The annual NBA All-Star game continues to be offensive spectacles, specifically when it comes to recent contests as we’ve seen point totals push 200 for either side in two consecutive years now. The game has become an all-out show on the more glamorous end and the lack of defensive effort is becoming more and more problematic. While it’s always fun to see the world’s best players show off their high-flying dunks and bomb three-pointers from nearly halfcourt, some defensive intensity would undoubtedly make the game more watchable.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver knows this and is looking to make changes to the game and make it more competitive, something we could see as early as next season. Silver brought up adding wrinkles to the rules only for the All-Star game such as adding a 4-point line and even a 10-point line from halfcourt. While these may not be the best solutions to this certain issue, changes need to be made and Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr even called the game ‘a joke.’ Following from ESPN’s Chris Haynes:
There is very little resistance on both ends of the floor, and Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr told ESPN that it’s up to the players to fix that.
“I think we could talk about gimmicks and talk about anything we want, whether it’s the money or involves charity, it just comes down to the players taking it seriously,” Kerr said. “I don’t think they have to be out there taking charges, but it’s a collective thing. I think they have to decide, maybe with the players’ association, they have to decide what they want that game to look like and right now, it’s a joke.”
Kerr is correct about the competitiveness levels being comical, but where he’s wrong is when he talks about the intensity of the game just comes down to whether players take the game seriously enough. In fact, one of his own players and two-time All-Star Draymond Green had his own monetary ideas about how to improve the game’s competitiveness:
“Raise the money,” the power forward told ESPN. “I’m serious. That’s how you’re going to make it more competitive.”
While Draymond Green’s idea may be taken into consideration by commissioner Silver, increasing the prize money may not boost the level of competition as much as he would like to think. Whichever direction the commissioner decides to go moving forward, hopefully, it brings out the fire in these players, as watching the world’s best go at it is always a privilege that should be cherished.
