2020 NBA All-Star Weekend: Nearly Perfect, but Needs Another Change
Saturday
All-Star Weekend 2020 was easily the best we have seen in recent memory. The skills competition was as average as we’d expect with Miami’s Bam Adebayo taking home the trophy. The 3 Point Contest introduced the Mountain Dew Zone, which is two additional shots six feet behind the 3-point line worth 3 points each opposed to the 1 point for normal 3-point shots and 2 points for each money ball shot. Sacramento’s Buddy Hield outdueled Devin Booker and Davis Bertans to win the contest. The Dunk Contest concluded Saturday Night with as much controversy as possible. Derrick Jones JR. of the Miami Heat edged out Aaron Gordon in the final round. They had to go to a Dunk-Off and the score was decided barely in favor of Jones JR. Many believe that judge Dwyane Wade had some bias in voting for Miami’s Jones JR. opposed to Gordon. Disregarding controversy, many incredible dunks were seen on the night.
Sunday
The NBA All-Star Game concluded the weekend on Sunday with many new rule changes. Each of the first 3 quarters were individual mini-games where the winner would get $10,000 the charity they are playing for. Team Lebron won quarter 1, Team Giannis got the next quarter, and then both teams tied the 3rd quarter. The 4th quarter combined all of the scores from the previous quarters and the leading teams total plus 24 would be the “Target Score”, which on Sunday night was 157. Team Lebron was victorious with the game coming down Anthony Davis at the free throw line with his team having 156. He missed the first and knocked down the second to secure the win for Team Lebron. Kawhi Leonard won the very first Kobe Bryant All-Star MVP award after totaling 30 points. The newest addition to the night was insane competition throughout the entire 4th quarter as it became winning the money for charity as well as an ego competition. Fans and players alike loved the new format to the weekend.
All-Star Game Analysis
As I have mentioned thus far, the weekend was incredible. Seeing each quarter being a mini game for charity was great. The usual exciting dunks and lack of defense were visible in the first 3 quarters. Flashy play is always great to see, but everyone’s biggest critique was the nearly negative defense played through the entirety of the game. But oh man, did we get the defense in the last quarter. The teams had to get to 157 to win and with the egos of these superstars, they were not gonna allow the other team to get there first. The last 10 points of this game were crazy. Blocks, steals, charges, oh my. The competitive atmosphere felt like that of an NBA Finals. Then the game ended on a free throw. I personally think that’s bullshit as did many other fans and players. I have a change suggestion that could fix these issues.
The Change
Simply said, the game should not be allowed to be won with a free throw. My suggestion is that neither team in the final quarter is given free throw shots after fouls. All fouls would result in an inbounds play. You may ask, “what about intentionally fouling when someone has a clear path to the basket”? If both teams are 2 points away from the target score and someone’s about to make an easy layup, it would be smart to stop the play with a foul, especially if it wouldn’t result in points. Wellllll, any intentional foul within the final 10 points of the target score would subtract a point from the team committing the foul. Incentivize defense, but not fouling. This was the most entertaining All-Star Weekend in my recent memory, but this one change would make it perfect.
Brandon Black (Follow @bhblack02)