LOS ANGELES - As practice wrapped up at the Lakers facility in L.A. on Thursday, Terrence Ross hung around to work on his aerial acrobatics with the assistance of teammate DeMar DeRozan. DeRozan threw the Raptors sophomore and reigning NBA Slam Dunk champion lobs off the side of the backboard, he tossed bounce passes and threw alley-oops. Ross experimented with a variation of finishes. As it turns out, they could both use the practice. The Raptors duo will take part in State Farm All-Star Saturday Night - taking place in New Orleans on Feb. 15 - as Ross returns to defend his title in the Sprite Slam Dunk competition and DeRozan will make an unexpected appearance in the Taco Bell Skills Challenge. After edging out Jeremy Evans to win last years contest in Houston, Ross will have his work cut out for him this time around. For the first time since 1988, three all-stars - Pacers forward Paul George, Wizards guard John Wall and Blazers guard Damian Lillard - will compete in the event. Rounding out the field is Warriors forward Harrison Barnes and Kings rookie guard Ben McLemore. "Everybodys kind of a threat," Ross said of this years competition. "Its going to be fun, everybody wants to win." What will Ross do for an encore? The 23-year-old says hes still searching for ideas, scouring YouTube, Twitter and even using video games to brainstorm. "Everybodys done everything," he continued. "I dont know, its like how many times can you do the same dunk before people get tired of it? So its hard to find new dunks but at the same time you always find something a little different." The one thing he could say with certainty is he will not be using props. While Ross has expected to defend his crown since last season, DeRozans debut in the Skills Challenge comes as a surprise, even to him. "I kind of got peer pressure into doing it," said the first-time all-star, who will also be assisting Ross in the dunk-off. DeRozan initially declined the invitation but his agent twisted his arm and eventually he came around. "I changed my mind. I said Ill try it, why not." "I thought it would be fun," he said of the event, which is usually exclusive for point guards but DeRozan hopes to start a new era of shooting guards entering and conquering the ball handling/passing obstacle course. "Everybody doesnt get a chance to be a part of All-Star Weekend and the big thing for me is to go out there and have fun. I think it will be cool to go out there and represent my team as much as I can and you never know, I might mess around and win it." Along with DeRozan, the participants will consists of Lillard, Goran Dragic, Reggie Jackson and rookies Giannis Antetokounmpo, Michael Carter-Williams, Victor Oladipo and Trey Burke. DeRozan, who has previously competed in the Slam Dunk contest on two separate occasions, will be the first Raptor to appear in the Skills Challenge. Although he wouldnt tip his hand, his strategy centres on speed over precision. "I look at it like, a lot of players go out there and try to do it cool," said the fifth-year guard. "I always used to say, you can go a little faster. So Ive got my whole mindset to try and win it." The format in both events will be tweaked this season. The Skills Challenge will feature four teams of two players each competing in a two-round timed relay-style course. The fastest team from each conference will advance to the second and final round, where the winning pair will be crowned. The Dunk Contest participants will also compete in teams, divided by conference. The competition will tip off with a "freestyle round" where the dunkers for each the East and the West will have 90 seconds to showcase as many dunks as they choose. At the conclusion of the opening round, the panel of judges will vote for a winning conference. The winning conference will decide whether its competitors will dunk first or second in the following round, a head-to-head "battle round". In the battle round dunkers from opposing conferences will face off against each other, with the judges choosing a winner in each battle. The first team to win three battles will win the competition. Fans will then vote on the "Dunker of the Night" from the winning team. Ross is the fifth Raptor to participate in the event, joining DeRozan, Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady and Jamario Moon. Yeezy Boost 350 Italia . On a hot, sweaty day, the Hall of Famer looked cool and comfortable. Adidas Stan Smith Uomo Offerte . The Raptors had an early deadline Sunday, a dreaded afternoon game, and they left the bulk of their work until the last minute, as theyve done so many times before. http://www.scarpeyeezyitalia.it/yeezy-powerphase-calabasas.html . -- Cam Newton pranced into the end zone, placed his hands over his chest and did his familiar Superman pose. Adidas NMD R2 Bianche . Before that, Rousey needed a total 23 minutes and 26 seconds to take care of her last eight opponents - and one of those fights lasted 10 minutes and 58 seconds. Yeezy Boost 350 Originali . -- Aaron Rodgers isnt out for revenge in Green Bays season opener.DALLAS -- Former Dallas Cowboys tackle Josh Brent will spend at least 45 days in rehab following his release from jail in the drunken-driving death of a teammate and a return to his former team remains a possibility. Brent was released Sunday after serving about five months in jail for the wreck that killed Cowboys practice squad linebacker Jerry Brown, his close friend and college teammate at Illinois. A judge ordered Brent to spend at least 45 days in a residential facility for substance abuse as part of his sentence of 10 years of probation. Brent avoided prison time at trial -- he faced up to 20 years -- and at 26, he could presumably seek to re-enter the league. His agent, Peter Schaffer, declined Monday to discuss Brents pro prospects. "Its up to the treatment professionals as to whats best for him and he will do whatever they think is best," Schaffer said. "Nothing else matters right now." Brent and Brown were headed home from a nightclub in December 2012 when Brent lost control of his Mercedes and crashed on a suburban Dallas highway. Officers arriving at the scene saw Brent trying to pull Browns body from the wreckage. Tests showed Brents blood-alcohol level was 0.18 per cent, more than twice the states legal limit for drivers. A prosecution expert estimated that the 320-pound lineman would have had to have as many as 17 drinks on the night of the crash.dddddddddddd. Brent did not play after the crash and announced his retirement from the Cowboys before the trial. League spokesman Greg Aiello said Monday that Brent can apply for reinstatement through the office of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who must also consider whether to discipline Brent under the leagues personal conduct policy. As a possible precedent, Goodell suspended NFL wide receiver Donte Stallworth for the entire 2009 season after Stallworth pleaded guilty to a DUI manslaughter charge in Florida. While acknowledging that the league will have "a big say" in Brents future, Cowboys executive vice-president Stephen Jones said recently that the team had not ruled out his return. Team executives and players have stood by Brent after the crash, with the support of Browns mother, Stacey Jackson. Brent was starting in place of the injured Jay Ratliff at the time of the crash, and had 31 tackles in 39 games over three seasons in Dallas. Dallas County prosecutors have said they wont object to Brent attempting a comeback, as long as he doesnt violate his probation. Brent was jailed briefly before trial after testing positive twice for marijuana. His probation conditions are expected to include restrictions on drug use and travel. ' ' '