People LOVE Power Rankings in sports. It’s pretty stupid. So, of course, I have MY Stupid Power Rankings. I take 10 things from the NBA and WNBA (or not) in the past week and rank them accordingly. You don’t like them? Make your own rankings!
This is the All-Star edition of the list. Of course, some non-all-star things will be included. Let’s do this.
(VIDEO CREDIT: House of Highlights.)
1) The Three-Point Shootout
The three-point shootout consistently delivers. If we don’t get a close contest, we’ll get an amazing shooting exhibition. We got both in this contest. They brought back the Mountain Dew green balls that are to be shot from about 30 feet. It was worth three points. I don’t like that they keep, uh, jazzing up the contest when it needed no tweaks.
Speaking of Jazz, Mike Conley (more on him later) was aiming to be the first lefty to win this contest. He scored 28 points out of a possible 40. But the greatest shooter in the world, Stephen Curry, made 31 to set a record in the contest (with an asterisk since we’ve seen so many tweaks to this contest). It was really a two-man contest here. Jayson Tatum made the Finals but it was evident that it was between Conley and Curry.
Conley put on an excellent 27 points. Curry missed his first four shots but made both 30-footers to stay within range. Then he made the final money shot to put himself at 28 and defeat Conley. Curry won his second three-point contest (that’s it?) in an exciting and excellent contest.
(VIDEO CREDIT: NBA.)
2) Damian Lillard and Stephen Curry Put On a Show
The All-Star night was all about the longball. At first, Curry was putting up shots from the logo. Then Lillard started putting up HALFCOURT shots. Curry would also do the same thing. FInally, LeBron’s team won after Lillard put up ANOTHER shot from halfcourt.
What if we see these shots as the norm? My gosh.
3) Giannis Perfection
Giannis Antetokounmpo took home his first All-Star MVP trophy. More impressively, he made the most field goals in ANY NBA game without a miss. He made all 16 of his field goal attempts, which doubled the old all-star record (8 for 8 by Hal Greer in 1968) and exceeded the regular season record that Wilt Chamberlain set (15 for 15). Incredible.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images.)
4) T.J. McConnell’s Triple-Double
Another incredible thing that happened in the last week BUT not on All-Star night was T.J. McConnell getting a triple-double. IN STEALS. He had 9 thefts in the first half and had a chance to break the record of 11 but he only had one more steal the rest of the game. Still, he ended with the rare points-assists-steals variety of trip-dub: 16 points, 13 assists, and 10 steals. That hadn’t been done since Mookie Blaylock did it in 1998.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Rick Bowmer/AP.)
5) Mike Conley is an All-Star
Mike Conley became an all-star for the first time. In his 14th season. It’s a testament to Conley for being a consistently excellent player. He is the one manning the offense for the best team in the league and no one deserves it more than Conley.
He also participated in the three-point contest and nearly won the whole thing. That was probably the only “bad thing” that happened to him that night.
CODY PUT SHAQ THROUGH A TABLE
(via @AEW)pic.twitter.com/tJq5WqRlrY
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 4, 2021
6) Shaquille O’Neal Was All Elite
Shaq exceeded all expectations in his first televised tag team wrestling match. And he was even courageous enough to go through two tables after Cody Rhodes dove onto him. What a man!
(PHOTO CREDIT: Michael Dwyer/AP.)
7) Blake Griffin Going to Brooklyn
This would’ve been something 5 or 6 years ago, right? Still, another huge name goes to Brooklyn. He may not be a 36-minute-per-game player anymore but with all those stars around, the game is more wide open for him. He could be something off the bench.
It’s not like he’s forgotten how to play basketball; his body has just been beat up.
(VIDEO CREDIT: House of Highlights.)
8) The Dunk Contest
It wasn’t a bad contest but the scoring on Cassius Stanley‘s first dunk really set the tone; it felt like such a downer to get a 44 on a dunk Derrick Jones, Jr. got perfection on last year.
Plus with only three participants and only three total dunks for each contestant, it felt like too short of a contest. Yes, it was done at halftime of a game but I don’t see the problem of them having four players and four dunks each.
9) All-Star Weekend Actually Happening
It’s great that all of us that couldn’t go anywhere has some entertainment to watch. But it was a risky proposition for everyone involved with the pandemic happening and games already being postponed as is. Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons couldn’t play because of contact tracing. And do you really need an all-star game to donate to charity?
I’m just glad it’s over with.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Todd Kirkland/Getty Images.)
10) Lloyd Pierce is Out as Head Coach
Reports were that players weren’t too supportive of Pierce. It just sucks because I thought he was within playoff reach and that he does so much for the community. But if players don’t want you (allegedly in this situation), then there’s not much you can do.
Pierce will be back on the sidelines, whether it’s college or pros. He’s too good not to be.
Everyone, please take care of yourselves during this pandemic. And that goes for everyone involved with the NBA as well.
You can find Rey-Rey on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
You can also check out Rey-Rey’s podcast, Rey-Rey Is Fundamental, for more basketball content and, really, whatever else.