All-Star Weekend Game Thread

[RJ87]

Maybe I just remember it differently because I was young, but in the 80’s it seemed like the guys really went at each other on the all star game.  Or maybe it was only in the 4th quarter?  Guys were less buddy buddy with players from other teams then though.

Why would they go at each other in this day & age? There's absolutely nothing at stake. The NBA needs to figure out how to make the All-Star game a meaningful event (if there's even an interest in doing so). Otherwise it's just fanfare and the players will continue to lean into that.

What was at stake in the 80s? Pride

Maybe there is too much money on the line these days and these guys see themselves as businesses.

Of course they see themselves as businesses, why should they not? Franchises generate billions of dollars off of players, and those players are keying into the fact that they can do that for themselves. Look at Greg Oden versus Dwight Howard. One of those players is a lot richer than the other and that's on account of staying on the court.

Pride isn't winning a meaningless exhibition game. Pride is setting up my family for generational wealth well beyond my existence.

Lol what? What does how hard the players play in the all star game have to do with oden or Howard?

They're not going to play hard in a game that means nothing and risks injury. A better example would've been Kemba Walker - his knee was never the same after he played in an All-Star game he probably should've sat out and he's basically out of the league now.

These guys aren't going to take it seriously. The game is meaningless. They're not even playing for their conferences anymore. It's just fanfare.

[slamtheking]

didn't have an interest in any of this debacle but having seen some comments I checked out the box score and was surprised to see the J's lead each of their teams in points, shots taken, minutes and rebounds by comfortable margins.   would have figured a number of the bigger-publicity players would have made more of a point to lead their teams in something.   the J's were even near the top of their teams in assists as well. 

hope they've got some gas still left in the tank for the rest of the season because the future looks pretty bright with the 2 shiniest stars on the league's grandstand display.

[SHAQATTACK]

Celtics boys don’t know the word quit .   

[hpantazo]

Maybe I just remember it differently because I was young, but in the 80’s it seemed like the guys really went at each other on the all star game.  Or maybe it was only in the 4th quarter?  Guys were less buddy buddy with players from other teams then though.

Why would they go at each other in this day & age? There's absolutely nothing at stake. The NBA needs to figure out how to make the All-Star game a meaningful event (if there's even an interest in doing so). Otherwise it's just fanfare and the players will continue to lean into that.

What was at stake in the 80s? Pride

Maybe there is too much money on the line these days and these guys see themselves as businesses.

Of course they see themselves as businesses, why should they not? Franchises generate billions of dollars off of players, and those players are keying into the fact that they can do that for themselves. Look at Greg Oden versus Dwight Howard. One of those players is a lot richer than the other and that's on account of staying on the court.

Pride isn't winning a meaningless exhibition game. Pride is setting up my family for generational wealth well beyond my existence.

Lol what? What does how hard the players play in the all star game have to do with oden or Howard?

They're not going to play hard in a game that means nothing and risks injury. A better example would've been Kemba Walker - his knee was never the same after he played in an All-Star game he probably should've sat out and he's basically out of the league now.

These guys aren't going to take it seriously. The game is meaningless. They're not even playing for their conferences anymore. It's just fanfare.

The truth is Kemba's knee was shot with or without that all-start game. It was not one game of playing long minutes that did it, Kemba's knee had degenerated long ago from years of pounding.

[Amonkey]

I think it was cool to see Tatum get 55 points and Brown 35 to cap a pretty good All Star weekend. Granted, I watched a total of 17 minutes (15 of them being fast forwarding through the slam dunk contest) but it provided a lot more entertainment then anything the last 7 years.

My only concern is Tatum playing 35 minutes. Seems to be pretty high for a meaningless game. I hope that doesn't effect the regular season.

[radiohead]

I think it was cool to see Tatum get 55 points and Brown 35 to cap a pretty good All Star weekend. Granted, I watched a total of 17 minutes (15 of them being fast forwarding through the slam dunk contest) but it provided a lot more entertainment then anything the last 7 years.

My only concern is Tatum playing 35 minutes. Seems to be pretty high for a meaningless game. I hope that doesn't effect the regular season.

That was 35 minutes of “jogging” though. I think Joe wanted to get JT the MVP so no worries there.

[boscel33]

I saw more defense played in a pick-up game in a school yard than all of last night's ASG! 

#whatasham

[angryguy77]

I hate to sound like the "get off my lawn" type, but didn't AS games have a little more defense played back in the day? This was the first one I've watched in awhile so my memory might be sketchy.  I know defense was never good in these games, but last night was criminal.

[slamtheking]

I hate to sound like the "get off my lawn" type, but didn't AS games have a little more defense played back in the day? This was the first one I've watched in awhile so my memory might be sketchy.  I know defense was never good in these games, but last night was criminal.

the fact one team didn't get a single foul shot and the other had 4 speaks volumes

[liam]

I didn't watch any of this but the quote of the weekend was: Giannis: "You're out here reffing like Marc Davis and sh*t!"

[PAOBoston]

They should move it to after the season and give the players some sort of financial incentive to play “harder”. ASG after the finals and each player gets like a million each if they are on the winning team, losers get 500k or something.

[scaryjerry]

Celtics boys don’t know the word quit .   

Unless it’s the finals against the Warriors.
That all star game meant more to them then It should’ve

[blink]

Celtics boys don’t know the word quit .   

Unless it’s the finals against the Warriors.
That all star game meant more to them then It should’ve

Oh gawd forbid our two best players participate in a fun weekend that celebrates them as two of the best.  Just like all the other great players in the league.

It isn’t really a game, it is a shooting exhibition and a chance to be rewarded for being a great player.  I am glad JT and JB went.  It isn’t a crime.

[SparzWizard]

I think it was cool to see Tatum get 55 points and Brown 35 to cap a pretty good All Star weekend. Granted, I watched a total of 17 minutes (15 of them being fast forwarding through the slam dunk contest) but it provided a lot more entertainment then anything the last 7 years.

My only concern is Tatum playing 35 minutes. Seems to be pretty high for a meaningless game. I hope that doesn't effect the regular season.

He was tryna get that hardware to add to his resume.

I do fully expect another hardware or two later this season- Finals MVP and NBA Championship

[celticsclay]

JB joined some others in pointing out the lack of competitiveness in the game, even by all star game standards. Michael Malone also called it the worst basketball game ever played.

https://nesn.com/2023/02/celtics-star-jaylen-brown-disses-layup-line-nba-all-star-game/amp/

I would like to see them add some financial incentives to the game to make it like it was in the past. Was watching clips from the games with Kobe and back in the 90’s and they were massively entertaining games. East versus west would be good to go back to.