The very awaited stage has been set for this year’s 2017 NBA All-Star Weekend. The line-ups are in place, the venue in historic New Orleans at the Spectrum Center is spectacular in itself, and the match up against two powerhouse conferences (the East vs. the West) will be an incredible show to watch. The NBA and TNT are sure to feast from this fortunate weekend harvest.
To add to the weekend spectacle there is the “Skills Challenge” with a very intriguing line-up, as well as, the famous “Slam Dunk Contest”, and many other quality events. With so much to offer to the fans, what could possibly make the All-Star Weekend any better? Well, we’ve come up with a strategy that could make the All-Star game and the weekend more interesting, more alluring, and at least more competitive. The inspiration for this strategy leans more towards the obvious than to actual virtuosity.
2017 NBA All-Star Weekend: How To Make It Even Better
“It is what it is,” said Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook. “It’s the nature of the business, the game. I don’t play for All-Star nods or All-Star bids. I play to win championships, and every night I compete at a high level. It will work out. Just continue to do what I’m doing and play the game the right way.”
Westbrook not being voted to the starting line-up is old news at this point. The All-Star roster has been finalized for days now. Averaging a triple-double for a full season and being the second player ever to do so, just isn’t enough to persuade the fans to vote Westbrook over guards Stephen Curry and James Harden. Westbrook still gets to play in the game, he’ll just be coming off the bench. “It is what it is.”
This could very well be the greatest All-Star Weekend in the history of NBA basketball. That being said, what could possibly make the exhibition any better? First of all, let’s take a look at the line-ups.
Western Conference Starters
PLAYER TEAM
Stephen Curry Golden State Warriors
James Harden Houston Rockets
Kevin Durant Golden State Warriors
Kawhi Leonard San Antonio Spurs
Anthony Davis New Orleans Pelicans
Western Conference Reserves
PLAYER TEAM
Russell Westbrook Oklahoma City Thunder
Klay Thompson Golden State Warriors
Gordon Hayward Utah Jazz
DeMarcus Cousins Sacramento Kings
DeAndre Jordan Los Angeles Clippers
Marc Gasol Memphis Grizzlies
Draymond Green Golden State Warriors
Eastern Conference Starters
PLAYER TEAM
Kyrie Irving Cleveland Cavaliers
DeMar DeRozan Toronto Raptors
LeBron James Cleveland Cavaliers
Giannis Antetokounmpo Milwaukee Bucks
Jimmy Butler Chicago Bulls
Eastern Conference Reserves
PLAYER TEAM
John Wall Washington Wizards
Isaiah Thomas Boston Celtics
Kyle Lowry Toronto Raptors
Kemba Walker Charlotte Hornets
Paul George Indiana Pacers
Kevin Love Cleveland Cavaliers
Paul Millsap Atlanta Hawks
How To Make The All-Star Weekend Even Better
Without question, neither of the three, All-Star guards (Curry, Harden, or Westbrook) deserves to be selected to the reserve squad. All three very-talented players are having phenomenal seasons for their teams. By sticking Westbrook in with the reserves, what it did actually was strengthen the reserve line-up.
After examining all of the roster line-ups, an idea suddenly dawned. If the NBA were to implement a playoff, say, the “starters” against the “reserves”, we would know without a doubt who the real starters should be. The two playoff games (four teams) would air on Saturday and on Sunday night, the real All-Star game would commence.
The interest level for such a profound match up is already intact. Revenue-wise, it would be a gold mine for both the NBA and for TNT. Competitively, you can throw exhibition out the window. No player wants to be a bench-warmer at the All-Star game. No true “starter” wants to be beat out by a “reserve” player.
Of course, all of this is surely just a pipe dream. It is far too much basketball for the players to have to endure, especially for exhibition. Besides, any bright ideas or fresh implementations wouldn’t be considered by the NBA until next season. If any changes were to be made, a play-off in the All-Star Weekend could never happen. Or could it? Fervent, money-spending fans will just have to wait and see.
Main Photo
James Harden Houston Rockets (Photo by Mark Downey Lucid Images/Corbis via Getty Images)
