I've got to say, I do prefer the more competitive All Star Games. They basically dictated from the start that there would be little to no defense played. And if that was the case I knew the West would win because they had vastly superior fire power offensively with Durant, Westbrook, Curry, Klay, Harden . . . Still it was fun to see the West run up the score into video game numbers. And Pop did a masterful job getting Kobe his props at the end, putting Draymond and Durant on Paul George to keep him from overtaking Wilt as all time top ASG scorer. The stuff with Pau and Kobe was fun too. I can't really complain. The second teams did actually play some D against each other but it was basically a shootout dunk fest, but a pretty entertaining one as that goes.
Loved the dunk contest. It had the best dunks since J-Rich participated. And probably was the best head to head showdown since MJ and Nique. Gordon got robbed -- the hover craft mascot dunk and the sitting down in mid air/between the legs were the best dunks of the evening. Hated the all star game. One of the worst I've seen. If not for it being all about Kobe, it would've been the worst. 3 point contests and uncontested dunks are for Saturday. Sunday is about seeing the best in the game compete and play D for the 4th Q. The full court lob/dunk and fast break 3s are boring. I blame the AAU culture. Previous eras wouldn't have stood for that.
That was THE best dunk contest of all time. MJ vs Nique is a little over-rated. Seriously, go back and watch it again, they weren't that impressive. The dunks they did were not the caliber that Gordon and Levine did. Regarding the all-star game, they need to have some kind of incentive to make the game competitive. Maybe the winning conference gets home court advantage in the finals, or something a long those lines.
A like for your first paragraph, but not for the second. MJ vs Wilkins was great in its time because it was 2 of the games great players (or they would become anyway), and they were doing stuff impressive for their day. But comparing what Gordon and LaVine were doing to those, makes those dunks look standard. These guys were defying gravity and what should be physically possible for humans. As for the winner of the AS game getting homecourt advantage in the finals, please God no. That's the worst thing about baseball, deciding home field advantage in the biggest series of them all on a meaningless exhibition game, often featuring players whose teams won't even be in the playoffs. Best record earns homecourt advantage, that's why the regular season matters, that's what makes late season games between teams close in the standings exciting. I don't know how you stop the AS game from being a no-defense dunk fest, but I'd rather we have that than it decide homecourt. I'd be so pissed if the Cavs got homecourt in the finals with like 60 wins, and the Warriors didn't with like 72-74 wins. That'd be a crime.
Yeah, I'm not sure I want that particular incentive in there - HC Finals advantage for the conference who wins- but I know I don't want to see another ASG this lacking in D and competitiveness again. Not sure what's up with this current crop that they don't want to really compete in this one. Maybe next year they will get back to business with the ASG.
This year's dunk contest was much needed and awesome, no doubt, but if you really want to see some creativity and amazing dunks just wait for that show TNT is putting on in May for the Best Dunker in the world with $100K going to the winner. Shaq, Kenny, and Chuck were talking about it because I guess its already been filmed and done and they said the winner of that competition that the world will see in May would defeat these NBA guys with ease.
The ASG is mostly for the casual fans, the ones that are easily entertained by 3s and dunks. The more hardcore fans will find it hard to enjoy. I was bored after the first quarter cause it was a lay up line and players cherry picking. I much rather the best of the best play a close, hard defensive game, that would be loads more entertaining. The ASG took a step backwards this year but everything on Saturday took a step forward. Friday's Rising Stars Challenge needs to go back to Rook/Soph game.
Yeah count me as one of those that thinks this is one of the great dunk contests of all time. It was better than MJ/Nique. The only reason those dunks hold value at this point is that it came in a time when stars competed in this thing. The superstars of the league are too cool for school now for the dunk contest and I don't know why. The game itself was incredibly boring and even towards the end it seemed like the East gave up completely. Soft. Definitely the AAU culture, but I don't know how to change that really. I don't want the baseball rules. That makes it too serious... Just offer a cash prize to the winning team for a charity of their choice or something like that.
On a related note, which dunk contest was the biggest robbery of all-time? I think the biggest robbery has to be the Nate/Iggy one. That was absolute and utter BS.
After the ASG, Shaq, Ernie, Kenny and Chuck were BSing. They were arguing if Ernie could make 8 of 20 three pointers. Chuck said "8 of 20 sounds like Shaq at the FT line." Shaq responded, "which championship? I got 4." LMAO
