Changes are always necessary in the weakest events. It is a maxim that the NBA, and also if it is related to its precious All-Star weekend, it does not dodge. In this year’s edition they have given a good boost to Friday, with various hot spots for the Rising Stars Challenge of first and second year players and even some who have not debuted (Ignite), and also the weakest of Saturday contests. The skills have multiplied this 2022. You have to hit much more, there are numerous tests. Of the gymkhana that was necessary for that to be only one of the four legs of the bench. The new format of the Skills Contest is to be missed, but it has more ingredients, including spicy as a flavor-enhancing spice, so that the viewer remains attentive even if it can be lost at times.
Three teams of three people battled it out in four tests. The Antetokounmpo brothers, Giannis, Thanasis and Alex, were eliminated despite winning a test. The Rookie Team (Josh Giddey, Cade Cunningham, Scottie Barnes) came in second, losing in the final to the Cavaliers Team (Jarrett Allen, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley). Prophets in their land. This Sunday they will have two of them in the All-Star Game, but they wanted to put the previous one on point with an entertaining contest and, on their part, successful.
The novelty began with a first test of varied shots. The players, taking turns first and counting the points for their team’s total, changed positions, each with a different score, to add up. Josh Giddey was the best on Team 1 and Giannis Antetokounmpo gave a good reply on Team 2. The test was taken by Team 3, the home team, with absolute display from Mobley and Garland even with a disallowed shot. With this they added 44 points in the test and took 100 for the total, which were stipulated.
The tie in the second test, that of passes, between Novatos and Antetokounmpo would later lead to a somewhat controversial decision to tie the tie. But it would be later. 88 points achieved the two sets. The Cavaliers didn’t feel the chest transfers or Garland’s, which were one-handed to be faster. Three players for three hoops in which they had to put the ball from a distance, changing position with each attempt. There were bumps in traffic. Team 1 and Team 2 did not score the 100 points for this challenge, only the brothers for having one with the highest individual score (Giannis, 40).
The third test was the gymkhana: control the ball between obstacles, make a couple of shots and go back across the court to score one last shot that is always dunk or layup. With 1:18 minutes remaining, the Rookies won and broke away with 200 points.
only the three rookies they placed with enough points to proceed to the final. The other two teams decided who the other ticket would be for with a sudden death shot from long range. Garland decided, as usual in his team’s season.
What made the Cavaliers winners of the Skills Contest was the midfield shot, the final test in which only two sets were measured.. Such a test had already been seen in the All-Stars. The ball had to be put in from half court and each player could make a shot from that position with a quick turn. And boy was it fast. Cade Cunningham, number 1 in the 2022 Draft, put it in 9.9 seconds for his trio. Evan Mobley, the third of his litter, was the one who took away the great honor as he can also take away the Rookie of the Year at the end of the season. 5.5 seconds. He not only has touch, but also agility. And that he is a pivot. There he showed that you did have to have skill to win this contest. Justice was finally done to the name.