T-Mobile Rookie Challenge: John Wall Named MVP as Rooks Outlast Sophs

Criticizing the quality of play in the rookie-sophomore game is like complaining that Twinkies don't have enough Vitamin C. One should be fully aware beforehand that calories don't get any emptier, so you can either accept it and try to enjoy the experience for what it is or go somewhere else and eat your vegetables. Tonight, I scarfed down the Twinkie and took in the game from high, high atop Staples Center.

The style was just as you'd expect, with the teams scampering up and down the floor and alternating dunks and turnovers. At halftime the rookies led, 71 to 69, behind some hot shooting from Wesley Johnson. Far and away the game's most exhilarating moment came about five minutes into the second half, when John Wall and Blake Griffin did this, which was very nice indeed.

The sophs pulled ahead briefly with about seven minutes remaining when Stephen Curry drained back-to-back threes, but the youthful vigor of the rooks was too much to overcome. It probably wouldn't have been too much to overcome for a team willing to play a little D, but come on. This is the rookie-sophomore game. DeMarcus Cousins scored 33 points and pulled in 15 boards, Johnson finished with 25 and MVP John Wall set a rookie-sophomore game record with 22 assists. One hopes and assumes that this will not be the defining achievement of Wall's career. Hometown darling Blake Griffin played less than 14 minutes.

There wasn't much of a crowd at Staples for the contest - not wholly surprising, considering the ungodly rain that's paralyzed the city - but those in attendance made more noise than you typically hear at a Lakers home game. That's possibly because fully half of them were school kids bused in for the occasion. Judging by their chants and reaction to the piped-in music tracks, they're big fans of both Griffin and Justin Bieber.

NBA All-Star Rookie Challenge: Blake Griffin Giving The Fans What They Want

Now that the celebrity game is over, the NBA All-Star Weekend can focus on actual basketball with actual basketball players. The first step in that direction is the NBA All-Star Rookie Challenge, taking place tonight at Staples Center. The man of the hour is hometown hero Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers, whose national profile is rising as we speak.

Before the game, Chris Webber on the TNT broadcast called Griffin "a humble beast" and noted, "He started his career off the right way by having an engine that never stops running." Then, Craig Sager interviewed Griffin before tip off, asking the rookie why he was playing in this game when he already is scheduled to participate in the slam dunk contest Saturday and the All-Star Game on Sunday. "It's my home city, and I wanted to come out and play with these guys," said Griffin, "It's a once in a lifetime opportunity."

Griffin even has a Subway advertisement, which aired during the first half. Griffin says in the ad, "On training days, I need a breakfast that keeps up dunk after dunk after dunk." Griffin started the game, but left early after taking an elbow from Landry Fields to the nose. Griffin returned shortly thereafter, and got his first dunk off an alley-oop pass from John Wall with 13:44 of the first half. About a minute later, Griffin added another alley-oop dunk.

Breaking News: Sophomore Jrue Holiday Infiltrates Rookie Practice

I had the pleasure of attending the rookie team's open practice at the L.A. Convention Center this morning. You won't be shocked to hear that as practices go, it wasn't the most rigorous or disciplined session. It basically went like this: "Coach" Kevin McHale spent about 30 seconds discussing something or other with the players, they then spent maybe five minutes doing some basic motion-offense sets, and then everyone just goofed around for a while, challenging each other to three-point shooting contests and the like. Norman Dale probably wouldn't be too impressed.

But that's fine. Even though it was nothing substantive, it's fun to see these guys operate in a low-intensity, pick-up setting. They seemed to enjoy catching up with each other. Fellow SoCal bros Landry Fields and Jrue Holiday exchanged pleasantries in what appeared to be an especially jocular fashion.

Meanwhile, Greg Monroe dropped in an impressive finger-roll.

And John Wall worked on his baseline jumpers.

Ask me, this crew seems well poised to knock off the aging, decrepit sophomore squad. Let's just hope Kevin McHale isn't authorized to make any trades.

NBA All-Star Weekend: Blake Griffin, T-Mobile Rookie Challenge Highlight Friday Action

The 2011 NBA All-Star weekend kicks off in full force today. There are two games at Staples Center today, culminating in the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge, which pits first-year players against second-year players. Because Blake Griffin of the co-host Los Angeles Clippers was injured and missed all of last season, this is technically his rookie year, which puts him on the first-year team and gives them two consecutive No. 1 overall picks, with John Wall of the Washington Wizards. This begins a whirlwind weekend for Griffin, who is competing in three events in three days this weekend.

Here are the details of tonight's rookie challenge:

When: 6 p.m. PST

Television: TNT

Rosters:

First-Year Team

• Guard: Eric Bledsoe, Clippers
• Center: DeMarcus Cousins, Kings
• Forward: Derrick Favors, Nets
• Guard: Landry Fields, Knicks
• Forward: Blake Griffin, Clippers
• Guard: Wesley Johnson, Timberwolves
• Center: Greg Monroe, Pistons
• Guard: Gary Neal, Spurs
• Guard: John Wall, Wizards
• Coaches: Mike Budenholzer, Amare Stoudemire, Kevin McHale

Second-Year Team

• Center: DeJuan Blair, Spurs
  
• Guard: DeMar DeRozan, Raptors
  
• Guard: Stephen Curry, Warriors
• Forward: Taj Gibson, Bulls
• Guard: James Harden, Thunder
  
• Guard: Jrue Holiday, 76ers
  
• Forward/Center: Serge Ibaka, Thunder
  
• Guard: Brandon Jennings, Bucks
• Guard: Wesley Matthews, Trail Blazers
  
• Coaches: Lawrence Frank, Carmelo Anthony, Steve Kerr

Tyreke Evans, who was MVP as a rookie of last year's Rookie Challenge, was selected for the second-year team this year but is injured and will not play. He was replaced by James Harden.