NBA All-Star "Display"
The NBA All-Star game shouldn't be classified as a game at all. It's similar to the NFL Pro Bowl in that defense is rarely if ever implemented, the atmosphere is closer to that of a party than a contest and players have free reign to break the rules of the game in order to appear as athletic as possible. One thing is for sure: the display of talent during the NBA All-Star game more closely resembles street ball than NBA basketball.
This is a league infamous for allowing players to routinely get away with violations that used to be called traveling, carrying the ball and fouling. And even by those standards, the All-Star game is out of hand.
Despite my questioning tone, I agree with the NBA's loose interpretation of some of the rules. The majority of the leeway given to players involves ball handling: the traveling and carrying oversights. These help players do more while dribbling the ball. The days of keeping your hand on the top of the ball when you dribble and only taking two steps without dribbling are long gone, and that makes the game more fun to watch.
But the All-Star game? I could do without that. I don't have any desire to watch Shaq dance or check out the different skits the guys come up with for the slam dunk contest. It also wouldn't bother me to miss a bunch of cherry pickers hanging back during the game to see if they can get a break-away dunk. Believe it or not, there is a lot of suspense in a jump-shot. I wouldn't mind seeing one once in a while.
The NBA All-Star game, while potentially entertaining, illustrates the reason so many people prefer college basketball to the NBA. College features players giving some effort for a full game. It is based on the best team rather than a collection of individuals. It's not so much a production as it is a game. The NBA can say none of these things, and the All-Star game is a perfect illustration of that.
This is a league infamous for allowing players to routinely get away with violations that used to be called traveling, carrying the ball and fouling. And even by those standards, the All-Star game is out of hand.
Despite my questioning tone, I agree with the NBA's loose interpretation of some of the rules. The majority of the leeway given to players involves ball handling: the traveling and carrying oversights. These help players do more while dribbling the ball. The days of keeping your hand on the top of the ball when you dribble and only taking two steps without dribbling are long gone, and that makes the game more fun to watch.
But the All-Star game? I could do without that. I don't have any desire to watch Shaq dance or check out the different skits the guys come up with for the slam dunk contest. It also wouldn't bother me to miss a bunch of cherry pickers hanging back during the game to see if they can get a break-away dunk. Believe it or not, there is a lot of suspense in a jump-shot. I wouldn't mind seeing one once in a while.
The NBA All-Star game, while potentially entertaining, illustrates the reason so many people prefer college basketball to the NBA. College features players giving some effort for a full game. It is based on the best team rather than a collection of individuals. It's not so much a production as it is a game. The NBA can say none of these things, and the All-Star game is a perfect illustration of that.
posted by Joe Siple | 10:11 AM
2 Comments:
Joe, stop the commentary on the NBA and hockey, it is late Feb. Let's talk about a real sport baseball, not ones not being played (hockey) and ones that barely apply as a sport(NBA basketball). When Joe going to give us the MLB spring training preview (divison winners, MVP, Cy Young candidates, WS predictions)?
I can't argue with the claim that baseball is a real sport, that's for sure. I'll see if I can merge into a little baseball commentary...hopefully with fewer type-o's than the comment.
Prepare for the baseball talk!
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