Tag: NBA All-Star Weekend

NBA All-Star Game: Fans hate the changes to the 3-point contest

This could be really fun.

The NBA is always looking to tinker with things — even when they’re not necessarily broken. And it looks like there will be quite a few during All-Star Weekend.

The league already announced changes to the All-Star Game that they were doing in tribute to Kobe Bryant. The game will have an Elam Ending and money will be donated to different charities of the players’ choices after every quarter.

Now,  they’re also switching the 3-point contest up according to an AP report.  They’re adding shots, time and, most importantly, range to the contest that might add a wrinkle to make it a bit more exciting.

Here’s how it works:

  • Range matters now. The league is adding a pair of deep shots from six feet behind the three point line on the wing. Each shot is worth an extra three points.
  • With extra shots comes extra time. Instead of the customary 60 seconds to get through all five racks, players will get 70 seconds to shoot through the racks and the deep shots.
  • The maximum score a player can reach is now 40, which is six points higher than the previous maximum.

The league wanted to reflect the deep 3-pointers being taken around the league — you know, the ones from the Trae Youngs and Damian Lillards of the world.

Here’s who will be competing in the 3-point contest:

The league definitely thought they were adding an exciting twist here, but the fans don’t seem to be feeling it just yet.

On one hand I feel them. They are just adding…a couple of 3-point shots to the 3-point contest. When you look at it that way, it’s unnecessary.

But, on the other hand, INSANELY DEEP THREES ARE ALWAYS RIDICULOUS AND FUN. We need to accept that as a fact and appreciate the fact that we live in a time where NBA players can casually pull up from half court.

I won’t accept anything less from us as a basketball community.

Report: Hamidou Diallo wants to defend dunk contest crown

Hamidou Diallo told Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman that as long as he’s healthy, he wants to participate in this year’s NBA Dunk Contest.

Pulling open his jersey to reveal a shirt bearing the signature S of Superman before leaping over the back of Shaquille O’Neal to stuff a slam, Hamidou Diallo looked every part of the superhero during last year’s dunk contest.

But even Superman has his kryptonite and for Diallo, this season, that’s been his right elbow.

Diallo missed significant time this year after he suffered a hyperextension injury to his right elbow in a game against the Lakers in November. He sat out 17 games before returning on Dec. 31 against the Mavericks.

Since coming back, Diallo has thrown down some pretty savage dunks.

He told Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman that he’s ready to defend his dunk champion crown, saying that if he’s healthy, he’s “100% a competitor”.

“Right now I’m just focused on trying to get back to 100%. Still trying to get back in a groove on the court, a rhythm on the court and worry about the dunk contest when that time comes.”

Diallo doesn’t seem to be worried about any other potential participants, saying, “I’m the winner. I’m the competition for them. I’m going in with the crown.”

The 2020 AT&T Dunk Contest will be held on Saturday, Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. CT on TNT.

As of this writing, Dwight Howard is the player officially confirmed for this year’s dunk contest, per the NBA.

All other players, Diallo included, are TBD.

Until the rest of the participants are announced, relive all of Diallo’s dunks from the 2019 contest, starting with his first-round off-hand dunk.

A ‘Space Jam’ Nike LeBron 17 could be releasing during All-Star weekend

A ‘Space Jam’ Nike LeBron 17 could be releasing during NBA All-Star weekend in Chicago.

Space Jam 2 is scheduled to hit theaters during the summer of 2021. The direct sequel to the 1996 film, Space Jam, will be directed by Malcolm D. Lee and star LeBron James in the role that Michael Jordan first made famous. In anticipation of this theatrical release, there could be a pair of “Space Jam” Nike LeBron 17 sneakers on the way.

Nike has not yet confirmed the release of the “Space Jam” pack but there are reports indicating that the shoes could be coming soon. According to Sole Collector, the “Monstars” LeBron 17 is expected to release on Feb. 14 followed by the “Toon Squad” LeBron 17 Low arriving on Feb. 15.

According to GOAT’s release calendar, two “Space Jam” Nike LeBron 17s are now expected to release during the 2020 NBA All-Star Weekend, which includes a Monstars-inspired colorway along with a “Toon Squad” makeup of the unreleased Lebron 17 Low. As of now, an early look at both pairs have yet to be revealed.

NBA All-Star weekend takes place in Chicago from February 14-16. The last time the All-Star game was in the Windy City was 1988. Jordan offered the home crowd 40 points in the game after staging an epic showdown with Dominique Wilkins during one of the most iconic dunk contests ever.

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7 takeaways from round two of NBA All-Star voting

TACKO FALL AND ALEX CARUSO ARE CLIMBING.

Do you hear that? Ah, yes. It’s the sweet, sweet sound of internet chaos. Round two of NBA All-Star voting is in and everyone is just as mad as they were the first go around.

For those of us who love to watch Twitter burn? This is great. For everyone else? All-Star voting is a complete sham. A popularity contest. Do away with the fan vote.

If we’re being honest here, they’re probably right. But that’s also the beauty of the fan vote. It’s chaos!

Here’s a look at how the second round of voting has gone so far. It’s absolutely ridiculous.

Once again, remember, fan voting doesn’t end until January 20. Player voting (25%) and media panel voting (25%) make up the other half of the vote for starters.  The reserves will be chosen by NBA coaches.

In other words, this isn’t how the team is going to look. There’s still a big chance for your favorite player to land on the All-Star team.

In the meantime, though, here are seven takeaways from the NBA’s totally chaotic second go-round of All-Star voting.

LeBron James is king again…

After falling down to third in the first round of All-Star voting, LeBron James has jumped up to first overall with 3,359,871 total votes. Luka Doncic is second with 3,277,870 and Giannis Antetokounmpo is third with 3,259,383.

Alright, look y’all. I’ll say it. Look, James is great. We get it. But THIS IS BORING.

Give us Team Doncic and Team Antetokounmpo. It’s time for the torch to be passed. Just once, it’d be nice to see James be human. Have him drafted with all of the other run-of-the-mill All-Stars. Could you imagine James being drafted as not the number one pick in an All-Star draft? DRAMA.

This is what we need. For the love of everything chaotic in the NBA, vote Doncic and Antetokounmpo.

Trae Young is still the leading guard in the East

TRAE YOUNG HIVE STAND UP! The Hawks guard leads all Eastern Conference guards with 1,389,628 votes.

We do not care that Young plays for the worst team in the NBA. We do not care that he can’t play a lick of defense. We don’t even care that we don’t fully know what’s going on with his hairline.

All we know is that he’s probably the most fun player to watch in basketball right now. That’s all that matters, numbers aside. All-Star games are about fun. This vote is correct.

Tacko Fall!? ALEX CARUSO!?!? CLIMBING!?!?

YUP. THAT’S RIGHT.

We’re doing it, y’all. We’re really going to make Tacko Fall and Alex Caruso All-Stars. We had no idea this was possible, yet here we are being incredibly dumb and incredibly great all at one time.

Tacko Fall has 543,352 votes. Alex Caruso moved up to sixth among all West guards. Objectively speaking, this is incorrect. But if this is incorrect, then what’s the actual point in being right?

This is great. Bald Mamba forever. Tacko Fall forever.

Carmelo Anthony is going to get that legacy spot

Anthony isn’t going to be a starter and that’s fine. But the fans want to see him in this game — that’s clear. He’s still sitting at 8th in the West’s front court voting and has been a pretty fun story this year.

We’ve got to get him in that same legacy spot that went to Dirk Nowitzki and Dwyane Wade last year. It makes too much sense.

Kyrie Irving knows what’s good

Kyrie Irving has been injured for most of the season and still has the second most votes as a guard in the East with 1,351,997 votes.

It’s hard to condone a dude who has missed 70% of his teams games so far being an All-Star starter. But, like Young, Kyrie Irving is just incredibly fun in an All-Star game. And he knows it, too.

…. Fair enough.

At the same time, Spencer Dinwiddie is being disrespected

We have to do better. Spencer Dinwiddie appeared in the first returns for the vote with 94,618 votes. Now, he’s nowhere to be found. He’s been replaced at the 10th spot with Fred VanVleet.

With all due respect to VanVleet, Dinwiddie has been flat out better this season. Hopefully, the players and media do him some justice.

What year is it again?

Because if you look at the voting too quickly you might think it’s 2010.

Derrick Rose is fourth at guard in the East with 918,550 votes and Dwight Howard is 10th in the West front court with 390,037 votes thanks to that Lakers bump.

Two years ago, this being a thing was laughable. Now? It’s…well…still pretty laughable. Yet, here we are.

Yup. We’re definitely living in a simulation.

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Fan votes have Rockets’ James Harden in line for All-Star start

Rockets star James Harden ranks second among West guards in 2020 NBA All-Star Game fan voting, while Russell Westbrook is at fifth.

Houston Rockets superstar James Harden is on course to be a starter in the NBA All-Star Game for a fourth consecutive year, according to the league’s initial release of fan voting totals.

Harden has been an All-Star in all seven of his completed seasons with the Rockets, and a starter in five of them.

Harden currently ranks second in fan voting among Western Conference guards, trailing only Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks. Doncic, who hails from Slovenia and brings a significant international voting presence, leads the entire NBA in early voting results.

The fan vote accounts for half of the voting that determines All-Star starters. Players make up 25%, as does a panel of media members.

While the status of votes from the latter two groups is not yet known, it’s hard to imagine Harden not in the top two of West guards by any of those voting blocks. The 2018 MVP currently averages a league-leading 38.2 points per game, which is the highest total of any player in the last 56 years. He’s also in the NBA’s top 10 in assists at 7.5 per game.

Fellow Rockets guard Russell Westbrook, who is averaging 24.2 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 7.1 assists per game, is fifth in the fan voting among Western Conference guards. However, barring an injury to Doncic or Harden, there wouldn’t appear to be a path for Westbrook to start.

However, Westbrook could still make the All-Star Game as a reserve. All 30 NBA coaches are given a ballot with the ability to select three frontcourt players, two backcourt players, and two wild-card picks from each conference. Westbrook has been an All-Star in eight of the last nine seasons, and he was the game’s MVP in 2015 and 2016.

Besides Harden and Westbrook, no other Rockets player is currently in the top 10 of fan voting totals. Fan voting continues through Jan. 20, with updated tallies to be released on Jan. 9 and Jan. 16. The game’s starters will be announced on Jan. 23, and the reserves on Jan. 30.

The 2020 All-Star Game will then be held on Sunday, Feb. 16 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.

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