Jones on NBA: All-Star thoughts
Posted February 26, 2012 3:30 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Before we get to the storylines heading into the second half of the season, we need to discuss the All-Star Weekend. I love when stars are gathered together and players can express their appreciation for the skills of their peers.
But in these eyes, it’s hard not to sound like an old man saying “get off my lawn” as there are some parts of the weekend that need an overhaul. My guy Kevin Nielsen is, maybe literally, right on the money when he questions why we are even having this game in a lockout-shortened season, but there are a few things that need to change.
I like the skills challenge for the point guards and it would be nice to see something comparable for bigger players involving rebounding, accuracy of a short outlet passes, running the floor, mid-range shooting, scoring in the lane, some ball handling and a long outlet. But I’ll leave that to the marketing “poobahs” at the NBA but hey, at least I’ve given them a start.
The slam dunk contest has got to be a once every two or three-year event. The slams on Saturday really showed nothing new, with the exception of Jeremy Evans’ two-ball jam with the assistance of Gordon Hayward. The contestants continued to recycle old dunks with a bit of a twist. Let the excitement build for a couple of seasons. Let the fans start thinking about who might be in the contest by watching players dunking during real games. Also, can we get some of the big names to participate?
My favourite event has become the three point shooting contest as it tests a major skill of the game: shooting. For years, I’ve been touting the idea of a two-ball competition, for money of course as well as bragging rights between teams. I’d like to see Ray Allen and Paul Pierce take on Kevin Durant and Daquean Cook, or Mario Chalmers and James Jones shoot it out with Steve Nash and Channing Frye. Have the final two or even four teams earn their way to all-star weekend over the course of the first half of the season during the warm ups of real games. Heck, that’s when their taking shots that prepare them for a game, right? If anyone wants to hear about it, I have it all laid out.
The All-Star game itself will be fine. It’s the world’s best pick-up game and you have to be invited. There is a lot of entertainment until the game gets a bit more serious in the fourth quarter when pride kicks in and the competitive level increases.
One of the biggest stories right now is the plight of the Los Angeles Lakers. They are holding a playoff spot as they sit fifth in the Western Conference, but there is an uneasy feeling in Lakerland. Kobe Bryant was quite vocal about the Pau Gasol situation following a game in Phoenix. The bottom line in Bryant’s eyes is quite simple. What the heck is going on and can somebody please tell me. In the event you haven’t seen it, this is what he had to say that night after a win over the Suns. But the bigger story in Los Angeles is the erosion of the winning culture that had been created over the years.
So what is there to look forward to in the second half? Remember Golden State rookie head coach Mark Jackson and his playoff guarantee? There will be playoff races and continuing questions about what impact this different season will have when the post-season starts. What will the Orlando Magic do with Dwight Howard and where will he land? Can the Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets, Philadelphia 76ers and Indians Pacers keep up their solid play? Is there a run left in the aging Boston Celtics? And what about another older team that is playing well, the San Antonio Spurs, can they really win a title? Is Oklahoma City really ready to be fitted for a ring and can the Dallas Maverick repeat?
Yes, lots to look forward to and many interesting storylines to follow during the second half of the NBA season.
