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By Tim Legler
ESPN Insider
The 2005 NBA All-Star Three Point Shootout has a very diverse mix of competitors
this year. The field contains a superstar (Ray Allen), a sixth-man
extraordinaire (Vladimir Radmanovic), a "specialist" (Kyle Korver), a defending
champion who has played just one game this season (Voshon Lenard), and two
Phoenix Suns wing men playing in a system that allows them to launch 3-pointers
at a record pace (Joe Johnson and Quentin Richardson).
Regardless of how they got there, however, they are all vying to lay claim to
the title of a shooter's version of an Academy Award. When I won the competition
in 1996 in San Antonio I had a tremendous sense of accomplishment for having
beaten some the NBA's great long-range shooters, including Glen Rice, Dennis
Scott and Steve Kerr.
Allen's picture-perfect shot might win the 3-point shootout.
All great shooters believe they are the best in the world and the Three Point
Shootout is the perfect stage to back it up. With that in mind, let's take a
look at this year's players and assess their chances to take home the trophy
Saturday night.
Ray Allen, Seattle Supersonics: In my opinion Ray Allen is the best shooter in
the world. End of discussion. He has a flawless release, amazing consistency and
the ability to make threes in a variety of ways. He can catch and shoot facing
up, out of the backcourt with a live dribble, off of screens, and utilizing the
pick and roll.
His numbers this season (122 threes, 36.7 percent) are not up to par with his
career averages, but he still is the hands-on favorite to win the title. As a
past participant and former champion, Allen has the experience needed to put on
a show in Denver. In fact, you can bet the ranch on it.
Voshon Lenard, Denver Nuggets: Voshon Lenard, the defending champion, has an
interesting story. After suffering an injury to his Achilles tendon in the
season's opening game, Lenard has yet to play in another game. In fact, he still
isn't cleared to resume playing for the Nuggets after the All-Star break.
He does, however, have enough lift in his legs to participate in the shootout. I
can relate to his predicament. After I won the contest as a Washington Wizard in
1996, I suffered a torn ACL in my right knee in late April. I underwent
reconstructive surgery in the offseason and was sidelined right up until the
All-Star break the following year. I was cleared to return to the court on the
Friday before the competition. The team and I made the decision that I would
defend my title despite not having played in a single game to that point. I made
a respectable showing, but lost in the final to Steve Kerr, 22-19.
Lenard will be there for the same reasons I participated. It is the ultimate
honor to be able to say you are the best shooter in the world, even if it is
only for one night. The problem he might have is a lack of game conditioning
that could hurt his stamina. My bet is that he will have a strong showing, but
will finish a close second to Allen.
Kyle Korver, Philadelphia 76ers: Last year when Kyle Korver participated in the
shootout, he was a little-known second-round draft choice out of Creighton
University getting sporadic minutes for the Sixers as a reserve wing player.
This year he has emerged as one of the best long-range shooters in the game.
Korver's ability to space the floor for Allen Iverson has enabled A.I. to lead
the league in scoring while recording two games with more than 50 points, and a
league-high 60 against the Orlando Magic last week.
Korver has accepted his role as a specialist and has been given the green light
by coach Jim O'Brien to fire at will. As a result, he has the made the second
most threes (150) in the NBA this season and is shooting a solid 40 percent from
the arc. Amazingly, 75 percent of Korver's field-goal attempts are 3-pointers,
so he should feel right at home on Saturday night. Last year's experience and
respectable showing will help this year, but a third-place finish is likely.
Vladimir Radmanovic, Supersonics: A candidate for sixth man of the year,
Radmanovic (12.5 ppg) is another player who has improved immensely as an
offensive option for the Sonics. Once limited to catch-and-shoot opportunities,
Radmanovic has developed a nice mid-range game and occasionally can post up if a
certain matchup presents itself.
None of that will matter on Saturday. It's all about the long ball and
Radmanovic shoots that one pretty darn well. He has made 110 threes and knocks
down more than 41 percent of his attempts. He has a smooth, effortless stroke
and limits his elevation on his shot, which helps when you are trying to launch
25 shots in 60 seconds. It's all about efficiency.
The downside is that it is his first time in the competition. Very few guys
(excluding yours truly) handle the format and pressure of the situation well in
their first attempt. As a result, I see a fourth-place finish in Denver.
Joe Johnson, Phoenix Suns: After blistering the nets from long range at a rate
well over 50 percent for much of the first half, Johnson comes in to the
shootout having made 45.6 percent (109 made) of his three-point attempts. He
already has made more than any other season of his career. That is a testament
to the run-and-gun style of the Suns as well as the unselfishness and vision of
Steve Nash.
To me, though, Johnson is more of a scorer (16.2 ppg) than a shooter. He is a
complete offensive player and a key to the success of the Suns, but is not quite
as pure as the first four competitors mentioned. He is the wild card in this
event. He could find his rhythm and surprise the field or he could struggle with
the pace and consistency needed to win it all. Tough call, but I like Allen,
Lenard, and Korver a little more.
Quentin Richardson, Suns: Well, it's certainly fair to say that no one on this
field has had more practice for this competition than Quentin Richardson. He has
launched a staggering 459 3-pointers to this point. That's roughly nine attempts
per game. I'm salivating at the thought. Maybe I should get myself in game shape
and fly to Phoenix. They have a system I think I might like.
Having also made the most threes (165), "Q" comes in at 35.9 percent, the lowest
percentage of all the competitors. Another guy I would consider a scorer (15.9
ppg) more than a pure shooter, Richardson is going to have a tough time in
Denver. Still, he is a high-volume shooter and this is a high-volume
competition. Anything can happen.
He has a shooter's chance. They all do.
ESPN Insider
The 2005 NBA All-Star Three Point Shootout has a very diverse mix of competitors
this year. The field contains a superstar (Ray Allen), a sixth-man
extraordinaire (Vladimir Radmanovic), a "specialist" (Kyle Korver), a defending
champion who has played just one game this season (Voshon Lenard), and two
Phoenix Suns wing men playing in a system that allows them to launch 3-pointers
at a record pace (Joe Johnson and Quentin Richardson).
Regardless of how they got there, however, they are all vying to lay claim to
the title of a shooter's version of an Academy Award. When I won the competition
in 1996 in San Antonio I had a tremendous sense of accomplishment for having
beaten some the NBA's great long-range shooters, including Glen Rice, Dennis
Scott and Steve Kerr.
Allen's picture-perfect shot might win the 3-point shootout.
All great shooters believe they are the best in the world and the Three Point
Shootout is the perfect stage to back it up. With that in mind, let's take a
look at this year's players and assess their chances to take home the trophy
Saturday night.
Ray Allen, Seattle Supersonics: In my opinion Ray Allen is the best shooter in
the world. End of discussion. He has a flawless release, amazing consistency and
the ability to make threes in a variety of ways. He can catch and shoot facing
up, out of the backcourt with a live dribble, off of screens, and utilizing the
pick and roll.
His numbers this season (122 threes, 36.7 percent) are not up to par with his
career averages, but he still is the hands-on favorite to win the title. As a
past participant and former champion, Allen has the experience needed to put on
a show in Denver. In fact, you can bet the ranch on it.
Voshon Lenard, Denver Nuggets: Voshon Lenard, the defending champion, has an
interesting story. After suffering an injury to his Achilles tendon in the
season's opening game, Lenard has yet to play in another game. In fact, he still
isn't cleared to resume playing for the Nuggets after the All-Star break.
He does, however, have enough lift in his legs to participate in the shootout. I
can relate to his predicament. After I won the contest as a Washington Wizard in
1996, I suffered a torn ACL in my right knee in late April. I underwent
reconstructive surgery in the offseason and was sidelined right up until the
All-Star break the following year. I was cleared to return to the court on the
Friday before the competition. The team and I made the decision that I would
defend my title despite not having played in a single game to that point. I made
a respectable showing, but lost in the final to Steve Kerr, 22-19.
Lenard will be there for the same reasons I participated. It is the ultimate
honor to be able to say you are the best shooter in the world, even if it is
only for one night. The problem he might have is a lack of game conditioning
that could hurt his stamina. My bet is that he will have a strong showing, but
will finish a close second to Allen.
Kyle Korver, Philadelphia 76ers: Last year when Kyle Korver participated in the
shootout, he was a little-known second-round draft choice out of Creighton
University getting sporadic minutes for the Sixers as a reserve wing player.
This year he has emerged as one of the best long-range shooters in the game.
Korver's ability to space the floor for Allen Iverson has enabled A.I. to lead
the league in scoring while recording two games with more than 50 points, and a
league-high 60 against the Orlando Magic last week.
Korver has accepted his role as a specialist and has been given the green light
by coach Jim O'Brien to fire at will. As a result, he has the made the second
most threes (150) in the NBA this season and is shooting a solid 40 percent from
the arc. Amazingly, 75 percent of Korver's field-goal attempts are 3-pointers,
so he should feel right at home on Saturday night. Last year's experience and
respectable showing will help this year, but a third-place finish is likely.
Vladimir Radmanovic, Supersonics: A candidate for sixth man of the year,
Radmanovic (12.5 ppg) is another player who has improved immensely as an
offensive option for the Sonics. Once limited to catch-and-shoot opportunities,
Radmanovic has developed a nice mid-range game and occasionally can post up if a
certain matchup presents itself.
None of that will matter on Saturday. It's all about the long ball and
Radmanovic shoots that one pretty darn well. He has made 110 threes and knocks
down more than 41 percent of his attempts. He has a smooth, effortless stroke
and limits his elevation on his shot, which helps when you are trying to launch
25 shots in 60 seconds. It's all about efficiency.
The downside is that it is his first time in the competition. Very few guys
(excluding yours truly) handle the format and pressure of the situation well in
their first attempt. As a result, I see a fourth-place finish in Denver.
Joe Johnson, Phoenix Suns: After blistering the nets from long range at a rate
well over 50 percent for much of the first half, Johnson comes in to the
shootout having made 45.6 percent (109 made) of his three-point attempts. He
already has made more than any other season of his career. That is a testament
to the run-and-gun style of the Suns as well as the unselfishness and vision of
Steve Nash.
To me, though, Johnson is more of a scorer (16.2 ppg) than a shooter. He is a
complete offensive player and a key to the success of the Suns, but is not quite
as pure as the first four competitors mentioned. He is the wild card in this
event. He could find his rhythm and surprise the field or he could struggle with
the pace and consistency needed to win it all. Tough call, but I like Allen,
Lenard, and Korver a little more.
Quentin Richardson, Suns: Well, it's certainly fair to say that no one on this
field has had more practice for this competition than Quentin Richardson. He has
launched a staggering 459 3-pointers to this point. That's roughly nine attempts
per game. I'm salivating at the thought. Maybe I should get myself in game shape
and fly to Phoenix. They have a system I think I might like.
Having also made the most threes (165), "Q" comes in at 35.9 percent, the lowest
percentage of all the competitors. Another guy I would consider a scorer (15.9
ppg) more than a pure shooter, Richardson is going to have a tough time in
Denver. Still, he is a high-volume shooter and this is a high-volume
competition. Anything can happen.
He has a shooter's chance. They all do.
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