Photo. MannionWay back last Friday during NBA All-Star Media Day — which honestly feels like it was a week ago — one reporter was going around asking various All-Stars what they would do to fix an All-Star Game that usually hasn’t competitive. Tim Duncan gave the best answer when he deadpanned, “I can’t answer that because I don’t agree with the question. It is competitive.” Yesterday’s All-Star Game in New Orleans definitely was, at least when it mattered most. The East led pretty much all the way through until the last 5 minutes, when Chris Paul and Brandon Roy helped spark a Western comeback. Duncan put the West on top with a banker (that’s what he does), and from there you had big-time buckets by Ray Allen, LeBron, CP and a few other guys down the stretch. The deciding bucket came on a play where LeBron got a steal on one end, came down and crossed up Amare before unleashing a soul-crushing dunk on Dirk Nowitzki … LeBron got the MVP (27 pts, 8 rebs, 9 asts), but you could have made a great case for Ray (28 pts, 5 3PM); Sugar hit some huge shots for the East that kept CP and crew from running away with it after they got that lead, then knocked down his free throws to ice the win … Of course, we covered all of this in Austin’s All-Star live blog or running diary of whatever you wanna call it. All the on-court action and off-camera stuff is HERE, just like it was all throughout the weekend: All-Star Saturday Night’s live blog and the Rookie Challenge live blog. In fact, if you click around DimeMag.com you’ll see that we were all over the place in New Orleans, covering All-Star Weekend inside and out; better than anyone else if you wanna ask us … Who came out of the weekend having gained the most? Dwight Howard, definitely. LeBron gets another resume-builder, and Chris Paul (16 pts, 14 asts, 4 stls) left no doubt that he’s right up there with — if not better than — whoever you think is the best point guard on the planet … Oh, and Gerald Green gets props for reminding all of us that he’s still in the NBA, while Jason Kapono will at very least be as famous as Craig Hodges for the rest of his life. The losers from this weekend? Rudy Gay wasn’t so impressive in the dunk contest after all the hype. The Rookie team as usual got hammered, and Steve Nash and Dirk didn’t help the respective negative perceptions about them (Nash can’t guard anyone; Dirk is soft) … Kobe played 3 uneventful minutes before sitting the rest of the game out. That was to be expected, and only highlights why the NBA shouldn’t have forced him to play and just replaced him with someone like Deron Williams or Baron Davis … Play of the game? We liked Amare’s man-sized dunk over Dwight, and the Jason Kidd-to-LeBron-to-Dwight alley oop, but we’ll have to go with LeBron’s go-ahead dunk over Dirk … While J-Kidd was handing out 10 dimes and kinda getting worked over by Chris Paul, the Nets and Mavs apparently kept working on that trade. Now it’s reportedly this: Kidd and Malik Allen to Dallas for Devin Harris, DeSagana Diop, Mo Ager, Trenton Hassell, Keith Van Horn (who would need to sign with Dallas), two first-round picks and cash. Basically the same as the failed trade last week, with Hassell and Van Horn replacing Devean George and Jerry Stackhouse. So Stack still gets to stay with Dallas (which is apparently what would have happened anyway), the Nets still get a guy they’ll never use (Van Horn) and the centerpieces of the deal — Kidd and Harris — remain the same. But then, does Van Horn re-signing affect his Hall of Fame eligibility? … Now that Mike Bibby is out of Sacramento, Ron Artest reportedly doesn’t want to leave so bad anymore. We saw that one coming 100 miles away … Want your own pair of LeBron V kicks? Head over to BeBetterThanLeBron.com and check out the videos being submitted every day by readers of who they think could be the next LeBron. All you have to do is send us a YouTube clip of who you think could be the next LeBron (could be you, could be someone you know, could be your favorite up-and-coming-player). The best submissions we receive every week will get themselves a pair of the Vs … We’re out like Bibby …
February 18th, 2008 at 5:57 am
BC says:
first?
February 18th, 2008 at 6:12 am
BC says:
“But then, does Van Horn re-signing affect his Hall of Fame eligibility?”… classic. Him and Big Country Reeves can battle it out for the ‘most dissapointing white guy not from Duke’ HOF spot.
The All-Star game was surprisingly competitive, and as usual the guards (counting LBJ as a guard) were the deciding factor. Lebron deserved MVP just for the dunk on Dirk & co. Ray Allen gets the 6th man award, which ain’t bad considering that he was the East’s 15th pick for the game.
February 18th, 2008 at 6:13 am
titties says:
yeah man, you got first…nice job bro, keep it up
February 18th, 2008 at 6:21 am
Flying-Dutchman says:
Great game. Bron could’ve got the Triple-Double easily! And i hear Kidd is a Mav now
February 18th, 2008 at 6:32 am
the_don_mega says:
“But then, does Van Horn re-signing affect his Hall of Fame eligibility?”… classic. Him and Big Country Reeves can battle it out for the ‘most dissapointing white guy not from Duke’ HOF spot.
You got it right on the kisser BC…
LOL
February 18th, 2008 at 6:41 am
Dennis says:
Gerald Green’s performance was nice, but his no shoes-dunk set him back…
http://www.squidoo.com/GeraldGreen
February 18th, 2008 at 9:10 am
YOUNGFED says:
I can just see the endorsements rolling in for Dwight after this weekend. He should be gettin’ Lebron and Kobe type deals.
February 18th, 2008 at 9:14 am
YOUNGFED says:
Van horn is still in the league. WWWOOOOWWW!!!!! (LOL). I really didn’t know the guy was still playing and I hope dime was joking with the Hall of Fame remark.
I’m out like Van Horns Hall of Fame hopes.
February 18th, 2008 at 9:17 am
rean_pogi says:
Great job guys! You are REALLY the best. keep it up.
“…better than anyone else…” i must agree.
right dimeaniacs? right.
ray allen’s the man.
out like dirk being a tough guy…
February 18th, 2008 at 9:26 am
rean_pogi says:
BREAKING NEWS!!!!
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/basketball/nba/02/17/kidd.trade/index.html
February 18th, 2008 at 9:27 am
rean_pogi says:
BREAKING NEWS!!!!
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/basketball/nba/02/17/kidd.trade/index.html
who’s gonna wear #5 now?
February 18th, 2008 at 9:28 am
word says:
^^ yea i agree i said green coulda won if he didn’t do the same dunk twice, he shoulda done the no shoes one but then something else, i don’t care the birthday cake dunk was nasty. and i still contest the fact that howard’s most famous dunk was not even a dunk but oh well. more importantly artest NEEDS to go to denver… that would make the whole series of trades complete imo. and big up dime yall did a sick job reporting i like reading your stuff cuz its mad interesting with the style of writing yall do, including details and behind the scenes stuff, glad i found this site. peace
February 18th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Kobeef says:
I don’t understand the Keith Vanhorn addition.
I thought the league was not cool with the idea of signing and trading a guy only to make the numbers work and cut him.
That said, I think the Lakers did this we Aaron Mackie (in the Gasol trade) and the league approved it so they don’t have much choice but to approve this.
Van Horn must be pumped, he just made millions for doing absolutely nothing.
This trade is actually better for the Mavs than the previous option ’cause they keep Stackhouse. I still don’t see the Mavs beating the lakers, suns, denver, detroit or Boston because their frontcourt will still get owned when it counts.
February 18th, 2008 at 10:59 am
Zach says:
Was it just me or did it seem totally unfair that the East had a different collor back of their jersey than the front? I know these are the cream of the crop players, but when your trying to put on a offensive spectacular it seems like it would suck to have to look for two different colored jerseys to see where your teamates are.
February 18th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
bronbron says:
Zach - great call. Actually both squads had two different color jerseys. I was at the game, and at times it looked like all 10 players were wearing white. Hard to tell em apart.
February 18th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
GEE...let a pg throw an alley-oop from the stands for a dunk contest dunker! 50! says:
Ray was just letting his shots come, you could tell LeBron was actually going for his. Not going for the teams, but going for his.
I give the MVP to Ray. What was up with the West not running and playing 2-3 on D for a large part. The East was eating them up!
How many times did Dirk shoot the turn-around fade away! He is so lame.
Kidd runs that All-Star point like it should be ran. A.I. was going crazy with turnovers. I think if A.I. had been on the East those wouldn’t have been turnovers, cause it seemed A.I. was the only one on the West trying to make plays.
The two color unis were horrid.
I think had Kobe played, between him and A.I. and Chris Paul the West might have had it. Ray got silly though, so I don’t know.
Yao looked like he had no buisness in the game at all. For real China needs to let dude sit out next year, cause he just didn’t have it. Especially taking them three’s that looked like they just took the heart out the West team.
I did miss T-Mac, thank goodness Milsap gave an off the backboard dunk in rookie game.
Deborah Cox is fyne!
That half-time show was horrrrribbbble. What no Lil’ Wayne?
The only thing the West had better than the East was they always do something together for their starting 5 All-Star intro…this year the B-Boy stance pose.
I don’t think anyone enjoys the dunk contest more than Mutombo lol. Perhaps Damon Jones, but still Mutombo gets more tv. time in the dunk contest for his reactions.
February 18th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Celts Fan says:
“But then, does Van Horn re-signing affect his Hall of Fame eligibility?”… classic. Him and Big Country Reeves can battle it out for the ‘most dissapointing white guy not from Duke’ HOF spot.”
Somewhere in NC, Adam Morrison just flipped out. Clear out space fellas, we’ve got a 3rd…
February 18th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Ike says:
van horn in the hall of fame???
February 18th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Bron42 says:
he dime, you left out dwight dunkin on yao and then punchin his shot the next play lol
I still think ray ray shoulda been mvp considerin he is the only reason they pulled ahead
February 18th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
JOB## says:
van horn is eligible as a HOF’er? hahaha ..that’s hilarious
i like ‘bron getting the mvp. Ray was killin, but Bron was the one makin the plays.
February 18th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Celts Fan says:
Ray probably shoulda been MVP Bron, but then he probably should’ve been watching Josh Smith/Hedo/Calderon from home instead, so I have no complaints…
February 18th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
GEE...let a pg throw an alley-oop from the stands for a dunk contest dunker! 50! says:
Celts I think Ray really proved his worth there a lot more than other stars. I don’t think Josh or specially Jose could have done what he did in that time frame on that stage. Hedo? Possibly lol.
Stats dunk on Dwight was so vicious wooooo. Yao was smart at least he sort of moved out the way, Dwight just got crammed on!
February 18th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Celts Fan says:
Ray proved his worth yes, but that doesn’t change that he should’ve been the 4th guy chosen. Dude’s an AMAZING shooter (despite this year’s percentages) which isn’t new to anyone.
I think Josh would’ve made a big impact from all the dirty-work stuff he does that would’ve been the reason he was there. While others were trying to do 180 finger rolls, Josh’d be the guy swatting that crap into the 20th row. Plus, you know he’s good for a few nasty crams…
Calderon would’ve made an impact since he’s a PG and they tend to be in control of ASGs. Plus, it’s not like his lack of defense would be any different from the rest of the squad in this game.
February 18th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Bron42 says:
bron wasnt the one makin the plays, most of his damage was early on…ray was literally comin down court and pullin, not to mention his couple layups in traffic. I say hedo shoulda been in but not really that worried about josh or calderon.
Gee: fred jones had his boy throw it from the stands remember. and amare kinda went around dwight wit the one handers but both were nasty.
February 18th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Shep says:
Van Horn in the Hall? Why not? Everyone wants to put Horry in….
February 18th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
What is this!? says:
Okay its official…the All-Star games are starting to get BORING as hell! I’m sorry. Associated Press did an article about how the All-Star game wasn’t the same without Shaq…and its true. I’m scared to see what the NBA is going to be like without that dude. I have to file a few complaints (LOL):
1.) Why did they make Kobe play when his hand was a HOT MESS!! Were those 3 minutes really that serious? Kevin Garnett got the most votes this year out of everyone and they didn’t make him suit up, so why make Kobe?
2.) I like Coach Scott from the Hornets, but he needs never to coach in an All-Star game again. LOL!! He was a tad bit too biased lastnight. I understand that the game was in New Orleans and all, but since when do the starters not close out the game in an All Star game? CP3 and Brandon Roy both did their part in trying to get things back on track, but when the game came down to being on the line, Coach had some of the games biggest clutch players on the sideline cheering. The Wests bests clutch player (Kobe) was injured, the other great clutch player (Iverson) was on the sideline cheering, Steve Nash was on the sideline and Melo as well. WTF? Like I said I know the game was in New Orleans and all but during the end of the 4th quarter, thats when you put the SUPERSTAR players in to close things out. People don’t vote for some of these players to start for nothing. My friend was at my place watching the game (they don’t follow b-ball as much as I do) and they didn’t even know who some of those players were. LOL! Dissappointing.
3.) I love LEBRON..the boy is the truth…but they know damn well they should have gave that MVP award to RAY ALLEN because if it wasn’t for his 14 points in the fourth the West probably would have won.
I may be late on this but the NBA is starting to seem too “fixed” for me. This may be the reason why their ratings are down and people are starting not to care as much. After watching lastnights game i’m starting to realize that years from now when players like SHAQ, KOBE, IVERSON, NASH and some others retire, its going to be a wrap. Its going to be too boring for words. Hell, the DUNK contest and the other festivities were more entertaining then this.
February 18th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
GEE...this space for sell. says:
Bron that is right I do remember ok guess I got to change that.
February 18th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Bron42 aka global-4A-reason says:
1. i agree it was kinda boring and that NBA vs AND1 game is lookin kinda interesting now lol
2. Coach Scott left in the guys who were hot. Roy and paul are the ones who got them back in the game so why put in the other guys who were out of the flow? specially with nash gettin lit on defense and not scoring. its not like he had scrubs out there who got blown out so you can’t really make that argument if the big name guys werent gettin it done.
3. Ya, ray allen shoulda got it easily.
February 18th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
What is this!? says:
Bron42, I gave them props (CP3 and Brandon Roy) for helping the West back in the game. But like I said, at the end of the game they choked, unfortounatly, which is why clutch players like Kobe (he looked like he was itching to go in at the end of the game), Iverson or even Melo were there. Even if they didn’t score much this game, they always come up clutch when it matters most. When the game is on the line, you have the leagues 2nd, 3rd and 4th leading scorers cheering on the sideline? STOP IT!! I have to agree with “Gee” that if Kobe and Iverson were in at the end, between those two I think the West would have pulled it out.
That is probably one of the first All-Star games i’ve seen that almost half the starters where cheering on the sideline during the end of the fourth. I do think some of that has to do with the game being in New Orleans in CP3’s city and Coach Scott wanting to showcase him. But whatever, we agree that the game was boring none the less, so them being in the game towards the end was irrelevent anyway. And when doesn’t Steve Nash get burned on defense? LOL! But he was funny as hell lastnight when he was getting interviewed on the sideline by Crieg Sager though.
February 18th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
What is this!? says:
Oh yeah, and I agree with “Gee” statement about Iversons passing being better suited for the EAST squads. I wish they would let AI play on the EAST squad for just the ALL- STAR games. LOL! The EAST players seem to be better suited for the quick passes then the West does for some reason. I think the commentator said Iverson had like 6 turnovers in the first half (it’s an all-star game, EVERYONE had turnovers, the West squad had hella turnovers period) but half of those came from people just not paying attention to the pass. How many times did we see a player pass the ball to Dirk and the ball damn near hit him in the back of the head because his back was turned not paying attention? Nomatter how nuts J-Kidds passes were, somebody in the East was ready to get that. AI will always be a East Coast playa in a West coast uniform…And the game was also weird without Vince Carter as well. Just thought i’d throw that in there.
February 18th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Captian American says:
muga chucka
February 18th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Steve says:
WHAT A GREAT WEEKEND, I AM PROUD TO BE AN NBA FAN.
Most talented the league has been since 1993, by FAR…… from Kevin Durants and Rudy Gays to Sam Cassell and Shaq and all the great players of all ages and phases of their career in between…. great guys, great players, great year, great trades, gonna be a great playoofs and GREAT GREAT GREAT Nba finals….. its been a hell of a season, and that was a great allstar weekend.
If Ray had won he wouldve been deserving. Lebron did win it though and he was VERY VERY deserving. It was a great game, Lebron was GREAT throughout the game and came up big at the end. Ray was very good throughout the game and came up HUGE at the end…….. co-mvp oculdve ben considered……. Lebron earned it though. He was MVP and he was FANTASTIC.
Im proud to be a fan. What a great game on Sunday, what a great all-star saturday, what a great charity event, great rookie game…….
great talent in the draft every year while 95% of the very good and great players got plenty of ball left. Im very happy with the NBA, the trades are awesome…. great stuff. GREAT GREAT STUFF.
Only negative I got was that Baron Davis shouldve been in the game, DEFINITELY SHOULD HAVE. He shouldve replaced Kobe on injury, regardless it was awesome. Guys we can be proud of from Wade Paul J Johnson and Howard to Shaq Cassell Zo and Grant Hill, all those in between from young talent (Durant, Rudy Gay, Al Jefferson, D Howard, Monta Ellis, etc), to talent a year or two before entering prime (Roy, Bosh, Lebron, Deng, Melo, etc), about to enter their prime (Wade, Josh Howard, Amare, Joe Johnson, Arenas, etc), to talent in first half of their prime(Caron Butler, Yao, Gasol, Gerald Wallace, etc) , to talent in the mid of their prime (TMac, Kobe, Pierce, Baron Davis, etc), to talent in 2nd half of their prime(Iverson, Nash, Ray Allen, Duncan, Jamison, etc), to talent goin into twilight(Kidd, etc)/ending their prime (Shaq, etc) to talent a little past their prime(Cassell, Grant Hill, etc), and to those past their prime but still contributing to teams and loving the game(Finley, Stackhouse, Mcdyess, Chris Webber, etc)……. VERY PROUD TO BE A NBA FAN. GREAT GREAT GREAT STUFF!!!!!!
February 19th, 2008 at 3:54 am
Ferdiberdi says:
Got no issue that Amare, CP3, and Roy finished the game. They were hot in the 4th. It was Dirk who crumbled in the end - - got dunked on by LBJ (who doesn’t get crammed on?) and 3 was blocked by wade. Even j-kidd gave him the inbounds move.They also couldn’t locate Ray Allen for his clutch 3s. Should have given Co-MVPs to Allen and Lebron though.
I have to admit, the All-Star game had boring parts and a much more exciting end. I guess that’s what happens when KG, Vinsanity, T-mac, Baron, and Shaq sit it out. Deron and Josh Smith would have been nice also. Kobe didn’t get to play much.
February 19th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
D-Lite says:
Van Horn making Millions for not performing what’s new? How high do you have to be to throw a ball down threw a rim for it not to be called a dunk? - get serious even some of his in game dunks are thrown threw if you actually paid attention I like Cheryl, but she was flubbing Saturday. Great coverage dime crew. Ray Ray was the man in crunch time. Artest to Denver, Stu i slicking his chops counting the cash add Artest drama to 1 on 5 AI, Krazy Kenyon, Melo, Camby, the other JR and the other Coach K, get the popcorn ready mile high is about to explode