- Instead of the Skills Challenge, a 1 v 1 playoff would be amazing but no one is going to risk physical or ego injury enough for that, so how about including H-O-R-S-E (or name it what you like). It's a shooters league so how it this not a thing? I know they've kind of done it in the past but why has it not caught on to be a thing? How could they make it better?
- Change the Slam Dunk competition into the Slam Drunk competition
- Mascot Royal Rumble
- Smack Talk Insult Battle
- Coaches Challenge Competition
Am I missing anything?
Edit: Got to throw in the Effin Reffin Stephen and see which Ref can actually correctly call an off or on ball foul on Steph.
This is an OUTSTANDING list that I wish I'd thought of myself. No notes.
OK, how about this: give the fans something to do. Players get in a competition, maybe a game or skills challenge, and the fans have on their phone app the ability to vote who will get an electric shock. Each player is wearing a shocker and if you get shocked five times or pass out, you lose. That way it's not just about the skills, it gets the fans involved.
You know the Smack Talk Insult Battle might just be worth watching and listening to! Come to that, why not mic up both All Star teams and get all the smack talk during the game? I guess you'd need the old 7-second delay to bleep obscenities. Family entertainment and all that.
If Kuminga had bothered to go to the dunk contest, he would have jumped over MacClung *while MacClung was jumping over Shaq* and thrown his ball down on top of MacClung's. I think we can all agree that would have gotten a 48, maybe 49.
Meh, we can all agree ''IF'' don't get it done. Mac is one of only two players who have repeated as B2B champ. He gets it done every time he has an opportunity.
CP3 easily deserves to be on there ahead of Kobe, imo. It’s remarkable how many of these kids blurt out Kobe as their first answer. Newsflash, kids: not a top 15 all-time player. let alone top 4.
I agree with this take. Sports are so prone to exaggeration. Why can't Kobe have been a really good player with a really great career, but not be in the top ten? His inefficiency and other weaknesses Sleepy points out were real. It's like this: I can really believe in someone as being my really really good friend, but that doesn't make them my best friend.
Kobe was a high-volume low efficiency gunner, but he was quite good on the defensive end of the floor. It would be interesting to see how (or if) he would have adapted his game to fit today's NBA.
That would be a subjective choice based on how your brain values players. Kobe has the hearts and minds of a whole generation plus rings and some records. CP3, while an HOFer, is not in the same category. Plus we'd be hating him if he wasn't a Warrior.
I’m going by impact on wins, which is reasonably measurable by plus-minus results in the largest possible samples. CP3 crushes Kobe by that measure. Their career DPM curves are not close.
Kobe has no records, that I’m aware of?
“Hearts and minds” … I mean sure, anyone can put Kobe or Klay or Derek Fisher or Iverson or Carmelo or whoever captures their hearts and minds on their Mt. Rushmore. I’m just saying if your Mt. Rushmore is supposed to be based on impact on wins, Kobe shouldn’t be on it.
Attila answered this well. Also, Kobe is tied with Bob Petit for most MVP awards, 4. Most points in a game in the modern era, 81. Bryant hit 33,643 points, made 8,378 free throws, and completed 4,010 turnovers, all records for a guard. Most points in a single arean, Staples, 16161. Impressed yet? You're obviously not a fan of his.
Most points in a career: LeBron 39,868 (who btw had much better “guard skills” in terms of passing and handles than Kobe).
“Points for a guard” … and “points in one arena” … uh, okay, but we’re now we’re starting to add qualifiers to make sure Kobe gets stuff. You can do that with a lot of players.
“Most completed turnovers” … um, okay? 😂
Great player, of course, but no, I’m not that impressed by his career .541 TS in the playoffs (with a much lower assist rare and rebound rate than Steph), his non-superstar-like on-court impact numbers, and his general douchiness, selfishness and lack of support for his teammates (relative to guys like Magic, Bird, Steph, e.g.)
He’s more like #15-25 than top 4 in my book (and the book of most advanced stats), which is nothing to be ashamed of. Lots of talented players have come through this league.
You're still walking on the shady side of the street. Few basketball players impacted the fans like Kobe. That is a reality that somehow passes you by. I'm not equating him with the best that's ever played, but look how many players want to wear his number.
Wilt would never have gotten the stats that he got if he played in this era. GPII would have a field day guarding him. Lebron surpasses Kobe in almost everything. Immortal. Kobe and Steph, both turnover machines, but still great. Bird unselfish? lol.
LeBron scored his points much more efficiently than Kobe (both reg season and playoffs) even if you give Kobe a boost for the lower league-wide efficiency of his era.
We’re talking about two all-time greats. But with respect to Kobe, as Klay might say, “Five rings!”
Kobe: 20 seasons, 5 NBA championships, 18-time All-Star, 15-time All-NBA Team, a 12-time All-Defensive Team, the 2008 NBA MVP, 2-time NBA Finals MVP.
CP3: 18 seasons, no NBA championships, 12-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA Team, 9-time All-Defensive Team, never NBA MVP, never NBA Finals MVP.
More to the point, when you hear today’s NBA players talk about the best of the best, the vast majority talk about Kobe as among the elite of all time. Many of today's players modeled their game after him to some extent. You rarely hear them talk about CP3 in that way. Maybe they should but if they do, I sure haven’t heard it.
I mean, I’m well aware that Kobe enjoys a much more stellar rep among voters, fans, and players than CP3 does. That was the whole point of my initial post.
Just noting that if you look at his isolated impact on wins over his career (as opposed to stuff like his cool game face, # of rings and awards, high PPG on high volume / mediocre efficiency chucking, etc.) he’s actually been significantly below CP3.
Advanced stats are just one indicator, but I like them cos they’re more dispassionate than we are. 😊
Man listen, after hearing every Warrior fan and their mother say this "Warrior for life" line about Klay a few years ago compared to how many Warrior fans are talking about Klay now, I'll never believe this line again.
... Not sure how to respond. For myself, I want klay to be a warrior for life, but I've been really critical this year.
It's been a journey watching klay this last year with lots of ups and downs, but he's gonna figure it out and ride off to a golden sunset when it all said and done
If she'd shot from the WNBA line, she would have beaten him. On the other hand, if they'd both shot from the WNBA line, I think he would have beaten her.
Not because he's a man and those are better; but because he's Steph and no one else is.
I was disappointed she did not shoot from the WNBA line. She made 37 in the WNBA three-point shootout. Possibly she put herself at a disadvantage by insisting on the NBA line, presumably to quiet some criticism.
I was also disappointed they did not do the best two out of three rounds. Would’ve enjoyed watching those scores going up.
Felt like the judges added dramatic tension by knocking points off Mac's second to last dunk. Maybe it was because he fell on his butt the first attempt?
Catching up on the events… whew I’m so happy that Sabrina shot well, and Steph even better. Lots of haters waiting to dump on Sabrina if she didn’t come through. (And there are still a few legacy idiots ready to dump on Steph.)
Unwatchable. Would say more, but I've already put more effort into the All Star Game than the participants.
Reposted from open thread due to relevance.
STEPH VS. SABRINA THE MOST-WATCHED EVENT OF ALL STAR SATURDAY NIGHT!
NBA all star weekend has become a joke. They should just scrap it
curry (29) ionescu (26)
3pt finals: lillard (26) towns (24) young (24)
1st round: markkanen (25) brunson (24) mitchell (21) beasley (20)
also lillard was lucky to benefit from the 3x 'starry' ball.
curry/ionescu missed those.
> also lillard was lucky to benefit from the 3x 'starry' ball.
Weird calling it “luck”. I guess everyone who hit any shot is “lucky”.
well as you increase sample size you're more likely to have the best shooter win, less luck.
using different value balls increases the importance of a small sample size, more luck.
Couple of improvements on the ASW.
- Instead of the Skills Challenge, a 1 v 1 playoff would be amazing but no one is going to risk physical or ego injury enough for that, so how about including H-O-R-S-E (or name it what you like). It's a shooters league so how it this not a thing? I know they've kind of done it in the past but why has it not caught on to be a thing? How could they make it better?
- Change the Slam Dunk competition into the Slam Drunk competition
- Mascot Royal Rumble
- Smack Talk Insult Battle
- Coaches Challenge Competition
Am I missing anything?
Edit: Got to throw in the Effin Reffin Stephen and see which Ref can actually correctly call an off or on ball foul on Steph.
This is an OUTSTANDING list that I wish I'd thought of myself. No notes.
OK, how about this: give the fans something to do. Players get in a competition, maybe a game or skills challenge, and the fans have on their phone app the ability to vote who will get an electric shock. Each player is wearing a shocker and if you get shocked five times or pass out, you lose. That way it's not just about the skills, it gets the fans involved.
This message is endorsed by Stanley Milgram
Best flop? Can be judged on best techniques.
You know the Smack Talk Insult Battle might just be worth watching and listening to! Come to that, why not mic up both All Star teams and get all the smack talk during the game? I guess you'd need the old 7-second delay to bleep obscenities. Family entertainment and all that.
They need to banish skills challenge forever.
Steph's come a long way from his original All-Star Saturday "moment":
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/3d/d6/a7/3dd6a716350c52cce80d20d292e0ec81.jpg
If Kuminga had bothered to go to the dunk contest, he would have jumped over MacClung *while MacClung was jumping over Shaq* and thrown his ball down on top of MacClung's. I think we can all agree that would have gotten a 48, maybe 49.
Meh, we can all agree ''IF'' don't get it done. Mac is one of only two players who have repeated as B2B champ. He gets it done every time he has an opportunity.
I’ve never heard someone’s top 4 players are these players 😂😂😂🤣
https://x.com/iklaythompson/status/1758895312037650799?s=46&t=tQC7WocGoVgqYbW9HHRdBQ
Oh man, that set up was amazing!!! I'm ROTFL 🤣
CP3 easily deserves to be on there ahead of Kobe, imo. It’s remarkable how many of these kids blurt out Kobe as their first answer. Newsflash, kids: not a top 15 all-time player. let alone top 4.
I agree with this take. Sports are so prone to exaggeration. Why can't Kobe have been a really good player with a really great career, but not be in the top ten? His inefficiency and other weaknesses Sleepy points out were real. It's like this: I can really believe in someone as being my really really good friend, but that doesn't make them my best friend.
Yeah it’s clear he was many of their #1s.
Kobe was a high-volume low efficiency gunner, but he was quite good on the defensive end of the floor. It would be interesting to see how (or if) he would have adapted his game to fit today's NBA.
That would be a subjective choice based on how your brain values players. Kobe has the hearts and minds of a whole generation plus rings and some records. CP3, while an HOFer, is not in the same category. Plus we'd be hating him if he wasn't a Warrior.
I’m going by impact on wins, which is reasonably measurable by plus-minus results in the largest possible samples. CP3 crushes Kobe by that measure. Their career DPM curves are not close.
Kobe has no records, that I’m aware of?
“Hearts and minds” … I mean sure, anyone can put Kobe or Klay or Derek Fisher or Iverson or Carmelo or whoever captures their hearts and minds on their Mt. Rushmore. I’m just saying if your Mt. Rushmore is supposed to be based on impact on wins, Kobe shouldn’t be on it.
Attila answered this well. Also, Kobe is tied with Bob Petit for most MVP awards, 4. Most points in a game in the modern era, 81. Bryant hit 33,643 points, made 8,378 free throws, and completed 4,010 turnovers, all records for a guard. Most points in a single arean, Staples, 16161. Impressed yet? You're obviously not a fan of his.
Most MVPs: Kareem, 6
Most points in a game: Wilt, 100
Most points in a career: LeBron 39,868 (who btw had much better “guard skills” in terms of passing and handles than Kobe).
“Points for a guard” … and “points in one arena” … uh, okay, but we’re now we’re starting to add qualifiers to make sure Kobe gets stuff. You can do that with a lot of players.
“Most completed turnovers” … um, okay? 😂
Great player, of course, but no, I’m not that impressed by his career .541 TS in the playoffs (with a much lower assist rare and rebound rate than Steph), his non-superstar-like on-court impact numbers, and his general douchiness, selfishness and lack of support for his teammates (relative to guys like Magic, Bird, Steph, e.g.)
He’s more like #15-25 than top 4 in my book (and the book of most advanced stats), which is nothing to be ashamed of. Lots of talented players have come through this league.
You're still walking on the shady side of the street. Few basketball players impacted the fans like Kobe. That is a reality that somehow passes you by. I'm not equating him with the best that's ever played, but look how many players want to wear his number.
Wilt would never have gotten the stats that he got if he played in this era. GPII would have a field day guarding him. Lebron surpasses Kobe in almost everything. Immortal. Kobe and Steph, both turnover machines, but still great. Bird unselfish? lol.
I think Kobe has the record for most missed FGs...
LeBron will likely take that record from him pretty soon, though.
LeBron scored his points much more efficiently than Kobe (both reg season and playoffs) even if you give Kobe a boost for the lower league-wide efficiency of his era.
Yeah, I was literally just responding tongue in cheek to "Kobe has no records" by saying he holds the record for career missed FGs (but not for long)
We’re talking about two all-time greats. But with respect to Kobe, as Klay might say, “Five rings!”
Kobe: 20 seasons, 5 NBA championships, 18-time All-Star, 15-time All-NBA Team, a 12-time All-Defensive Team, the 2008 NBA MVP, 2-time NBA Finals MVP.
CP3: 18 seasons, no NBA championships, 12-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA Team, 9-time All-Defensive Team, never NBA MVP, never NBA Finals MVP.
More to the point, when you hear today’s NBA players talk about the best of the best, the vast majority talk about Kobe as among the elite of all time. Many of today's players modeled their game after him to some extent. You rarely hear them talk about CP3 in that way. Maybe they should but if they do, I sure haven’t heard it.
I mean, I’m well aware that Kobe enjoys a much more stellar rep among voters, fans, and players than CP3 does. That was the whole point of my initial post.
Just noting that if you look at his isolated impact on wins over his career (as opposed to stuff like his cool game face, # of rings and awards, high PPG on high volume / mediocre efficiency chucking, etc.) he’s actually been significantly below CP3.
Advanced stats are just one indicator, but I like them cos they’re more dispassionate than we are. 😊
You never hear CP3 mentioned as one of the elites. Steph would destroy him when he was a Clipper. Still an HOFer, though.
Podz instantly needs to be a warrior for life and earn himself a statue
Man listen, after hearing every Warrior fan and their mother say this "Warrior for life" line about Klay a few years ago compared to how many Warrior fans are talking about Klay now, I'll never believe this line again.
You can be a "Warrior for life" without being on the team your whole career right?
... Not sure how to respond. For myself, I want klay to be a warrior for life, but I've been really critical this year.
It's been a journey watching klay this last year with lots of ups and downs, but he's gonna figure it out and ride off to a golden sunset when it all said and done
Thank you!! 💯
We fans are one fickle bunch.
Man Brandin knows by whom his bread is buttered lol
This skills challenge is just reiterating how dumb nba players are
If she'd shot from the WNBA line, she would have beaten him. On the other hand, if they'd both shot from the WNBA line, I think he would have beaten her.
Not because he's a man and those are better; but because he's Steph and no one else is.
Does anyone even care in the real world? It was a fun event!
I've never watched the wnba but I will give it a shot this summer.
But maybe she might be more tuned into the WNBA line which could give her the advantage?
I was disappointed she did not shoot from the WNBA line. She made 37 in the WNBA three-point shootout. Possibly she put herself at a disadvantage by insisting on the NBA line, presumably to quiet some criticism.
I was also disappointed they did not do the best two out of three rounds. Would’ve enjoyed watching those scores going up.
If it's in the gym, Steph has the advantage, is my working theory
You saying he can’t shoot outside?
Felt like the judges added dramatic tension by knocking points off Mac's second to last dunk. Maybe it was because he fell on his butt the first attempt?
Catching up on the events… whew I’m so happy that Sabrina shot well, and Steph even better. Lots of haters waiting to dump on Sabrina if she didn’t come through. (And there are still a few legacy idiots ready to dump on Steph.)
Next year, Steph and Sabrina vs Dame and Caitlin?
You might have something there for next year.
Lil Mac does it again. Couldn't happen to a NICER, more deserving guy....
Amazing seeing McClung's head at rim level like he was JK's height. What hops!
Mac McClung over Shaq for the perfect scoring Dunk! Oh my goodness!