Last month, the number of NBA All-Star Games held hit a record low. The Eastern Conference defeated the Western Conference 211-186, but it felt like it was over before it started.
Commissioner Adam Silver also expressed his frustration during the final trophy presentation. For years, fans have been asking for a more competitive All-Star atmosphere, but no matter what the league does, the results still feel the same.
This year, the NBA returned to an east-west format for the first time since 2017, but games ended at halftime. As a huge basketball fan, this is probably the first year I stopped watching the All-Star Game before halftime. I've been thinking about how to fix the All-Star Game for the past few weeks and have come up with some solutions to make the game more competitive.
Make it a half-court game
One of the biggest reasons why the last few All-Star Games have been historically poor is a lack of effort. The amount of dunks and jogs on defense on fast breaks is part of what makes the scoreboard so lopsided. Turn on the All-Star Game since 2013 and you should see the cycle continue on the other side, with players going back on defense and allowing opposing teams to score fast-break dunks.
Fans have highlighted seeing more defense and engagement. By making it a half-court game, teams are forced to be more strategic in scoring the ball, more energy is saved due to less ground movement, and most importantly, this style It will make players take the match more seriously.
A great reference point for this style of basketball is the BIG3. Ice Cube founded his league in 2017, which was a big hit not only because it featured his retired NBA players, but because the style was similar to a pickup game. The only downside was that the players were less athletic, and it wasn't necessarily high-level basketball as it had been years since most of the players had competed at a high level.
Importantly, this pick-up style format allows players to be more involved, making the game more interesting. There may be no more flashy dunks, but in this case, if you want a more competitive game, you'll have to make a trade-off.
Set target score instead of game clock
In 2020, the NBA introduced a target score format to the NBA All-Star Game. The target score was revealed at the start of the fourth quarter and was used in place of the game clock. This gave players the opportunity to achieve goals and made the game more competitive. When both teams know the score they need to win, every possession becomes extremely valuable.
The 2020 All-Star Game is widely considered to be one of the greatest games of all time, and the result was a success. Subsequent games (with the exception of 2022) weren't very interesting, but this format added excitement to the game.
For fans, each of the previous three quarters was determined by who had the most points after each period. The winning team in each quarter donated the proceeds to charity. In my revised All-Star Game, players on the winning team will also receive prize money similar to their season tournament rewards. Both teams in this format will have something to play for.
Separate all-star teams by conference and division
One format the NHL uses, and one I wish the NBA would adopt, is to separate All-Star teams by conference and division. This adds even more competitiveness and rivalry to the game. Having players represent their conference or division adds a sense of pride and competition beyond just individual honors.
This format also helps balance each team's talent pool. In recent years, there has been criticism that one conference or division is significantly stronger than the other, which can lead to lopsided matchups. Splitting teams based on conference and division ensures an even distribution of talent and could lead to closer, more competitive games.
Additionally, separating teams by conference or division can create some interesting matchups and storylines. Rivalries between teams from the same conference or division can carry over into the All-Star Game, adding even more excitement for fans.
Overall, separating All-Star teams by conference and division could help inject some much-needed competitiveness and excitement into the game. This will lead to more meaningful matchups and more pride for the players representing their conferences and divisions. As the NBA continues to look for ways to improve the All-Star Game, this format could be a step in the right direction.