FanNation - The Republic of Sport

H-O-R-S-E

The doubters proved to be right about the NBA's H-O-R-S-E idea. Not because it couldn't ever work, but simply because the three participants were unbelievably boring...to the point where you began to think no one told them this was going to be televised. Not only that, but the decision to play it outside was kind of a mistake because the shadows got in the way a bit. It was cool to see the scenery while they were hoopin it up, but indoors with lighting and with better crowd noise wouldve made it more exciting. As for the actual competition, My favorite shot was a miss that was attempted twice by Joe Johnson. It was a "spinning ball layup" I guess you would call it. Pretty cool and actually showed some creativity. Other than that shot, OJ Mayo's shot from the stands, and Johnson's shot form the TNT set there wasn't much creativity. I expected to see some behind the back shots, More use of Props, and maybe some creative bounces of on the court and into the basket. Hook shots or kicking and heading the ball woulda been nice...anything other than just plain shooting. Also, the "dunk contest" layups were a bit awkward...driving to the basket, putting it between your legs, and laying it up just isn't as sweet as what Vince Carter pulled off in his dunk contest years ago.

In any event, Kevin Durant was very impressive showing that his shot is money...if there was still any doubt about that. If the NBA decides to bring this back, they need to put some more creative guys in the mix. I understand that they think putting names in the contest will pay off more than actual quality of entertainment, but trust me David Stern, if you put guys that are innovative like Steve Nash in the HORSE competition, people will watch. This year's...was...well, lets just say I've seen more entertaining HORSE games played on a gravel driveway.

SHOOTING STARS

We finally found out the answer to the question everones been asking: How could Dan Majerle, Tangela Smith, and Leandro Barbosa possibly miss all their half court attempts in a 30 second span? haha, okay, not everyone...just me!

Anyway, obivously no one cares about the Shooting Stars, but to me it was entertaining. Especially seeing, once again, the sweetest shooting stroke in the WNBA, Katie Smith. Tangela Smith was strokin it too...basically what I'm trying to say here is that, as with every year in this contest, the women outshine the former and current NBA players. Same thing that happens in the McDonald's All-American 3-point shootout...the girls shoot better.

By the way...Detroit won...

SKILLS CHALLENGE

This is always my least favorite event of the entire weekend and this year's lack of star power made it even worse. Derrick Rose's reverse double pump dunk finish was solid though and it was pretty funny watching Mo Williams jitter his way through his first run and being a jittery person myself, it was much appreciated. Congratualtions Derrick Rose. Also, Tony Parker? wow...THANK YOU for embarrassing yourself in front Suns fans. As a PHX fan, I loved that...so sweet!

THREE-POINT SHOOTOUT

It's hard for me to say anything good about this one. The NBA flopped on their selections for this event. I understand that you reward the guy that shot the best percentages and had the most three pointers made throughout the year, but shooting a 3 in a game and shooting a 3 flat and off a rack is completely different. Get some actual three point set shooters in the thing....Theres one guy I'm think of who went to school in the Valley of the Sun, played for the Suns, and has been an elite 3 point shooter in the league for 3-4 years now: Eddie House!!! Mike Bibby gets to be the hometown guy? Bibby isn't a 3 point shooter and I didn't hear anyone cheering for Bibby...probably cause he's a UofA Wildkitten.

BUT...Congrats to Daequan Cook. He deserved to be in the 3 point contest just off the last second three pointer he made to prevent an upset to Xavier in the NCAA tournament when him and Greg Oden took the Buckeyes to the final four.

DUNK CONTEST

Nate Robinson's "winning" dunk was a Jason Richardson rip-off. Dwight Howard once again won the creativity battle(12 foot dunk, superman phone booth, and off the side of the backboard), but the fans chimed in a gave one to the little guy. I do think Nate's dunks were more impressive, as far as athleticism goes, but I've seen them all before. Step dunk...been done. Dunk over someone...old news, even though...wow, that was incredible and great sportmanship with Howard helping out. Then the JRich rip-off. I think Nate benefited from no one remembering that Jason Richardson did the same exact thing to win it a few years back.

The Biggest news: In true LeBron fashion he stole the show by telling the TNT crew that he'll finally be in the dunk contest next year in Dallas. So, I can only assume this means that he will use Terrell Owens as a prop. Hopefully another star or two will come out for the dunk show next year too so it wont just be judges swooning over LeBron. One word of advice for Broney: If you go for the 12 or 13 foot dunk to show up Dwight Howard make sure yours looks more impressive than Howard's did. 

LASTING IMPRESSION

All-in-all (laugh all you want) but my favorite event so far has been the Celeb Game. The game that's always the laughing stock of the weekend. It was non-stop entertainment though AND some quality basketball in the celeb game for a change given that the Celeb influence was kept to a minimum this year. Nancy Lieberman, Clyde Crexler, T.O., Kara Lawson, and the Globe Trotters were very impressive and Chris Tucker, Michael Rapaport, the off-court mini-golf, and the commentary kept me very entertained.