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Memphis Grizzlies: Predicting Mike Conley’s Success in NBA All-Star Weekend’s Skills Challenge

By Christian Dudley

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JANUARY 30: Mike Conley #11 of the Memphis Grizzlies directs play in the first quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center on January 30, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JANUARY 30: Mike Conley #11 of the Memphis Grizzlies directs play in the first quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center on January 30, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /
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Memphis Grizzlies Mike Conley NBA All-Star Weekend Skills Challenge
Mike Conley will represent the Memphis Grizzlies in the Skills Challenge during NBA All-Star Weekend (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Take Two

Christian Dudley: “When you look at the eight-player field for the Skills Challenge, you can easily say without a doubt that the NBA chose an excellent mixture of talent, experience, and skill sets.

You have guys like Nikola Jokic that can pass and shoot like a point guard, but have the stature of a true center. There are athletic young guys that are smooth in many facets of their game such as Kyle Kuzma and Jayson Tatum.

Focusing on the point guard position in general, this type of competition is one that should suit backcourt players head-and-shoulders above everyone else. However, this is 2019 and recent Skills Challenge events have shown that the evolving NBA big man prototype is most certainly a threat in this competition.

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With that being said, it goes without saying that the Memphis Grizzlies’ Mike Conley is an underdog yet again on Saturday evening. Most people placing bets on the Skills Challenge will put their money on hype, a la Luka Doncic or Trae Young.

Age? With Conley being the old man in the event, this makes him more of an underdog. He will be counted out before he retrieves the first basketball in the obstacle course. But also evident from NBA All-Star Weekend history, there will most certainly be surprises.

Enter, Mike Conley.

Conley currently owns the highest assist-to-turnover ratio of this eight-player compilation with 3.4. It is not just this season — Mike is accustomed to controlling his dribble and throwing only accurate passes to his intended receiver(s). This will pay major dividends come Skills Challenge time.

When discussing the the shooting aspects, Mike Conley is as steady as they come. This season, he is shooting 84.9% from the free-throw line, a bit above his 81.8% 11.5-season accuracy. From the field, he is a career 44% shooter, including 37.4% from beyond the arc.

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When the game is on the line, he has earned the nickname “Captain Clutch.” Combine all this with the speed he displays with the ball in his hands — consistently one of the best and most under-control players in the league when pushing the pace — and you have your surprise pick. Bet on Mike Conley to emerge ahead of the pack; you will be glad you did!”

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