http://espn.go.com/nba/news/2001/0111/1008229.htmlNEW YORK -- Elton Brand and Steve Francis helped the rookies beat the sophomores last season during NBA All-Star Weekend. This time, they will try to beat the rookies. The league on Thursday announced Brand, the leading scorer and rebounder of the Chicago Bulls, and Francis, the electrifying point guard of the Houston Rockets, will play for the Sophomore Team in the Rookie Challenge on Saturday, Feb. 10 at the MCI Center in Washington. Center Marc Jackson of the Golden State Warriors and forward Kenyon Martin of the New Jersey Nets, the first overall pick in the 2000 draft, headline the Rookie Team. The Rookie Challenge features the past two classes of rookies. Last season, Brand scored 14 points and 21 rebounds and Francis added 13 points and 11 assists to lead the Rookie Team to a 92-83 victory. Brand and Francis shared NBA Rookie of the Year honors last season. Brand is averaging 20.2 points and 10.1 rebounds and Francis is averaging 18.9 points and 6.3 assists this season. Brand and Francis will be joined on the Sophomore Team by forwards Lamar Odom of the Los Angeles Clippers, Wally Szczerbiak of Minnesota and guard Andre Miller of Cleveland, all of whom played in the game last year. Newcomers include forwards Shawn Marion of Phoenix and Richard Hamilton of Washington and guards Jason Terry of Atlanta and Baron Davis of Charlotte. Jackson leads all rookies in scoring, averaging 11.7 points and 5.9 rebounds. Martin tops all rookies with 7.4 rebounds per game. Joining Jackson and Martin on the Rookie Team are forwards Darius Miles of the Clippers, Stephen Jackson of the Nets, Mike Miller of Orlando and Morris Peterson of Toronto, guards Khalid El-Amin of the Bulls, Mateen Cleaves of Detroit and Quentin Richardson of the Clippers. If any rookie or second-year player is selected to play in the All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 11, he will not play in the Rookie Game. As Clutch already said, this should be a blowout. Even if Brand and Francis went to the All-Star game and didn't play in this (the way Carter missed the last one), the sophomores would still plaster these rookies. ------------------ RealGM Rockets Draft Obligations Summary Gafford Art Artisan
I'm hoping Steve doesn't get a chance to play in this game. ------------------ "Thirty-seven?" -Randall, Clerks www.clutchtown.com
Sophs 139 Rooks 92 , Brand and Francis should light it up . Along with Andre Miller and Lamar Odom? Forget about it Rooks , Marc Jackson aint that good . Should by some God-sent miracle Steve Francis makes the All-Star Team , He wont play ------------------ "Its a good thing they don't make posters of European players" -Walt Williams after getting "posterized" by Zan Tabak .
Wow... 5) Brand 4) Odom 3) Marion / Szczerbiak 2) Terry / Hamilton 1) Francis / Davis Marc Jackson and Kenyon are big dudes, but Brand, Odom and Marion REALLY go after the rebounds. Francis, Davis, and Andre Miller should have a great time on the breaks!!! I know Darius and Q can play, but the Sophs look fundamentally sound and ALL are good passers. ------------------ GATER
Isn't this supposed to be a rookie game? Why are sophmores playing? The NBA had to do the sophmore vs. rookie last year because of the lockout season in 1998. The rookies should get their time to shine. How about this rookie lineup for the Rookie Challenge game: C-Marc Jackson PF-Stromile Swift SF-Darius Miles SG-Courtney Alexander PG-Erick Barkley Backups: Daniel Santiago, Coutney Alexander, Dan Langhi, Eduardo Najera, Keyon Dooling, Desmond Mason and Jason Collier. The West Team C-Joel Przbilla PF-Kenyon Martin SF-Mike Miller SG-DerMarr Johnson PG-Khalid El-Amin Backups: Jamal Crawford, Marcus Fizer, Jerome Moiso, Stephen Jackson and Morris Petterson. The East Team Some of these guys may not be playing well, but the rookie game would boost their confidence. People would see the potential superstars in the rookie game, because the rookies will actually get a lot of playing time. Some rookies in this rookie class are barely receiving playing time. If the rookies play in the rookie game, the coaches can make some adjustments to get the rookie more playing time. Some of these rookies are future all-stars, but they are being benched. Their true talents need to be revealed. The Rookie Challenge game can reveal their talents. ------------------
I actually like the rookies vs sophomores idea. I think it makes winning the game more meaningful. ------------------ My dream job is to be a Houston Rockets towel boy.
I think the new Rooks vs Sophs format is much better than the old format. You used to have guys you haven't even heard of playing when they did the East vs west things. Remember when Rodrick Rhodes made it? Thats what I mean. It is much more exciting to see only the best young guys on the floor, instead of a bunch of second round picks. ------------------ "Winning is not a sometime thing; it's an all time thing. You don't win once in a while, you don't do things right once in a while, you do them right all the time. Winning is habit. Unfortunately, so is losing." - Vince Lombardi
