jskinny35 wrote:What is the purse for winning the dunk contest? Just raise it to a high level and you'll get some higher quality players in there. Another idea is to open it up to non-professionals and make it like a layup line with fans voting online. You can get 30 dunkers in there with top money prizes for the top 3. 3 rounds of 1 attempt per dunker in a layup line format so it moves faster and there is no 8 missed trys... you miss and 5-10 seconds later the next guy is up. Open it up around internationally as there are more than a few Jordan Kilgardon and it would also not require Matt McClung to occupy a roster spot every year (for one weekend).

The thing we are missing is who is watching it? While its not our cup of tea, or remotely interesting to us, was it really even that big a deal to begin with back in the day? The primary viewing audience is the younger fan. When we were young we loved the allstar game too. We grew up and became big fans. Not of the event, but the game and league/our team.
Also consider our viewing habits "back in the day". Consider how younger people watch tv now vs what we had. Reality is our kids, and grand kids don't have the same viewing habits we did, or phone use, or computer use, or media use, etc.........
So while we use our own metrics to judge and often point to traditional viewership numbers one has to perhaps digest what the really means? If we don't know, then perhaps at least have the gumption to recognize the differences and question relevance.

So while media points us in the direction to say "It sucks", and to many of us it does, why do they keep doing it? If its not selling out, is it still releveant to have 15,000 attend? This is a three day event. Allstar cities also draw kids and families to the events beyond the games. Its like a convention. While traditonal viewership will never reach all time highs, in this different era how do we measure its over all effect? Its after the superbowl. Is it an event that helps focus the the public and get it ready for the end of season drama of seedings and lineups? In the age of parity its more of a tournament and fans in places like INDY who see its team make a run not capture that reagions young fans? One day Charlotte will make a run and with it caputure a whole new generation of fans. Young fans experirence becomes an endelible impression. Some of us became fans in the Reed/CLyde era. Some of you in the Ewing era. WHile they did not get a chip you were enamored never the less. Most could care less about Charlotte but If Brandon MIller becomes a star and carries the team people will take notice. "But Nobody wants to see a portland/Charlotte final". Some truth there but if it happens perhaps how and why? Say Dame Lillard makes an improbable return and charlotte has new stars emerging. Traditional viewership numbers might not be great but what about the streams? Gambling revenue? What about euro, asian and African markets? Keven Durant became a global brand in OKC. Don't tell me people don't take notice. Somewhere Brandon MIller becomes someones favorite player and new branding emerges and CARRIES FORWARD!

Revenue is up and the league is succeeding. The product is not to our taste but we are not the only customers. Streaming provides a new revenue stream while local cable has been in decline. National contracts also make up for it and each team gets an even cut. This puts big market teams at a disadvantage who used to reap huge profits in its natural market. Not any more.
Soon there will be an NBA run Euro division. Speaks to the globalization of not just the game but quality of players from other places.

So why kill the allstar game? Does it really dilute the brand? While we argue, we keep the NBA in our stream of cociousness and even debate has its value.

JSkinny, its a good idea you mention. Maybe expand to include a global audiance. We have all seen freakinsh 6foot turkish players who defies gravity? Expand to have back ground stories and perhaps a reality type series with the winner or mulitile finalists then get to compete in the allstar game. Builds a climax. Do it on the NBA network over a few weeks. I suspect NBA network does very well outside the USA.

From what I read viewrship was up for the last game and while I did not catch it, somebody did. While alternative ideas might not "Save the game", its about incremental change and it can still serve as a useful programing vehicle for the NBA in an everchanging world. It might not be ours anymore (im 60ish), but if we don't keep an open mind we shut ourselves out. Nothing wrong with that either! LOL.......

Philc1 wrote:

Clean wrote:The 1 vs 1 thing will never work in the NBA for the exact reason why the All-Star games sucks. The players will never try hard and the good players would be afraid to join to not get humiliated. If we are being honest that is the main issue with the weekend with the exception being the dunk contest. If the players actually tried harder the ALL-Star game would still be east vs West. To compound the problem is the idiot of a commissioner keeps thinking a format change will make players play harder. The players are just too rich to care about the health of the game overall. They won't care until their contracts start to get smaller.

Silver sucks. He makes Goodell look competent and in control.

And now this idea to end the nba draft to discourage tanking has to be the dumbest idea ever. Every top college player will just sign with the lakers.

How does one even quantify "Goodell vs. Silver"?
I understand your entitled to an opinion. Like *******s, we all have one.
By what measure do you measure? NFL is the top league in the USA market and has been for decades.

Personally Im less interested in NFL. Both superbowl teams did not make playoffs last year and the league has fewer problematic players as they did 10-20 years ago (Carruth, Rice) and the era of the heroic icon QBs behind us (long list of household names) we now have Sam Donald as the champ and 2nd year player Drake Maye! Gone are the days of the star running back and the tempermental athletic freak of the wide receivers and made headlines off the field. Now we have monster nice guy tight ends. Superbowl MVP?
Bland 30 year old coaches with no personalities. Exciting finishes to games as leads are not safe and rules to promote scoring.
But you have fantasy football and gambling to capture and retain the brand. Incredible transformation.
Is it better? I don't know, buts its different.

Goodell to blame or praised for it? The numbers speak for itself. NFL is a juggernaut and been that way for decades!

martin wrote:I'd guess that LeBron ends up in CLE or NY if he is willing to take the vet min

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Will be interesting conclusion to a top 3 career of all time. Lebron has his detractors and one has to remember This kid has played in the NBA:

As a teenager
As a player in his 20s.
As a player in his 30s.
As a player in his 40s.

personally as a teen I was facinated by his potential. I was put off by his arrogance in his 20's. Like Kobe, he changed. If folks can get over Kobes rape, his selfish defiance, and his hissy fit trade request, one should get over Lebron. The great ones are not always perfect people.
The notion of player empowermeent he was given is offensive to some thats just part of what happens when you have leverage.
He was not the first nor will be the last. Giannis is doing it but he is very careful. Part of the issues Milwaukee has is caused by ownership caving to the pressure to keep him and giannis is very outwardly chill about it.
I loved it when Lebron left Riley and got him mad when he bolted.
Jordan could have done it but in that era he would have faced a huge salary decrease. Look that up if you think it was insignificant.

Nobody Has done this.
Lebron is not the same player but still avg 22pts a game and can do it all still. Just not night after night or all game long.
I'd welcome him here to help us run it back with a back to back. Not sure how i'd feel if he came here as a mercinary and did a "Won and done"? Perhaps better than him winnig with Harden?
Better if knicks beat them both!!!!
Storybook ending would be to return to Clev. He has earned the honor to be celebrated.

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ramtour420 wrote:I'd rather beat Lebron than have him on my team. But I am weird like that

I'd rather plant my face into a bubbling fondue pot than watch Lebron in a Knicks uniform

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Philc1 wrote:Sounds like LeBron has his bags packed for Cleveland. As much as I hate him if the Knicks get eliminated in the second round I gotta admit I would be interested if he’s willing to come for league minimum. Give Bronny a G-league contract in Westchester too at that point.

I don't think LeBitch would ever play for a league minimum

Clean wrote:

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Name a more iconic duo than Randle and effort issues after he gets his contract.

Don't let ToddTT see this.