It was All-Star Weekend in New Orleans and there were very memorable moments for the NBA. On Saturday was both the 3 point shootout and the slam dunk competition. Sunday was the All-Star game, and the festivities were kicked off with home town heroes Harry Connick Jr. and Branford Marsalis. It was a good city for the celebration, it being rich in music and food as part of the culture. Also, it was refreshing to see celebration in a city that has experienced so much devastation.
On Saturday night, UCLA’s own Jason Kapono (featured right) defended his 3 point title against the likes of Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, and Peja Stojakovic. Kobe’s injured finger kept him out of the competition. Nash choked, Dirk put up a good scored, as did Daniel Gibson, but Kapono was too much. He tied the competition record with 25 and earned his second straight victory. Charles Barkley called him, “the best shooter in the league,” before the shootout began. As he finished his last rack of basketballs Barkley exclaimed, “I told you!”
His creativity was matched by Dwight Howard who ripped off his jersey to reveal a Superman jersey. He then placed a cape around his neck and jumped from very close to the free throw line. The seven-footer rose so high above the rim, that he was able to throw the ball down into the basket from at least a foot away. The crowd and judges were dazzled at the dunk that earned Howard his second of 3 perfect 50’s. He was named the new dunk champion by the fans who texted in the votes this year.
The game on Sunday came down to the wire. Kobe Bryant was forced to start the game despite the Lakers request for him to sit out. The rule is if you play the last game before the break, you must play in the game, or face a one game suspension. He played almost 3 minutes and earned one rebound. The East took a big lead, but the West rallied back in the 4th quarter and tied the game. Ray Allen’s 3 point shooting and LeBron James’ dominance kept them in the game and eventually prevailed as the East won 134-128.
James was this years MVP and was chosen by the fans who again texted in the votes. He had 27 points, 9 assists, and 8 rebounds. But the highlight came late in the 4th, when LeBron drove the lane and yammed on several west cost players. Dirk Nowitzki looked like a chump as James used his face as a landing cushion. Also for the East, Ray Allen had 28 points and hit five 3 pointers. Dwight Howard went 7 for 7, earning 16 points and 9 rebounds for the East. Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudemare, and Brandon Roy all contributed 18 points, but it was Chris Paul who shined among the West. He had 16 points and 14 assists. Had the West prevailed, he would have got the MVP, making it a great night for New Orleans and the new face of the franchise.
All and all, it was a decent game and an entertaining weekend. The dunk contest opened the door for new and creative dunks to look forward to next year, and with a two time champion, the 3 point contest makes for greater stakes. The East took revenge for the loss they took last year, and James took his second MVP. Kobe had the weekend off, and said he would play through his injury rather than go through surgery. Jason Kidd said he hoped to be traded to Dallas by Monday. The remainder of the season seems set for some heavy competition.
Dwight Howard Photo by the mattlehrer flickr.com
Jason Kapono Photo by Wikipedia
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