4. Which conference is better represented in the Skills Challenge?
Menze: Without a doubt the Western Conference. They actually have four point guards in the competition with Trey Burke & Damian Lillard on one team and Goran Dragic & Reggie Jackson on the other. The East, meanwhile, only has one true point guard in the Skills Challenge and that’s Michael Carter-Williams. His teammate Victor Oladipo is not a natural point guard and just started playing that role with Orlando about two months ago, while the other East team is comprised of a pair of small forwards in 6’7″ DeMar DeRozan and 6’9″ Giannis Antetokounmpo.The Western Conference has the better point guards hands down.
Donoho: The West. They have their lineup filled with talented point guards, and that’s what this event is usually about. Having Goran Dragic, Damian Lillard, Reggie Jackson, and Trey Burke is nothing to scoff at.
Morton: I think it has to be the Western Conference. All four participants are pure point guards and three are the primary point guards on playoff bound teams, unlike the East.
Perry: West. Lillard and Dragic are probably my two favorites for this competition and the East has three rookies. The East also only has one true point guard while the West is exclusively represented by point guards.
Blue: The West has my vote here. Reigning champion Damian Lillard is joining quite a few well known ball handlers in Goran Dragic and Trey Burke. Reggie Jackson rounds out the last team and I’m envisioning he’ll surprise a few people as well.
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Coverage of tonight’s festivities will be televised on TNT starting at 8 p.m. (ET) with the Skills Challenge going down as the second event following the Shooting Stars Challenge. Click here for the Skills Challenge rosters.