NBA Watch: NBA All-Star weekend a mixed bag for fans

A NBA Fantasy Draft could see LeBron James and Kobe Bryant on the same team

The NBA All-Star game took place in Orlando on February 26, and for some basketball fans, like myself, it was a weekend of fun and excitement, though for some other people I know, it was a rather drab event. For starters, if you look at the difference between the NBA and the NHL All-Star games, there are some experts who are calling for an "NHL-style All-Star game for the NBA." ESPN's Sarah Spain, for instance wondered how many people remember whether the East or the West have more wins? I know I don't. (She cited it at 36 wins to the East and 24 to the West, but really, how many of us care?)

I would love to see the NBA adopt an NHL-style All-Star game where two captains are chosen and they draft a roster full of players. Imagine a game seeing Dwyane Wade take on LeBron James, or Kevin Durant face off against teammate Russell Westbrook. Something like that would only be possible if the NBA does away with their current East vs. West format. The NHL All-Star Draft has been around for two years now, and I'm sure it's nerve-racking for seasoned professionals to sit and wait to hear their name being called out, something basketball players should go through as well.

I've got no problems with the All-Star weekend, although I will tell you that I miss the slam dunk contest. Remember Vince Carter in 2000? Remember "Superman" Dwight Howard in 2008? Those are two classic contests that come to my mind instantly. Even Blake Griffin last year wasn't bad. This year, however, I did not enjoy the show. Not to take anything away from Jeremy Evans – he tried to put on a show, dunking two balls over teammate Gordon Hayward as well as the dunk over comedian Kevin Hart, which he completed in a Karl Malone jersey – but you have to remember that JaVale McGee dunked three balls simultaneously while Blake Griffin jumped over a car last year. There were significant changes to the rules this year: no judges, 100 per cent fan voting and only one round with three dunks per contestant as opposed to the traditional tworound contest. All of this promised something new but sadly it all fell flat as we saw a lot of attempts we've seen before but with diminishing returns. The biggest problem, in my opinion, was the absence of judges. To base the competition entirely on fan voting was not the best move.

The three-point contest is the other prolific event of the All-Star weekend, and it was Minnesota all the way. Kevin Love gave the struggling franchise something to cheer about as he took home the honours. The franchise has had little to cheer about ever since Kevin Garnett left in 2007. What makes Love's victory even sweeter is the fact that he rotates playing as a centre or as power forward – positions that do not demand a great shooting percentage. The fact that Love won this contest also shows that he not only has range, but shows that teams need to respect him on the line, a move that draws big defenders away from the paint, which could open up possibilities under the basket.

The All-Star game itself promised much with the classic East vs. West matchup (or as some columnists put it, Durant and Bryant vs. James and the East). As an exhibition game, it promised a lot of fun and it did deliver, with the East having to cut a 21-point deficit to just one point, but failing to convert that into the win. James finished the night with 36 points while his teammate Wade finished with a triple-double. The real winners of the night were Durant and Bryant. Durant took home the MVP title, another feather in his cap, while Bryant took home a scoring record, breaking Michael Jordan's record of 262 points.

I guess that even though the All- Star weekend is a lot of fun for athletes and fans alike, it's about time the league brings about some sort of change. A fantasy draft is a great way to show off player personalities, make way for never-beforeseen matchups (remember the Sedin twins playing against each other in last year's NHL All-Star game?) and add another level of behind-the-scenes access to the game's superstars. It's time for the NBA to follow the NHL's lead and step into the future. After 61 years, it's time a change was made. Are you listening, David Stern?

Originally Written for the Interrobang:http://www.fsu.ca/interrobang_article.asp?storyID=8253&sectionID=4&issueID=199
Image Credit: http://ww1.hdnux.com/photos/11/57/16/2552744/3/628x471.jpg
Video Credit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aNj8KYn3-U

A Canadian Icon...

Steve Nash

Born in 1974 in far-away Johannesburg, South Africa was a person many people would grow to love. That is Canadian basketball player Steve Nash for you. He may be 38 years old and on the verge of retirement, but he's been a top basketball player throughout his career. I'll begin by sharing an anecdote with you: NBA 06 had a demo that featured Miami and Phoenix. You got it: that is where I came across this 6-foot 3-inch player who impressed me. True, it was a video game, but when you look at his stats and his dedication, it paints a clearer picture.

"My heroes were Isiah Thomas, Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson. I think they were just so competitive and creative. Especially Isiah, he was somebody that wasn't very tall. He had played the game mostly on the floor and it made me feel that I could find a way to do the same." These were words by Nash when he reflected on his amazing journey back before the 2007/08 season. True, it's been an amazing journey for one of Canada's best basketball players of all time. He's scored over 16,000 points in his 15-year career, but the thing that he's remembered for a lot is his dedication. "I think they (his family) are really proud. I think they realize how hard I worked. They saw me going out there and shooting all hours of the days and night, shooting in the rain, dribbling in the garage. They realize how much time I put into it. I think that they are proud, not so much that I made it, but more because they know it took a lot of hard work," said Nash in the same interview.

Nash might not go down in the record books as a point scorer, he will go down as a top assist-getter: he's closing in on 10,000 (at the time of writing, Nash has 9,524 assists and leads the NBA in assists for 2011/12 with 272 in 26 games).

Not many people are aware of this, but Nash suffers from a medical condition called spondylolisthesis. That condition causes muscle and back pain and is the reason why he always lies on his back when he's on the bench – to prevent his muscles from stiffening. Yet his grit and determination have given us plenty of reason to celebrate his career. The two-time MVP was recently voted to the 2012 All-Star Game, which would be his eighth appearance. Phoenix has not been playing well at all this season – they sit 13th in the West – yet Nash is an All-Star once more. I don't think it's necessary to mention why; that fact is easily summed up when you read stats and look at the effort he's been putting in at each game. People were predicting an appearance at the All- Star Game for Nash, so you can hardly say that you are surprised. It was on its way, and I am one of those people who's waiting to see Nash link up with Blake Griffin and Kevin Durant on the courts in Orlando on February 26.

Another talking point for many is whether Nash would agree to move from Phoenix. He's clearly the franchise player over in Phoenix, but a championship ring has eluded him all his career. That debate is ongoing, but one thing is certain: whatever the outcome be, Steve Nash will always be remembered as one of basketball's greats.

Originally Written for the Interrobang: http://www.fsu.ca/interrobang_article.asp?storyID=8168&sectionID=4&issueID=197
Image Credit: http://server2.noble-hs.sad60.k12.me.us/~adella/mysite/images/nashpass.jpg
Video Credit:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwhwr4zZ1zw