Rookie Challenge Rosters Announced

[SkipToMy_Lou]

The NBA has set the rosters for this season's edition of the Rookie Challenge.

The sophomore team will be comprised of Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Udonis Haslem, Kirk Hinrich, Josh Howard, LeBron James, Kyle Korver, Luke Ridnour and Dwyane Wade.

The rookie squad features Tony Allen, Luol Deng, Ben Gordon, Devin Harris, Dwight Howard, Andre Iguodala, Emeka Okafor, Josh Smith and Beno Udrih.

[GloveGuy]

Tony Allen isn't even the best rookie on his team. Where's Al Jefferson?

[Dramacydal]

Kyle Korver and Andre Iguodala made it, thats pretty good news

[fgrep15]

Tony Allen isn't even the best rookie on his team. Where's Al Jefferson?

Their's already 4 forwards on the team, they can't have a team of just 3 guards, and then forwards and a center.

Al Jefferson didn't deserve it over Howard, Deng, Iguodala, or Josh Smith, so he kinda just got unlucky becaues of positions

[air gordon]

duhon should have made it instead of tony allen

but i guess the nba didn't want it to be a bulls youngster showcase

hinrich shouldn't even play. it was kinda funny watching him last year try hard while everyone else was coasting. he should be acknowledged for making it then quickly replaced by someone who can dunk

[e.z.o]

I think Matt Bonner deserved it. He may not be a flashy player but it woulda been nice to see what kind of crazy stuff he can do. I think he shoulda been there.

[GloveGuy]

duhon should have made it instead of tony allen

but i guess the nba didn't want it to be a bulls youngster showcase

Well, in my opinion, Chris Duhon is the worst starting point guard in the NBA. But that's some of my Duke-hatred speaking. Udrih's placement is puzzling though, and I think that would be a better replacement rather than for Tony Allen who's been starting the last couple games for the Celts.

hinrich shouldn't even play. it was kinda funny watching him last year try hard while everyone else was coasting. he should be acknowledged for making it then quickly replaced by someone who can dunk

Well by your comments, it should either be Duhon and Hinrich playing, or neither. Because if you look at it, Tony Allen is a high-flyer, or "someone who can dunk." Duhon, well his play would be equivalent to that of Hinrich's, plus Dick Vitale would probably force ESPN to let him commentate the game.

Al Jefferson didn't deserve it over Howard, Deng, Iguodala, or Josh Smith, so he kinda just got unlucky becaues of positions

Josh Smith's placement you could make a case for, especially after Jefferson's play of late. But that is my bias speaking and I do understand that viewers would much rather see Class A athleticism than Kevin Mchale-like footwork.

[Jing]

hm, this should be a good game

[Alcoholic]

Where's Darko?

[Drex]

At the bottom of Detroit's bench.

Who coaches these teams?

[Mazzocchi]

hm, this should be a good game

yeah should be, and its Mello and LeBrons last rookie/sophmroe game so they'll porobally try to make it interesting

[Doobie]

wheres trevor ariza!!!!

[fgrep15]

Josh Smith's placement you could make a case for, especially after Jefferson's play of late. But that is my bias speaking and I do understand that viewers would much rather see Class A athleticism than Kevin Mchale-like footwork.

Isn't Al Jefferson injured?

wheres trevor ariza!!!!

He's not better than anyone taken over him, that's where he is

Al Jefferson was probably not taken because of his injuries, and I understand them taking Udrih and Harris so they could have some actual PG's on the floor. Apart from that, Childress should also have probably made it over Allen.

The other guys that could be made a case for are Kristic, and Nocioni, but their's the positions thing. Anyways, Soph's should dominate.

[Amphatoast]

wheres trevor ariza!!!!

lol, same thing I asked. This is the first time in many years the knicks had a quality draft pick doing something in their rookie year, i guess thats why I thought Those ahead of him have been playing better though

[Ataraxia]

wheres Ariza and JR Smith....this lineup has been rigged.

[LouisvilleLip]

I think if David Harrison didn't have that concussion in that Grizz game a week or so ago which caused him to be placed on the ir would have had a pretty good chance at making it.

[Matt]

well Wade and Lebron won't be playing, they'll be in the All-Star game instead...so that clears 2 spots

[Andrew]

Who coaches these teams?

Usually it's a former coach or player that has some affiliation with the host city. Doug Moe and Dan Issel come to mind.

[Mazzocchi]

Who coaches these teams?

Usually it's a former coach or player that has some affiliation with the host city. Doug Moe and Dan Issel come to mind.

oh i thought it's the coaches of the Finals the previous years, or is that only the AS Game?

[Andrew]

It's neither: the coaches at the All-Star game are from the teams with the best record in each conference around the All-Star break (I forget the actual cutoff date). If the same team holds the best record as the previous season, the honour goes to the coach whose team is in second place, so no coach will be at the All-Star game two years in a row. That rule was implemented due to the nature of the 1980s (where pretty much every All-Star game was Pat Riley vs K.C. Jones).

[Drex]

well Wade and Lebron won't be playing, they'll be in the All-Star game instead...so that clears 2 spots

Why they won't be playing? They can still play in both games, right?

[3th]

yea i think so because yao cloud last year

[cklitsie]

Í think Al Jefferson, JR Smith, Trevor Ariza and David Harrison wouldn't have been remarkable choices for this game. At least Harrison is a true C, something the rookie team doesn't have now. Also Al Jefferson>Iguodala, too bad people mostly look at stats and dunking. Besides that, both JR Smith and Trevor Ariza are better than Beno Udrih, what the hell is that kid doing on there?
Hopefully they'll put Ariza in the dunk contest now...

yea i think so because yao cloud last year

Have you ever made 1 post without a single spelling mistake?

[fgrep15]

wheres Ariza and JR Smith....this lineup has been rigged.

JR Smith: 5.2 points, 1.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.6 steals, 33% FG, 17.4 mins

Ariza: 5.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.9 steals, 41% FG, 16.6 mins

Are you guys serious? You make it seem like they got snubbed when their numbers aren't anything special, and they haven't contributed any more to their teams.

Who are they supposed to be over?

Udrih: 5.8 points, 1 rebound, 2.0 assists, 45.5% FG, 41.5% 3PT, 14.3 mins

Harris: 5.7 points, 1 rebound, 2.3 assists, 1.11 steals, 40.8%. 16.1 mins

Allen: 6.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.83 steals, 48% FG, 14.3 mins

Then their's guys like:

Josh Childress: 6.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 0.74 steals in 22 minutes

Nenad Kristic: 7.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.05 blocks

Andres Nocioni: 7.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 0.53 steals

Al Jefferson: 7.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.00 blocks [Injured though]

Who didn't make it....Al Jefferson I think didn't make it because of injury, Kristic should've made it though. Also how can someone say Al > Iguodala, Iguodala doesn't even have super stats, but he plays very good defense, rebounds and assists, and is big for that team.

[air gordon]

Well, in my opinion, Chris Duhon is the worst starting point guard in the NBA. But that's some of my Duke-hatred speaking. Udrih's placement is puzzling though, and I think that would be a better replacement rather than for Tony Allen who's been starting the last couple games for the Celts.

Well by your comments, it should either be Duhon and Hinrich playing, or neither. Because if you look at it, Tony Allen is a high-flyer, or "someone who can dunk." Duhon, well his play would be equivalent to that of Hinrich's, plus Dick Vitale would probably force ESPN to let him commentate the game.

haha let me rephrase. both duhon and hinrich deserve to be in the game based on their play so far. tony allen is coming on strong as of late but duhon should get the nod over him, regardless of the stats. i'm not much of a duke fan either but hey, he deserves it.

as far as entertainment value, hinrich & duhon shouldn't be there. let's face it: the fresh-soph game is all about high flying dunks, iso's, etc.... none of which those 2 do.

maybe they should have some kind of incentive for the winner of this contest to make theit more competitve. lap dances, a free nights stay at that eagle resort, whatever.