It is finally here. In my opinion it is the best All-Star weekend of all the four major sports. As the Mavericks/Suns game ended at around midnight, NBA All-Star Weekend had begun. It is hard to breakdown every single player participating in the weekend's event, so as the Czar of Sports, I'll give you some things to definitely look out for during one of the NBA's yearly spectacles.
1. BLAKE GRIFFIN IN THE SLAM DUNK CONTEST
This guy is simply a freak of nature. Incredible ability and he actually makes Baron Davis look like a player that is actually worth something. It has been years (since Vince Carter at least) since I have been this excited about the dunk contest. His most glorious dunks usually come in the form of an alley-oop, so I would not be surprised if he got a couple guys involved on one of his dunks. The downside is that he has no other Clippers to help him out, since their owner is a joke and they have no more All-Star caliber players. Someone will throw him a nasty pass though. Look out, this guy is going to turn heads.
2.PAUL PIERCE VS. RAY ALLEN IN THE THREE POINT SHOOTOUT
This one should be a lot of fun to watch. Two teammates duke it out for three point dominance. It is a tossup between them for the trophy, even with sharpshooters like Kevin Durant and James Jones participating. Both have very unique stories that could help them succeed in this competition. For starters, Paul Pierce is the defending champion of the shootout that took place last year in Dallas. He took part in the 2002 shootout and was absolutely awful, only scoring eight points in the first round. He came back in 2010 to redeem himself and did just that. On the other hand, Ray Allen won the competition in 2001 and just recently surpassed Reggie Miller for the most made three point shots in NBA history. In my honest opinion, Boston fans are going to be happy either way this one turns out.
3. KOBE PLAYING ANGRY
Now most people would say, "Chad, It is an All-Star game. Guys are gonna go out there, have fun, and move on with their lives." But Kobe Bryant is different then anyone we have ever seen in Pro Basketball. This guy can play with an edge no matter what because he the most competitive player this league has ever seen (Yes, more competitive than Jordan). All the Lakers and Bryant have heard the past month is how it might be time to panic. That they are old and they need to find a way to trade for Carmelo Anthony. That they are not good enough anymore. There is no doubt in my mind Kobe takes that to heart. Plus, the Lakers ended the All-Star break with a loss to the lowly Cleveland Cavaliers, who LA destroyed earlier in the season by 55 points. That has to irritate him and get him jacked up for whatever game he has to play next. Also: He has made the All-Star team thirteen times. He is no stranger to this game and I think he is the reason the Western Conference takes home the crown. Plus, the game is in LA, Kobe's got all his favorite spots on the floor to his advantage.
Fun Fact: Last time the All-Star Game was in LA (2004), Ron Artest was a Pacer, Ray Allen was a SuperSonic, Baron Davis was a Hornet, Kevin Garnett was a Timberwolf, and Tracy McGrady was apart of the Magic. now Ron Artest is a Laker, Ray Allen and KG are Celtics, Baron Davis is a Clipper and Tracy McGrady probably works at a Foot Locker (Or plays for the Pistons, it is pretty much the same thing at this point).
4. TIM DUNCAN STARTING FOR THE WEST
It is up to the fans to vote for the starters of the All-Star Game. It seems like that would make a lot of sense for NBA fans to pick based on skill and their perception, but their is one issue: China. China's love affair with Yao Ming has lasted for so long, that they voted him into a starters position on the West's All-Star team even though he has been hurt for like three years. Actually, not just a starters role, but he led the Western Conference in votes for a while. It is like the fourth dumbest thing I have ever seen in sports, right before the Toomer's murderer and right after "The Decision". So since Yao cannot play, Western conference and San Antonio Spurs (Duncan's team) coach Gregg Popovich chose Tim Duncan over young upstarts like Kevin Love (Double-Double Machine) and Blake Griffin ( I LOVE HIM AND HE DUNKS ALOT, SEE #1). This is a little odd, because Duncan is in the middle of the worst statistical season of his career and Griffin and Love basically have to put their teams on their backs to get wins. We will see if Duncan plays with a chip on his shoulder and comes out looking like it's 2001.
Fun Fact: Yao Ming Sucks. That is why he gets a tiny picture. Watch This. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svsHlH-IvbY
5. WADE AND LEBRON'S FAST BREAK
If you are reading this, then you probably know that two of the world's best players (and Chris Bosh) went to Miami during the off-season to win like forty championships or something. Dwyane Wade and Lebron James have been lighting up scoreboards like nobody's business this season, helping the Heat post a solid record of 41-15 going into the All-Star break. The one mistake most teams make when playing the Heat is trying to speed up the tempo of the game. The Wade/Lebron combo on the fast break might be the most lethal thing the league has ever seen, so it is a big mistake to allow that to happen. The beauty of the All-Star Game is that it is essentially one big fast break. The teams go back and forth and the score usually is in the 130's. Having Wade and James practice together all year and then show it off in the All-Star game is scary for the West. If the West loses, James and Wade will be responsible.
I love basketball so much and this is one of the most exciting weekends for the sport all year. Even if you are not a huge fan, tune in to TNT nightly and checkout some of the cool events they have going on. I am sure they have something that everyone can enjoy.
PICKS:
Rookie/Sophmore Game: Rooks: 97, Sophs 103
Skill Challenge: Chris Paul
Three Point Shootout: Ray Allen over Paul Pierce
Dunk Contest: Blake Griffin over Serge Ibaka
All-Star Game: West 137, East 134
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