bkkrh wrote:Depends on how you set it up. Decent price money split it in let's say 3 groups, players up to 6-4, players up to 6-7, 6-8, and taller players. Doesn't need to be the best players in the league to be entertaining and can actually pay off for those players. Being officially one of the best one-on-one players in the league might get you a better offer in free agency and give you some visibility. Imagine someone like Rafer Alston going to work here. As mentioned I don't think you need big names here, similar to the 3-point contest. It would be a great way for young talent to show their skills. Dream scenario, players wanting to settle beef between each other by playing 1 on 1.
Considering the prize pool for the actual All Star game this year is only 1.8m this year to split across 32 different players, I don't think they have the necessary funds to make it worthwhile. I'd also disagree completely that you don't need best players/stars to participate because its a marquee event and nobody is going to tune into role players duking it out. Look at Mac McClung in the dunk contest, yes he was one of the best participant's we've ever had but it just didn't pop the same because he is fringe NBA player.
In regards to the 3pt contest, you might want to take a look at who they get to participate every year. There's a reason why it's the event of the weekend and it's largely due to guys like Dame, KAT, Steph etc shooting.
bkkrh wrote:About Adam Silver at least trying something, yes that's generally good. It's just not addressing the root cause. Will players care more if they have to play multiple games? Is there now not a bigger reason to just shoot more 3s, because I need to get to 40 as quickly as possible? Is there any reason for fans to watch the first games and not just wait for the final one?
Well for one, the games are going to be a lot shorter with a target score of just 40pts. With roster of 8 guys vs 12, there is also going to more playing time for everybody involved to get invested in the outcome. The reason to watch every game is because it it will feature at minimum 8 of the best players so far. The group that will likely make up the Rising Stars will also heavily feature last year's stacked draft class with Wemby, Chet, Miller, Lively, Thompson twins etc.
bkkrh wrote:The players don't care because after all it is a game without meaning. Nobody really cares about who won the game or All Star MVP. Most people in here won't know which team won 3 seasons ago, or who won MVP. People bring up how often people got nominated for the All-Star Game, not how many All-Star Games a player won.
Player's not caring is the reason why the game has been altered so heavily in recent years. There used to a some pride in the old East vs West but that eventually faded and we got stuck with the recent infatuation of drafting players. Players to a degree do care about winning All Star MVP but I agree that it's ultimately not that important, just a something to check off.
bkkrh wrote:There should be no need for the league to do anything to motivate players to perform at an award game. That's like saying what can the MTV Video Music Awards do to make sure that the artists performing there give a good performance? In the end, all they can do and should do is get the players and their agents in their room and make clear to them that they are hurting their own and the league's brand.
At the same time, what the All-Star coaches can do is set an example. Make it clear to the players that they'll bench them for the rest of the game if they don't show effort. Don't nominate players again in the future who didn't show effort in the past, backed up by the league. It simply starts and ends with not treating star players like spoiled children. You might say that won't work, but it works like that in European Basketball and Soccer.
Your right there shouldn't be a need for the league to intervene but with the game in the state it is in now, they needed to do something. Maybe drastically changing the format will help? - Maybe it won't they couldn't afford to just let it be since the league treats the weekend as premier sporting event to showcase it's stars. They tried last year to motivate the guys by brining in former legends for a pep talk/rally and we all seen how last year's game played out.
I highly doubt the coaches will have any influence. It's not like they're installing any real sets during their time. Punishing guys by not selecting them as All Stars in future seasons because they didn't put in any effort in the previous All Star game makes no sense.
