Curry, LaVine early favorites for All-Star Weekend events
Nevermind that he's tried and failed three times already, oddsmakers believe in Steph Curry's 3-point stroke.
Or they believe in pedigree. Or large samples.
Whatever the case, Curry is currently the favorite to win the 3-Point Shootout and NBA All-Star Weekend on Feb. 14. A 39.3 percent 3-point shooter on the season and 43.3 percent long-range marksman for his career, Curry is being given an implied probability of nearly one-in-three to win the contest.
This, despite heavy competition in Kyle Korver, Klay Thompson, J.J. Redick, Wesley Matthews and, should he be healthy enough to compete, possibly defending champion Marco Belinelli. Curry is hardly a prohibitive favorite, but he's got the edge two weeks out:
| Player | Odds | 2014-15 3FG% | Career 3FG% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curry | +225 | 39.3% | 43.3% |
| Korver | +275 | 53.4% | 43.3% |
| Thompson | +350 | 45.2% | 41.8% |
| Redick | +500 | 43.3% | 39.6% |
| Matthews | +600 | 39.6% | 39.4% |
Those odds suggest, as the names would, that the field is tight and the competition very close. The same can't be said for the Slam Dunk Contest, where electrifying rookie Zach LaVine is a heavy favorite over Giannis Antetokounmpo, Victor Oladipo and Mason Plumlee.
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| LaVIne | -150 |
| Oladipo | +300 |
| Antetokounmpo | +400 |
| Plumlee | +800 |
Those odds imply that LaVine will take home the crown 60 percent of the time, which, given his robust resume, seems about right.
(Odds Courtesy: Bovada)