Orlando Magic guard Jameer Nelson, former Magic forward Dennis Scott, and Florida native Marie Ferdinand-Harris of the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury are set to compete for Team Orlando in the Shooting Stars competition at All-Star Weekend 2012. Orlando, which is hosting this year's event at Amway Center, has never before competed in the Shooting Stars competition, which debuted during the 2004 All-Star Weekend.
Team Orlando will take on the defending champion Team Atlanta, as well as Team New York and Team Texas.
In the Shooting Stars competition, the court is marked with six numbered shooting spots, each more difficult than the previous one. Teams attempt to make the shots in numeric order in the fastest time. Teams must use the same player rotation throughout the competition.
Atlanta Hawks guard Joe Johnson, Atlanta Dream guard Lindsey Harding, and former Hawks forward Steve Smith form Team Atlanta. New York Knicks guard Landry Fields, New York Liberty guard Cappie Pondexter, and former Knicks guard Allan Houston represent Team New York. Houston Rockets forward Chandler Parsons, San Antonio Silver Stars forward Sophia Young, and former Rockets guard Kenny Smith make up Team Texas.
Apart from watching how the hometown team fares, I'm particularly interested to hear the reception Smith will get from the Orlando crowd. Smith played a key role in the Rockets' sweep of the Magic in the 1995 NBA Finals, scoring 23 points in Game One of that series.
Nelson, Scott, and Ferdinand-Harris aren't the only Orlando representatives at All-Star Saturday Night, as Magic forward Ryan Anderson will take part in the Three-Point Shootout.
All-Star Saturday Night begins February 25th at 8 Eastern on TNT.
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