Is NBA All-Star Game Relevant Anymore ?
High TV ratings were recorded for the NBA All-Star game but how many tuned out after watching a play ground shoot around fiasco.
These all star players could not even make it enjoyable as they played like “a stroll in the park”. It was a sad display of players not even going through the motions or showing they cared a little.
Instead, we saw shooting practice and playing without any work ethic.
The entertainment value was gone as players walked around passing each other the ball for jams and rainbow 3-pointers. The players could not even pretend to play defense or show a little competition. It was an embarrassment for the viewers, fans and the league.
Sunday night was supposed to add some drama because some player feuds getting in the way. How childish these rumors became about superstar players and not the game itself.
Russell Westbrook was on the same team as Kevin Durant and the hype and feud rumors was an overhyped “gun fight at the OK Corral”. Except this time it was Westbrook not passing the ball to Durant, a tempest in a teapot of more meaningless chatter surrounding this wasteful game. Does anyone really care about some perceived trivial feud between two ex-teammates and how it is relevant to the game.
This was not the only highlight of the game. The highest scoring game was just a bunch of dunks and some players showcasing their ability in the open court with no defense. The one player to put his unusual long name on the map was Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Bucks. His long arms and big man slick movement was a highlight reel for the crowd and viewers.
LeBron James, Durant and Westbrook were enjoyable at times with the offensive output which was a small redeemable factor to a lazy type game.
A good showing was hometown star Anthony Davis who broke Wilt Chamberlains All-Star game record of 42 points. Davis scored 20 points in the fourth quarter to tally 52 points total with 10 rebounds. Davis is a legitimate superstar who deserves the record as his teammates pushed it his way in his New Orleans backyard.
This game was not relevant and meant nothing so the players responded with empty play and dis-regard for their profession. It was a phony display of NBA players at the top level but were in collusion to dumb it down.
Maybe the NBA brass will introduce a new formula to make this game mean something or it will get worst next year.
