Best NBA All-Star Event: Rookies vs. Sophomores

I couldn't care less about the upcoming NBA All-Star game. Fan voting is a bunch of shit and the NBA one is just as bad as all the others'. I think the MLB game is best, but not by much, but that's neither here nor there. I like the Dunk Contest, but it lacks any real excitement or punch nowadays. The Skills competition is cool, but only goes so far. The real fun is in the Rookies vs. Sophomores game.

The NBA just released the rosters for the game and I think this year's should be a good one. The Sophomore squad is weaker than in years past and the Rookie team is stacked. Also, a most likely useless, but interesting addition is that Dwayne Wade will assistant coach the Rookies and Dwight Howard will work with the Sophomores. Here's rosters:

Rookie Team Roster
Michael Beasley (Heat)
Rudy Fernandez (Trail Blazers)
Marc Gasol (Grizzlies)
Eric Gordon (Clippers)
Brook Lopez (Nets)
O.J. Mayo (Grizzlies)
Greg Oden (Trail Blazers)
Derrick Rose (Bulls)
Russell Westbrook (Thunder)
Sophomore Team roster
Aaron Brooks (Rockets)
Wilson Chandler (Knicks)
Kevin Durant (Thunder)
Jeff Green (Thunder)
Al Horford (Hawks)
Luis Scola (Rockets)
Al Thornton (Clippers)
Rodney Stuckey (Pistons)
Thaddeus Young (Sixers)

On name recognition alone, the Rookies seem the clear-cut favorites and are projected to win, which would be a first for them in a long time. But I still think that the Sophomores are going to find a way to pull it out. Kevin Durant is the best player playing in the game and I don't see any Rookies who can stop him. Westbrook, Mayo, and Rose should run wild up and down the floor and seeing as no one plays defense in these games I don't see anyone stopping them. However, Al Horford is a great post-player, polished, and smooth, good chance he goes for atleast 15 and 15.

In the end, I see Durant leading the Sophomores to a thrilling win and finish and ending the night holding up the MVP trophy of the game. Then again, the game is being played on Friday, the 13th, so who knows what could happen?