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The 2014 All-Star Game, which will be the 63rd edition of its kind, will be played on the 16th of February at the New Orleans Arena, home of the New Orleans Pelicans.
On the 23rd of January, the starters for the All-Star game were announced on TNT’s Inside the NBA. The top 5 vote-getters from each conference were announced as the starters for their respective conferences.
For a second consecutive season, the fans were asked to vote for 2 back court players and 3 front court players unlike before 2013 when they had to vote for 2 guards, 2 forwards and a center.
A huge difference off the court would be that this year’s All-Star will not feature David Stern as the NBA Commissioner announcing the MVP for the Game as he retires on the 1st of February as the Commissioner of the league for 30 years.
The fans have spoken and now it’s the turn of the Coaches to vote for the All-Star reserves which would be announced a week after the starters announcement on Thursday January the 30th.
As we inch closer to the halfway mark of the season in the form of the All-Star break, let’s have a look at all the things this season’s All-Star game would have different from the last one in Houston.
All-Star jerseys to have sleeves this year
There seem to be mixed reactions among players regarding the league’s decision to enforce sleeved jerseys
Although limited number of teams featured jerseys with sleeves last season, this season the league has taken its stand on it.
After announcing the sleeved jerseys for the 10 teams which played on Christmas day, the league has extended the use of these jerseys for the All-Star Game. Player reactions do not seem to matter in what seems to be a money making move.
This is what one player, with no issues, had to say about the sleeved jerseys:
“I don’t mind them, and no, I wouldn’t be against it,” he said. “Most players wear sleeves when they practice, anyways. I know I do, so, really, what’s the difference? Just make them more pleasing to the eye. Not as ‘in your face’ as they are now.”
On the other hand players do not agree with the decision to introduce sleeved jerseys because the regular current NBA jerseys might not be socially comfortable for the fans. This is what a player had to say about the change:
“There’s nothing wrong with wearing traditional jerseys except some fans don’t want to wear a jersey,” said a Western Conference All-Star point guard. “Not a good enough reason.”
Certainly a lot of discussion is yet to be done with the players regarding the sleeved jerseys.
Four first time All-time starters for the first time since 2000
Stephen Curry missing last years All-Star game made a lot of noise. This year, in his first selection, joins three other players who will feature on the starting line-up of an All-Star game for the first time.
This season, combining both the conferences, we have four first time starters in the 10 announced. Other than making a mark as an individual, each of the first time starters broke All-Star starters less periods for their respective franchises.
Stephen Curry made a huge leap in the votes in the final returns to overtake last year’s All-Star game MVP Chris Paul and become a starter. He was one among only four players in the league who had more than a million votes and also the first Warrior All-Star starter since Latrell Sprewell in 1995.
Kevin Love, with his third All-Star selection, becomes the first Timberwolves All-Star starter since Kevin Garnett in 2007. His inclusion in the starting line-up came as a surprise especially after inspecting the second All-Star vote returns. He made run in the final returns to get ahead of Dwight Howard however his stats prove him worthy of the spot.
Paul George, a legitimate MVP candidate, was the third highest vote getter in the league and second in the East behind LeBron James with over a million votes. His spot on the East’s starting five makes him the Pacers’ first All-Star starter since Jermaine O’Neal in 2006.
Despite a rough shooting slump and a lack of defensive energy seen in his performance, Kyrie Irving’s inclusion in the starting line-up comes more as a product of injuries to Rajon Rondo and Derrick Rose.
The last time there were four first time All-Star starters in the All-Star game was in 2000. That year, Tim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs), Allen Iverson (Philadelphia 76ers), Vince Carter (Toronto Raptors) and Eddie Jones (Charlotte Hornets) were the first timers.
Absence of Stars at the All-Star weekend
Superstar Point guards Derrick Rose, out due to injury, and Rajon Rondo, just made his return, will not feature in this year’s All-Star game.
The All-Star game was introduced to increase the volume of audience which attends games at arenas. Although several fans across the country would be content with the stars that will play the game in New Orleans 3 weeks from now.
Chris Paul, Rajon Rondo, Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook are all doubtful, first to get an invite to play in the game and second regarding their fitness.
Yes we have rising stars in Paul George, Kyrie Irving and Blake Griffin to take center stage but the truth still hurts that we will miss the superstars, who are out due to injury, who we expect to see.
No traditional center for the first time in the history of the game
For last year’s game in Houston, the fans were asked to vote for 2 guards and 3 forwards however there was still the presence of a traditional center in the starting line-ups of both the conferences with Dwight Howard in the West and Kevin Garnett in the East.
This year the new rule has taken its effect and toll on the game, with no traditional center to start the All-Star game for either conference. This is the first All-Star game in the history of the league when a traditional center has not been part of the starting 5 for either conference.
