Tag: 2020 All-Star Game

Kemba Walker defies minutes restriction to close 2020 All-Star Game

Boston Celtics starting point guard Kemba Walker was just one of two dozen of the world’s best players who seemed to love the new format of the All-Star Game.

After scoring 23 points on 9-of-18 shooting (including 5-of-11 from deep), Boston Celtics point guard Kemba Walker earned some time at the podium for the 2020 NBA All-Star Game.

While his Team Giannis would lose 157-155 to Team LeBron, the UConn product truly enjoyed his time in this year’s February friendly.

“It was fun,” offered the Bronx native.

“We just wanted to be competitive. That’s all we spoke about in the huddles.  It’s always a blessing and an honor to get here. I’ve come a long way in my career. This is my fourth All-Star. I’m blessed, and it’s always an exciting time to get a chance to be a part of this.”

The competitive nature of the annual exhibition was perhaps the night’s biggest surprise, with the winners of each quarter securing the bigger bag for their respective charities cheering them on from the sidelines, culminating in a startlingly competitive final frame.

The fourth quarter saw a new wrinkle called the Elam ending instituted, which adds a set number of points to the leading score of the first three quarters, the first team to reach or pass the set number winning.

To honor recently-deceased Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant, the number for this particular event was 24 — one of his two jersey numbers with the Lakers — and the new format produced play at a level of competitiveness worthy of Bryant’s memory.

Walker was a big fan of the change, and the results it delivered in terms of spicing up an event that had grown increasingly stale in recent years.

“I thought it was cool,” noted the 29-year old floor general.

“I had no idea coming into the game, I didn’t know what to expect. As we played, it was great. That’s what everybody wants to see. They want to see a competitive game. That’s what it was in the fourth.”

“Hopefully, we can keep it going,” he added.

One of Walker’s favorite moments actually came earlier in the contest, when he had a chance to square off with Celtics teammate and budding star forward Jayson Tatum.

The two had been engaging in some friendly trash talk after getting drafted to different teams, with the Duke swingman being taken by Team LeBron.

The New Yorker related how the moment transpired, explaining how he, “locked him up, like [he] told him [he would].”

“It’s cool, man. That’s my little brother. He’s been having a hell of a season. He deserves to be here. And it was cool for me to get a chance to go up to him. I’m super proud of him. It was a great moment for both of us.”

Walker felt the boosted intensity created by the introduction of the charity element and especially the Elam ending was an excellent way to honor the memory of Kobe.

Bryant’s premature loss was inextricable from All-Star weekend, even in moments not specifically created to memorialize the generational talent, and the All-Star Game itself was no exception according to the former Husky.

“Growing up, watching Kobe in those games, I felt like he was always competitive, and he was kind of the one who got the game going,” explained Walker. “I think we kept that going tonight.”

In fact, Boston’s starting point guard was so engaged by the game, he effectively ignored his trainer’s recommendations to play for nearly the entirety of the hyper-competitive final frame.

“I was actually supposed to be on a minute restriction, but the game got too close,” said Walker. “I wanted to be out there. I wanted to compete. I knew down the stretch that it would get serious like that, and I wanted to be a part of it.”

Granted, the man who almost single-handedly dragged his alma mater to an NCAA championship by force of will alone is one of the most competitive players in the world.

But the fact that this sentiment seemed to be shared by everyone on the court (and appreciated by everyone watching, save perhaps for the referees) suggests the new format was a hit for all involved.

For Walker, only a win could have made it better.

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James Harden, Russell Westbrook victorious in NBA All-Star Game

Rockets guards James Harden and Russell Westbrook had their share of highlights at Sunday’s 2020 NBA All-Star Game in Chicago.

Houston Rockets stars and former league MVPs James Harden and Russell Westbrook each finished with their share of highlights and a win at Sunday’s 2020 NBA All-Star Game in Chicago.

The Houston guards competed together with Team LeBron, as drafted by Los Angeles Lakers star and top Western Conference vote-getter LeBron James. Team LeBron won the game, 157-155 (box score), with Harden recording 11 points and six assists in 17 minutes as a starter. Westbrook had six points and three rebounds in 27 minutes off the bench.

Game MVP Kawhi Leonard led Team LeBron with 30 points and seven rebounds, while reigning league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo paced Team Giannis with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks.

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Harden hit what appeared to be the game-winning 3-pointer in the closing moments, but it was wiped away on a controversial offensive foul call drawn by Toronto’s Kyle Lowry. Ultimately, Anthony Davis clinched the victory for Harden and Westbrook’s team with a later free throw.

It was the ninth All-Star nod for Westbrook and the eighth for Harden, who hit a crucial 3-pointer and two free throws in the fourth quarter to help secure the win. Harden also contributed to several late defensive stops in the low post versus the likes of Toronto forward Pascal Siakam.

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Harden was the only starter on Team LeBron with a positive point differential (+3) during his minutes, and he was part of the closing lineup with James, Leonard, Davis, and former Rockets point guard Chris Paul.

Harden leads the NBA with a 35.3 points per game scoring average this season, along with 7.3 assists. Meanwhile, Westbrook is averaging 27.2 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 7.2 assists. They’re the league’s top-scoring duo, and are currently on pace to become the first pair of teammates in NBA history to each average at least 25 points and seven assists.

As for 2019-20 regular season games, the Rockets (34-20) return to action on Thursday night at Golden State (12-42). That game tips off at 9:30 p.m. Central, with an exclusive national broadcast on TNT.

Houston entered the All-Star break having won five of its last seven games, and it could have been six if not for the stunning buzzer-beater last Sunday from Utah’s Bojan Bogdanovic.

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Tatum’s Team LeBron downs Walker’s Team Giannis 157-155 from the line

The so-called “Elam ending” was a hit as the Boston Celtics’ Kemba Walker and Jayson Tatum shined in one of the most interesting All-Star Games in memory.

The Elam ending worked, evidently.

In one of the most exciting All-Star Games in recent memory (if not ever), fans were treated to the best players in the world playing hard on both ends to close out the fourth quarter designed to end at a target score of 24 points over the leading score at the end of the third quarter.

The number 24 was selected to honor the career of Los Angeles Laker luminary Kobe Bryant, who recently passed in a tragic helicopter accident.

The peculiar construct behind the surprisingly exciting quarter — the aforementioned Elam ending — was introduced as a means of attempting to get players to buy into the usually-lax exhibition, and it worked amazingly.

Team LeBron took it down to the wire despite Toronto Raptor Kyle Lowry drawing several charges (yes, really) in a fourth quarter full of intense defense and eye-popping offense, Anthony Davis winning the game on a free throw, missing the first.

The Celtics were well-represented by their two players participating in the 2020 NBA All-Star Game, point guard Kemba Walker and forward Jayson Tatum.

Walker, who started for the second time in the midseason exhibition, would finish with 23 points for Team Giannis, behind only Antetokounmpo himself, who scored 25 points and 11 rebounds.

Tatum logged 6 points for Team LeBron, who were led by Kawhi Leonard’s 30 points and 7 boards in their winning effort, the Los Angeles Clipper earning the first-ever Kobe Bryant All-Star MVP award for his efforts.

Both Celtics players had several highlight plays throughout the match, which also raised money for charity, the winners of each quarter’s designated charitable organization receiving the larger purse.

All in all, it was an intensely engaging All-Star Game, with the Elam ending a probable return for future events, judging from the results.

And with four All-Star-caliber players on Boston’s roster, it’s not unreasonable to assume we’ll be seeing more Celtics scrambling for the win in one next year.

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WATCH: Chris Paul out here dunking in the All-Star Game at 34

Paul put down a two-handed dunk off an alley-oop pass from Russell Westbrook during the second quarter of Sunday’s All-Star Game.

 

Who knew that Chris Paul could still throw it down?

Apparently not a lot of people.

Social media went insane on Sunday night when Paul showed he could still get up at age 34, throwing down an alley-oop off a pass from Russell Westbrook and finishing with a two-hand jam.

Honestly, with how high he got up, Paul looked like he could’ve competed in Saturday night’s dunk contest.

The play came with 7:37 left in the second quarter and Team LeBron trailing Team Giannis 12-10. He even got a little extra hang time on the rim.

The dunk was met by a standing ovation from his teammates on the bench.

The fact that Paul could still dunk was shocking to a lot of the media members that regularly cover the NBA.

Although Tim MacMahon sighted Basketball Reference saying the dunk as Paul’s first since the 2015-16 season when he was with the Clippers, Twitter users were fast to point out that Paul threw down a dunk in game four against the Utah Jazz last year.

Paul has thrown some beautiful lobs of his own during Sunday’s game, including one in the first quarter to Ben Simmons who finished with a monster slam.

WATCH: Chris Paul throws perfect lob to Ben Simmons

On a fast break, Paul threw a perfect lob to a trailing Ben Simmons for the slam.

Chris Paul is out there just doing Chris Paul things.

Paul has made his name in the NBA as, among other things, one of the best passers that the league has ever seen.

He’d led the NBA in assists four times during his career and is currently 7th on the league’s all-time assists list with 9,542. And yet, he never seems to stop dazzling fans with how impressive and effortless they continue to look.

Especially the one from the first quarter of Sunday’s All-Star Game.

With just over a minute to play, Team LeBron was running the floor as part of a fast break. As Paul received a pass, and without coming down, he lobbed it for a trailing Ben Simmons, who finished with a slam to give Team LeBron a 51-37 lead over Team Giannis.

Paul also picked up the first foul of the night, much to the surprise of the broadcast team.

Although according to Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman, who covers Paul and the Thunder extensively, the move by Paul to foul to stop a fast break was completely on-brand.

As of 3:51 left to go in the second quarter, Paul has played nine minutes, scoring 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the field and dishing out four assists.

Former Warrior Jason Richardson says Aaron Gordon was ‘robbed again’ at 2020 Dunk Contest

The Golden State Warriors former Dunk Contest Champion Jason Richardson tweeted in defense of Aaron Gordon, saying the Magic forward was “robbed again.”

Every year Aaron Gordon enters the NBA Slam Dunk Contest at All-Star weekend, the Orlando Magic forward puts on a show. However, after two memorable performances in the contest, Gordon has no hardware to show for it.

In 2016, Gordon lost an epic Dunk Contest duel to Zach LaVine. Although he didn’t win a trophy in 2016, Gordon established himself as a modern dunking icon.

In 2020 Gordon returned to the event in Chicago and picked up right where he left off. The Bay Area native threw down multiple dazzling dunks, including a jam over 7-foot-5 Boston Celtics center Tacko Fall.

 

For the second time, Gordon’s dunks weren’t good enough for first place as the judges awarded Derrick Jones Jr. the 2020 Slam Dunk Contest championship.

Former Golden State Warrior Jason Richardson weighed in on the judges picking Jones over Gordon.

Richardson tweeted that Gordon was “robbed again.”

It’s safe to say, Richardson, winner of back-to-back competitions in 2002 and 2003, knows what he’s talking about when it comes to the Dunk Contest.

James Harden on Russell Westbrook: ‘He’s playing more free’

James Harden seems to be a fan of Houston’s latest lineups, which allow more room for Rockets like Russell Westbrook to drive inside.

Rockets guard James Harden appears to be a fan of Houston’s clear emphasis on floor spacing, in large part because of the increased ability it gives backcourt co-star Russell Westbrook to drive to the basket.

Speaking at Saturday’s All-Star Media Day in Chicago, Harden said of his nine-time All-Star teammate:

We’re giving him space for him to go out there and do what he does at a high level, what he’s been doing for the last 12 years. That’s all you can give somebody that’s a former MVP. You let him go out there and be himself. The comfort level is there. And it’s still only been a few months since he’s been here. He’s still getting adjusted, but he’s looking more comfortable and he’s playing more free.

One of the big benefits of the suddenly smaller lineup for the Rockets is supposed to be floor spacing. In three games since the Feb. 5 trade of traditional big Clint Capela — and with versatile defensive ace and corner 3-point specialist P.J. Tucker starting at center, instead — Westbrook has scored at least 36 points in each game on 54% or better shooting.

That matches the longest such streak in the NBA in over 20 years. The last player to do it for four games was Hall of Fame center Shaquille O’Neal, who did so in November 1999. He was that season’s MVP.

Prior to last Tuesday’s win over Boston, Celtics coach Brad Stevens referred to Westbrook as “like a jet engine flying into the paint.”

“Internally, we don’t think it’s small ball,” Westbrook said Saturday about the lineup. “We just play our personnel and go compete, and that’s it.”

Nonetheless, Westbrook’s increased shooting efficiency has come amid a dramatic change in his shot profile. In his last 10 games entering Tuesday, Westbrook’s average shot distance had dropped by more than four feet relative to his first 34 games in Houston.

In that 10-game stretch, Westbrook’s rate of shots in the paint increased from 52% to 71%, while his attempted 3-pointers fell from 23% to 5%.

Over his last 14 outings, the 31-year-old Westbrook is averaging 34.0 points (53.0% shooting), 8.1 rebounds, and 7.6 assists per game. That makes him the NBA’s No. 2 overall scorer over that span on a per-game basis, trailing only Portland’s Damian Lillard (35.5).

During that 14-game span, Westbrook leads the NBA by far with an average of 25.3 drives per game. Prior to that period, Westbrook ranked No. 6 in the league at 18.2 drives per game.

“Obviously, with this style of playing, different guys on the floor have to be able to guard in a lot of space, which is to my advantage,” Westbrook said during Saturday’s media session. “We’re moving in the right direction. I’m happy where we are, and I’m happy where we’re headed.”

Westbrook and Harden will both play on Team LeBron in Sunday’s All-Star Game, which tips off at 7:00 p.m. Central and will be televised nationally on TNT. Harden will start, while Westbrook comes off the bench.

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As for the Rockets (34-20), they return to action on Thursday night at Golden State (12-42). That game tips off at 9:30 p.m. Central, with an exclusive national broadcast on TNT.

Houston enters the All-Star break having won five of its last seven games, and it could be six if not for Bojan Bogdanovic’s stunning buzzer-beater.

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LeBron hilarious trolls Chris Paul’s patented shot during ASG practice

LeBron tried out Chris Paul’s signature mid-range fadeaway during Team LeBron practice on Saturday afternoon.

It turns out that LeBron James does a pretty good Chris Paul impression.

During the practice session for Team LeBron on Saturday afternoon, James spent time working on his fadeaway jumper. Or more specifically, Paul’s fadeaway jumper.

James, along with Paul and fellow Western Conference All-Stars Russell Westbrook and Kawhi Leonard were chatting near the three-point line when James decided to take the ball inside.

He took a couple of practice power dribbles (we’re assuming to make sure he had the form right) before attempting the patented Chris Paul shot.

James, from the left side of the foul line extended, took three power dribbles with his left hand before pulling up and fading away, shooting off his left leg with his right leg high in the air.

So who did it best?

LeBron may be one of the greatest to ever play the game, but that move is CP3 all day. Although when he walked back to the group, Paul was all smiles so the impression couldn’t have been that far off the mark.

Sunday will be LeBron’s 16th All-Star Game and Paul’s 10th.

It’s Paul’s first selection since the 2015-16 season when he was still with the Clippers. He was also the All-Star MVP in 2013 when he finished with 20 points, 15 assists, and four steals.

Tip-off in the 2020 All-Star Game is Sunday at 8 p.m. EST.

Maybe LeBron James will showcase his new shot.

James Harden on haters: ‘It means you’re doing something right’

In comments at All-Star Media Day, Rockets star James Harden explains why “haters” come with the territory for the NBA’s best players.

Houston Rockets star James Harden has certainly heard from his share of critics over the years regarding his unique style of play.

But as the former MVP sees it, that comes with the territory of being one of the NBA’s best players. Now an All-Star for the eighth time in his eventual Hall of Fame career, the league’s 2019-20 scoring leader had this exchange at Saturday’s All-Star Media Day in Chicago:

Reporter: James, you talked to us before about blocking out the haters. What’s the best part about doing that?

Harden: It means you’re doing something right. [laughs] If you don’t have haters, you don’t have people not wanting you to succeed, then you’re just not doing what you’re supposed to be doing. It’s a part of it. It’s a part of when you’re on the top. and when you’re doing what you’re supposed to be doing.

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Regarding his career goals, Harden was quite succinct in his answer:

Basketball-wise, obviously, I want a championship. I want to be one of the greats to ever play the game of basketball.

A partial transcript of Harden’s interview session with reporters from Saturday’s All-Star Media Day is available at the league’s website.

Harden will start Sunday’s All-Star game, which begins at 7 p.m. Central time and will be televised nationally on TNT. The 30-year-old is averaging a league-high 35.3 points per game for the Rockets (34-20) this season, along with 7.3 assists and 6.5 rebounds per game.

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Russell Westbrook’s toddler steals the show at All-Star Media Day

Watch as Russell Westbrook’s two-year-old son, Noah, barges in and takes the microphone from his dad during the All-Star media session.

Houston Rockets guard Russell Westbrook was ready for the usual array of basketball questions from reporters at Saturday’s media availability in Chicago for 2020 NBA All-Stars.

But the former MVP wasn’t quite as prepared for his two-year-old son, Noah, to take the microphone. Noah, who celebrates his third birthday in May, is the oldest of three children by Westbrook and his wife, Nina.

Though Westbrook is a nine-time All-Star, this weekend represents his first All-Star Game experience with a child old enough to begin enjoying it. That’s exactly what Noah did Saturday by grabbing the microphone and making noises during his father’s media session with reporters.

Now 31 years old, Westbrook also has a pair of twin daughters named Skye and Jordan, born in November 2018. Though the younger girls weren’t with him at the podium in Chicago, Westbrook acknowledged them on Instagram with a photo post on Friday’s Valentine’s Day.

As for basketball, Westbrook and Houston backcourt mate James Harden will each play for Team LeBron in Sunday’s All-Star Game. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. Central, with the game televised nationally on TNT.

In his first season with the Rockets (34-20), Westbrook is averaging 27.2 points (46.3% shooting), 8.0 rebounds, and 7.2 assists in 36.0 minutes per game. Largely led by a historic scoring run from Westbrook, Houston has won five of its last seven games overall.

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