All set for the All-Star Game that nobody seemed to want

ATLANTA – It’s the NBA All-Star Game that almost no one seemed to want.

Certainly not the gamers, who scoffed at the idea of ​​playing an exhibition game in the midst of a pandemic.

The city of Atlanta, chosen as a replacement for the original host, Indianapolis, didn’t seem all that thrilled with the idea, either.

The mayor urged fans to stay away from an event famous for wild parties and crowded streets. Police scheduled 12-hour shifts and canceled days off in an attempt to crack down on any events that could lead to an increase in COVID-19 cases.

But the league moved on, eager to improve its results and its brand by televising the popular mid-season exhibition around the world.

The NBA’s best will take to the court on Sunday (Monday Manila time) in a hastily organized one-night stand at the nearly empty State Farm Arena, where only a limited number of guests will be able to watch in person.

“The All-Star is part of our league. It is no different than all the other games we play,” said Commissioner Adam Silver. “It starts and ends with the fans. This is an event that the fans love to see. They love to see the players come together.

“But,” he quickly added, “nothing comes without controversy in a pandemic.”

The league’s biggest stars, led by LeBron James, would have preferred to have much-needed time off during the six-day break.

James even went so far as to call it a “slap in the face” to players who had little time to recover from last year’s interrupted season, which was completed in a central Florida bubble, and are still grappling with onerous protocols aimed at quelling the coronavirus as much as possible (but still not enough to avoid the postponement of 31 games in the first half).

Now that the game has started, James is trying to make the most of the situation, using the All-Star platform to continue his efforts to expand voting rights, an appropriate gesture with the game taking place in a state that he was one of the focal points of the 2020 elections.

“Look what we made happen, what our voices made possible,” says the Los Angeles Lakers star in a 51-second ad that aired for the first time during the game. “And now, look what they are trying to do to silence us, using all the tricks in the book and attacking democracy itself. Because they saw what we are capable of and they fear it.”

Some things to keep in mind at Sunday’s All-Star Game:

PHOTO: AP

TEAM LEBRON VS. TEAM DURING

This will be the fourth year in a row to feature a format in which the top two vote winners served as captains and selected their teams from the All-Star selections.

James has handled duty all four times, going 3-0 in his previous stints, including last year’s thriller 157-155 in Chicago. Brooklyn’s Kevin Durant received the nod for the first time, although he will not be able to play in the game due to a hamstring injury.

James used the first draft pick over two-time reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was the captain of the team that faced Team LeBron the past two years. They are joined in the starting lineup by Stephen Curry of Golden State, Luka Doncic of Dallas and Nikola Jokic of Denver.

Durant selected his Nets teammate Kyrie Irving with his first choice, completing the starting lineup with Joel Embiid of the 76ers, 2020 MVP All-Star Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers, Bradley Beal of Washington and Jayson Tatum of the Los Angeles Clippers. Celtics.

“I’m just trying to pick players who can complement each other,” James said. “It’s the All-Star Game so there will be some mischief. But for most of the game, we are going to try to play the right way and come out with a win.”

PHOTO: AP

MAD SKILLZ

With just one night to participate in all events, two competitions will take place shortly before the start of the All-Star Game.

The Skills Challenge, a test of ball handling, passing and shooting skills, will feature Doncic, Portland’s Robert Covington, Chris Paul of the Suns, Julius Randle of the Knicks, Domantas Sabonis of Indiana and Nikola Vucevic of the Magic.

The 3-point shooting contest features Curry, Tatum, Boston’s Jaylen Brown, the Bulls’ Zach LaVine and a pair of Utah guards, Donovan Mitchell and Mike Conley.

Conley replaced Phoenix star Devin Booker, who is unable to participate due to injury.

HIGH FLIGHTS

The Slam Dunk showdown will take place at halftime between Portland’s Anfernee Simons and a pair of rookies: New York’s Obi Toppin and Indiana’s Cassius Stanley.

“I’ve been seeing a lot of dunks in the last few days,” Toppin said. “I’m going to try to do some things that haven’t been done in the dunk contest yet.”

He got some advice from his father, who was a well-known streetball player in Brooklyn.

“I talked to him about some of the dunks,” Toppin said. “He’s basically telling me which ones are a little crazy.”

PHOTO: AP

GOOD CAUSE

The NBA and the players’ union are donating more than $ 3 million to help historically black colleges and universities, largely determined by the outcome of the game.

Team LeBron will play on behalf of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, while Team Durant represents the United Negro College Fund.

Both organizations will receive $ 500,000 to start. Another $ 450,000 will be awarded based on the first, second and third quarter winners. Ultimately, the team that reaches the target score to win the game will secure $ 300,000 for their cause.

EXCLUDED

The Atlanta Hawks, who are hosting the game for the third time and the first since 2003, were excluded from the festivities at their home stadium.

Trae Young, a starter in 2020, was rejected this season despite averaging 26.4 points, the most of any player not selected for the All-Star Game.

The Hawks were also out of skill, triples and dunk competitions. His only All-Star selection was DeAndre Hunter for the Rising Stars, but that was simply symbolic as the game will not be played and Hunter is recovering from knee surgery.

With Tim Reynolds