NBA announces major schedule change after damp squib All-Star Game with changes coming into place this year
The NBA has revealed a significant alteration to the All-Star schedule for this year.
A four-team competition will take the place of the game this season.
Three teams of eight players will be formed from the 24 All-Stars that will be chosen.
The winner of the Rising Stars event, which will be played on Friday night and pit rookies against second-year standouts, will join them.
The Golden State Warriors’ Chase Center will host the new All-Star tournament on Sunday, February 16.
Instead of using a game clock, a 40-point objective score will be used to decide every game.
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Due of players’ lack of effort, All-Star weekend has been plagued by criticism in recent years.
The team scored the most points in an All-Star Game last year, finishing 211-186.
Commissioner Adam Silver was deeply dissatisfied after pleading with players to put up more effort than in past years.
“Two hundred [points] is a lot,” acknowledged All-Star MVP Damian Lillard following the dull game.
It only demonstrates that we didn’t compete as you or anyone else would have wanted us to. It is precisely that.
In contrast to the old East vs. West structure, All-Star captains who garnered the most votes in each conference will pick their teams throughout the past six seasons.
TNT analysts Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, and Kenny Smith will choose this year’s three eight-man teams.
Voting for All-Stars will begin tomorrow and continue until January 20.
Fifty percent of fans, twenty-five percent of the media, and twenty-five percent of the players will vote to choose the ten All-Star starts.
All 14 reserves will be chosen by the current NBAhead coaches.
The winning team will award $125,000 in prize money to each player.
Players ousted in the semi-finals will receive $25,000 each, while runners-up will receive $50,000 each.
‘HOPEFULLY IT HAPPENS’
The developments are encouraging, according to Oklahoma City Thunderstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
“Obviously, it is expected and reasonable for them to try to shake things up, since the elephant in the room is our competition,” he remarked.
It will ultimately depend on if the players want to compete, and I would really want to see that. I would really want to be a part of that, and I hope it comes to pass.”
‘I HATE IT’
Kevin Durant, on the other hand, has been vocally opposed to the changes and has been a selected All-Star captain in two of the last six seasons.
“I detest it. I detest it. The 14-time All-Star scolded, “Terrible.” “I think that format shifting is awful.
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“We ought to simply return to East-West. Play a game, please.
“With the All-Star Weekend, I believe we’ve been attempting to revive that flair in some way, but I believe we’re just maintaining a tradition. Let’s see how it turns out. I could be mistaken.
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