NBA All-Star: New Format Sparks Major Reaction From Fans, Analysts, Players

The NBA All-Star Weekend went for a drastic change in the annual game’s format. The way the league announced it was met with harsh criticism. The new format entailed removing the game clock of the final quarter and replacing it with a race to a specific score. The first three quarters would be played out regularly. Then a race to a final score will be determined by adding 24 points to the leading team’s score. The number 24 was one of the league’s tributes to the late great Kobe Bryant.

It was Chris Paul who suggested the new format to commissioner Adam Silver.

While there was a lot of confusion regarding the new format, the All-Star Game did not disappoint. The fourth quarter featured a highly defensive back and forth affair between Team Lebron and Team Giannis. Highlights didn’t include much dunks or flashy alley-oops; rather it was the combination of intensity and defense that took the game to another level. One of these included Kyle Lowry, as he had some clutch plays that didn’t even show up in the stat sheet. He was able to draw up multiple charge calls, something that rarely comes up in an All-Star Game.

Twitter immediately took notice of this where everyone was refreshed with a sense of competitive basketball. It was the first time in years where the world’s greatest players were able to maximize the level of skill on the floor. It was the excitement that the league lacked in over decades of playing the All-Star Game.

Even to the last moment, the game was exciting as Anthony Davis sealed the night with a game-winning free throw. Team Lebron was able to beat Team Giannis 157-155. Team Lebron rallied back from an 11-point deficit entering the final quarter and was spearheaded by CP3’s hot shooting. Paul had 23 points and seven made threes. But it was Kawhi Leonard who took home the first-ever NBA All-Star Game Kobe Bryant MVP award as he tallied 30 points with 25 of those coming in the first half.