How to fix the All Star game: Make it a Pickup Game

How to fix the All Star game

There has been a lot of talk lately about All-Stars. People are questioning who is really worthy, who stole a starting spot, who got snubbed, etc. These are all really good questions, but we should be asking who is picking. The fans are complaining that David Lee didn’t make the cut, yet it’s our own fault.

It’s our own fault that we are still madly in love with a certain 76er. It’s our own fault that we give China the power to make Shane Battier an All-Star. Or worse, his team mate that has only logged 10 minutes in the season. It’s our own fault that we voted in a one-legged Celtic over a two legged leaper from the Hawks. Then we complained about it. That’s like the NBA owners handing out $100 million contracts like Halloween candy, and then crying to the daddy Stern to renegotiate the CBA so they can’t make those foolish mistakes again.

I admit there is an economic reason to the whole fan vote. David Stern wants ratings. Ratings come from viewers. Viewers come when you put out a product they want to see. Is there a better way to put that product out there than letting the viewer decide what they will view? It’s like basketball on demand. You no longer have to watch the ultra-boring Bobcats to see Gerald Wallace play. You don’t have to torturer your basketball I.Q. with one of Mike Brown’s offensive sets just to see Lebron hammer home a few dunks. I don’t have to plan Vinny Del Negro’s execution just to see Rose break off someone’s ankles. But for this same reason we cannot get mad when a majority of the public wants to see Iverson in the All-Star Game. That’s like getting mad at someone because they like a certain song to be played on the jukebox. The song might be a classic #1 hit, we all know the words and used to get excited when it would come on. But some of us are over it, we’ve moved on to the next song, the next artist,, maybe even a totally different genre.

People will always have their own preference. It’s the reason Deron Williams made the All-NBA second team and won an Olympic Gold Medal before he was selected to an All-Star team. It’s the reason his teammate, Carlos Boozer, is averaging near 20 and 10, again, selected to the Olympic team, again, and still not an All-Star. Has he been there before? Sure has, two in a row, in fact (2007 & 2008). But we had three or four chances to select him (fan voting, coach voting, and replacements) and he was still overlooked. Boozer is putting up ungodly stats in the midst of a 9 game winning streak; nevertheless, he was passed over for a declining Chris Kaman, whose team is in the middle of a losing streak that got their coach fired. As for David Lee, here is a quick fun fact: David Lee (20.0 pts and 11.4 trb) is one of only three players averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds this year. (Randolph and Bosh)

Some have pointed out that losing records are keeping David Lee and Monta Ellis of the All-Star teams. Others think it’s the casual fan that doesn’t even realize A.I. retired and unretired in the middle of the season. Some blame the influx of foreign internet votes. Personally I think it’s a rift in mentality. Some want to see a fun game; others want to see the most deserving out there. Ask yourself this: Who would be more fun to watch, Shaq throw it between Dwight Howard’s legs and then dunk it or David Lee pulling down another rebound with his workhorse type play. Exactly! I know Shaq doesn’t belong in the game, his numbers are eroded and his abilities couldn’t even hold a candle to his MVP days. None the less, no one would mind seeing Shaq dance with some people, talk some shit, and stare at his left hand when he dunks on the RuPaul of basketball. It makes the game fun.

The best solution is to have two games for the two factions; An All-Star pickup game and an All-NBA game.

The All-NBA Game:

I’ll make this short and sweet, take the three All-NBA teams and the All-Defensive team, separate them into East and West teams and let them play. It will satisfy all the stat nerds and defense lovers. I really don’t care how this game goes. I’ll leave it for the brains at NBA headquarters to figure out the details. I’m more interested in the next game.

The All-Star Pickup Game:

For a few years now, the NBA has been letting some All Stars and Hall of Famers coach the Rookie/Sophomore game. It’s a cool idea and I think we can translate that over to the All-Star game. This game is supposed to be the fun one, intended to entertain and reward the NBA fan. I propose we give the fans the power to vote for everyone, not just the starters. The fans should get to vote for four team captains. Then we let the fans vote for an additional pool of 16 players for a total of 20 players. It can be anyone from any of the conferences. No more classical East vs. West, which will be for the All-NBA game. Also, please no gimmicks like NHL’s USA vs. the world or anything like that. Once the fans have picked four captains, the fan’s job is done. Now the captains will have to pick their own 5-man squad and face off in a series of pickup games. No coaches, no plays, all fun.

This year’s top 4 vote getters were: 1.) Lebron James. 2.) Kobe Bryant. 3.) Dwight Howard. 4.) Dwyane Wade. First vote can either go in reverse order, or we can have them shoot for it, like any typical pickup game. Imagine the possibilities. Lebron can select an all-dunk line up. Kobe can pick those most willing to pass to him. Dwight can pick Chris Paul and just dunk lob pass after lob pass. Imagine the possibilities.

Last two teams that picked, play first. First team to score 21 stays on. We will keep the traditional 2 and 3 point system but no free throws. I don’t think we even need refs in this game. I’d love to hear Kobe and Lebron argue over who fouled who then have one of them shoot for it and yell out “BALL DON’T LIE!” when they sink it.

This could be the only pickup game on Earth that being the last guy to get picked isn’t an insult.