Exclusive You be the Commish--Fix all-star Saturday

[PtldPlatypus]

The reviews for the new all-star game format (non-televised draft notwithstanding) have been overwhelmingly positive, and the game itself was much more enjoyable than most of the past decade. But all-star Saturday seems to still be lagging behind. So what fix(es) would you propose to make all-star Saturday a better event? Make your suggestions, and decent number of options have been posted, I'll put up a poll with the most popular/interesting options. Let's see what the wisdom of the crowd can come up with to fix all-star Saturday.

 

[Jon]

edit: sorry, i read it too fast. plus i havent had my coffee yet, lol.

3pt contest is fine
skills challenge isn't bad
the dunk contest, if they kept out the props, it would be better.

they need bigger names to do these events. it would generate more interest.

 

[SportsAndWhine]

The All-Star Snub 3-On-3 tournament. 24 players, each picked by an All-Star, compete for the last three spots on each All-Star Team. Both finalist teams get added to the Sunday roster; the overall winners of the tournament also get $333,333 each donated to the charity of their choice.

The Experimental All-Star Game. Vote for your Experimental All Stars and the new rule they’d be best at, and all the crazy rules come into play. Four point lines, 11-foot rims, no hand check fouls, four steps allowed... you name it, they try it out.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

The All-Star Snub 3-On-3 tournament. 24 players, each picked by an All-Star, compete for the last three spots on each All-Star Team. Both finalist teams get added to the Sunday roster; the overall winners of the tournament also get $333,333 each donated to the charity of their choice.

So, this would mean expanding the Sunday rosters to 15 spots? (Since there are 24 spots, and they're supposed to be picked by all-stars, which would mean there are already 24 all-stars) Not that that's a problem per se, just wanting to clarify.

 

[SportsAndWhine]

Yeah

So, this would mean expanding the Sunday rosters to 15 spots? (Since there are 24 spots, and they're supposed to be picked by all-stars, which would mean there are already 24 all-stars) Not that that's a problem per se, just wanting to clarify.

I was thinking 12+3 all stars. I couldn’t remember off the top of my head how many all stars there were.

 

[riverman]

lose the slam dunk contest...it's become a joke...too many bricks laid ...nobody guarding you, you should make every dunk if you are competing...

 

[SlyPokerDog]

The slam dunk contest needs to be a game of P.I.G. in the early rounds, H.O.R.S.E. in the finals. Players challenging each other, making up dunks on the fly. No props. Take the judges out of it.

 

[SportsAndWhine]

lose the slam dunk contest...it's become a joke...too many bricks laid ...nobody guarding you, you should make every dunk if you are competing...

A 2-on-2 fast break competition would maybe be interesting; if there is some token defense and token passing it might resemble basketball.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

The slam dunk contest needs to be a game of P.I.G. in the early rounds, H.O.R.S.E. in the finals. Players challenging each other, making up dunks on the fly. No props. Take the judges out of it.

I saw some guy on twitter suggest the same thing earlier today. I like it.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I saw some guy on twitter suggest the same thing earlier today. I like it.

You me bastard!

 

[e_blazer]

A National Anthem singing competition could eliminate the awful mess that Fergie served up.

 

[-Ace-]

Three point contest needs shooters with the most made threes for the year.

Most made threes:
1. James Harden • HOU 206
2. Paul George • OKC 187
3. Klay Thompson • GSW 184
4. Stephen Curry • GSW 178
5. Wayne Ellington • MIA 168
6. Kyle Lowry • TOR 160
7. Kemba Walker • CHO 158
8. Damian Lillard • POR 155

Devin Booker and Tobias Harris aren't even in the top 20, percentage or threes made. Knock those two and Eric Gordon out and look who you add in - Dame, Harden, Curry. Way more entertaining.

That two-on-two thing is a good idea. Combine what they did with 2Ball (hot spots) and add in the hard fouls, and we've got NBA Jam.....live! HE'S ON FIRE!

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Three point contest needs shooters with the most made threes for the year.

Most made threes:
1. James Harden • HOU 206
2. Paul George • OKC 187
3. Klay Thompson • GSW 184
4. Stephen Curry • GSW 178
5. Wayne Ellington • MIA 168
6. Kyle Lowry • TOR 160
7. Kemba Walker • CHO 158
8. Damian Lillard • POR 155

Devin Booker and Tobias Harris aren't even in the top 20, percentage or threes made. Knock those two and Eric Gordon out and look who you add in - Dame, Harden, Curry. Way more entertaining.

That two-on-two thing is a good idea. Combine what they did with 2Ball (hot spots) and add in the hard fouls, and we've got NBA Jam.....live! HE'S ON FIRE!

Wait--you're suggesting that they should remove the prior year's champ and the guy who ended up winning it this year and setting a record in the process?

 

[-Ace-]

Wait--you're suggesting that they should remove the prior year's champ and the guy who ended up winning it this year and setting a record in the process?

Take that post with a grain of salt. I don't really know how you fix it. I only care about the Rip City 3-on-3 contest this year.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Take that post with a grain of salt. I don't really know how you fix it. I only care about the Rip City 3-on-3 contest this year.

At least your priorities are beyond question!

 

[-Ace-]

At least your priorities are beyond question!

Hell yeah. I really didn't know there was a three point contest in it each year. I will try to represent S2 in 2018.

 

[BlayZa]

a shit ton less of those stupid cheerleaders side to side handclap dancing during the 10 minute player intros.....

the actual new game format is good, a live draft would be awesome too.

less people like dj khalad judging a dunk contest, wtf that pork chop know about dunking? if he jumped you wouldnt even be able to slide a piece of paper under his shoes.

usa vs the world was decent this year for the youngins

id scrap the skills and maybe do something like a retired players game, where you have to have been retired from the nba for at least 3yrs, 8min quarters with 20 people a squad unltd subs so we can get some cameos and not have all the minute pressure on them to be in the team, kareem trying a skyhook n off etc itd just be a cheer/clap fest, but itd be better than the skills.

shrug

 

[SportsAndWhine]

Ooh here’s a dumb idea:

48 players go to All Star Weekend but none of them are on the All Star Teams yet... the teams are decided by the activities of Saturday. The top vote getter from each team, plus the top 8 vote getters after that, plus 10 coach-chosen players.

The activity participants come from the 48 players picked to go to the weekend. Each player picks one event to participate in.

The top 4 overall vote-getters in the league get in and get a rest until Sunday (4 out of 48 players)
Top 4 dunk contest finalists (4 out of 8 players)
Top 4 three point contest finalists (4 out of 8 players)
Top 4 three-on-three tourney teams (12 out of 24 players)

Then after all that, the top two overall vote getters do a live draft to pick from the 22 other players to end the day.

There will be suspense all day to see who makes the draft pool, and every team will be represented. Players who aren’t dunkers or specialists can play in the tourney (to 21, half court, two games going at once) and gain practice time with their teammates who also get in with them if they win.

The three point contest will happen between round 1 and 2 of the tourney to give teams a rest. The dunk contest between round 2 and the finals.

Players will try for that ASG bonus and the glory. Charities will get donations from winning players and teams. Everyone goes home happy.

 

[ripcityboy]

Bigger names in the Dunk Contest
Drop the BS Pregame Show or at least have an MC who's a professional athlete/sports DJ
Have it in smaller markets where the intimacy means something
Quit with the corporate/celebrity felching, stars will come and you can show them during game. But it's about the players, not the celebs

 

[DaLincolnJones]

I do not watch the All Star events. From a marketing perspective, I would hold the event a week after the last playoff game. Promote it a a last hurrah to the season. Celebrate those that had preformed the entire season.

 

[illmatic99]

There are too few dunks in the dunk contest. 4 guys * 2 dunks in the first round + 2 guys *2 dunks in the final = 12 dunks total, and like one or two of them are actually memorable. Either add more contestants (preferably higher caliber by adding $ to the pot), and/or more dunks.

Get rid of the money ball rack gimmick.

Skills challenge is a joke now. Even moreso than before. Big men was not the answer.

 

[Orion Bailey]

The reviews for the new all-star game format (non-televised draft notwithstanding) have been overwhelmingly positive, and the game itself was much more enjoyable than most of the past decade. But all-star Saturday seems to still be lagging behind. So what fix(es) would you propose to make all-star Saturday a better event? Make your suggestions, and decent number of options have been posted, I'll put up a poll with the most popular/interesting options. Let's see what the wisdom of the crowd can come up with to fix all-star Saturday.

The biggest issue with Saturday is not having the top people in each contest represented.

There were 3 of the top 5 3pt shooters not in it.

Slam dunk was nobody anyone has heard of for the most part. Get the top dogs in on this. Where is Lebron???????

Skills. This is good, but im not sure about the bigs vs the littles. Have it just be open and again, get the best hands skill men to represent. Shouldnt Harden be in this? Westbrook?

All of these contests are shallow, because its second tier contenstants.

So for polling purposes:

Get the league's best at each contest to commit.

 

[stampedehero]

A. All ticket sales go direct to S2 where the cash would be evenly dispersed to the posters in this forum.
B. Cut the lights out when the players shoot 3's
C. Instead of ball boys we prefer ball girls.
D. Keep Bill Walton in his car and do not let him out of the furthest parking lot.
E. Retired players game played in half court with respirators at the bench area.
F. Let Adam Silver run the concession stands in the 200 level.
G. Have a Charles Barkley roast with Frank Caliendo.
H. Have the fans throw eggs at Ernie as he sits on a plastic chair.

 

[Orion Bailey]

A. All ticket sales go direct to S2 where the cash would be evenly dispersed to the posters in this forum.
B. Cut the lights out when the players shoot 3's
C. Instead of ball boys we prefer ball girls.
D. Keep Bill Walton in his car and do not let him out of the furthest parking lot.
E. Retired players game played in half court with respirators at the bench area.
F. Let Adam Silver run the concession stands in the 200 level.
G. Have a Charles Barkley roast with Frank Caliendo.
H. Have the fans throw eggs at Ernie as he sits on a plastic chair.

end thread. Lock it./ A. is all we need.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Ooh here’s a dumb idea:

48 players go to All Star Weekend but none of them are on the All Star Teams yet... the teams are decided by the activities of Saturday. The top vote getter from each team, plus the top 8 vote getters after that, plus 10 coach-chosen players.

The activity participants come from the 48 players picked to go to the weekend. Each player picks one event to participate in.

The top 4 overall vote-getters in the league get in and get a rest until Sunday (4 out of 48 players)
Top 4 dunk contest finalists (4 out of 8 players)
Top 4 three point contest finalists (4 out of 8 players)
Top 4 three-on-three tourney teams (12 out of 24 players)

Then after all that, the top two overall vote getters do a live draft to pick from the 22 other players to end the day.

There will be suspense all day to see who makes the draft pool, and every team will be represented. Players who aren’t dunkers or specialists can play in the tourney (to 21, half court, two games going at once) and gain practice time with their teammates who also get in with them if they win.

The three point contest will happen between round 1 and 2 of the tourney to give teams a rest. The dunk contest between round 2 and the finals.

Players will try for that ASG bonus and the glory. Charities will get donations from winning players and teams. Everyone goes home happy.

WOW! Complete ASW overhaul, and would certainly be fascinating. One problem would be conflicts between which events certain players want to participate in. Maybe you resolve that by having the players submit to the league two events they'd want to participate in (in order of preference), and the league assigns players to events based on those preferences? Then with those players selected, it also might be tough to form 8 3-man teams who actually want to play together.

The logistics would be tough, but it would be fun to try.

 

[SportsAndWhine]

WOW! Complete ASW overhaul, and would certainly be fascinating. One problem would be conflicts between which events certain players want to participate in. Maybe you resolve that by having the players submit to the league two events they'd want to participate in (in order of preference), and the league assigns players to events based on those preferences? Then with those players selected, it also might be tough to form 8 3-man teams who actually want to play together.

The logistics would be tough, but it would be fun to try.

My thinking is that the goal of getting into the ASG itself, and the bonus that would entail, would be enough motivation to make for interesting teams (also I wouldn’t rule out semi-randomized 3-on-3 teams). I get that some players like participating in multiple events but there’s no goal right now; with a goal in mind there might be more motivation to accept fate, choose your best event, and go.

 

[tlongII]

Need to have a 1-on-1 tournament like they did back in the 70's. I think Petrie won it if I remember correctly.

I was fine with the dunk contest. Donovan Mitchell is awesome.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

My thinking is that the goal of getting into the ASG itself, and the bonus that would entail, would be enough motivation to make for interesting teams (also I wouldn’t rule out semi-randomized 3-on-3 teams).

I'd be down with the semi-randomized teams. Although you know there would be claims of rigging: "How do Embiid and Giannis end up on the same 3-on-3 team?!"

I get that some players like participating in multiple events but there’s no goal right now; with a goal in mind there might be more motivation to accept fate, choose your best event, and go.

I get that: I was more saying that there would be more/fewer than 8 people who prefer the dunk or 3 point contests, so there would be (for example) someone who thought 3-point was their best bet, but they got stuck in the 3-on-3 anyway, or someone who wanted to do 3-on-3 but got tossed into the dunk competition because we had to fill out the roster. That would be what the two-event preference would be for: to know who could be placed into an event that wasn't their first choice without it being a problem for them.

Still, I'm fascinated by the idea--just spitballing the logistics.

 

[Natebishop3]

So right now it's supposed to be 2 teams of 12.

What if it was 3 teams of 9? 3 captains. Shortened quarters. 6-8 minutes? Everyone plays each other once. Two best teams play in a final.

You get 3 extra spots for snubs, everyone gets to play decent minutes, and there's a reason to play hard because you want to advance. The All-Star tournament.

 

[MickZagger]

Do away with it all. Am I the only person who doesn't care about it at all.