Tag: 2020 NBA All-Star

Watch: Steph Curry fired up after Giannis Antetokounmpo’s All-Star block on LeBron James

Stephen Curry was fired up watching the 2020 NBA All-Star Game at home.

The 2020 edition of the NBA All-Star game had a different feel to it. In Chicago, the NBA switched up how the star-studded exhibition was decided. Each quarter was split up into stand-alone periods, with the winner getting $100,000 donated to charity.

The most exciting change came in the final period. The fourth quarter was played with no time; instead, the game was decided by a point total — similar to pick-up basketball.

The new format provided fireworks. A game known for showing off turned into a legitimate competition. All-Stars were passing the ball to get an efficient shot, taking charges and playing defense.

One of the key defensive moments came from the reigning Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo. The “Greek Freak” met LeBron James at the rim to send him away with an emphatic block. The swat was initially called goaltending, but after review, it was ruled a clean block. However, James had the last laugh when his team edged out Team Giannis, 157-156.

Although the game was exciting, it was still missing the presence of six-time All-Star, Stephen Curry. The Golden State Warriors’ guard has only played four games this season due to his hand injury, yet still finished in the top-10 of Western Conference voting.

Curry’s absence from All-Star festivities didn’t stop him from tuning in. Ayesha Curry posted a story on her Instagram with her husband cheering after Antetokounmpo’s block on James.

Reports have targeted March for Curry’s return to the court from injury. The injured guard will have around 20 games with Golden State to knock off the rust before getting back to an All-Star campaign next season. Curry will have the chance to make his debut in the new All-Star Game format next year in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Steph and Ayesha Curry approve of the new All-Star Game format

Ayesha Curry posted an Instagram story of her and Steph enjoying the new format in the 2020 All-Star Game.

The NBA took a bold, yet innovative approach to the 2020 All-Star Game. Each quarter of the game, the score reset. Between Team Giannis and Team Lebron, the winner of each period won $100,000 donated to the charity of their choice.

In the fourth and final quarter, there was no clock as the teams played to a total instead of time. The leading group, after three quarters, added 24 points to their score total, and that was the goal to end the game.

At the end of the third quarter in 2020, Team Giannis led 133-124, making the game-winning total 157. The final period turned into a pick-up style battle. Both teams traded blows with Team Lebron rallying back to seal the 157-156 win on an Anthony Davis free throw.

The format provided a higher level of intensity to the exhibition game, especially in the fourth quarter, stamping the change successful.
Yet, there was still something missing from the new version of the NBA All-Star Game.

For the first time in years, the Golden State Warriors did not have a member represented in the game. Both of Golden State’s perineal All-Stars, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson have combined to miss almost the entire 2019-20 season due to injury. However, even injured, Curry finished in the top-10 of Western Conference guard voting.

Although Curry wasn’t available to play in the new construction, the six-time NBA All-Star weighed in on the matter with excitement. Ayesha Curry posted an Instagram story with her husband watching the All-Star Game.

Both members of the Curry family approved of the new format of the game.

Curry is still recovering from his broken hand injury, but reports point towards a March return. If Curry can hit his return target, the Warriors will have around 20 games left this season with their two-time Most Valuable Player.

Once fully healthy next season, Curry will have the opportunity to participate in the new and entertaining All-Star Game setup.

Giannis Antetokounmpo says a healthy Steph Curry makes it ‘way tougher for the rest of the league’

At All-Star weekend in Chicago, Giannis Antetokounmpo spoke about the absence of Warriors’ guard Stephen Curry.

Something is missing during the Chicago edition of NBA All-Star weekend. The Golden State Warriors have seemingly dominated the NBA’s famed event over the past five seasons, but in 2020 things are different.

Whether it’s Kevin Durant earning All-Star game Most Valuable Player, or Klay Thompson winning the Three-Point Contest, members of the Warriors have headlined the NBA’s star-studded weekend.

Yet, in 2020, the only member of the Warriors in Chicago was Eric Paschall, who was invited to the Rising Stars Challenge.

The lack of the Golden State Warriors at All-Star weekend connects a more significant theme for their 2019-20 season — injuries. Stephen Curry has only played four games this season due to a broken hand, and still placed in the All-Star voting top-10. At the same time, Thompson hasn’t played yet this season as he recovers from the ACL injury he suffered in the 2019 NBA Finals.

Injuries to Curry and Thompson have pulled the Warriors from perennial title contenders down to the bottom of the Western Conference.

Without the Warriors —  the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers and Toronto Raptors have catapulted to the top of the NBA standings.

Leading the Bucks is All-Star team captain Giannis Antetokounmpo. In Chicago, the 2019 Most Valuable Player spoke about the absence of Curry throughout the current NBA season.

Antetokounmpo told reporters at All-Star Game media day that players around the league are enjoying games with Curry out because of how difficult he makes things for his opponents.

Obviously, Steph Curry is an amazing talent, amazing player. The game is different without him, so we definitely — actually, let me be honest with you. The players, we kind of enjoy that he’s not playing — not enjoy that he’s hurt. We want him to be healthy, but he just makes it way, way tougher for the rest of the league, but I’m happy he’s going to be back healthy and happy that he’s going to be able to help his team win some games.

Reports have targeted March as Curry’s potential return from injury, giving him around 20 games to get back to making things tough on the rest of the NBA. Next season when Curry and Thompson both suit up healthy, the Warriors will restart their climb towards contention.

Does Eric Paschall have a chance at winning the 2020 Rising Stars Challenge MVP?

Can Warriors’ rookie Eric Paschall bring the Rising Stars Challenge MVP hardware back to the Bay Area?

With Golden State’s record sitting at the bottom of the Western Conference, there hasn’t been much to be proud of during the 2019-20 season for Warriors fans.

Stephen Curry’s return from injury, and how newly-acquired Andrew Wiggins fits in with the Warriors are exciting things to watch in the second half of the season, but leading up to the All-Star break, it’s been bleak.

However, one of the pleasant surprises in a down season filled with injury has been the opportunities opened up for players on the backend of the rotation.

Eric Paschall, the Warriors second-round pick in 2019, has evolved into one of Steve Kerr’s leading scorers. The Villanova product is averaging 13.2 points per game on 48.2 % from the field.

The rookie has thrived with opportunity, earning a spot in the 2020 NBA Rising Stars Challenge in Chicago.

Paschall’s numbers may have dipped from his Rookie of the Year caliber start, but he’s been surprising people all season long —  so why count him out as a contender for the game’s Most Valuable Player award?

Here’s a look at how Paschall can bring an MVP trophy from Chicago back to the Bay Area.

Veteran mindset

The Rising Stars Challenge is a display of the NBA’s youth, and while Paschall is still very young, he’ll be one of the oldest players on the floor Friday night in Chicago.

Paschall, 23, is only behind Miami Heat guard Kendrick Nunn and Charlotte Hornets’ guard Devonte’ Graham, who are both 24 from the original roster. Nicolo Melli, 29 from the New Orleans Pelicans, was added as a replacement for Phoenix center Deandre Ayton.

The Rising Stars Challenge is one game where Paschall will have an edge when it comes to experience. What Paschall learned during his junior and senior years at Villanova could benefit him while playing against 19 and 20-year-olds.

Bully ball

One thing Golden State’s fanbase has learned about Paschall is his strength. The New York native is already big in size that carries into a sense of physicality every time he touches the ball.

Paschall has registered high scoring totals throughout his rookie season, including two 30-point games. Yet, he hasn’t shot the ball well from deep. In Paschall’s top five scoring contests, he’s only made 10 shots from beyond the arc total.

In an All-Star game where other players may be camping around the three-point line to show off their long-distance shooting, Paschall could be in line to clean up points in the lane.

Posterization

Pairing with off his physicality is Paschall’s eye for the aggressive dunk. Paschall athleticism is an underrated part of his game. Throughout his rookie year, Paschall has had multiple rim rocking dunks.

If Paschall can stuff the stat sheet using a veteran mindset and add one highlight-reel dunk, the Warriors rookie could be in line for some hardware.

Lonzo Ball says he’s happy, proud of Brandon Ingram for All-Star selection

Lonzo Ball spoke about his happiness and pride for Brandon Ingram following the forward’s All-Star reserve selection this week.

While he wasn’t selected himself for the All-Star game, few players have appeared happier about Brandon Ingram’s All-Star selection than Lonzo Ball. An advocate early on for Ingram this season, Ball was one of the first to congratulate Ingram in-person after Thursday’s announcement.

On Friday, Ball spoke to the media for the first time since Ingram’s selection following the Pelicans’ win over Memphis and reiterated his delight.

“I’m just proud of him. Happy for him. I’ve been saying it (that) I thought he was an All-Star. He’s been proving it all season and I feel like he’s going to only get better from here.”

Across the board, Ingram is having a career year. And only Ball and Josh Hart know how far Ingram has come this season not only after his on-court struggles in Los Angeles and the off-court scares with his blood clot.

The two have been not only linked due to the trade for Anthony Davis but have shared the on-court more than any other Pelican pairing this season. And while they’ll continue to be linked, seeing their friendship on display can only make one smile.

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All Star Update: First time Warriors without player in game since 2013

The 2020 All-Star team has been announced, and for the first time since 2013, the Golden State Warriors will not have a player represented in the game.

When the 2020 NBA All-Star Western Conference starters were announced last week, something was missing from the lineup — no representative from the Golden State Warriors for the first time since 2014.

Then, the 2020 NBA All-Star Western Conference reserves were announced for the game in Chicago; more bad news came for Golden State. For the first time since 2013, the Warriors will not be sending a player to the game.

The rise of the “Splash Brothers” era has sparked many accolades for the Golden State Warriors. Most Valuable Player, Defensive Player of the Year, All-Star appearances, and, of course, five consecutive trips to the NBA finals that resulted in three-championship banners hanging in the Chase Center rafters.

In 2013, David Lee made the All-Star game as a reserve, but from 2014 on, Stephen Curry started in every game until 2020. Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant and Draymond Green all represented the Warriors in the All-Star game during that span.

However, with injuries to both Curry and Thompson during the 2019-20 season, the accolades have faded, and the losses have piled up. When the Western Conference All-Star reserves were announced Thursday evening, the Golden State Warriors were left out.

NBA All-Star weekend will start in Chicago on Thursday, February 16, with things like the Rising Stars Challenge and the 3-Point Shootout events leading up to the game on Sunday, February 19.

Lonzo Ball received nine player votes as to be All-Star starter

In the final voting for the All-Star game, Lonzo Ball received nine player votes to be a Western Conference starter.

The final results for the All-Star starters were announced on Thursday evening with little surprise. The Western Conference starters were James Harden, Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard and Anthony Davis while the Eastern Conference starters were Trae Young, Kemba Walker, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Pascal Siakam and Joel Embiid.

Lonzo Ball finished well off the pace in the voting, ranking 22nd among guards in the Western Conference in fan vote. However, that wasn’t the case in the player vote. In total, nine players voted Ball as an All-Star starter, ranking him 18th in guards in the player vote just behind De’Aaron Fox. However, rightfully so, no media members voted for Ball.

Unfortunately, the votes are revealed to the public so we will never know who the nine players were. Most likely, it was either current Pelican or former Laker teammates who voted for Ball or potentially former UCLA players.

Ball finished highest of any Pelican guard, ranking just ahead of Jrue Holiday who received 15 player votes. JJ Redick received one player vote while Nickeil-Alexander Walker received three.

In the front court, Brandon Ingram led all Pelicans by finishing with just over one million fan votes to rank eighth overall. His 48 player votes ranked him sixth while two media members voted him as an All-Star starter. Overall, Ingram finished seventh overall the final standings for front court players.

Zion Williamson finished 26th in fan voting and received a pair of player votes to finish second on the team. Derrick Favors also received a pair of player votes.

For all the hand-wringing in recent weeks about the fan votes, which stemmed largely around the likes of Alex Caruso and Tacko Fall finding themselves inside the top ten for fan voting, the player votes seem to be more egregious.

All-Star reserves, which will likely include Ingram, will be announced Jan. 30.

Warriors without NBA All-Star Game starter for first time since 2014

The Golden State Warriors don’t have an NBA All-Star voted into the starting lineup of the game for the first time since 2014.

The Warriors have entered the past five consecutive NBA Finals, hanging three championship banners along the way— with that type of success comes popularity. Since 2013, the individuals who built Golden State’s championship run have enjoyed personal accolades. Members of Golden State have won awards like Defensive Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player, yet the most common nod has been an invite to the NBA’s All-Star Game.

In the 2019-20 season, with the Warriors record sitting at the bottom of the Western Conference, the All-Star recognition doesn’t come as easy. The NBA revealed the starters for the 2020 NBA All-Star game, and for the first time since 2014, the Golden State Warriors don’t have a player in the starting lineup.

For the Western Conference, Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks), LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers), James Harden (Houston Rockets), Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers) and Kawhi Leonard (Los Angeles Clippers) have been named as starters, leaving the Warriors on the outside looking in.

After a long layoff from All-Star participation, David Lee was named an All-Star reserve in 2013, the first Golden State Warrior to participate in the game since 1997.

Following Lee the next season, Stephen Curry started the next six All-Star games, with other Warriors like Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green all getting invited to the game at times since 2014.

Injuries and the departure of Durant have limited Golden State’s ability to earn an All-Star call-up. However, even injured, Curry ranked in the top-10 of Western Conference guard voting throughout the process. D’Angelo Russell also listed in the top-10 of voting, yet it wasn’t good enough to earn a starting spot.

Golden State could still have the chance to send someone to Chicago for the 2020 edition of the All-Star game, as the reserves are announced on Thursday, January 30.

Steph Curry and D’Angelo Russell represent Warriors in All-Star voting

Stephen Curry and D’Angelo Russell named in the top-six for the Golden State Warriors in the first round of All-Star voting.

Over the past five seasons, the Golden State Warriors have dominated NBA All-Star weekend. Whether it’s Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson battling in the three-point shootout or Kevin Durant running the floor with Draymond Green in the All-Star Game, the Warriors have been heavily involved throughout the weekend.

While things have changed with Durant moving to Brooklyn and the Warriors struggling at the bottom of the Western Conference, one thing remains the same— NBA fans still want to see Golden State represented in the All-Star game.

Two Warriors were named in the first round of All-Star voting on Thursday, with Stephen Curry and D’Angelo Russell both ranking in the top-six for Western Conference guards.

Curry, who’s only played four games in the 2019-20 season due to injury, ranked fourth amongst Western Conference guards with 191,149 votes. Curry won’t be able to participate in All-Star festivities because of his hand injury, but seeing his name near the top in votes is a nod to the former two-time MVP’s impact across the league.

Curry only trails Luka Doncic, James Harden and Damian Lillard in the West guard voting. Two slots behind Curry is another Warrior backcourt mate, Russell, at 122,499 votes.

Russell has taken on the responsibility of Curry in his first season in Golden State and has impressed. Russell’s averaging 23.2 points and 6.0 assister per game on the season, shooting 43.3 percent from the field— all rank above his career averages.

Injuries have hampered the Ohio State product’s season, causing him to miss 14 games this season. Still, when healthy, the former Brooklyn All-Star has been a tremendous scoring threat for Steve Kerr’s offense. Russell’s registered seven 30-point games on the season, including one 52-point burst against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Two familiar names were missing from All-Star voting with Thompson and Green, not cracking the top-10 in either forward or guard category. Thompson hasn’t played a game this season as he rehabs from an ACL injury while Green has dealt with his own set of injury concerns throughout 2019.

The Warriors are in a transition year as their core is on the mend with injuries. However, with the early return on voting naming two Dubs, there’s still a chance Golden State is represented at All-Star weekend in Chicago.

All-Star voting continues through January 20, with starters announced January 23, and reserves named January 30.