Johnson limps into this game coming off four straight poor-shooting performances and making just 8 of his past 37 3-pointers. A reluctant driver all season, he'll see plenty of opportunities and open lanes Friday night. While he has the hops to make plays above the rim, he has lacked the quickness and ball skills to get there. Perhaps some monster plays Friday will spark him.
DeMarcus Cousins, PF, Kings: The big guy is must-see TV, sometimes for the wrong reasons as much as the right ones. He's a terrific talent who occasionally loses his cool. He'll be his animated and fun self Friday night. The pairing with Griffin will be one of the best tandems at the big spots we've ever seen in this game, and if their guards feature them the Rooks will have a chance to win. Too bad we won't see how Cousins can handle a Tyreke Evans foray into the paint. His Kings teammate is out with an injury.
Derrick Favors, PF, Nets: Favors is caught in a tough situation in New Jersey, playing alongside veterans and for a tough coach. Those things will end up helping him down the line (unless he's winds up in Denver, where he'll be given the royal jelly from Day 1), and no one should be concerned about his future. He's going to get lots of alley-oops and tip dunks in this game, causing everyone watching to say, "Now I know why Denver wants him so much."
Landry Fields, G, Knicks: If Fields was just a spot player in New York, I'd expect him to play all out in the Rookie Challenge. But he's logged more minutes than almost anyone else in this game, so his hustling game will not be top notch.
Still, knowing so many teams passed on him in the draft will serve as an excellent motivator on this night. Plus, Fields plays with an arrogance that assured us he expected to play in this game all along, so he won't be willing to play second fiddle to anyone. He can score, folks.
Gary Neal, G, Spurs: Among the four undrafted players and second-round picks in this game, Neal is perhaps the most unlikely participant of all. He belongs, though, and is the player on this team who will most likely be making meaningful shots in May. A 3-point specialist on the Spurs, we'll see his full array of talents as a ball handler in this game.
Greg Monroe, PF, Pistons: One of the more pleasant surprises this year following a slow start, he can easily rack up a double-double in this game because the pace will be lightning fast and he has a great feel for the game. I suspect we'll also see him try some dribbling moves -- a talent he rarely can show in league games.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sophomores
DeJuan Blair, F, Spurs: If anyone has what it takes to challenge Griffin in the paint in this game, it's Blair. He's more athletic than you think, but more importantly, he oozes toughness from every pore. Someone is going to have to remind him that this is an exhibition game because it's not in his personality to let guys have free rein at the rim. Oh, and he might pull down 20-plus rebounds because no one will want to mess with him. (The last thing Griffin wants is to get banged up before the dunk contest and Sunday's game.)
DeMar DeRozan, SG, Raptors: We can certainly expect DD to show off some of his second-rate dunks, saving his top ones for Saturday night. But I'd expect him to launch some 3-balls, too, something he rarely does in league games (with good reason, since he's 2-for-28 from deep this season). He's become a solid midrange shooter, so it won't be a surprise when his 3 starts dropping.
Jrue Holiday, PG, 76ers: Holiday is a big point guard and a smooth athlete. But he has one of the better "off-foot" dunks in the game, extending his left hand after his right leg jump. He'll catch guys by surprise because most athletes jump better off of the leg opposite their regular shooting hand.
Holiday is my pick to win the Rookie Challenge MVP trophy, since I expect him to have the ball in his hands a lot. And unlike Stephen Curry and Brandon Jennings, who are required to be scorers for their teams, Holiday will enjoy the break from having to run a team and can look more to get buckets.
Brandon Jennings, PG, Bucks: Since returning from injury, Jennings has really struggled as a shooter -- he's making just 33 percent of his shots in February and 21 percent (8-for-38) from 3. But none of that matters in this game. His quickness will get him to the rim at will, with little help offered. Perhaps this game will jumpstart him for the second half of the season.
Stephen Curry, PG, Warriors: Curry is amazing at executing pick-and-rolls, even when teams are loading up toward the ball side to offer help. In this game, in which help defense will be nonexistent, Curry will have a field day either getting an easy look for himself or a dunk for a teammate. My guess is he'll have 5 to 7 lob-dunk assists ... in the first half. Also, if anyone has the potential to score 40 points in this game, it's Curry, who can go 8-for-11 from 3.
Serge Ibaka, PF, Thunder: Considering how far Ibaka has come, and his personality, he'll lead the game in electric smiles. His development is something the rest of the league will study. Ibaka is not just blocked shots and energy, either, as his maturing offensive game will show Friday night. He'll be very involved in this track meet and he'll have a lot of wide-open jumpers to shoot, which he does far better than you'd think. His ability to guard wings allows the Sophs to "go big" if they want, with Ibaka at the 3.
Taj Gibson, F, Bulls: Gibson is a lot like Ibaka, although he's better in the low post. He gets about seven shots a game (like Ibaka) in Chicago, so seeing him more aggressive on offense would not be a surprise. Most players think they can do more than what their coaches ask of them. But Gibson is a smart player who will stay within his comfort zone and play the right way.
Wesley Matthews, G, Trail Blazers: Matthews' story, like Ibaka's, Gibson's and Blair's, tells us all we need to know about this class overall. Almost every team had a chance to draft each of those guys, and in the case of Matthews many passed him up twice. An undrafted player has even more incentive in a game such as this to show how wrong the teams were on draft night.
Matthews is a relatively short and compact player for his position, but he makes a lot of explosive plays. He is also one of the tougher guys at the 2-guard spot and could team up with Blair to decide that the Sophs aren't going to just sit back and watch the Blake Show.
James Harden, G, Thunder: Evans' injury replacement, Harden was a terrific scorer in college. The Thunder drafted him because he could be a scorer and a role player if asked. He's the second-best passer on this team and, though he rarely shows it, is capable of some astounding dunks. Now that he's in the game, we can hope he'll want to remind everyone that he could light up the scoreboard if he wasn't on the same team as Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant.
I'll take a shot with Wall, Griffin & Cousins in this one!
GOOD LUCK!
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