After years of experimentation, the NBA returned to the traditional East vs. West for four quarters format for the All-Star Game. The outcome felt reminiscent of last year’s game, with little defence and score records falling.
The East set an All-Star Game record of 211 points, led by MVP Damian Lillard’s 39 points, and the 211-186 victory set a record for total points scored by both teams.
“To the Eastern Conference All-Stars, you had the most points. “Well, congratulations,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said as he presented the All-Star Game championship trophy to the East, apparently gritting his teeth after promising a more competitive, intense All-Star Game the day before.
“I believe we need to find it out. “Where is the median?…” LeBron James inquired postgame. “That is how our regular-season games look right now. They allowed us to tighten up in the postseason. It’s a deeper dive into the conversation about how we can strengthen this game. Obviously, from a player’s standpoint. It’s fun to get up and down, but our competitive instinct dislikes free-flowing scoring.
“But I think the positive thing that came out of tonight was that none of the players were wounded, and everyone got out uninjured or as they were before the game began. So we’re having a more in-depth talk.”
Silver and fans seeking competitiveness may express their disgust all they want; this is what All-Star Games in every major sport have become: the top players in the game attempting to avoid injury while demonstrating their abilities. Defence is not part of the game plan. This isn’t just an NBA thing; the NFL eliminated the game entirely, naming All-Pros before doing a skills competition and some flag football — it was the only way to get men to play and take it seriously. The NBA can embrace the scoring explosion or not, but they will not force players to risk injury while playing hard defence in a pointless showcase.
That isn’t to say there weren’t any interesting moments.
Perhaps the best play of the first half was Paul George’s bounce pass alley-oop to LeBron James.
When Lillard effortlessly hit a three-pointer from half-court in the third quarter, it appeared to be his night.
Bam Adebayo made the funniest play of the game, inbounding the ball off Jokic’s back to himself and converting it into a 3.
Perhaps the funniest play was Jokic faking a dunk to lay it in on the breakaway.
NBA skills were also on display. Karl-Anthony Towns scored a game-high 50 points as the West lost.
Tyrese Haliburton, a hometown hero, opened the game 5-of-5 from three, with the fifth coming from the logo, much to the joy of the Indiana fans. He went on to record 32 points and six assists.
