Team LeBron won the All-Star Game 148:145 against Team Stephen. After great criticism in the past, the event was convincing this time. This was partly due to LeBron James, but also to the new format. Opinions were divided on Fergie’s anthem.
So really, most people weren’t convinced by the changes around the All-Star Game. What’s it going to make a big difference if two captains choose the teams themselves instead of the traditional east-west chash? As we have learned: A lot!
Of course, the 2018 edition of the All-Star Game didn’t include 48 minutes of Lockdown-Defense, but from the very beginning it seemed as if the players actually wanted to prove that last year’s triple and dark orgy in New Orleans was history,”We didn’t want the All-Star Game to be considered a joke,” explained Kevin Durant. Of course, no complex layouts have been designed, but nobody wants to see it.
But it was nice to watch how Dwane Casey, head coach of Team LeBron, suddenly unpacked a full court press shortly before the break and twice doubled the completely surprised James Harden. Why wouldn’t I be?
The fact that the final phase was tight again helped the tension curve of the event a lot. All of the players in the field were highly concentrated and team curry coach Mike D’ Antoni even made an open defense switch. Just as LeBron James and Kevin Durant then as a felt big-men duo nipped offense in the bud, good basketball was simply good and necessary in the general view for this once so prestigious event.
“It worked,”James was happy.”For everyone. For the players, for the league and especially for the fans. It was a great weekend and a great event.”
And of course, such an event needs its showcase athletes. The NBA is fortunate to have LeBron James. Not only did Cleveland Cavalier’s star once again deliver a show that earned him his third MVP trophy, but he once again addressed injustices within society. Even against the powerful channel Fox News, he did not deviate one millimetre from his position and cemented the status of the advanced league.
Hopefully, he’s got a few more years in the tank. The man is now playing his 15th birthday at the age of 33. Season, but still shows no signs of fatigue. In a game full of model athletes and franchise players, the King stood out from the crowd that night as well. With 29 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists he barely missed the fifth triple double of the ASG history.
The MVP was also quite rightly there for this purpose. James desperately wanted to win this game and his team was rewarded for it, not least because it was the fourth-quarter LeBron james show after a double-digit gap in his colours. Accordingly, James rejoiced in the victory like a small child. It was also amusing how he complained towards the end of the game about an allegedly wrong decision by the Referees, but this was also proof of the will to win that he spread in Los Angeles.
The reason for James’ anger was a video review of the refs about one minute before the end. Yes, that actually happened, the first video review of the history of the All-Star Games. The players were also laughing on the benches when, after an unclear situation between Joel Embiid and Durant, the spalding rolled out. The actors made wild the sign for the video proof and the referees did them the favor.
The decision was however very questionable, but in the end this scene didn’t decide the game because the very pomade James Harden threesome was much too short. Rasheed Wallace called’ Ball don’t lie.’ Whether there will be a Last Two Minutes report is not yet clear. We wait eagerly for it.
Page 1: New format brings Defense – LeBron makes a statement
Page 2: Rivalries, Reconciliations and the Hymn