The NBA has been getting trashed on my news feed with low ratings and a failed All-Star Weekend helped them dig in deeper. The showcase has been mundane for the last decade or so without any of the stars competing in the dunk contest. The game format keeps changing because this generation doesn’t play like MJ or Kobe in the 4th quarter and the world watches a shoot around, layup drills, boring!
This year Adam Silver gave us a 4-team bracket coached by Shaq, Kenny, Charles, and Candace (Rising Stars Team). Draymond Green didn’t hold back on the broadcast with his displeasure and at times had to be redirected but he wasn’t wrong. Two teams were eliminated in a game to 40 pts. and that was their weekend, over. The intermission between the final game was God-Awful with the TNT crew getting gifts from Kevin Hart for their last All-Star game as NBC has won the contract rights.
Although the players did show more effort than I’ve ever seen it was a game to 40, didn’t take long. Therefore some players were barely showcased. But the hometown guy always has carte blanch and Steph didn’t hesitate even hitting a halfcourt 3 in the Championship game. He finished with 12pts. and the MVP honors in Team Shaq’s victory, with King James taking the night off. Boring.
I heard the players got a pep talk, an ask, but not really to play hard and what happens off the rip, Chris Paul flaunts the rules. Chris, teamed with France’s Victor Wenbamyama did not attempt to make any of the shots in the Skills Challenge time in at 47 seconds and disqualified. Mr. Paul was so pissed no reporter dared to interview him. Great Start! But as my stepdad would say, “mighty Cavs” took the trophy and $55k with the Spider and Evan earning a me a modest FanDuel W.
The 3pt. contest felt like a shell of itself, like Sir Charles would say, ‘terrible.’ The other Cavs selection PG Darius Garland wore his dad’s old number and put a respectable 24 up in the 1st round but only 19 in the 2nd. Which wasn’t enough to beat Miami Heat’s Tyler Herro 31 earning him 60k, avoiding Damon Lillard’s 3-peat, and me another small FanDuel W, plus Damon hit the game winning shot in the 1st game, another win.
Although I don’t understand why Mr. Beast is so popular, he seems twitchy, his 100k to a fan for making 1 half-court shot before Damon hit 3 or to charity was a highlight. The fan, Jaren Barajas, a college student, skinny with glasses hung in among the star power. He was getting hassled by Lillard and the Beast but he maintained. Mr. Beast got Kenny to come out and give Jaren some advice and it resonated. Because as Mr. Beast said, “30 seconds to commercial, keep shooting” the kid smoked that swish as the buzzer sounded and the place went bonkers! Shaq in his purple pimp hat, Kenny smooth the only one with dress shoes, and Jaren embraced, jumped, smiled, and laughed; it was awesome got me screaming ‘fuck yea!’ Good for him.
In the prime-time slot is the Dunk Contest but before we were presented with Vince Carter’s famous performance from years past, 25, every dunk, like the dunk contest used to be cool. Remember Dee Brown? No. YT then. The last two years has seen Mac McClung, 6’2’’ G-league star, and white like Oppy try and win his 3rd straight. Having a minor leaguer come to the show and crush is embarrassing for the NBA. I’ve never seen that in any other sport but in Mac’s defense he has won the MVP down there, so bring him up Magic.
The kid straight-up jumped over a car like he was Tony Ja in Ong Bak and reversed the jam tapping his foot on the vehicle but avoiding an injury. This was no Blake Griffin hood jump but sunroof shining over the KIA, I couldn’t believe it! Contest Over but that was his first dunk. The tap of the front rim over Mobly and flush was impressive. Plus he never missed a dunk. JA Morant threw his hat in the ring for the next year due to the lack of competition and Giannis followed, me too. We’ll see. Mac walks away in the company of Nate Robinson (3-time Champ) and 100k edging his name in Dunk Contest lore.
The main attraction was somewhat entertaining but the dose was minimal and spotty. Kyrie was running sprints after the gift giving to get the blood going again, really your sprinting. It was great for Mr. Curry in Warriors nation but the game is moving on from LeBron, KD, Paul, and Steph. The only problem, the NBA is almost unwatchable. Evan Mobly is shooting 37% from 3 at 7ft tall, crazy. Post up’s, cross-over 2’s, and driving to rim are scarce in an era Steph brought as a Splash Brother.
Lakers Vs. Celtics, which brought the Magic flying on a Bird had the NBA explode in popularity. Then MJ carried the torched with Kobe and Shaq following suit. In 2003 we got Akron’s best high school player to continue the journey, which he did, even bringing a Championship to The Land in the Return but now what? I’m happy to cheer on the Cavs but I’m not interested in any teams or players. Nobody wows like Black Mamba. No. Your name is Uber. I don’t feel a killer instinct, rivalry, or amazing storyline. It feels like WWE without the Rock, Stone Cold, Flair, or Hogan.
Mr. Silver, you have some work to do.
