00:00So why is Damian Lillard in the three-point contest
00:02when he hasn't played a game this season?
00:04And why is he the second shortest odds to win this?
00:07Is that something that people should bet?
00:09Well, he's had plenty of practice time.
00:11There's no doubt about that.
00:13And on top of that, you know,
00:15I'm just looking down at some of my notes here.
00:18Yeah, he's won the event twice before.
00:20So, you know, he's familiar with the event.
00:23He obviously, you know, knows what it takes.
00:25And again, he's 10 months removed nearly at this point
00:29from the Achilles surgery and that injury
00:31that he suffered in the postseason last year.
00:34So, you know, I don't think the leg is going to be an issue.
00:38Clearly, he would not be participating if it was.
00:40And he is going to be the feel-good story.
00:43I'm sure plenty of people are going to be investing in him.
00:45And I don't really think rust,
00:47the fact that he hasn't had game action,
00:49is going to play into this thing.
00:51Because again, this is a contest of ability and repetition.
00:55It has nothing to do with what you do out there in your games.
00:59And, you know, like Devin Booker's won the event previously in 2018,
01:02I think it was.
01:03And he's having a miserable year shooting the ball.
01:06He's at like 31% from three,
01:09and he's still the favorite to win this thing.
01:10Why?
01:11Because again, ability.
01:13It comes down to ability to shoot the three-pointer
01:15in a gym, you know, unguarded.
01:17And Damian Lillard, I'd be willing to bet,
01:20can still do that at a very comfortable level.
01:22And again, he's got nothing but time
01:24to just practice threes if he wants to.
01:27So I don't think, honestly, it's a bad bet.
01:32I think it's a little ridiculous that he's participating.
01:35You know, like we can't find eight active participants
01:38that are worthy of being in this contest.
01:40We, you know, we've got to go to a previous two-time winner
01:42who's unavailable this entire year for his new Portland team
01:45because of this injury and will not play this.
01:48It's the same thing as Mack McClung in the dunk contest
01:51the past three years.
01:52Or you're, you know, masquerading a G-leaguer out there
01:55and putting him in an NBA uniform
01:57and, you know, having him participate
01:59just because he's an insane dunker for a little guy.
02:03It's stupid.
02:04So I do think it's a little dumb that Lillard's in the event.
02:08That being said, I don't think he's a bad bet.
02:10I think he's absolutely in play to win the thing.
02:13I don't think he's a bad bet.
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