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Team Hill is favored by -4
Who do you like?
TEAM HILL
Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers | Sophomore
Lillard is not just a great player to admire because of the way he has taken the NBA by storm since his first weeks as a rookie. His path to the NBA should also be appreciated.
Lillard is the only American-born player in this game that didn't attend one of the major college basketball programs. Lillard attended Weber State. The others went to Duke, Syracuse, Michigan, North Carolina, Kentucky, Ohio State, Connecticut, Indiana or Florida.
Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards | Sophomore
Beal might be seen as a slight disappointment in the sense that he is not yet a polished scorer. It is important to recognize, though, that this is the worst he is going to play for the next 6-8 seasons; he is exactly the kind of pro who will keep getting better.
Beal is already an elite shooter, making at least 35 percent of his 3s from all five areas (corners, wings, top of the key) and better than 40 percent of his 3s above the free throw line.
Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons | Sophomore
In a game that will be played wide open, Drummond could set a record for dunks. The man child has proven he loves to mix it up in the paint, where he has quickly become an elite player.
Drummond is just a slightly better free throw mechanic away from being a player who can have a better career than Dwight Howard, which puts a lot of pressure on the people running the Pistons.
Harrison Barnes, Golden State Warriors | Sophomore
Barnes should feel fortunate that he is in this game instead of his former UNC teammate, John Henson, who has been one of the top five performers from the sophomore class.
After a great performance in the playoffs against Denver last season, Barnes has fallen flat, which is typical of young players with a lesser role. But he has been playing better of late with extended minutes and still has lots of All-Star potential.
Terrence Jones, Houston Rockets | Sophomore
A year ago you could not have predicted Jones would be a strong starter for a strong team in the NBA, but when he was at Kentucky, it was clear he had this kind of talent.
Jones is shaping up into an 18-point and eight-rebound guy with 3-point range, which would put him at near-elite status as a power forward. Adding the 3 is the final straw that would also make him the perfect complement to Howard and James Harden.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks | Rookie
Big G should take particular note of Anthony Davis. These two have far more similarities than differences, and Davis' improvement in just one season should interest Antetokounmpo the most.
With his potential on both ends of the floor, Antetokounmpo could earn repeated trips to All-Star Weekend, but he must learn to evolve his physical and basketball skills into a cohesive game rather than keep them as disparate parts.
Jonas Valanciunas, Toronto Raptors | Sophomore
Valanciunas has improved a great deal to become a relevant player on a surging team. He has made strides as a serious scoring and rebounding threat from game to game, with the upside to be a premier scoring big. He is playing the best basketball of his career right now and should continue to get better.
Dion Waiters, Cleveland Cavaliers | Sophomore
In terms of talent, Waiters ranks higher than most guys in this game. He is a powerful and explosive athlete with a highly crafted skill game. He just has not put it together yet, nor has he figured out how to play alongside Kyrie Irving.
Waiters can be an amazing guy to watch, but he is still far more about potential than consistent performance.
Miles Plumlee, Phoenix Suns | Sophomore
Like Valanciunas, Plumlee has become a relevant NBA player, helping to serve as a defensive and rebounding force for a team that looks to be very good -- maybe special -- in the years to come. His understanding of his role and his talents, including his limitations, is impressive for a second-year player.
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TEAM WEBBER
Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans | Sophomore
Much has been written about Davis, from the moment he entered college to when he was added to the All-Star team in place of the injured Kobe Bryant. It's so hard to live up to the hype as a No. 1 pick, but Davis is doing so. He's actually exceeding expectations, as his offense is light years ahead of where anyone thought it would be at this point.
One chilling thought: A game this meaningless might lead to Davis shooting some 3s, which could lead to more of them in the regular season (he's 1-for-4 this season). Can you imagine if Davis added a 3-point shot to his game?
Michael Carter-Williams, Philadelphia 76ers | Rookie
MCW's appearance in this game was a given following his amazing debut against the Miami Heat and strong play on most nights. He has the requisite talent to be a true All-Star one day, thought that's not a given.
MCW fell out of the top 10 on draft night mostly due to concerns about his shooting, and those concerns were right (even if the overall evaluations were wrong). He has some similarities to Ricky Rubio, who is a top point guard in passing and steals, though MCW is a better scorer than Rubio.
Tim Hardaway Jr., New York Knicks | Rookie
One of the 2013 draft's real surprises and probably its best shooter, Hardaway Jr. has brought a nice combination of athleticism and perimeter shooting to the Knicks. The energy he plays with allows him to make athletic plays that most pure shooters can't make.
It is unclear if Hardaway Jr. will end up being a long-term starter in this league, but he is, without a doubt, a rotation player, giving the Knicks something to be happy about this season.
Trey Burke, Utah Jazz | Rookie
Burke looks like a long-term starter in the league thanks to his skill set and ability to lead and manage a game.
Although he has struggled to make shots in February, he has done enough to merit a spot on this team and is a dark-horse contender for ROY. But he'll have to play much better over the next two months to overtake MCW or Victor Oladipo in the ROY race.
Jared Sullinger, Boston Celtics | Sophomore
It's still a bit of a shock that Sullinger lasted into the late first round of the 2012 draft. Sullinger is making teams pay for that mistake.
His excellent play has been lost amid the tough season the Celtics are having, but it seems clear the East's reigning player of the week has a great future.
Mason Plumlee, Brooklyn Nets | Rookie
Plumlee leads all rookies in PER and is enjoying a breakout month as a scorer, rebounder and shot-blocker for the improved Nets.
His smarts and athleticism form an offensive player that knows how to get high-quality shots and finish them. He is beyond his years on the defensive end, too.
Victor Oladipo, Orlando Magic | Rookie
Oladipo is surging and has been playing better since the start of 2014.
He is a better scorer than scouts figured and doesn't even have a reliable shot yet. In time, he could end up being the top scoring option for his team while being a plus defender due to his length and quickness.
Steven Adams, Oklahoma City Thunder | Rookie
The bruising, uncompromising big man from OKC is going to be a bull in a china shop in this game.
That style is what is expected of him nightly, and he is delivering and playing an important role for possibly the best team in the league. Quite an accomplishment for a rookie.
Kelly Olynyk, Boston Celtics | Rookie
Olynyk has an awkward game and would not be in this showcase if his draft class had been deeper. There are times when he looks like a long-term NBA player, others when he looks like he'll be playing in Europe in two years.
While he fits the culture in Boston, where a strong IQ and toughness are appreciated, he has to improve his shooting as a big man who has average talent in the paint at best.
Who do you like?
TEAM HILL
Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers | Sophomore
Lillard is not just a great player to admire because of the way he has taken the NBA by storm since his first weeks as a rookie. His path to the NBA should also be appreciated.
Lillard is the only American-born player in this game that didn't attend one of the major college basketball programs. Lillard attended Weber State. The others went to Duke, Syracuse, Michigan, North Carolina, Kentucky, Ohio State, Connecticut, Indiana or Florida.
Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards | Sophomore
Beal might be seen as a slight disappointment in the sense that he is not yet a polished scorer. It is important to recognize, though, that this is the worst he is going to play for the next 6-8 seasons; he is exactly the kind of pro who will keep getting better.
Beal is already an elite shooter, making at least 35 percent of his 3s from all five areas (corners, wings, top of the key) and better than 40 percent of his 3s above the free throw line.
Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons | Sophomore
In a game that will be played wide open, Drummond could set a record for dunks. The man child has proven he loves to mix it up in the paint, where he has quickly become an elite player.
Drummond is just a slightly better free throw mechanic away from being a player who can have a better career than Dwight Howard, which puts a lot of pressure on the people running the Pistons.
Harrison Barnes, Golden State Warriors | Sophomore
Barnes should feel fortunate that he is in this game instead of his former UNC teammate, John Henson, who has been one of the top five performers from the sophomore class.
After a great performance in the playoffs against Denver last season, Barnes has fallen flat, which is typical of young players with a lesser role. But he has been playing better of late with extended minutes and still has lots of All-Star potential.
Terrence Jones, Houston Rockets | Sophomore
A year ago you could not have predicted Jones would be a strong starter for a strong team in the NBA, but when he was at Kentucky, it was clear he had this kind of talent.
Jones is shaping up into an 18-point and eight-rebound guy with 3-point range, which would put him at near-elite status as a power forward. Adding the 3 is the final straw that would also make him the perfect complement to Howard and James Harden.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks | Rookie
Big G should take particular note of Anthony Davis. These two have far more similarities than differences, and Davis' improvement in just one season should interest Antetokounmpo the most.
With his potential on both ends of the floor, Antetokounmpo could earn repeated trips to All-Star Weekend, but he must learn to evolve his physical and basketball skills into a cohesive game rather than keep them as disparate parts.
Jonas Valanciunas, Toronto Raptors | Sophomore
Valanciunas has improved a great deal to become a relevant player on a surging team. He has made strides as a serious scoring and rebounding threat from game to game, with the upside to be a premier scoring big. He is playing the best basketball of his career right now and should continue to get better.
Dion Waiters, Cleveland Cavaliers | Sophomore
In terms of talent, Waiters ranks higher than most guys in this game. He is a powerful and explosive athlete with a highly crafted skill game. He just has not put it together yet, nor has he figured out how to play alongside Kyrie Irving.
Waiters can be an amazing guy to watch, but he is still far more about potential than consistent performance.
Miles Plumlee, Phoenix Suns | Sophomore
Like Valanciunas, Plumlee has become a relevant NBA player, helping to serve as a defensive and rebounding force for a team that looks to be very good -- maybe special -- in the years to come. His understanding of his role and his talents, including his limitations, is impressive for a second-year player.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TEAM WEBBER
Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans | Sophomore
Much has been written about Davis, from the moment he entered college to when he was added to the All-Star team in place of the injured Kobe Bryant. It's so hard to live up to the hype as a No. 1 pick, but Davis is doing so. He's actually exceeding expectations, as his offense is light years ahead of where anyone thought it would be at this point.
One chilling thought: A game this meaningless might lead to Davis shooting some 3s, which could lead to more of them in the regular season (he's 1-for-4 this season). Can you imagine if Davis added a 3-point shot to his game?
Michael Carter-Williams, Philadelphia 76ers | Rookie
MCW's appearance in this game was a given following his amazing debut against the Miami Heat and strong play on most nights. He has the requisite talent to be a true All-Star one day, thought that's not a given.
MCW fell out of the top 10 on draft night mostly due to concerns about his shooting, and those concerns were right (even if the overall evaluations were wrong). He has some similarities to Ricky Rubio, who is a top point guard in passing and steals, though MCW is a better scorer than Rubio.
Tim Hardaway Jr., New York Knicks | Rookie
One of the 2013 draft's real surprises and probably its best shooter, Hardaway Jr. has brought a nice combination of athleticism and perimeter shooting to the Knicks. The energy he plays with allows him to make athletic plays that most pure shooters can't make.
It is unclear if Hardaway Jr. will end up being a long-term starter in this league, but he is, without a doubt, a rotation player, giving the Knicks something to be happy about this season.
Trey Burke, Utah Jazz | Rookie
Burke looks like a long-term starter in the league thanks to his skill set and ability to lead and manage a game.
Although he has struggled to make shots in February, he has done enough to merit a spot on this team and is a dark-horse contender for ROY. But he'll have to play much better over the next two months to overtake MCW or Victor Oladipo in the ROY race.
Jared Sullinger, Boston Celtics | Sophomore
It's still a bit of a shock that Sullinger lasted into the late first round of the 2012 draft. Sullinger is making teams pay for that mistake.
His excellent play has been lost amid the tough season the Celtics are having, but it seems clear the East's reigning player of the week has a great future.
Mason Plumlee, Brooklyn Nets | Rookie
Plumlee leads all rookies in PER and is enjoying a breakout month as a scorer, rebounder and shot-blocker for the improved Nets.
His smarts and athleticism form an offensive player that knows how to get high-quality shots and finish them. He is beyond his years on the defensive end, too.
Victor Oladipo, Orlando Magic | Rookie
Oladipo is surging and has been playing better since the start of 2014.
He is a better scorer than scouts figured and doesn't even have a reliable shot yet. In time, he could end up being the top scoring option for his team while being a plus defender due to his length and quickness.
Steven Adams, Oklahoma City Thunder | Rookie
The bruising, uncompromising big man from OKC is going to be a bull in a china shop in this game.
That style is what is expected of him nightly, and he is delivering and playing an important role for possibly the best team in the league. Quite an accomplishment for a rookie.
Kelly Olynyk, Boston Celtics | Rookie
Olynyk has an awkward game and would not be in this showcase if his draft class had been deeper. There are times when he looks like a long-term NBA player, others when he looks like he'll be playing in Europe in two years.
While he fits the culture in Boston, where a strong IQ and toughness are appreciated, he has to improve his shooting as a big man who has average talent in the paint at best.
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