Photo Credit, ytmp4.club
Finally an All-Star game for fans who live for competition. For years fans have witnessed lope sided affairs, no defense, celebrity-style fun and games ending in huge scores. That could be put to rest barring the likelihood of the new format.
Thanks to the new format where team captains handpicked the two teams. Cleveland’s LeBron James, representing the East and Stephen Curry in the West, picked players for its respective teams while ditching the old format of East vs. West. They even promised the game would be more competitive. And they delivered. The game held off decision until the final buzzer sounded with Team LeBron walking away with an emotionally hard fought 148-145 victory.
Of course, both teams had full intent on winning the game.
Players could be heard from the bench saying, we got to win it.
With 10.7 seconds left and trailing by three points, Curry, who took possession of the inbound pass, was trapped along the right baseline by the taller Durant and James. With limitless movement, that left little time for Curry to find a teammate, who couldn’t get the shot off before time expired.
Though the West held several double-digit leads, the East had an answer for every scoring threat the West mounted. Which was proven in the fourth quarter? The East chipped away at the West lead and set itself up in perfect position for the win when Kyrie Irving fed James a beautiful pass within point blank range of the basket. The conversion gave Team LeBron a 146-145 lead before Westbrook, later got behind the defense to increase the score to three points, 148-145.
There were drawbacks. Left in the dark, fans had no part in the selection show and only learned who would participate at game time. That was a sour note for fans, but we might agree, it stands as one of the best showings the All-Star game has seen.
It had the pickup game atmosphere. Basically, my team can beat your team. But in the end, the friendly competition will be remembered for years.
Could this be the start of something new? Partly, the new format was created that the All-Star game would be competitive.
