3-POINT SHOOTOUT (SAT., 8 P.M. TNT)

The NBA chose quantity over quality for its participants, leaving us with two frequent bombers (Phoenix’s Quentin Richardson and Joe Johnson) who have virtually no chance of matching the main contenders’ accuracy. That leaves defending champ Voshon Lenard – he’s out of action until April but healthy enough to shoot 3s – along with Seattle’s Ray Allen and Vladimir Radmanovic and Philly’s Kyle Korver. I picked Korver a year ago and will continue picking him until he actually wins this thing.

DUNK CONTEST (AFTER SHOOTOUT)

While LeBron ponders whether to participate (I’m guessing he’ll pull out), two rookies named Smith should take center stage. The Hawks’ Josh is the more explosive dunker in games, but the Hornets’ J.R. should have the advantage on Saturday because big men rarely fare well in this affair. It’s unconscionable that the league didn’t invite the Sixers’ sensational rookie Andre Iguodala, who would crush this field.

ALL-STAR GAME (SUN, 8:30 P.M. TNT)

On paper, the West has too many horses, but the All-Star Game is a guard-driven affair where the first guy to touch the ball ignores the big men and does his own thing. The East’s guards can match the West’s, but ultimately the young legs of Amare Stoudemire – my projected MVP – will provide too many highlight-reel dunks for the East to match.