The Argo Playback
This year's All-Star game lacked the usual artistry and fun
Ashley Wilson
Issue date: 3/4/09 Section: Sports
The West beat the East 146-119 in the 58th NBA All-Star game in Phoenix, Ariz.
This year's All-Star game lacked the artistry and fun that it usually gets. There were not as many intriguing plays and no lop-and-dunks until the last quarter. The second half saw the East wasting away as the West continued to increase the lead.
It was the day after Valentine's Day when Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant reunited as teammates and led the West to victory. It has been almost five years since O'Neal and Bryant's celebrated break up, but they tapped into their old chemistry without much difficulty, without any trace of their old tensions. The ex-teammates combined for 44 points, Bryant had 27 and O'Neal 17. They were named Co-Most Valuable Player of this year's game. They both have been awarded MVP three times.
Also playing relatively well for the West included Amare Stoudemaire, who contributed 19 points, as well as, Chris Paul, Brandon Roy, Tony Parker and Pau Gasol who each contributed 14 points each.
As for the East, LeBron James scored a game high with 20 points, as Dwayne Wade and Paul Pierce both added 18 points a piece. Dwight Howard, Kevin Garnett, and Mo Williams added 13, 12, and 12 respectively. It was unfortunate that they didn't get too much help from starting guard Allen Iverson.
The players from the U.S. Olympic Team were presented with rings in celebration of bringing the Gold Medal back to the United States; they were named the "Redeem Team."
During the pregame introduction, O'Neal emerged wearing a white plastic mask, the trademark look of the Jabberwockies dance troop, and he proceeded to dance with them for two minutes before the rest of the West team was introduced. "I just wanted to do something different," O'Neal said. For one evening, Shaquille O'Neal, the reigning clown prince, provided a vivid reminder of his unique place in the basketball universe.
The remainder of this season will be a push for some teams to make the NBA Playoffs. For the elite teams, it will be trying to have the best record in the league to secure the home court advantage, which was a huge factor in last year's playoffs for the crowned NBA Champions, the Boston Celtics.
This season the Celtics are currently battling Cleveland and Orlando for the home court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference Playoffs.
In the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Lakers currently have the best record with the San Antonio Spurs and the Denver Nuggets close behind.
All of us NBA fans will have to wait until June to see who becomes the next NBA Champions.
This year's All-Star game lacked the artistry and fun that it usually gets. There were not as many intriguing plays and no lop-and-dunks until the last quarter. The second half saw the East wasting away as the West continued to increase the lead.
It was the day after Valentine's Day when Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant reunited as teammates and led the West to victory. It has been almost five years since O'Neal and Bryant's celebrated break up, but they tapped into their old chemistry without much difficulty, without any trace of their old tensions. The ex-teammates combined for 44 points, Bryant had 27 and O'Neal 17. They were named Co-Most Valuable Player of this year's game. They both have been awarded MVP three times.
Also playing relatively well for the West included Amare Stoudemaire, who contributed 19 points, as well as, Chris Paul, Brandon Roy, Tony Parker and Pau Gasol who each contributed 14 points each.
As for the East, LeBron James scored a game high with 20 points, as Dwayne Wade and Paul Pierce both added 18 points a piece. Dwight Howard, Kevin Garnett, and Mo Williams added 13, 12, and 12 respectively. It was unfortunate that they didn't get too much help from starting guard Allen Iverson.
The players from the U.S. Olympic Team were presented with rings in celebration of bringing the Gold Medal back to the United States; they were named the "Redeem Team."
During the pregame introduction, O'Neal emerged wearing a white plastic mask, the trademark look of the Jabberwockies dance troop, and he proceeded to dance with them for two minutes before the rest of the West team was introduced. "I just wanted to do something different," O'Neal said. For one evening, Shaquille O'Neal, the reigning clown prince, provided a vivid reminder of his unique place in the basketball universe.
The remainder of this season will be a push for some teams to make the NBA Playoffs. For the elite teams, it will be trying to have the best record in the league to secure the home court advantage, which was a huge factor in last year's playoffs for the crowned NBA Champions, the Boston Celtics.
This season the Celtics are currently battling Cleveland and Orlando for the home court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference Playoffs.
In the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Lakers currently have the best record with the San Antonio Spurs and the Denver Nuggets close behind.
All of us NBA fans will have to wait until June to see who becomes the next NBA Champions.
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