9Feb/095:19 PM

Tangela Smith to represent Mercury in NBA All-Star Weekend

By Vince Marotta

Phoenix Mercury center Tangela Smith will team up with former Suns swingman and current assistant coach Dan Majerle and current Suns guard Leandro Barbosa to form Team Phoenix during the Haier Shooting Stars competition at NBA All-Star Weekend at U.S. Airways Center in Phoenix.

Team San Antonio, comprised of Spurs All-Star Tim Duncan, San Antonio legend David Robinson and Silver Stars’ guard Becky Hammon will defend the title they won a year ago in New Orleans.

The teams must make 6 shots (in order): a 10-foot bank shot from the right-side angle by Player A, a 15-foot shot from the left-side angle by Player B, an NBA 3-point shot from the top of the arc by Player C, and 18-foot shot from the right baseline by Player A, an NBA 3-point shot from the left side-angle by Player B, and finally, a straight on half-court shot by Player C.

Also competing in the contest will be Team Detroit: Pistons’ guard Arron Afflalo, former Pistons’ big man and current head coach of the WNBA’s Detroit Shock Bill Laimbeer, and Shock forward Katie Smith, and Team Los Angeles, made up of Lakers’ guard Derek Fisher, former Laker Michael Cooper, and WNBA All-Star Lisa Leslie.

Team Phoenix comprised of Majerle, former Sun Shawn Marion and Mercury All-Star Diana Taurasi won the competition in 2005.

Haier Shooting Stars