NBA All-Star blog – Page 23 – NBA Blog

Hard to shoot in big stadium, says Kevin McHale

It’s 2010 NBA All-Star weekend, and instead of the main events taking place in a regular basketball arena, they’re in massive Dallas Cowboys football stadium. What’s it like to shoot a basketball in such a giant building?

Howard Beck of the New York Times reports:

In past games played in domes, the N.B.A. has placed the court in one quadrant of the field and reduced the seating area, creating a slightly more intimate feel. That will not be the case Sunday, with the court placed around the 50-yard line and nearly every seat filled.

Playing in cavernous buildings can cause havoc for shooters, who rely on depth perception, as well as form and muscle memory. Players have complained in the past about Chicago’s United Center and Los Angeles’ Staples Center, two modern arenas with high ceilings and, because of their design, a distant-looking backdrop of faces.

“If you asked anybody who could shoot,” McHale said, “they’d tell you they’d much rather play in the smallest place, with the background right behind the basket.”

Although All-Star Games often devolve into dunking competitions, it will be interesting to see how the N.B.A.’s best shooters, such as Denver’s Chauncey Billups and Phoenix’s Steve Nash, cope in a carnival funhouse.

The organizers will have their own challenges navigating a foreign building, particularly one as massive as Cowboys Stadium. At 3 million square feet, it is three times bigger than Texas Stadium, the Cowboys’ former home, and twice the size of the new Yankee Stadium.

It’ll be fun to watch the shooting percentages.

Slam Dunk tickets in demand at 2010 NBA All-Star

Jeff Mosier of the Dallas Morning News reports:

Attendance at Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game at Cowboys Stadium will be Texas-size, but ticket prices in many cases are far more modest this year.

The cost of seats – or space in standing-room-only decks – in the resale market is down dramatically from recent years. The 92,000-plus sellout crowd in Arlington is expected to be the nation’s largest audience for a basketball game. That’s more people than the combined attendance of the last five NBA All-Star Games.

“Given the much larger venue size, this is the most affordable NBA All-Star Game we’ve seen since we’ve begun tracking prices,” said Joellen Ferrer, a spokeswoman for online ticket marketplace StubHub.com.

So far, the average price for the basketball game is $186 on StubHub. In the previous five years, the averages ranged from $508 in Denver to $2,546 in Las Vegas. The huge numbers of upper deck seats and standing-room-only tickets, which have a $30 face value, probably brought down the average…

However, the toughest tickets in town won’t necessarily be found in Arlington. Seats at the All-Star Saturday Night event, which features the three-point shooting and slam dunk contests, start at $225 on FanSnap.com. And with some seats on sale for $3,450, VIPs will pay nearly as much for a prime spot there as at the All-Star Game.

“That can happen now and again, but the norm is that the game is the bigger draw,” Anderson said. “It depends on what participants are in the dunk contest. … If you’ve got a big showdown brewing, that can be the case.”

Snow hits Dallas at start of 2010 NBA All-Star

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports:

The NBA and the Dallas Mavericks are not going to let the nasty snowstorm both here and in Eastern half of the United States spoil All-Star Weekend.

“It ain’t gonna matter,” Mavs general manager Donnie Nelson said. “Nothing can stop this event. Rain, snow, sleet, fire ice — bring it on. We’re in the comfortable confines of the [Dallas] Convention Center. People are going to want to be [in Arlington] come Sunday [for the All-Star game]. That’s going to be a historic event.”

However, hundreds of flights have been canceled over the past few days and might prevent fans on the East Coast from getting to the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

The Dallas Morning News reports:

Neither snow, nor slush, nor sleet, nor gloom of ice shall keep the hardcore NBA fan from soaking up the All-Star basketball action in North Texas.

But Thursday’s snowfall made it treacherous for some who ventured to the opening day of the NBA All-Star Jam Session at the Dallas Convention Center.

Today might not be any easier, as the slush from Thursday night was expected to freeze, creating potentially icy driving conditions…

Hundreds of flights at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport were canceled or delayed Thursday, thanks to the wintry blast here and snowstorms that have battered the East Coast.

Those botched flights have led some basketball fanatics to worry whether they could get into here in time to catch some of the weekend events.

Jason Kidd, David Lee added to NBA All-Star game, replacing Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson

Dallas Mavericks guard Jason Kidd and New York Knicks forward David Lee have been named by NBA Commissioner David Stern to replace injured West All-Star guard Kobe Bryant (ankle) of the Los Angeles Lakers and East All-Star guard Allen Iverson (personal reasons) of the Philadelphia 76ers, respectively, in the 2010 NBA All-Star Game in Dallas.

Kidd, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and five-time All-NBA First Team selection, will be making his 10th NBA All-Star Game appearance. Lee, in his fifth NBA season, has recorded 30 double-doubles on the season for the Knicks and will be making his first NBA All-Star appearance.

West All-Star head coach George Karl and East All-Star head coach Stan Van Gundy will determine which players will replace Bryant and Iverson in the starting lineup.

The NBA All-Star Game will air live on TNT, ESPN Radio and in 200 countries and territories in more than 40 languages worldwide at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 14.

Read fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.

Dirk Nowitzki set to play in front of massive All-Star crowd

Dwain Price of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports:

“I always said the first time that I made [the all-star team], it was going to be my most special all-star memory,” Dirk Nowitzki said Wednesday at the Dallas Convention Center. “But this one is probably right up there with my first one, just because it’s in my home, I’ve got plenty of people coming, and obviously it’s the biggest venue.

“I’ve never played in front of 90,000-100,000 people. So just being a part of history, and plus in my new hometown, it’s going to be a little crazy and a busy weekend, but I’m going to enjoy it.”

The All-Star Game will be played Sunday at 7 p.m. at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, and officials are expecting a record crowd of more than 90,000.

Nowitzki kicked off his busy five-day, all-star festivities with the unveiling of his 7-foot, life-size bobble head at the NBA Jam Session. The nine-time all-star was impressed with the craftsmanship of the bobble head, although he couldn’t help but joke about a couple of things.

“I don’t think my head is that big,” Nowitzki said, laughing. “I don’t think I ever [had] that size hair, but they did a pretty good job for a 7-foot bobble head.

George Karl to coach 2010 West All-Star team

Denver Nuggets head coach George Karl will coach the Western Conference All-Stars for the 2010 NBA All-Star Game, to be played on Sunday, Feb. 14, at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

With Dallas’ 112-106 loss at the Phoenix Suns Thursday, the Nuggets (31-14, .689) have clinched at least a tie with the Mavericks (30-16, .652) for the second best record in the conference through Jan. 31. The Los Angeles Lakers’ Phil Jackson coached the West in last year’s game and is not eligible for the honor this season. In the event of a tie, the coach who most recently manned the sideline in an All-Star Game is eliminated. The Mavericks’ Rick Carlisle coached the East in the 2004 All-Star Game, while Karl last did so in 1998 for the West squad. Karl also was the West All-Star coach in 1994 and 1996.

In his six seasons at the helm for the Nuggets, Karl’s 255 victories rank second in Denver franchise history (Doug Moe, 432), while his .620 winning percentage is unmatched. This season, Karl has guided the Nuggets to a tie for the best 45-game start in team history. The Nuggets have won their last eight.

The seventh winningest coach in NBA annals, Karl has amassed 964 victories in his 22 seasons in the NBA, including a streak of 17 straight seasons of .500 or better, which ranks third to Pat Riley (19, 1981-82 to 2001-02) and Phil Jackson (18, 1989-90-present) One of only 10 coaches in NBA history with 900 career wins, Karl is also only the 11th coach in league history to have coached 1,500 games. He has earned nine NBA Coach of the Month honors, fifth most in league history.

The coach of the East All-Stars will be determined by the team with the best record in the conference through games played Jan. 31. Cleveland’s Mike Brown, who coached last year’s East squad, is not eligible to coach this year’s All-Star Game.

The NBA All-Star Game will broadcast live on TNT, ESPN Radio and in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide at 8 p.m. EST on Sunday, Feb. 14, from Arlington.

2011 NBA All-Star weekend in Los Angeles

Los Angeles, a city with a reputation for producing highly successful sequels, and STAPLES Center, considered one of the world’s best arenas for sports and entertainment, have been selected to host NBA All-Star 2011, marking the fifth time The City of Angels and the second time STAPLES Center will be the site of the annual celebration, NBA Commissioner David Stern announced at a press conference today in Los Angeles. AEG President and CEO Timothy J. Leiweke and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa joined Stern at the announcement.

The 60th NBA All-Star Game will be played on Sunday, February 20 at STAPLES Center which will also host the Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam and NBA All-Star Saturday Night. NBA All-Star Jam Session, the hugely successful interactive basketball celebration, will return to the Los Angeles Convention Center. Additionally, the NBA has the ability to activate the great hospitality and event spaces across the street from STAPLES Center within L.A. LIVE including the new Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott hotels. Los Angeles becomes the first city to host five NBA All-Star Games.

“Its state-of-the-art facilities, passionate fans, and first-class hospitality and entertainment options make Los Angeles an ideal host for NBA All-Star,” said Commissioner Stern. “We thank the city and STAPLES Center for welcoming us once again.”

The 2010-11 season will mark the 27th year that Turner Sports will provide NBA All-Star coverage, and the ninth consecutive year the All-Star Game will be televised in primetime on TNT. The All-Star Game will be seen by a worldwide television audience in more than 200 countries and will be broadcast in more than 40 languages.

“L.A. LIVE was truly designed to be a home for great events like the NBA All-Star game,” said Leiweke, President & CEO AEG, owners of STAPLES Center and L.A. LIVE. “We are fortunate that this will be the second All-Star weekend STAPLES Center will host in the last ten years and our ability to incorporate one of the best weekends in all of sports into our 100-acre campus is exactly what L.A. LIVE was created for. We are privileged to be partners with the NBA and welcome them back to Los Angeles and L.A. LIVE.”

“There is no better place to host the action and drama of the NBA All-Star Game than the stage of so many award winning performances,” said Mayor Villaraigosa. “On behalf of the City of Los Angeles, we look forward to welcoming NBA fans and players from across the country and around the globe to the entertainment capital of the world.”

STAPLES Center last played host to NBA All-Star in 2004, when the Los Angeles Lakers’ Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant combined for 44 points as the West edged the East 136-132. O’Neal earned MVP honors with 24 points and 11 rebounds. L.A. also hosted the All-Star Game in 1963, 1972 and 1983. The Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena hosted All-Star in 1963, while the Forum hosted the other ’72 and ’83 games. The 1972 classic saw the Lakers’ Jerry West thrill the hometown fans with a last-second jumper that gave the West a 112-110 victory and netted him MVP honors.

NBA All-Star competitions will get underway on Friday, Feb. 18, as the league’s top rookies and second-year players square off in the Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam. The following day’s festivities will feature an

all-inclusive skills showcase known as NBA All-Star Saturday Night, which is comprised of Haier Shooting Stars, a competition featuring NBA and WNBA players and NBA Legends; PlayStation® Skills Challenge, a contest of

top guards working against the clock to complete a series of passes, free throws, lay-ups and agility drills; the Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout, a long-standing staple of the evening; and the ever-entertaining Sprite Slam Dunk Contest.

During NBA All-Star 2011, the NBA will continue to celebrate its tradition and commitment to social responsibility with a schedule of NBA Cares events. NBA Cares will partner with schools, government, and local non-profit organizations in Los Angeles and surrounding areas to highlight the league’s grassroots and community initiatives that reach millions of young people and their parents while providing critical resources to community-based programs.

One of the event’s most popular attractions is NBA All-Star Jam Session, which will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center. At Jam Session, fans can have the once-in-a-lifetime experience of participating in the NBA All-Star excitement, with the chance to meet and collect free autographs from NBA Players and Legends. Jam Session is nonstop basketball action, as fans can shoot, slam, dribble, and drive all day; compete against their friends in skills challenges; or get basketball tips from NBA Players and Legends. Young fans can hang out at Kids Zone – with hoops and interactive activities that are the perfect size for kids’ slam dunks, three-pointers, and jump shots. For fans who want NBA entertainment, Jam Session features the NBA’s favorite players, celebrities, mascots, and dance teams as they hit Center Court in a variety of basketball competitions, including the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game and the NBA All-Star Practice.

NBA bans Dwyane Wade’s designer band-aids

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Ira Winderman) reports: The personalized Band-Aid era is over. The slogan-bearing bandages Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade has been wearing beneath his previously injured left eye have been banned by the NBA. “We spoke to them,” NBA spokesman Tim Frank said today. “A player can wear a Band-Aid for healthcare purposes, but it shouldn’t have any name or identifications on it.” … “You can’t wear an identifiable Band-Aid,” Frank said. “We don’t expect it to be an issue, so there will be no need for a penalty.”

Dwyane Wade All-Star fashion

The Cleveland Plain Dealer (Mary Schmitt Boyer) reports on 2009 NBA All-Star weekend: Miami’s Dwyane Wade sported an interesting look as the assistant coach of the rookie team. He wore a yellow V-neck sweater under a blue sport coat, with a bow tie and glasses. Oh, and there was that blue “Wade” band-aid over some stitches he recently took under his left eye. “It was a combination of a lot of different things,” Wade explained of the outfit. “It was a tribute to one of my assistant coaches in Miami — Keith Askins. He wears a bow tie. So I told him during the season, ‘I’m going to show you how to wear it.’ “Also, I just wanted to try something new, being conservative. I brought the glasses because I was a coach so I thought I would look smart.”

Shaq Jabbawockeez dance at 2009 All-Star game introduction

Shaquille O’Neal was introduced at the 2009 NBA All-Star game along with the dance crew Jabbawockeez. And he made it special.

Coming out in the crew’s trademark white mask, Shaq danced as he was introduced and showed breakdance moves you wish you had. See the video below: