All-Star Weekend 2013

All-Star weekend used to be my all time favorite sporting event, but with time it has lost some apeal since it now seems to be more of a celebrity event than a sporting event. There is also just too much hype. I don't want to watch the musical guests perform or see Justin Bieber play basketball, I just want to see the most talented players do their thing.

Even though the event has lost some luster, I'm looking forward to the All-Star game this month. Is it just me or does it seem like half the players selected come from 3 or 4 teams? I'm still waiting to see who is going to compete in the dunk contest this year. Is the NBA going to wait until the day before the event to announce the participants an attempt to create more suspense?

Speaking of the dunk contest, please get more contestants. Having only 4 participants is like picking up the coverage during the semi-final round. Whoever does the worst automatically has bragging rights to say they were the fourth best dunker in the contest that year. The contest was much more exciting when you had more competition like the ones involving the participants in the photos below. Those were the days. You at least got to see more than a total of 12 dunks over the course of the evening.

These contestants were fun to watch

Also, please keep the lights turned on for the dunk contest. I remember back around the time when Jason Richardson won, the NBA decided it would be cool to hold the contest in the near dark. The footage looked more like it took place in a night club then it did on a basketball court. Last year's dunk by Paul George would have been cool if the ball and rim also glowed in the dark. I felt it was once of the better dunks but nobody will ever know since he elected to do it IN THE DARK!

Also lets please take it easy on the stupid props. Putting down a piece of tape at the foul line or sticking a sticker in the backboard is fine, but they have taken props way too far. I will pull my hair out if I see a phone booth, car, choir, or aircraft carrier used to somehow make a dunk look better. 

One final request...Please don't let the fans vote. I'd rather have Dr. J, Dominique, and other great dunkers decide who wins than a bunch of clueless fans texting in on their phones and turning it into a popularity contest.

Pekovic's Evil Twin

I can not watch Minnesota play anymore without being distracted. Each time I see Nicolas Pekovic on the court I am reminded on Non from Superman 2. Please tell me I'm not the only one who sees this.

James Harden- Steps?

I am a big fan of James Harden. I loved watching him play with OKC and am glad he has the chance to be the star in Houston this year. As much as enjoy his style of play and the beard, I have been a little troubled by some of the highlights I've seen him featured in recently.

Harden is very effective driving to the basket, but on many of his drives I get the impression he is taking extra steps. I know everyone jumps on Lebron for travelling but I have been seeing a ton of Harden's plays recently where something just doesn't look right and my spidey senses think he might be getting in some extra steps.



I'm not bashing or criticizing his style of play. I just get an uneasy feeling when I watch him drive to the basket since I am anticipating a whistle for travelling but it's seldom happens. Am I the only one who notices this?

Does It Count As a Dunk?

When I think of dunks, I imagine players throwing the ball through the hoop and hammering their fist or hands against the rim. Sometimes a player can't quite get to the rim on the follow through but they are still up high enough to get it done.

I say if someone can jump high enough to throw the ball down through the hoop, then it counts as a dunk even if they never touch the rim.

Love it

I just came across this photo and I thought it was funny. I'm not one of the many Kobe haters, but I get a kick out of the reputation he has developed as someone who shoots first and asks questions later.

I guess that's the mentality you need to have if you are going to be the all time leading scorer in the history of the game. Kobe is currently at the number 5 spot. He's on track to pass Wilt Chamberlain for the number four spot by the end of the season.

138 Points!

I recently saw that a division 3 college player scored 138 points in a game this week. At first I thought that was an amazing accomplishment but the more I think about it and the more information I get about the event, the less impressed I am. While I'm happy he was able to break a record set back in the 50's, I have some major concerns about the accomplishment. Here are a couple of my thoughts on the subject.

I hope his teammates were excited about breaking the record because last time I checked, there are 5 players on a team. When I saw the box scores, only two other starters on his team scored for a combined total of 7 points. Can you say black hole?

What kind of teams have an ending score of 179 to 104? Does either team know what defense is? This game makes the NBA all star game sound like a defensive clinic.Who was guarding this kid? You would think they would know who to focus on after the first few minutes. I would take it personal if someone scored 20 points on me let alone 138. At what point does your pride kick in an you do something about it?

I heard his coach instructed his players to foul the other team so they could stop the clock and get the ball back to their ball hog star scorer quickly. The dude took 108 shots including 71 three pointers. Who could not score 138 points under those circumstances?

I don't want to sound like Debbie Downer and rain on this guy's parade, but I can't be the only one who feels this way. I'm not the kind of person who thinks every player should get a trophy. I believe in competition, but I think this was a selfish display by both the player and his coach.

So what's next for Jack Taylor? How is he going to top this? I suggest he try to dish out at least 3 assists next game.

DeAndre's Dunk

I've seen guys get up higher on dunks, but I don't ever recall seeing a player touch the net with their feet before.