DALLAS – It will be a marathon and a different day of basketball, but in the end it will be full of stars.
The NBA will play its traditional mid-season game in Atlanta in an unconventional way, though they hope it will be just as appealing to basketball fans, most of whom will have to watch it through from the TV.
The traditional weekend of the All-Star Game was reduced to just one event this Sunday, in which skill competitions will be held, nailed to the baskets, three-point baskets and closed with the stellar match, with the best season players are living, in addition to some fan favorites.
“The All-Star Game is part of our league,” said NBA commissioner Adam Silver. “It starts and ends with the fans. It’s an event that fans want to see. They love to see the players together.”
In person, there will only be a few invited people, health workers who have already been vaccinated against Covid-19, who will be in the sands of the Atlanta Hawks, who had to go into hiding, to replace Indianapolis.
Some players questioned the All-Star Game in a hurry and the proximity between the season that ended in the summer in the Orlando bubble and the one that began on December 22, which will have 72 games, ie 10 less than a normal season, except for the previous one that as a result of the pandemic had to slow down and then resume to complete the same number of around 70 games with teams that were still competing for a ticket to the playoffs.
“Either way, it’s an honor to be considered for the All-Star Game,” said Luka Doncic, who will become the first player in the history of the Dallas Mavericks to open as a starter in consecutive seasons this Sunday. of parties. “It’s true that maybe a little rest would have gone well for us. But no one can complain about being there. It’s a great honor.”
Again, as happened the previous three years, the format will not be the East vs. West Conference. Two teams were set up as if they were going to play a “cascarita” in which the two captains, who are the ones who received the most votes for being in the event, choose their players.
Lebron James chose for his starting quintet Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee), Stephen Curry (Golden State) and Nikola Jokic (Denver). At first glance he looks stronger than Kevin Durant, who although he will be the big absentee due to injury, chose his partner with the Brooklyn Nets Kyrie Irvin, Kawhi Leonard (Clippers), Joel Embiid (Philadelphia) and Bradley Beal (Washington).
The rest of Team LeBron will consist of Rudy Gobert, Damian Lillard, Chris Paul, Domantas Sabonis, Ben Simmons, Jaylen Brown and Paul George.
Durant will have Jayson Tatum in hand, who replaces him in the title; James Harden, Zack Levin, Donovan Mitchell, Julius Randle, Nicola Vucevich, Zion Williamson and Mike Conley. Anthony Davis and Devin Booler were replaced due to injury.
The day will begin at 6:30 pm ET with skills and triples competitions. And at 8 pm ET will start the All-Star Game, with the “nailed” show at halftime.
The second half of the NBA season will resume Wednesday and end on May 21, a day before the playoffs begin.