| Trifecta Worthy Authored by Patrick Daher - January 30, 2008 - 7:03 pm
| Current Featured Columns | | Merry Christmas, Raptors Fans The Raptors might not be playing good basketball right now, but there are plenty of things for Toronto fans to be thankful for this holiday season.
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The Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout always seems to bring a good show on All-Star Weekend. Many even argue that it has supplanted the Dunk Contest as the best showcase that is held on the Saturday before the All-Star Game. Shooting greats such as Larry Bird, Mark Price, Craig Hodges, and Jeff Hornacek have lit up All-Star weekend with their precision trajectory and ultra-perfect form.
On February 16th, six participants will be chosen to participate in the Three-Point contest. Below, I have compiled a list of who I believe deserves a chance to showcase their shooting skills at this year’s exhibition.
Peja Stojakovic – Peja gets the nod. The best 3-point shooter on the best team in the West. Predrag is shooting 45.6 % from three with 110 makes. Stojakovic won back to back 3 point shootout titles in 2002-2003. He should be given the chance to join Bird and Hodges as the only players to win the 3-point Shootout three times. His comeback year after a barrage of injuries makes it all the more remarkable. He has over 1300 3-point makes in his career.
Jason Kapono – Last year’s champion will surely get an invite this year. Kap-gun is leading the league in 3pt shooting a blistering 51% in 96 attempts, which is the identical percentage that he was shooting last year at this time. His quick release makes him a deadly weapon when teams decide to double Chris Bosh. He plays a prominent role on a Raptors teams that has greatly improved and figures to play a key part in holding down a top 6 playoff spot this year.
Steve Nash – Nash deserves a spot in the shootout. After all, he is a fixture at All-Star Weekend. His All-Star resume includes 6 All-Star selections, winner of the 2005 All-Star Skills Challenge, and the infamous head ball off the backboard to Amare Stoudemire who was competing in the Dunk Contest. Shooting 48% from three land with 97 makes certainly doesn’t hurt his cause. One of the best shooting forms in the league.
Daniel Gibson – Some may think this is a big surprise here but the statistics don’t lie. Boobie is shooting 46.8% from three with 95 makes in 203 attempts. He has 28 more 3 pointers made than 2 pointers. His value to the Cavaliers is very high, considering he always seems to be on the receiving end of a King James dime. His 3 point prowess was on center stage in last year’s Eastern Conference Finals when he dropped 5 threes, 3 in a two minute span to upset the Pistons.
James Jones – Jones showed that he could be a reliable 3-point marksman when he was with the run and gun Suns. Now with Portland, JJ is shooting 50.4% from the land of three with 58 makes. On a team that does not have a big inside presence, Jones’ 3-point accuracy has been all the more impressive. Jones will have to keep knocking down 3’s for Portland to contend in a tough Western Conference.At 23 feet 9 inches away from the top of the key and 22 feet in the corners, the 3-point shot has been a game changer since introduced to the NBA in the 1979-1980 season. |
