NBA All-Star Weekend
The 59th NBA All-Star game will definitely be remembered for a time to come. What else can be said about Jerry Jones’ spectacle stadium down in Dallas? A record crowd of over 108,000 and a high definition video screen that makes the basketball court look microscopic. It is just a matter of time before the Super Bowl, NCAA Final Four, and other major events are held here. As for the weekend as a whole, I believe the NBA put on a great show for the fans. The all-star weekend does start off slow with a seemingly pointless celebrity game, but concludes with the league’s greatest stars on center stage. I cannot remember a more hyped up sporting event in the past several years. At some points during the game I had to remind myself that I was watching the NBA All-Star game and not the Super Bowl. Jerry Jones and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban could not have looked any happier when taking in the entire scene. Even a dismal showing by Cuban in the celebrity game on Friday night could not prevent a glowing smile that could even be seen by those in the rafters.
Celebrity Game-not the most exciting way to break in the weekend. Who wants to watch a group of Hollywood celebs embarrass themselves on the hardwood? Even former Dallas Cowboys star Terrell Owens, who is never camera-shy, could not spice up the contest. The NBA can survive without this event in the upcoming years. Grade: D
H-O-R-S-E Contest- one of basketball’s classic backyard games. Sure, let the players have some but there was no competition for defending champ Kevin Durant. Rajon Rando is one of the worst shooting point guards in the league (25.5% from behind the arc; 59.1% from the line) and who has heard of Omri Casspi. This one has potential. Grade: C+
Skills Competition- when Saturday night rolls around the only thing that the fans want to see are highflying dunks. This contest just prolongs the night and creates little buzz. Steve Nash won his second title in six years, but who really cares? Grade: C-
Three Point Contest- even without a bunch of big name players, the three-point contest, replaced notoriety with youth. Rookie Stephen Curry seemed to have to best stroke from behind the arc, but fell short in the finals to veteran Paul Pierce. The contest had an international appeal also as New York Knick guard Danilo Gallinari was included in the field. Grade: B-
Dunk Contest- how in sports has been reduced to nothing more than a corny showing a props and lack of quality dunks. Whatever happened to the legendary battles between MJ and Dominique in the early 90s? Vince Carter electrified the crowd eight years ago with an amazing show of athleticism and power. We are now stuck with no-name NBA scrubs that try to fill the shoes of the legends. I did not even watch the entire dunk contest,
which says a lot. We are only left wondering what a Kobe vs. LeBron dunk contest would be like. Grade: D
All-Star Game- now the one everybody was waiting for. Some of the world’s greatest athletes were together on the same court. The game did not lack excitement with the contest going right down to the last shot. The East prevailed 141-139 when a Carmelo Anthony three pointer fell short. LeBron James, Dwight Howard, and Amare Stoudmire provided thunderous jams, while Dwayne Wade took MVP honors. Even without Kobe, who was nursing a knee injury, the entire record crowd was dazzled at the level of play throughout the game. Close game at the start of the fourth shows that these players do care…makes you wonder what trades are going to happen after the All-Star weekend…D-Wade deserved MVP with a well rounded stat line of 28 pts, 11 ast, 5 steals. Grade: A
Some Other Side Notes...
- I think a great way to solve the fan voting in all-stars who don’t deserve (e.g. Allen Iverson & Tracey McGrady) it is making this similar to the major league baseball game. In the MLB, the winner of the all-star game has home field advantage in the World Series. If this was done in the NBA, the all-star game overall would be more competitive with less And 1 streetball moves. Right now this game means nothing for the players except trying to make Sportcenter Top 10. And yes Lebron did do this for us all night.
- Robinson the first ever to win three dunk contest in a row. I thought the dunk contest was slacking the talent. Everybody wants to see Lebron and Kobe dunk it out. The ratings would be off the chart. Nate has passed Spud Webb on my list as best little man with major vertical. Atleast last year Nate jumped over Webb to give us some thrill that we did not feel this year!
