I watching those old All Star moments on nba.com when i was wondering... was the ASG always a half-assed game or when did it turn into that? I only started watching the NBA probably 4 years ago and it's always been a joke. Was it ever really competitive? When did it change and why...? Tell me old NBA fans!
The ASG to me always seemed competitive, but the players don`t get into as much like a playoff game or anything. It`s just fun to watch the best in the East and West go at it.
I think it turned into a half-assed game when the West was predominately stronger. Shaq(prime), KG, Dirk, Webber, Duncan, Kobe, Francis etc. On the East the only hope of survival fell on AI's, T-Mac and Carter shoulders. But the East is slowly closing the margain with Peja, LeBron, Wade and Shaq. But then again the West is coming out strong with T-Mac and Stoudemire. Well all I know is that the margain the West had over the East has taken a hit big time.
There have been a few genuinely competitive games the last few years, in my opinion. The intensity goes up a level in the second half, particularly when it's close.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Avery:</div><div class="quote_post">But the East is slowly closing the margain with Peja, LeBron, Wade and Shaq.</div> You can't really mention Peja when he hasn't played a single game (let alone an allstar game) in the east yet. I doubt that he will ever be an allstar in the east. He's not really a difference maker anyway, Shaq is an example of a difference maker. To answer the original poster, the Allstar game is half-assed until the fourth quarter. As a fan would you really want to see a blowout in the allstar game? There is some incentive for the players; winner's get $20K while losers get $10K (I know, that's like pennies to them). Doesn't the winner of the allstar game also get homecourt advantage in the finals? I'm pretty sure that they do, but that's only recently.
homecourt advantage in the finals!? I didnt know that.. I think you might be mistaken, homecourt is decided by team record and it depends who they play if they are both tied in the standings then the team who won more of their regular season meetings against each other gets homecourt advantage. I remember it being more competetive in the Jordan/Barkley Era, now adays people wanna see more highlights in an all-star game, thats why they play around the first half trying out dunks ect.. and it gets really competitive during the 2nd..
Last years ASG was wierd. Both teams were playing hard on O and D during the first quarter. There were no dunks during the first. It was a low scoring game during the first. Then both teams were told to lighten up on D, because the ASG is about fun. Then they let eachother dunk. I think its cool that they give you hightights the first half, and a good competitive game the second. But the players just are not into it.
One of the most competitve games was the Jordan sending the game into overtime couple of years ago. Now that was entertaining to watch.
Asg I think for a while it was competitive, but it's hard to motivate a pro athlete to play for something not a record(unless they're a showman type, which is perfectly fine). Also after Jordan retired, teams in the West seemed to have better talent throughout the league. Actually i think last year was the first time the East team had beaten the west...maybe im thinking of the 'chip, which Detroit won for the East for the first time since Orlando i think..
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting dtpxcore:</div><div class="quote_post">One of the most competitve games was the Jordan sending the game into overtime couple of years ago. Now that was entertaining to watch.</div> Yea I remember that one, it was really good towards the end, the best recent all star game was that one.
best recent all star game is the 2001 one imo... Marbury and kobe had alot of clutch shots at the end...and it came down to the last shot also, many dunks in that game too
