NBA All-Star weekend wrapped as much as, at finest, combined critiques.
Whereas there have been moments of enjoyable—the three-point contest between Stephen Curry and Sabrina Ionescu jumps to thoughts—the All-Star festivities have been largely a dud, with many followers important of the jarring lack of protection within the All-Star Recreation on Sunday.
Protection has not been a centerpiece of the All-Star Recreation in a era—each groups have scored at the very least 140 factors in each recreation since 2013—however this 12 months’s East All-Stars breaking 200 apparently crossed the rubicon for some followers.
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith was particularly pissed off with Sunday’s displaying, and known as for drastic change on Monday’s episode of First Take, going so far as to say the All-Star Recreation must be cancelled altogether.
“What transpired final evening was an absolute travesty,” Smith mentioned. “Practically 400 factors have been scored. No protection, no effort in anyway. That is the last word indictment in opposition to NBA stars who present up on NBA All-Star weekend—you play tougher in the summertime once you’re coaching.”
Stephen A. Smith says the NBA must eliminate the All-Star Recreation."What transpired final evening was an absolute travesty…It's a flagrant lack of effort, and it's embarrassing." pic.twitter.com/JJsEc8OgFU
— Terrible Saying (@awfulannouncing) February 19, 2024
Smith mentioned he understood gamers not desirous to threat damage by going all out, however burdened there needed to be some quantity of effort proven to make the occasion price it.
“No one’s asking you to compete such as you’re going up in opposition to the playoffs or perhaps a common season recreation,” Smith mentioned. “However if you find yourself understanding within the summertime … You see guys giving effort in the summertime. That’s all I’m saying. To that diploma. That isn’t laborious. The truth that you’ll exit and flagrantly present such an absence of effort on the defensive aspect of the ball in any capability is only a travesty.”
Likelihood is the NBA will look to search out some center floor between gamers giving zero effort and cancelling the All-Star Recreation utterly, but when issues maintain going they approach they appear to be going, it’s clear the place Smith stands on the difficulty.