Expectations for the All-Star Game seem to be decreasing every year, but that does not stop many from continuing to dream of seeing a game in which all the stars give 100%. And we’re not just talking about fans. Larry Bird himself was asked before the meeting what he expected to find, and his answer was as clear as it was ignored.
“The only thing I want is to see them play with intensity during the All-Star Game,” said the former Celtics player, a wish that has not aged well at all. «I think it is important that, if you put together the best players in the world, you see them compete. “They have to play with intensity and show the fans how good they are.”
This is not an uncommon claim, and in fact the NBA itself has more or less directly acknowledged that the event’s lack of competitiveness is a problem. Although the audiences are still good, the product is becoming less and less attractive for those who follow the competition daily, which, however, is somewhat understandable. The players greatly appreciate the days of rest that this event provides them, and they have no sporting or non-sporting incentive to go out and give 100% on the court. No matter how much they are asked from outside.
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“If we want the players to take the game seriously, we have to take it seriously too,” Adam Silver recently commented, demonstrating that the NBA is trying to address the problem pointed out by Bird. “It’s not that we have the intensity of a Finals, but it is a fun game.”
(Cover photo: Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
2024-02-19 10:00:00
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