03-08-2021, 09:53 AM
So, I’ve given it some thought, and think I’ve come up with an alternative to the usual, boring all star weekend. Strap yourselves in, and see what you think.
First of all, it’s too long. You can scrap the whole weekend thing, and just do it over an evening.
Schedule:
1) rookies vs sophomores
Instead of them playing basketball though, you get them to play a mystery sport that’s different every time and only announced on the day.
Imagine the fun of seeing the players play miniature golf or dodgeball or mechanical bull riding! It’d be great!
So, the main problems with the all star game are thus:
A) it’s supposed to be a unique event, but it’s played with the same rules as a regular game, I.e. free throws, shot clock violations, etc, and it just doesn’t work.
B) it’s supposed to be a “razzle dazzle” game, which would be fine if it was all the guys like Doncic, Curry, Irving, etc, but it’s not. You get elite, but basically functional players, like Jayson Tatum, who just don’t fit in.
C) it’s half fan event and half recognition of actual basketball achievement, so it needs to be balanced between these two.
So here’s my idea:
8 all stars are chosen by fan votes, and 16 are chosen by coaches, other players, etc.
The 8 players will be team captains, and they’ll choose the players they want, like what they’ve started doing with this “Team Lebron” and “Team Durant” thing. So, you’ll have eight teams of three, and they’ll have a 3 on 3 street ball tournament. Classic playground stuff; half court, first to 11, etc.
It’s a unique game, it’s streetball, so the creative guys can do their stuff, but the fundamental guys can also be showcased as well.
2) the four quarter final games of the tournament
3) three point shootout
I actually think this is basically alright as it is. It’s probably way too long, so get rid of a round and a few players, and it’s fine.
4) the two semi-final matches of the tournament
Maybe make these games first to 15
5) the dunk contest
I think we can all agree it’s not working, and I think the biggest problem is the live format. So here’s two potential solutions:
A) every team in the league submits one video of one of their players dunking. Not in game, just the best dunk any of their players can do, like in practice. That way we won’t have to watch endless fails, nor players trying “safe” dunks. So, we’re shown videos of thirty dunks, and the crowd electronically vote for the best.
B) Same as before, but every team submits two dunks.
First, you’d show the five dunks from each of the teams in the southwest division, the crowd would vote, and the winning team would go through to the final representing their division.
They’d repeat that five more times for each division, until you’ve got six finalists.
We’d then see the second dunk from each of those six teams, the crowd votes, and we’ve got our champion, which will basically be a team / division rather than a player.
6) the final of the 3 on 3 tournament
Make it first to 21 for this game.
And there you have it. We all had some fun, and everybody goes home a winner.
First of all, it’s too long. You can scrap the whole weekend thing, and just do it over an evening.
Schedule:
1) rookies vs sophomores
Instead of them playing basketball though, you get them to play a mystery sport that’s different every time and only announced on the day.
Imagine the fun of seeing the players play miniature golf or dodgeball or mechanical bull riding! It’d be great!
So, the main problems with the all star game are thus:
A) it’s supposed to be a unique event, but it’s played with the same rules as a regular game, I.e. free throws, shot clock violations, etc, and it just doesn’t work.
B) it’s supposed to be a “razzle dazzle” game, which would be fine if it was all the guys like Doncic, Curry, Irving, etc, but it’s not. You get elite, but basically functional players, like Jayson Tatum, who just don’t fit in.
C) it’s half fan event and half recognition of actual basketball achievement, so it needs to be balanced between these two.
So here’s my idea:
8 all stars are chosen by fan votes, and 16 are chosen by coaches, other players, etc.
The 8 players will be team captains, and they’ll choose the players they want, like what they’ve started doing with this “Team Lebron” and “Team Durant” thing. So, you’ll have eight teams of three, and they’ll have a 3 on 3 street ball tournament. Classic playground stuff; half court, first to 11, etc.
It’s a unique game, it’s streetball, so the creative guys can do their stuff, but the fundamental guys can also be showcased as well.
2) the four quarter final games of the tournament
3) three point shootout
I actually think this is basically alright as it is. It’s probably way too long, so get rid of a round and a few players, and it’s fine.
4) the two semi-final matches of the tournament
Maybe make these games first to 15
5) the dunk contest
I think we can all agree it’s not working, and I think the biggest problem is the live format. So here’s two potential solutions:
A) every team in the league submits one video of one of their players dunking. Not in game, just the best dunk any of their players can do, like in practice. That way we won’t have to watch endless fails, nor players trying “safe” dunks. So, we’re shown videos of thirty dunks, and the crowd electronically vote for the best.
B) Same as before, but every team submits two dunks.
First, you’d show the five dunks from each of the teams in the southwest division, the crowd would vote, and the winning team would go through to the final representing their division.
They’d repeat that five more times for each division, until you’ve got six finalists.
We’d then see the second dunk from each of those six teams, the crowd votes, and we’ve got our champion, which will basically be a team / division rather than a player.
6) the final of the 3 on 3 tournament
Make it first to 21 for this game.
And there you have it. We all had some fun, and everybody goes home a winner.