All-Star games are inherently bad. They’re bad for obvious reasons — they’re exhibition games, no one wants to get hurt, it’s better not to try too hard on defense and perhaps get exposed, etc. etc.
Leagues have tried to add wrinkles to make them more exciting, from the minor (captains pick teams) to the drastic (the game deciding home-field advantage in the World Series, which remains bonkers).
But for an All-Star game to be really memorable, you need a lot of things to come together. On Sunday night, when Team LeBron beat Team Giannis 157-155, we got a truly memorable NBA All-Star game. And it was because a lot of things came together.
Yes, there were rule changes. The league embraced the Elam scoring system, a rule recommended by Chris Paul, which reset the score after each quarter, then had a 24-point goal for the final quarter in honor of Kobe Bryant. (More on Kobe shortly). This prevented any blowout, and allowed captains and coaches to re-energize and go after wins each frame.
It also added an incredible intensity to the fourth quarter, where the game went from “fun” to “actually an exciting NBA game.” Teams locked down on defense. With a target score set — the first team to 157 would win — there was no milking possessions or running down the clock with a lead. Teams just had to go for it, every time. It was fantastic.
The other rule change that worked was having captain’s picks, and for that we have to tip our cap to Giannis Antetokounmpo. People roasted Giannis for his team-picking abilities, but by building a team of more unheralded stars, it gave the All-Star game a clear underdog to root for, and a group of guys out there trying to prove something.
Even after the game Giannis was calling out opponent James Harden for his lack of defense. While it wasn’t official or anything, Giannis’ team selections were (perhaps) a subtle statement about what kind of stars play basketball the right way. That energy fed into the game, and made it better.
And while it hurts to type this, it has to be said: The passing of Kobe Bryant and the many homages over the weekend to him (including the re-naming of the ASG MVP award after him) also gave the game meaning and purpose.
Kawhi Leonard, who won the game’s MVP award, admitted he was determined to win the award to honor Bryant.
“I came in, and I made my first two shots. … That’s when I told myself, ‘I’m going to go try to get [MVP],'” Leonard said. “It’s very special. I had a relationship with him. Words can’t explain how happy I am for it. Able to put that trophy in my room, my trophy room, and just be able to see Kobe’s name on there, it just means a lot to me. He’s a big inspiration in my life.”
Chris Paul also played extremely well, finishing with 23 points but also showing a serious commitment on the defensive end, especially in the fourth quarter.
Again, via ESPN:
“For a lot of us, it’s still surreal,” Paul said. “I think the best way we could honor Kobe, Gigi and everyone involved was to play like we played.”
All this is a long way of saying, it’s rare to get an All-Star game to matter. On Sunday, we got one.
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