2013 All-Star Rising Challenge: Team Shaq vs. Team Chuck

NBA All-star weekend begins tonight with the celebrity game on ESPN at 7 p.m. EST. and following that is the BBVA Rising Star Challenge, more commonly known as Team Shaq vs. Team Chuck (9:00 p.m. TNT). This is the second year this event has been dubbed the battle of the two most-entertaining TNT basketball personalites, Shaquille O'Neal (Shaq) and Charles Barkley (Chuck). Formerly known as the Rookie-Sophomore game, the concept of a game between the NBA's most promising sophomores and rookies is still intact; but instead of rooks vs. sophs, we have Shaq vs. Chuck! The BBVA Rising Star challenge held its draft on February 7th, where Shaq and Chuck choose from the eligible players for this year's game. Eight days later, these two teams are ready to square off to not prove whose better rookies or sophomores, but to give Shaq or Chuck the bragging rights for this year. Shaq got the first pick this year to compensate for Chuck's 2012 victory. Can Team Chuck make it two for two, or will Team Shaq even the score? You be the judge....

Here are the rosters: *Rookies in red*

              Team Shaq                    Pick(Overall)                Team Chuck

1 (1) Damian Lillard, PG (POR)                          1 (2) Anthony Davis, PF (NO) 
2 (3) Kyrie Irving, PG (CLE)                               2 (4) Kenneth Faried, PF (DEN)
3 (5) Andre Drummond, C (DET)*                      3 (6) Kawhi Leonard, SF (SAS)
4 (7) Klay Thompson, SG (GS)                            4 (8) Bradley Beal, SG (WSH)
5 (9) Harrison Barnes, SF (GS)                             5 (10) Ricky Rubio, PG (MIN)
6 (11) Chandler Parsons, SF (HOU)                     6 (12) Tristan Thompson, PF (CLE)
7 (13) Dion Waiters, SG (CLE)                            7 (14) Nikola Vucevic, C (ORL)
8 (15) Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF (CHA)            8 (16) Brandon Knight, PG (DET)
9 (17) Tyler Zeller, C (CLE)                                 9 (18) Isaiah Thomas, PG (SAC)
10 (19) Kemba Walker, PG (CHA)                       10 (20) Alexey Shved, SG (MIN)
Andrew Nicholson, PF (ORL)*
* Nicholson repalce an injured Drummond

Team Shaq's roster houses six rookies and a bunch of prolific offensive talent, while Team Chuck is a team with a strong interior that's made up of mostly sophomores. Cleveland leads all teams with four players in this game, there is hope! While Charolette, Minnesota, Detroit, Orlando, and Golden State each have two players. For fans of the Cavs, Bobcats, and Magic there is hope for a brighter future. Golden State fans have seen their two young guys make a massive impact so far this season and Detroit's young guys are making a nice mid-season push for a East playoff spot. Minnesota fans have seen their young talent and backcourt duo of Rubio and Shved shine at times this year, but an unfair rash of injuries have derailed the T-Wolves to this point. Team Shaq has a multitude of scorers and playmakers. He has three great point guards in Walker, Irving and Lillard, Chandler Parsons who is really coming into his own this season, along with an array of three point ability in his roster. team Chuck resembles a big,burly team with the inside presence of  Davis, Faried, Thompson, and Vucevic. His backcourt is the T'Wolve duo of Rubio and Shved which should provide great passing and big-game spark. But none of his guards are particulary strong shooters.

Prediction
Team Shaq has a nice balance of shooters, ballhandlers, and playmakers. Team Chuck is the bigger team, but lacks the natural scorers to be able to keep up with Team Shaq. Irving, Lillard, and crew will be too much for all the young bigs of Team Chuck to handle; Shaq put togethet the better roster and his team is a heavy favorite to win this game.

Team Shaq 157  Team Chuck 130
MVP's: Chandler Parsons and Damien Lillard

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