I didn’t watch the game; I had no intention of watching the NBA All Star game. I knew what it was going to be… a three point/dunk contest in-game, with zero defense, with guys trying to show us some cool stuff, while not giving two shits about the game. I wasn’t going to put myself through that frustration; it’s been like this for a while.
When you get a chance to play the best, you should want to play YOUR best. This is what I remember. All of my favorite NBA players on the court, going balls out against each other, trying to beat each other’s asses. OK, maybe not playoff intensity, but it was close from what I recall. The guys wanted to win. They wanted to show who was best. They weren’t afraid, like this generation of NBA players. Forget about being afraid to get hurt; that’s a fricking cop out, not only for this game, but for every load management game during the year; it’s bullshit. The fact is, they’re afraid of getting embarrassed, point blank. Nobody wants to get their ankles broken or get dunked on… it’s the same thing that runs through these guys’ heads in the regular season. Surely not going to embarrass myself in front of the national audience during the All Star game. When that is your mentality, you’re soft, period. When did this all start?
Well, I’ll point to my favorite NBA player LeBron James; speaking about guys who are afraid of failure. Dude is a beast, can slam the ball down with authority, and has never played in the slam dunk contest? He’s afraid to lose, period. This is why he goes to stacked teams every few years; he needs his security blanket. But, it’s not just him… why don’t guys want to try hard? It’s kind of like when I took a field trip with my son’s 6th grade class… I asked them if they were learning anything… they had various responses, but all of them were no, hell no, no way… like learning isn’t cool. They’re young, but these guys… it’s like playing hard isn’t cool. You want to look cool out there, not work up a sweat and give it your best effort against the best guys in the league. It’s weak.
So, instead of running these guys out there every year, so we can see the same stuff and talk shit, stop it. Add more skills competitions, but with the All Stars instead. Maybe a glorified HORSE game? How about East vs West who can make the most 3 pointers in 1 minute? Do something like that, instead of this game. But whatever the NBA does, please, please, please do NOT pay the guys for this game. You’ve already sold your soul and made up some BS in-season tournament to force guys to care, and incent them with some cash… don’t do it with the All Star game.
OK, that’s over now… back to the regular season starting Thursday, where my bets have been carrying me through the 2nd half of the NFL season. Besides watching my team play, this is the only reason I pay as much attention to the NBA as I do, because if I wasn’t betting on it… I really wouldn’t care. Maybe that’s what the NBA is banking on? Hand in hand with the sports books I tell you… NBA action is fantastic… not
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