Ah, the all-star break. For some players, it’s time to relax; for others, it’s time to participate in what might be the most entertaining weekend in basketball. The actual All-Star Game and Slam Dunk Contest are fun and always entertaining to watch. It also signifies the halfway point of another NBA season and forces the fans to catch up on the storylines that have developed so far.
Los Angeles has two good teams
Why does L.A. get everything good? First, it has the Lakers and all their championships. Last year, the Clippers debuted Blake Griffin, aka King Posturer. This year, Chris Paul has turned the Clippers into Lob City. Now L.A. has two legitimate teams, not the Lakers and the ugly cousin who shares the Staples Center with them. Now, it’s annoying, because the bandwagon is huge. Has anyone from L.A. met a Clippers fan before this season? Could anyone name the starting five from four years ago? If anyone can do that second one without the assistance of Wikipedia, I’ll give them $20. Back to the point. The city has four All-Star Game starters: Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and Andrew Bynum. This is the first time that the Clippers have someone starting in the All-Star Game, and they actually have a shot at a lengthy playoff run as well—the Clippers currently sit in the third seed with the Lakers in the fifth position. Somewhere, there is a Clippers fan cheering and a Lakers fan saying “you’re not a myth.”
Ricky Rubio takes the Timberwolves back in time
In 2009, when the Minnesota Timberwolves drafted point guards Ricky Rubio and Jonny Flynn in succession of one another, fans thought the team was run by idiots. Rubio’s inability to leave Spain for two years, along with his poor stats while in España, augmented this feeling. The Catalan Pistol Pete looked like a bust before he even hit American shores. Nevertheless, in the summer of 2011, Rubio bought his contract out and signed with the Timberwolves, pre-lockout. He spent his summer training with NBA pros and winning a Euro Basket gold medal. All his preparation was finally tested with the NBA’s return, and Rubio has played great. He’s averaging 8.4 assists/game and 2.35 steals/game, ranked 5th and 2nd in the league respectively, ahead of experienced guards like Tony Parker. Moreover, he has improved the all-around play of the Timberwolves, getting them within two games of .500 before the All-Star Break; last year at this point, they were 13-33. In a team brimming with young talent like all-star forward Kevin Love, Michael Beasley, and Derrick Williams, Rubio is the missing gear that’s making the machine work.
Dwight Howard needs to do everyone a favor and just play
Seriously, Howard, stop talking about wanting to be traded. If I have learned anything from Carmelo Anthony, it’s that talking about wanting to be traded is disrespectful and unprofessional. In the first place, you are disrespecting your current teammates and belittling the hard work and the abilities that they offer, in pursuit of a shared goal—an NBA ring. Sure, the Orlando Magic isn’t loaded with superstars besides yourself, but then again, would you be shining as bright if they were? Second, it’s unprofessional because even if you are unhappy to play for this team, you shouldn’t just blatantly make it known that teams can come and get you whenever they want. Your current team doesn’t look bad; you do. Instead, learn from LeBron—keep it a mystery, except without the flashy finale. For the entire 2009-10 season, no one knew if LeBron was staying or leaving Cleveland, but the one thing he did do was not voice his complaints. Sure, not being committal had consequences, but at least he tried not to add to the pressure.
Either way, the first half of the season has been entertaining and thought-provoking, and I’m sure the second half will continue this trend.
