| 04 February 2009
There were some All Star Saturday night announcements made this week, and as per usual I'm willing and able to offer my two cents.
On Tuesday the NBA announced that they were adding a new game to the All Star festivities. Apparently at 5pm Eastern we can tune in to NBA players competing at HORSE. I would be shocked that the NBA will be able to find legitimate NBA players to take part in the game unless the prize is $25,000. I'll admit I've watched the old Pistol Pete HORSE competitions, but that was Pistol going against guys like George Gervin. This will undoubtedly boast players like Donte Greene going against Mardy Collins. No one wants to see that (unless they are drunk).
Not only that but watching a game of HORSE actually isn't all that entertaining. Especially considering that there is a "No Dunks" rule. Wouldn't want to overshadow the dunk contest with guys that might actually bring some creativity, would we? Plus it wouldn't be fair to the J.J. Redicks of the world if they had to follow a dunker like Joe Alexander.
The NBA obviously isn't all that confident with the "new" game because they will be airing it in the middle of the afternoon on the West coast. The players will be playing outdoors, so what if weather is a factor in how the contest plays out? I realize it is Phoenix and there is minimal chance of rain or snow, but what if there is a windstorm that day? Do they call it off? Why not have it played in the arena where full-court shots and shots from the stands can be taken? Is this all just a diabolical way for TNT to show off their new NBA on TNT rig and compete with ESPN's NBA bus? All these questions need to be answered.
It has been two days, and I'm still waiting for Bill Simmons to write an article lambasting the NBA and asking why he hasn't gotten any credit yet. Granted he has mentioned it in multiple articles, but it isn't as if every person in the world hasn't already come up with the idea. We don't all have the Worldwide Leader to post our inane ramblings (yet). Also he really needs to give credit where credit is due and thank the old Michael versus Larry Big Mac commercial. Now that was a classic.
The other All Star announcement that came out yesterday was the participants in the Three-Point Shootout. The two-time champ Jason Kapono (or as Andy calls him J-Kap, how inspired) will be returning to defend his crown and join Craig Hodges and Larry Legend as the only three-time winners. He will be matched up against Mike Bibby of the Atlanta Hawks, Daequan Cook of the Miami Heat, Danny "My new man-crush" Granger of the Indiana Pacers, Rashard Lewis of the Orlando Magic and Roger Philip Mason Jr. of the San Antonio Spurs.
A few things jump out at me right away, first thing is how there is only one Western Conference representative. Apparently no one out West can hit the three. I guess I had never realized that was the case. The West coast should probably work on that.
Not only is the line-up very East-heavy, three of the six competitors play in the Southeast Division. Apparently the Southeast has three-pointers locked up this season. I'm sure if Jameer Nelson wasn't injured he would have been included instead of Mason just to prove that the Southeast has the three taken care of.
I have no real problems with that particular line-up. Kapono was a lock to participate even though he has had a down year from deep because he has won the last two years. Mason is shooting 45% from three and he is hitting over 2 threes per game. Cook is also hitting over 2 per game and a second-year guy who deserves some exposure for his outside shooting. Granger has made a ridiculous 2.7 three-pointers per game and deserves the attention. Plus he is an actual All Star, and it's a good way to promote the game. Lewis is also an All Star and he is making just about 3 threes per contest. Bibby is hitting over 2 per game. The real reason he made is the league has realized he will never be an All Star, so they want to placate him.
All the guys deserve to be in the contest, but there are definite snubs this season. Most would point to Eddie House, and he has had a great year from the arc just not good enough. He has 86 made three-pointers this season, but 22 of those came in 3 games last week. Throw those games out and he is shooting just 35% from three and is only making 1.4 per game. Sure he has been hot of late and would certainly bring that hot streak to the game, but is he really a premiere three-point shooter?
My snubs are Steve Blake and Kevin Martin. I get it that Blake has missed 8 of the last 9 games, but he has been absolutely lethal this season. He has made 82 threes total this year which is only 4 less than House in 10 fewer games. He is averaging 2.1 made threes per game and shooting a phenomenal 43% from deep. He also is a large part of the success of the up-and-coming Trailblazers.
Kevin Martin may raise a lot of question marks because of all the time he has missed and how bad the Kings are but look no further than his stats and how efficient he has been. He has hit 61 threes in only 23 games which is good for 2.2 per contest. He is shooting 41% from deep this season and shot 40% last season, so we know he isn't a one-season-wonder. His inclusion would also showcase a talent that not everyone gets to see on a nightly basis because of the market and his terrible club. Kings' fans have very little to root for this season, so why not throw us a rope? Actually that is probably a bad idea because we might hang ourselves with it.
Either way the NBA is dropping the ball for this year's All Star Saturday, but it's a good thing because I don't want to be in the dog house for ignoring my wife on Valentine's Day.
A little All Star Saturday knowledge can go a long way.
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