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NBA
All-Star Weekend returns to center stage
It's back!
The
NBA All-Star Weekend has returned to the
prominence it once possessed when Michael
Jordan was gliding from the free-throw line
in dunk contests, when Larry Bird was lighting
it up in the three-point contest, when Magic
was dishing out 20 dimes in the All-Star
Game, and ultimately when the fans got their
money's worth.
This
was the case this past weekend as the city
of Denver hosted the 2005 NBA All-Star Game
and gave the fans something they have not
witnessed in a long time.
First,
the fans were treated with dunks and crossovers
in the Got Milk? Rookie Challenge. Phenoms
Lebron James and Dwyane Wade participated
in the game. The game also featured Carmelo
Anthony of the hometown Denver Nuggets,
who captured MVP honors after scoring 31
points and leading the sophomore team to
a 142-118 victory over the rookies.
Patrick
Hodgson
The
Got Milk? Rookie Challenge clearly set the
stage for the Playstation Skills Challenge.
Phoenix Suns point guard Steve Nash posted
a new record in the obstacle course competition
with a time of 25.4 seconds, demolishing
the event's previous mark of 31.6 seconds,
set by New Orleans guard Baron Davis a year
ago.
The
All-Star Weekend got better as Phoenix Suns
forward Shawn Marion, Phoenix Suns legend
Dan Majerle, and WNBA player Diana Taurasi
won the Radio Shack Shooting Stars Competition.
The fans had the opportunity to watch hall-of-famers
Alex English and Magic Johnson compete in
the event as well.
When
fans saw the electricity displayed in the
two under-card events, they could only anticipate
the All-Star Weekend was going to get better.
You
know what? They were right.
Phoenix
Suns forward Quentin Richardson wowed the
crowd with a shooting clinic in the Foot
Locker Three-Point Contest. Richardson thrashed
the field and claimed the crown as best
three-point shooter over favorites Kyle
Korver of the Philadelphia 76ers and Ray
Allen of the Seattle Supersonics.
The
stage was set for the Sprite Rising Stars
Slam Dunk Contest. For the past four years
the competition had lacked the star power
and the jaw dropping dunks. This year would
be different. The contest actually overachieved
this past weekend and was instantly recognized
as one of the better dunk contests of all
time. It had everything and more, but essentially
turned into an Atlanta Hawk rookie Josh
Smith highlight reel.
Smith
did it all, whether it was with flying left-handed
dunks, passing imperceptibly over an NBA
player sitting in a chair, or donning the
legendary Dominique Wilkens' jersey while
performing one of Wilkens' patent dunk.
The crowd was hyped and extremely pleased
with the Slam Dunk Contest that was perceived
dead.
The
main event followed. The All-Star Game itself
was entertaining, balanced and competitive,
and featured the future of the NBA at its
best.
The
audience witnessed Kobe surprisingly not
get booed in Colorado, Shaq spinning off
the baseline and delivering an emphatic
dunk over Yao Ming, Vince Carter throwing
the ball off the backboard and dunking it,
Allen Iverson playing his guts out, Flash
taking over in the third quarter, and the
heir apparent King James showcasing his
skills.
The
game came down to the final four minutes,
which saw the Eastern Conference take control
and seal up the 125-115 victory over the
Western Conference.
Iverson
won the MVP award with his 15 points, 10
assist and 5 steals just a week after he
scored 60 points in a regular season game.
All
in all, the majority of fans enjoyed the
event and look forward to next season's
game. With 21 of the 24 featured competitors
under the age of 30, fans can expect to
see all these guys several more times down
the road.
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