Changing of the stars
February 9, 2003 | 12:00am
The changing of the guard has come in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and its evident in the lineups for the All-Star Game in Atlanta tomorrow morning (Manila time).
If you scan the rosters of the East and West teams, you wont see familiar names like Karl Malone, John Stockton and David Robinson. Not that theyve retired. Those vintage favorites are still around but theyve been eclipsed by the stars of the new generation.
Of the 24 players in the All-Star classic, only four are in their 30sMichael Jordan, 39, Gary Payton, 34, Shaquille ONeal, 30, and Jamal Mashburn, 30. Nine are 25 and belowYao Ming, 22, Tracy McGrady, 23, Jermaine ONeal, 24, Kobe Bryant, 24, Shawn Marion, 24, Dirk Nowitzki, 24, Stephon Marbury, 25, Peja Stojakovic, 25, and Paul Pierce, 25.
Jordan has logged the most seasons as a pro at 15. The average years of NBA experience among the 24 All-Stars is six but 10 players are veterans of only five seasons or less.
Of the leagues 29 clubs, 11 arent represented in the game. Ironically, host Atlanta isnt welcoming a single Hawk in the East. Other unrepresented teams are Denver, Chicago, Golden State, the Los Angeles Clippers, Miami, Memphis, Milwaukee, New York, Portland, and Utah.
You wonder why Malone was bypassed. He wouldve been a logical choice to replace the injured Chris Webber but Stojakovic got the nod instead, probably to make sure Sacramento is represented. It wouldve been strange not to pick anyone from the Kings, the leagues No. 2 team behind Dallas.
The Hawks couldve made a case for Shareef Abdur-Rahim who saw action in last years All-Star Game. But his spot was given up for New Orleans Jamal Mashburn. Clevelands 7-3 center Zydrunas Ilgauskas made it to the East lineupno doubt, to face off against Yao in the middle. But does Antoine Walker deserve a spot more than New Jerseys Kenyon Martin?
Other notable absentees are Ray Allen, Antawn Jamison, Jalen Rose, Rasheed Wallace and Allan Houston.
Yaos selection as a West starter wasnt a surprise. The Chinese votes from the internet were substantial. But the word is Yao also beat Shaq in the venue polls. The Big Aristotle must now share the spotlight with Chairman Yao, hailed as the NBAs "next big thing."
Last years All-Star Game was a wild and wooly shootout. Bryant hit 31 points to lead the West to a 135-120 decision. Shaq, Malone, and Vince Carter were picked to play but sat out the action due to injuries. In the past 51 All-Star Games, the East has won 32. The West, however, has beaten the East in two of the last three.
Traditionally, the West is known for its freestyle offense and flamboyance while the Easts reputation is built on rugged defense and a no-frills approach. On that basis alone, oddsmakers pick the West to make it two in a row over the East. You dont expect players to get down and dirty in defense on a wild weekend. Theyd rather showboat and freelance. Unless youre Martin, defense is never funand K-Mart isnt playing tomorrow.
Still, the East is the sentimental favorite because of his Airness. Jordans playing in his last All-Star Game in his last NBA season or so he says. McGrady offered his starting spot in the East to Jordan who declined. A legend like Jordan would be embarrassed by such a gesture. If fans didnt vote Jordan as a starter, thats life. McGrady shouldnt go against the tide. Never mind if there were two precedents in the past.
The game will be a showcase of the leagues galaxy of stars. And therell be plenty of action. The matchups are dreamlikeAllen Iverson versus Steve Francis, McGrady versus Kobe, ONeal (thats Jermaine, not Shaq) versus Kevin Garnett or Tim Duncan. The key is rebounding control. The team that dominates the boards will dictate the tempo and keep the opponent on the defensive. In an All-Star Game, getting the jump on the other team in transition is crucial because you wont see too many intricate set plays in the halfcourt. Therell be a lot of crisp passingNBA players like to show off their dishing skills, too. In last years All-Star Game, the East and West combined for 68 assists.
The opposing coaches are the Easts Isiah Thomas of Indiana and the Wests Rick Adelman of Sacramento.
Solar Sports is airing the All-Star Game live via satellite on the IBC network tomorrow morning at 9 with a replay at 9 that night. A remote coverage will emanate from the National Sports Grill in Makati where Ed Picson and I, as local hosts, are linking up with Andy Jao and Chino Trinidad at Atlanta courtside.
Tonight, Solar Sports is putting on the exciting events of All-Star Saturday, also on the IBC network at 7 p.m. This is the prelude to the big one.
The events on All-Star Saturday are the Rookie Challenge, the Skills Challenge, the All-Star Hoop-It-Up, the 3-Point Shootout, and the Slam Dunk competition.
The Rookie Challenge features nine rookies against nine sophomores playing in two 20-minute halves. Players of the winning squad will receive $7,500 each and losers, $5,000 apiece. The freshmen are Clevelands Carlos Boozer and Dajuan Wagner, Memphis Gordon Giricek and Drew Gooden, Miamis Caron Butler, Denvers Nene Hilario, Chicagos Jay Williams, San Antonios Manu Ginobili, and Phoenix Amare Stoudemire. The sophs are Golden States Gilbert Arenas, Troy Murphy, and Jason Richardson, Chicagos Tyson Chandler, Memphis Pau Gasol, New Jerseys Richard Jefferson, Utahs Andrei Kirilenko, San Antonios Tony Parker and Indianas Jamaal Tinsley.
Cotton Fitzsimmons, assisted by Hawks legend Lou Hudson, will coach the rookies while Mike Fratello, assisted by another Hawks legend Bob Pettit, will call the shots for the sophomores.
The Skills Challenge participants are Payton, Kidd, Marbury and Parker. They will compete in a timed obstacle course for a $25,000 first prize.
The All-Star Hoop-It-Up is a 3-on-3, eight-minute game. The two competing squads are Los Angeles and Atlanta. Magic Johnson, Clippers star Corey Maggette, Los Angeles Sparks center Lisa Leslie, and actor Ashton Kutcher make up the Los Angeles crew. Atlantas players are Dominique Wilkins, Hawks guard Jason Terry, Houston Comets hotshot Sheryl Swoopes, and actor Frankie Muniz. The winner picks up $30,000 and the loser, $18,000.
The 3-Point Shootout lists six contestants battling for the $25,000 top money. Back to defend his title is Stojakovic. The challengers are Pat Garrity, Wesley Person, Brent Barry, David Wesley, and Walker. Of the six, Person has the loftiest three-point clip this season at .505. Walker has the lowest at .352.
The rousing Slam Dunk competition will cap the All-Star Saturday festivities. Richardson returns to defend his crown against Jefferson, Stoudemire, and Seattles Desmond Mason. The tournament features young aerial artists who are in their first, second or third season in the league. The top prize is a cool $60,000.
In hoops, its the greatest show on earth. The All-Star Weekend is a spectacle that happens only once a year. The stars are gathering under one roof in Atlanta and theyre out to deliver a strong message that the NBA, as an institution, is as exciting as ever.
If you scan the rosters of the East and West teams, you wont see familiar names like Karl Malone, John Stockton and David Robinson. Not that theyve retired. Those vintage favorites are still around but theyve been eclipsed by the stars of the new generation.
Of the 24 players in the All-Star classic, only four are in their 30sMichael Jordan, 39, Gary Payton, 34, Shaquille ONeal, 30, and Jamal Mashburn, 30. Nine are 25 and belowYao Ming, 22, Tracy McGrady, 23, Jermaine ONeal, 24, Kobe Bryant, 24, Shawn Marion, 24, Dirk Nowitzki, 24, Stephon Marbury, 25, Peja Stojakovic, 25, and Paul Pierce, 25.
Jordan has logged the most seasons as a pro at 15. The average years of NBA experience among the 24 All-Stars is six but 10 players are veterans of only five seasons or less.
Of the leagues 29 clubs, 11 arent represented in the game. Ironically, host Atlanta isnt welcoming a single Hawk in the East. Other unrepresented teams are Denver, Chicago, Golden State, the Los Angeles Clippers, Miami, Memphis, Milwaukee, New York, Portland, and Utah.
You wonder why Malone was bypassed. He wouldve been a logical choice to replace the injured Chris Webber but Stojakovic got the nod instead, probably to make sure Sacramento is represented. It wouldve been strange not to pick anyone from the Kings, the leagues No. 2 team behind Dallas.
The Hawks couldve made a case for Shareef Abdur-Rahim who saw action in last years All-Star Game. But his spot was given up for New Orleans Jamal Mashburn. Clevelands 7-3 center Zydrunas Ilgauskas made it to the East lineupno doubt, to face off against Yao in the middle. But does Antoine Walker deserve a spot more than New Jerseys Kenyon Martin?
Other notable absentees are Ray Allen, Antawn Jamison, Jalen Rose, Rasheed Wallace and Allan Houston.
Yaos selection as a West starter wasnt a surprise. The Chinese votes from the internet were substantial. But the word is Yao also beat Shaq in the venue polls. The Big Aristotle must now share the spotlight with Chairman Yao, hailed as the NBAs "next big thing."
Last years All-Star Game was a wild and wooly shootout. Bryant hit 31 points to lead the West to a 135-120 decision. Shaq, Malone, and Vince Carter were picked to play but sat out the action due to injuries. In the past 51 All-Star Games, the East has won 32. The West, however, has beaten the East in two of the last three.
Traditionally, the West is known for its freestyle offense and flamboyance while the Easts reputation is built on rugged defense and a no-frills approach. On that basis alone, oddsmakers pick the West to make it two in a row over the East. You dont expect players to get down and dirty in defense on a wild weekend. Theyd rather showboat and freelance. Unless youre Martin, defense is never funand K-Mart isnt playing tomorrow.
Still, the East is the sentimental favorite because of his Airness. Jordans playing in his last All-Star Game in his last NBA season or so he says. McGrady offered his starting spot in the East to Jordan who declined. A legend like Jordan would be embarrassed by such a gesture. If fans didnt vote Jordan as a starter, thats life. McGrady shouldnt go against the tide. Never mind if there were two precedents in the past.
The game will be a showcase of the leagues galaxy of stars. And therell be plenty of action. The matchups are dreamlikeAllen Iverson versus Steve Francis, McGrady versus Kobe, ONeal (thats Jermaine, not Shaq) versus Kevin Garnett or Tim Duncan. The key is rebounding control. The team that dominates the boards will dictate the tempo and keep the opponent on the defensive. In an All-Star Game, getting the jump on the other team in transition is crucial because you wont see too many intricate set plays in the halfcourt. Therell be a lot of crisp passingNBA players like to show off their dishing skills, too. In last years All-Star Game, the East and West combined for 68 assists.
The opposing coaches are the Easts Isiah Thomas of Indiana and the Wests Rick Adelman of Sacramento.
Solar Sports is airing the All-Star Game live via satellite on the IBC network tomorrow morning at 9 with a replay at 9 that night. A remote coverage will emanate from the National Sports Grill in Makati where Ed Picson and I, as local hosts, are linking up with Andy Jao and Chino Trinidad at Atlanta courtside.
Tonight, Solar Sports is putting on the exciting events of All-Star Saturday, also on the IBC network at 7 p.m. This is the prelude to the big one.
The events on All-Star Saturday are the Rookie Challenge, the Skills Challenge, the All-Star Hoop-It-Up, the 3-Point Shootout, and the Slam Dunk competition.
The Rookie Challenge features nine rookies against nine sophomores playing in two 20-minute halves. Players of the winning squad will receive $7,500 each and losers, $5,000 apiece. The freshmen are Clevelands Carlos Boozer and Dajuan Wagner, Memphis Gordon Giricek and Drew Gooden, Miamis Caron Butler, Denvers Nene Hilario, Chicagos Jay Williams, San Antonios Manu Ginobili, and Phoenix Amare Stoudemire. The sophs are Golden States Gilbert Arenas, Troy Murphy, and Jason Richardson, Chicagos Tyson Chandler, Memphis Pau Gasol, New Jerseys Richard Jefferson, Utahs Andrei Kirilenko, San Antonios Tony Parker and Indianas Jamaal Tinsley.
Cotton Fitzsimmons, assisted by Hawks legend Lou Hudson, will coach the rookies while Mike Fratello, assisted by another Hawks legend Bob Pettit, will call the shots for the sophomores.
The Skills Challenge participants are Payton, Kidd, Marbury and Parker. They will compete in a timed obstacle course for a $25,000 first prize.
The All-Star Hoop-It-Up is a 3-on-3, eight-minute game. The two competing squads are Los Angeles and Atlanta. Magic Johnson, Clippers star Corey Maggette, Los Angeles Sparks center Lisa Leslie, and actor Ashton Kutcher make up the Los Angeles crew. Atlantas players are Dominique Wilkins, Hawks guard Jason Terry, Houston Comets hotshot Sheryl Swoopes, and actor Frankie Muniz. The winner picks up $30,000 and the loser, $18,000.
The 3-Point Shootout lists six contestants battling for the $25,000 top money. Back to defend his title is Stojakovic. The challengers are Pat Garrity, Wesley Person, Brent Barry, David Wesley, and Walker. Of the six, Person has the loftiest three-point clip this season at .505. Walker has the lowest at .352.
The rousing Slam Dunk competition will cap the All-Star Saturday festivities. Richardson returns to defend his crown against Jefferson, Stoudemire, and Seattles Desmond Mason. The tournament features young aerial artists who are in their first, second or third season in the league. The top prize is a cool $60,000.
In hoops, its the greatest show on earth. The All-Star Weekend is a spectacle that happens only once a year. The stars are gathering under one roof in Atlanta and theyre out to deliver a strong message that the NBA, as an institution, is as exciting as ever.
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