ORLANDO — After Team Atlanta didn’t repeat as the All-Star shooting stars champion Saturday, Steve Smith said they were ready to change the game.
“Next year Team Atlanta is saying we want to play three-on-three,” joked Smith, the former Hawks All-Star. “We would win that. New York would be our only competition.”
Atlanta couldn’t handle New York in the shooting-stars competition. The New York team of Knicks guard Landry Fields, former Knicks guard Allan Houston and Cappie Pondexter of the WNBA’s Liberty bested Atlanta, Texas and Orlando.
Atlanta won the event last year, but this time couldn’t get out of the first round. It had a chance after it made the first four baskets in 25.4 seconds, but needed 11 attempts to sink the half-court shot. New York (38.7 seconds) and Texas (42.7 seconds) advanced to the final, where New York won with a time of 37.3 seconds.
Atlanta won the event last year in Los Angeles with Smith, Hawks center Al Horford and Dream guard Coco Miller. The team this year included Smith, Dream guard Lindsey Harding and Hawks guard Jerry Stackhouse.
Stackhouse replaced Hawks All-Star guard Joe Johnson, who pulled out of this weekend’s events because of a sore knee.
“I don’t know how my name got mixed in the pool, but I appreciate it,” Stackhouse said. “Year 17 [and] they are still inviting you to things, God is good.”
Timberwolves All-Star forward Kevin Love won the 3-point contest. Former Georgia Tech standout Anthony Morrow was eliminated in the first round. The field also included defending champion James Jones of the Heat, Thunder All-Star Kevin Durant, Magic forward Ryan Anderson and Heat guard Mario Chalmers.
Spurs guard Tony Parker won the skills competition in his third appearance in the event. Parker bested Boston’s Rajon Rondo and New Jersey’s Deron Williams in the final. The field also included Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving, Washington’s John Wall and Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook.
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