Houston Rockets All-Star Weekend Primer

Published: 22^nd Feb 12 2:26 am

by Jordan Fries
jfreeze

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Derick Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

Although the Houston Rockets failed to yield an All-Star representative for the third straight year, a pair of Houston players should still provide a fair share of highlights throughout this weekend’s festivities.

First, Orlando native Chandler Parsons will participate in Saturday’s Shooting Stars competition. The precocious rookie from Florida and fluffy-haired comb opponent may offer the appearance of your friendly neighborhood pretty boy, but he has quickly embraced the gritty role of Houston’s defensive stopper previously held by Shane Battier.

And although Houston has won 17 of 26 games since the hustling second-round pick was inserted into the starting lineup, Parsons isn’t exactly known for his precise shooting. He’s connecting on less than 30 percent of his threes and only 35 percent of his free throws in 2011-12, which makes his inclusion into a competition with “shooting” in the title a bit puzzling.

He will pair with Rockets’ legend Kenny Smith and current San Antonio Silver Star Sophia Young in a contest that requires participants to make a variety of outside shots, finally culminating in a half-court attempt. Since the competition is based on which team can complete the shot cycle quickest, the trio that hits the half-court shot first generally wins. This is where Parsons comes in; at Florida, he drained this particular desperation heave to defeat North Carolina State, so he has experience in the department of tense cross-court tries. Add the likely wealth of family and friends who will be present in Parsons’ hometown for support, and expect him to perform well.

The real star of the show is Chase Budinger and his stint in the dunk contest Saturday night following Parsons’ event. Budinger’s invitation to jam was a bit surprising until one considers the relative anonymity of his fellow boofers — Paul George, Derrick Williams, and Jeremy Evans aren’t necessarily names that inspire fear, trigger jersey sales, or sell a brand. But the youth and unpredictability also enhances the competition, and with Budinger rumored to be planning a dunk over 7 ft. 6 Yao Ming, creativity doesn’t appear drained.

Some Rockets fans think the participants should switch contests, as Budinger is shooting over 40 percent from beyond the arc this season and Parsons has contributed a steady reel of high-flying tip dunks to trump “Air Bud’s” modest 2012 collection. But Budinger, a former volleyball standout with a reported 40-inch vertical leap, is more than capable of defying gravity, and fans shouldn’t sleep on his potential to please.

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