Lessons Learned

What we know about the All-Star game: Solid defense is about as absent as Craig Sager’s taste, effort is as prominent as Kobe Bryant’s willingness to share the basketball, and Dwight Howard prefers not to sweat in meaningless games.

Two of those held true Sunday Night, but the effort, oh the effort was there. Whether it was LeBron James barreling from the top of the key to the basket in three steps, or Kobe Bryant scoring 21 in the first half, or Kevin Durant silencing the East’s comeback with two quick daggers; it was obvious these guys cared.

It was refreshing to see LeBron James first try to inspire the troops through language in the huddle, and then back it up with relentless drives to the basket. Sure, the defense wasn’t as tight as it would be in a playoff game seven, but LeBron James played his ass off…and so did Kobe. It’s been a long time since we could say that about anyone in an All-Star game…

At its best, the game is a microcosm of the season it represents. This one, much to my surprise, did just that. Lessons learned:

1. Kobe just hanging on…

Jason Whitlock of Fox Sports wrote a great column on Kobe earlier today: but I’ll summarize my thoughts on Bryant’s performance.

Kobe Bryant is a man who is obsessed with his legacy, that I’m sure of. He wants to top Michael Jordan and be recognized as the best basketball player ever when his career is over. Yes, he’s a winner, but he wins on his own terms. Last night, he was gunning for the All-star MVP—which would be his record tying fourth—from the opening tip. He hoisted up 26 shots, in a freakin’ All-Star game. Who does that? Actually only one other person, Wilt Chamberlain (what a surprise!) with 27. That fourth trophy was just another piece for the mantle, and another portfolio builder in an already illustrious career.

You don’t think those Kobe throw downs—vintage turn of the millennium Kobe slams—were a hidden message to the young guns that hey, I still got it? Unfortunately Kobe, you might have lost it.

As Whitlock pointed out, Kobe isn’t ready to pass the torch, and he never will be. Even though he was gassed by the fourth quarter he was content to play one on five and shoot contested jumpers—even as LeBron James was willing the East back from a double digit deficit. Your All-star MVP came within two life-saving Kevin Durant jumpers of losing the game and relinquishing an MVP trophy that seemed his by right after an explosive first half.


2. LeBron James is still the alpha-dog

A phrase popularized by Bill Simmons, the league’s alpha dog is its best player, most dominant personality, and most recognizable star. After a summer in which James drove a stake through the heart of Cleveland and announced his departure on live television, it became popular to jump off the King James bandwagon and crown someone else—Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose, Chris Paul or whoever else it may be—as the NBA’s G-O-T-H, or: Greatest of This Hour.

Well guess what? LeBron James—crass jack-ass though he may be—is the best basketball player in the world. Even better than MVP Justin Bieber. No one is capable of taking the ball to the hoop like James—no one. It goes something like this: LeBron takes the inbound pass and glides to half court with his man lying well off, all too aware of the King’s burst and power. He lulls you to sleep as he dribbles to the top of the key, and then like a hurricane he bounds past his defender and with three loping strides he’s at the basket. Just like that—and you’re powerless to stop him. He’s too big, too fast, too quick. Maybe he’s a little to content shooting long jumpers, but last night was a reminder that King James, when he wants to be, is utterly unstoppable.

And then, just as were witnessing a vintage virtuoso LeBron performance, James the I-kinda-don’t-wanna-be-the-alpha-dog-can’t-I-just-facilitate showed up. That’s the LeBron that would rather pass to open teammates (much worse players I might add) than take the big shot himself. The same things that make the King great also leave us asking for more. Kind of like Lost; the mystery that made the show a cult classic also always left you wanting more.

Why disregard a good look from 24 feet and pass to Chris Bosh, who subsequently bricked a three from the top of the cylinder? In that respect, James needs a little Kobe…


3. Kevin Durant among the elite

Well duh, but Durant’s performance against the league’s best reaffirmed our suspicion that the Durantula is among the five or six best basketball players in the world. He might not be the unstoppable force that is LeBron James (yet, at least), but he is one of the most skilled offensive players in the game, and is a jump shooting big man second only to Dirk. His misses are beautiful and his jumpers never seem effected by the most rigorous of contests. He even sealed the game for the west after a bout of “Kobe-ball” when Durant knocked down a quick transition three followed by an 18 foot rainbow.

Giving the game another look over, it pretty flawlessly represents the current hierarchy of the NBA. LeBron the alpha-dog, the triple-double machine who can take over a game at any point. He’s followed by Kobe, still the same ridiculously skilled player, but without the hops/explosiveness of yesteryear. A falling star not yet willing to pass the torch to the Durant’s and Rose’s of the world. Then you’ve got the young guns, contending MVP’s Derrick Rose, and Kevin Durant. Chris Paul, even with his ailing knee remains the greatest field general in basketball. His passes are unreal.

Some quick hit observations

1. Ibaka got robbed.

Compare Serge Ibaka’s free-throw line dunk to Julius Erving’s and Michael Jordan’s iconic slams. Ibaka is the only one who actually dunked from behind the line. That’s 15 feet! THE MAN JUMPED 15 FEET. And he only earned a 45 from the judges…

2. I think Justin Bieber has a weird shooting form…

Gotta’ hand it to him though…he went on national television and played with guys who have a lot more experience playing basketball. And he wasn’t even awful…

3. Doc Rivers and Gregg Popovich might be laughing their asses off come playoff time…

Combined minutes of Miami’s three All-Star’s: 73.
Combined minutes of Boston’s four All-star’s: 57
Combined minutes of L.A’s two All-star’s: 53
Combined minutes of San Antonio’s two All-stars: 33

And the cherry on top: Dwyane Wade twisted his ankle. Both coaches played this very, very intelligently.

4. Blake Griffin is the greatest marketing machine in the NBA…

…and believe it or not, maybe in all of sports. He’s likeable, hasn’t backstabbed thousands of devoted fans (yet), plays with an aggression more befitting of a Roman Gladiator than a gazillionaire sports star, and is the only athlete in any major professional sports that could potentially break his neck any given night because he plays so damn hard. Oh, and he dunks over cars…yeah, that helps. Here’s a great column by J.A Adande of ESPN highlighting the business of the NBA. Worth a read, trust me, I’m an expert.

5. Melo’ going through the motions…

He looked exhausted Sunday night, and his numbers showed it. Eight points, seven boards, and three turnovers in 23 minutes despite being a starter for the west. I guess the constant stream of trade rumors and weekend full of “meetings” and parties really does ware one down. Don’t worry; I’ll have a full column to settle your thirst for Melo knowledge when this whole deal is over. /sarcasm

6. The NBA knows how to put together a half-time show

-Rihanna>Fergie

-Kanye West>Usher

-Lenny Kravitz>everything

Please excuse the American Idol reference, but it’s completely necessary. You know how whenever an Idol is voted off the show they run a short little three minute clip of their time as a contestant? Ideally, that’s how we want the NBA All-star game to work. After watching it, even if you live under a rock, you should come away knowing who is that season’s alpha dog, what the hierarchy of the game’s best players is, and a snapshot of what the game’s elite athletes do best. It functions as a 48 minute yearbook…

This year was among the best ever. Now let's fix the Pro Bowl...