In Los Angeles, the new format that brings together the best in the league opens for Team Curry vs. Team LeBron.
The world of basketball will be re-decorated today to receive in Los Angeles the celebration of the NBA All-Star Game, an event that will have the special confrontation between LeBron James and Stephen Curry, players who in recent years have built one of the rivalries more competitive sports, in which the friendliness is far from their relationship and pride, coupled with the desire to prevail in the wood, makes them show the best of their technical repertoire.
The novelty of this meeting will be focused on the fact that, instead of the traditional confrontation between the Eastern and Western Conference, the templates were formed according to the choices of the two most voted players, in this case, LeBron (Cleveland Cavaliers) and Curry (Golden State Warriors). Hence the relevance of this game, which could have a special aroma, far from the show that this event offers, in which there are matches with more than 500 points.
NBA basketball has not been oblivious to the changes that are being implemented in different sports to stay current and provide better entertainment to their fans. That is why for this Game of the Stars the model of election of the payrolls varied, in search of a push to an encounter that is seen more of commercial form. The two most voted players in the entire NBA were named captains and chose the battle soldiers for the game through a kind of draft. Names like those of Kevin Durant, James Harden, Anthony Davis or Demar DeRozan draw attention.
"I think these changes add excitement to the game. As many of the best talents are in the same teams, which is not a blow, we will see those figures now shining together. This format is remarkable for the show," former player Isaiah Thomas, a two-time NBA champion with the Detroit Pistons and today an analyst with the NBA channel, told TIME.
"This game can become obsolete from a competitive point of view and it takes away the weight of entertainment, because sometimes it shows up in the effort of the game. So, I think the changes provide a breath of fresh air," Thomas added.
New era
Today the comparisons between current and past basketball can be seen in the strategies that have led to an evolution. In addition, the basketball players stopped being just eaves or only bases or only poles. Polyfunctionality and game techniques have brought out more quality players.
On the changes that have been generated, Thomas said that the most important is technology, because it allows to make a real individual and sports analysis. "Technology has been the biggest variation in basketball. More specifically, social networks through live streaming and content that gives more information about NBA players off the court. That creates a connection between the fans and the game and will take things to the next level.
Now, the idea is to expand the NBA franchise and brand around the world, not only to generate revenue, but to discover more talents and powers of this sport on the planet. "The important thing will always be inclusion. It all started by allowing the NBA players to compete in the Olympics, then we had the explosion of international players in the NBA, and now we are seeing the US players. UU abroad, instead of the opposite. The seeds have been planted to make the game a world-class sport. It's only a matter of time," he concluded.
All that's left is for the ball to rise in the air and for the 'team LeBron' and the 'team Curry' to show a good show to share those $ 500,000 that will be sent to a charity cause.
The Sunday All-Star Game will start at 8 p.m. ET at the Staples Center, home of the Los Angeles Lakers, which hosts the event for the third time following the editions of 2004 and 2011. The game will begin airing on TNT 7 p.m. ET. and you can check TNT Drama for online live streaming.
The world of basketball will be re-decorated today to receive in Los Angeles the celebration of the NBA All-Star Game, an event that will have the special confrontation between LeBron James and Stephen Curry, players who in recent years have built one of the rivalries more competitive sports, in which the friendliness is far from their relationship and pride, coupled with the desire to prevail in the wood, makes them show the best of their technical repertoire.
The novelty of this meeting will be focused on the fact that, instead of the traditional confrontation between the Eastern and Western Conference, the templates were formed according to the choices of the two most voted players, in this case, LeBron (Cleveland Cavaliers) and Curry (Golden State Warriors). Hence the relevance of this game, which could have a special aroma, far from the show that this event offers, in which there are matches with more than 500 points.
NBA basketball has not been oblivious to the changes that are being implemented in different sports to stay current and provide better entertainment to their fans. That is why for this Game of the Stars the model of election of the payrolls varied, in search of a push to an encounter that is seen more of commercial form. The two most voted players in the entire NBA were named captains and chose the battle soldiers for the game through a kind of draft. Names like those of Kevin Durant, James Harden, Anthony Davis or Demar DeRozan draw attention.
"I think these changes add excitement to the game. As many of the best talents are in the same teams, which is not a blow, we will see those figures now shining together. This format is remarkable for the show," former player Isaiah Thomas, a two-time NBA champion with the Detroit Pistons and today an analyst with the NBA channel, told TIME.
"This game can become obsolete from a competitive point of view and it takes away the weight of entertainment, because sometimes it shows up in the effort of the game. So, I think the changes provide a breath of fresh air," Thomas added.
New era
Today the comparisons between current and past basketball can be seen in the strategies that have led to an evolution. In addition, the basketball players stopped being just eaves or only bases or only poles. Polyfunctionality and game techniques have brought out more quality players.
On the changes that have been generated, Thomas said that the most important is technology, because it allows to make a real individual and sports analysis. "Technology has been the biggest variation in basketball. More specifically, social networks through live streaming and content that gives more information about NBA players off the court. That creates a connection between the fans and the game and will take things to the next level.
Now, the idea is to expand the NBA franchise and brand around the world, not only to generate revenue, but to discover more talents and powers of this sport on the planet. "The important thing will always be inclusion. It all started by allowing the NBA players to compete in the Olympics, then we had the explosion of international players in the NBA, and now we are seeing the US players. UU abroad, instead of the opposite. The seeds have been planted to make the game a world-class sport. It's only a matter of time," he concluded.
All that's left is for the ball to rise in the air and for the 'team LeBron' and the 'team Curry' to show a good show to share those $ 500,000 that will be sent to a charity cause.
The Sunday All-Star Game will start at 8 p.m. ET at the Staples Center, home of the Los Angeles Lakers, which hosts the event for the third time following the editions of 2004 and 2011. The game will begin airing on TNT 7 p.m. ET. and you can check TNT Drama for online live streaming.