VDesai wrote:Format was cool but why so many long ass breaks?

These guys scoring 40 doesnt break a sweat. There was no continuity to what we were watching. Need more game play and less Kevin Hart shouting

Kevin Hart is the worst thing to ever happen to my television.

I’m glad I didn’t watch most of the weekend.

Then they decided to do that atrocious and masturbatory session for the Inside the NBA crew, who, to be clear, will continue to air next season but won't be hosting the All Star game. Is that such a big deal that the game should be put on hold for 30 minutes？ Especially when there was a clear window to do that before the championship game, it was ridiculously narcissistic. Clearly they wanted as many eyes on that as possible to the detriment of the actual game. In the ultimate "the lady doth protest too much" moment, Chuck said something like "We couldn't have the game without the players or the fans." To even say something as asinine as that required a level of self delusion that was incomprehensible. Clearly at least part of him thought that somehow all the fans cared about was that someone else would be hosting next year.

When the game finally restarted, all the players cared about was leaving and the quality of the game became unwatchable.

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I tell everyone who asks that the best basketball game I ever saw was the 2020 all star game. Kobe had just died and they were honoring him with the first ever Elam ending of 23 in the final period with no clock. They played A LOT of basketball, mostly just the 10 best players in the league going all out. Kyle Lowry took a charge right at the beginning and the intensity just went through the roof. Embiid got the ball on every possession as even the best of the best understood he was an unstoppable force in the paint. There was significant disappointment that such a competitive game ended on free throws. Again, that players were fouling at the end tells you a lot about the intensity of the game.

I think most of the fault for the game lies with the NBA who abandoned traditions for gimmicks. I agree about needing to try the baseball all star trick about winner getting homecourt in the playoffs. The West is so much more ridiculously competitive than the East that it seems only fair that some other standard besides record should determine home court.

Last Time I recall enjoying the game was Marbury and Kobe went at it for a spell. Selfish ego ball but it was fun as both got hot.
League has tried "gimmicks" to differentiate the game. Does it work? Its drawing enough to be a money maker.
Host cities really want it. Fans come out. NBA is an entertainment company. Complaining and droning on is fan prerogative and I suppose part of the fandom experience. Lets not forget the Dunk Contest was a gimmick and it worked for a very long time. NHL did a skills contest years ago that was cool for a while. Home Run Derby? That was actually like a thing in the early 1960's they filmed and bought it back for all star game. MLB still has its game on a Tuesday. NBA now has a whole weekend of activities.

BigDaddyG wrote:

Nalod wrote:International vs American?
One on one tournament could be fun. LIke dunk contest some players can sign up.
Trump can determine little thumbs up or down, like a deranged Roman Emperor.
But players are not incentivized and its a good point bought up. East/West won't make it so.
They should expand the number of players by one or two.
All NBA is more important than allstar and players should get a bonus that does not count towards a cap for it.
But, is it really broken if it still is a money maker and viewership respectable? Sure it might be down, but economically viable is what matters.
All TV watching has changed with new technologies. Who is really watching it?

Bill Simmons brought up the idea of choosing from aa pool of of the top 5 seeds from each conference and having them compete for which conference gets homecourt in the finals. Each conference would also be able to pick a wildcard player from a team seeded 6 or lower. The thinking is that KD might not care since his team sucks, but the other players would step in up because the game has some impact on the playoffs. He had some other ideas but this was the only one I liked.

Its a good idea.
I think we care because its a nice topic for fans. They can keep changing it, gain some interest, keep making money (Is that really a bad thing even if we don't like it?) and perhaps ratings will still profitable.

Host cities are really into the weekend. Kind of like the superbowl.
Personally I told my son years ago I would never spend big on a superbowl weekend. Its not the money, I just two care enough.
But Knicks and Charlotte get into a series one day perhaps I'll pony up and go to a game or two.
They almost got me hooked when Mourning and Larry Johnson played. They had some nice teams after a rough start to the franchise.
Jordan been an awful owner. New ownership Seem to be ok rebuilding.
Read a burb today that Memphis might look to trade Jah this summer. Maybe CLT does similar with Lamelo. Kid is alway hurt and while not a bad kid, just a bit weirdly entitled by his money.

doomed wrote:Great OP I agree with most of it just not sure I put Kevin Garnett and Karl Malone ahead of Ewing but we’re splitting hairs. Ewing gets that same ring if he’s paired up with Allen and Pierce. Both KG and the hoya destroya were dominant players. Malone was prolific for so long, I get the respect there. Still think Ewing was his equal.

Malone and Garnett have league MVP's where Ewing does not. Its not always fair but Malone was 11 1st team All NBA, 2x 2nd team. 17 of his 19 years played 80-81-82 games! Third all time scoring! Full 10% ahead of Kobe who is number 4. Malone was league MVP twice!

KG has an league MVP and DPOY award.
Both Malone and KG relevance into their 30's was significant.
Ewing was had a brilliant 8 year run but by age 30 he was not DPOY relevant or all NBA anymore.
it as an era of great centers also. You had Hakeem, David Robinson, Moses Malone (was fading) and then Shaq.
Ewing is considered a top 10 center by many measures and perhaps the greatest knick.

League MVP's awards are huge. Ewing never reached MVP voting above 4th place in any season. The man was awesome but I think I have him slotted properly. We can agree to disagree. All good fun and a bit subjective.

That Ewing never had the proper team around him to win is unfortunate in many ways!!!!