Taco Bell skills Challenge: Preview

   Highlighted by returning champion Damian Lillard, the Taco Bell skills challenge is a fun event that tests players shooting, passing, and quickness. This is a "Team event" with 2 players on 4 different teams. The teams will face off against the other in their Conference first and then the winners of each conference will face off to decide the champions. DeMar DeRozan is the next biggest name player as he was named to his first NBA All-Star game, and Victor Oladipo is the leader in the ROY race so he's a big name trying to raise his profile even more too.
   Breakdown of the teams via NBA.com:

Representing the Eastern Conference are DeRozan and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks on one team, and Michael Carter-Williams of the Philadelphia 76ers and Victor Oladipo of the Orlando Magic on the other.

Joining Lillard on one Western Conference team is Trey Burke of the Utah Jazz, while Reggie Jackson of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Goran Dragic of the Phoenix Suns comprise the other.

   Of course given this event is the Taco Bell skills challenge then there are donations involved related to Taco Bell too:

As part of this year's 2014 Taco Bell® Skills Challenge, four lucky teens will paired with the NBA participants. Through the Taco Bell Foundation for Teens, a total of $120,000 will be donated in support of educational scholarships and to Boys & Girls Clubs of America, with the teen paired with the winning team receiving a $30,000 educational scholarship.

For the second consecutive year, the Eastern and Western conferences will compete during State Farm All-Star Saturday Night in an evening of challenges that will raise money for charity. NBA Cares and State Farm will make a joint donation of $500,000 as part of the event, with $100,000 awarded to each event's winning conference's charities and $25,000 going to the charities of the runner-up for each event. The Eastern Conference will be playing for the American Heart Association and the U.S. Fund for UNICEF while the Western Conference will compete for Teach for America and Wounded Warrior Project®. All-Stars Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors and George, winner of the 2012-13 Kia NBA Most Improved Player Award, will serve as captains of the Western and Eastern Conferences, respectively. The charities were selected by George and Curry, the NBA, and State Farm.

   Predictions/Expectations:
   Well the first round is over as I write this(busy day), but I expect Damian Lillard and Trey Burke to take the championship round as both are competitive and Lillard wants to not just compete but do well and try to win all 5 events he is in and raise the Trailblazer's and his own national profile. A short event but fun to watch with real basic skills being put to the test. Watch the game on TNT or TNT Overtime on NBA.com, or check the highlights if you don't have time today.
   Thanks,
      Phillip