Blair & Neal elected to Rookie Challenge

[PDXSpursFan]

No surprise here:

http://www.nba.com/2011/allstar/2011/02/01/rookie-challenge/index.html#?ls=iref:nbahpt2

ROOKIE TEAM ROSTER

Eric Bledsoe L.A. Clippers G 6-1 195 Kentucky
DeMarcus Cousins Sacramento C 6-11 270 Kentucky
Derrick Favors New Jersey F 6-10 246 Georgia Tech
Landry Fields New York G 6-7 210 Stanford
Blake Griffin L.A. Clippers F 6-10 251 Oklahoma
Wesley Johnson Minnesota G 6-7 205 Syracuse
Greg Monroe Detroit C 6-11 250 Georgetown
Gary Neal San Antonio G 6-4 210 Towson State
John Wall Washington G 6-4 195 Kentucky

Mike Budenholzer -- San Antonio Spurs
Amar'e Stoudemire -- New York Knicks
Kevin McHale -- NBA TV/ TNT analyst
SOPHOMORE TEAM ROSTER

DeJuan Blair San Antonio C 6-7 265 Pittsburgh
DeMar DeRozan Toronto G 6-7 220 USC
Stephen Curry Golden State G 6-3 185 Davidson
Tyreke Evans Sacramento G 6-6 220 Memphis
Taj Gibson Chicago F 6-9 225 USC
Jrue Holiday Philadelphia G 6-4 180 UCLA
Serge Ibaka Oklahoma City F-C 6-10 235 Brazzaville, Rep. of Congo
Brandon Jennings Milwaukee G 6-1 169 Lottomatica Virtus Roma
Wesley Matthews Portland G 6-5 220 Marquette

Head Coach -- TBD
Carmelo Anthony -- Denver Nuggets
Steve Kerr -- TNT NBA basketball analyst

[Spurs Brazil]

Nice to see coach Bud there too

Props to Blair and Neal

[crc21209]

Blair was a beast in last year's Rookie Challenge. Good to see Neal get some recognition as well...:tu

[duncan228]

Good for them. :tu


..."Oh, yeah, yeah, I’d like a chance to go after that again,” Blair said. “If they don’t pick me, well, I’ll get to spend the whole weekend with my family, so I’m good either way.”

Duncan, on Neal.


...“Absolutely, yeah,” Duncan said. “He’s played as well as anybody in that position. Obviously he’s about 10 years older than all of the other rookies, but other than that, I think he’s earned a spot to be there.”

Parker.


..."Gary’s been playing well, hitting big shots for us, having big games,” he said. “He’s been consistent the whole season, knocking down shots. I definitely think he deserves to be in, and DeJuan the same thing for the sophomores. It would be nice to have two teammates in that game.”

Blair eyes role on sophomore team (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/02/01/blair-eyes-role-on-sophomore-team/)
Mike Monroe

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/02/01/blair-eyes-role-on-sophomore-team/

[Bukefal]

Nice :clap

[Das Texan]

The rookies are going to eat the Sophomores alive.

[FilSpursFan]

Its nice to know Gary and DeJuan recognized..http://www.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/9106911/2/istockphoto_9106911-sexy-cowgirl.jpg

[Phenomanul]

Is this the first time that a player will play against his own draft class?

Blake (a rookie this season) was drafted in Evan's and Blair's draft class....

[baseline bum]

The rookies are going to eat the Sophomores alive.

Not when Blake pulls out to play the real game Sunday.

[DesignatedT]

sweet. coach bud also :tu

[awktalk]

:lol @ TD making fun of Neal's age

[frodo]

spurs are da No.1 and also have great youths, when lakers & mavs get old and start to rebuild the spurs will continue to contend with the youths grown. Neal & Blair are definitely top playas their age not saying hill, anderson, splitter etc...

[awktalk]

Splitter thread! I can't believe he isn't on the rookie team.

[manufan10]

:tu

That's good. Both deserve it.

:lol at the Duncan quote on Neal.

[DMC]

Splitter is a cheerleader

[duncan228]

If anyone missed it, the interview with Duncan that the quote comes from. It's the last 30 seconds.

http://www.nba.com/spurs/multimedia/110130_duncan.html

[TDMVPDPOY]

about blairs quote whether being selected or not, he would rather spend time with family for that week, does he mean spending time with that big ass girl? wats her name again???

[Libri]

about blairs quote whether being selected or not, he would rather spend time with family for that week, does he mean spending time with that big ass girl? wats her name again???

Ashley Derriere

[Libri]

Another 20-20 game for Blair?

[YODA]

Two Questions.

1. I assume Coach Bud is the head assistant and gets the nod for Rookie team automatically because Spurs have best record?

1a. Why rookie team and not sophmores?

2. What the heck was Carmello and Amar'e Stoudemire get in for? Carmello for the sophmores? kevin mccale for annalyst?

Someone explain.

[Chieflion]

Two Questions.

1. I assume Coach Bud is the head assistant and gets the nod for Rookie team automatically because Spurs have best record?

1a. Why rookie team and not sophmores?

2. What the heck was Carmello and Amar'e Stoudemire get in for? Carmello for the sophmores? kevin mccale for annalyst?

Someone explain.

Number 2 is because in recent years, star players were coaches of the rookie and sophomore teams, like Durant and Dwight did last year iirc.

[The Btown Spur]

Wow thats great to have both a Rook, a sophomore and a coach there too!

[duncan228]

Gary Neal and DeJuan Blair are not real All-Stars, but young All-Stars (http://www.48minutesofhell.com/)
by Andrew A. McNeill
48 Minutes of Hell

A quick note before the Spurs tip-off against the Portland Trailblazers to mark the first game of the Rodeo Road Trip; Gary Neal and DeJuan Blair will participate in the 2011 Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam at All-Star Weekend.

Keep reading → (http://www.48minutesofhell.com/gary-neal-and-dejuan-blair-are-not-real-all-stars-but-young-all-stars#more-12652)

[duncan228]

Neal lands spot on rookie team (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/02/01/neal-lands-spot-on-rookie-team/)
Mike Monroe

..."He’s got the green light in our (Spurs) games,” Budenholzer said. “No reason he shouldn’t have it in the Rookie game, too.”


..."Of course, it feels good to be recognized for what you’ve done in the first half of the season,” (Neal) said. “It’s something I’m looking forward to. I’ve never been a part of All-Star Weekend, or even been to one, so this will be an exciting thing for me.”


...“It’s great, and I can’t wait,” Blair said, “but I’ve been telling Gary how crazy those two days are going to be before we play the game. They’ve got so many appearances and other stuff, it’s going to be crazy. I told Gary not to count on getting much sleep.”

..."I think I’ll go after a 30-30 game this time,” he said.

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/02/01/neal-lands-spot-on-rookie-team/