Although nothing could top Charles Barkley outracing Dick Bavetta, I thought that there were other interesting moments during the Association All-Star weekend worth noting:
Dwight Howard took advantage of opportunities during Sunday’s game and Saturday’s dunk contest to make a name for himself. Howard’s athleticism and power are possibly beyond peer in the Association. Nevertheless, the weekend’s results highlight that there is still room for improvement for the top pick in the 2004 draft.
If Howard acquires post moves – on the block and elbow – and a greater range for his jumper than he will truly become unstoppable. Even a thorough understanding of the basics, such as a reliable drop-step or the ability to rip through and drive anywhere on the court, would be a great improvement.
Chris Bosh performed as expected, playing under control and deferring to other scorers. A few rebounds and a good, but unremarkable, shooting percentage illustrated how Bosh earned his spot in the United States National Team. Bosh contributes solid play for a complementary post player and has no pretensions regarding his role. Hopefully, he is able to earn additional all-star game appearances in the future.
Despite the artificial nature of the game, the fundamentals still apply. The West won because they had more rebounds, fewer turnovers, and most importantly, a much higher shooting efficiency. The West dropped 52 dimes compared to 29 by the East, although this was more a sign of less turnovers and higher percentage shots rather than a symbol on their own. Even when the goal is entirely entertainment, playing smartly led to a huge victory for the West.
In addition to scorers, the All-Star Game included many excellent rebounders. Howard, Bosh, Amare Stoudamire, Kevin Garnett, and Shaquille O’Neal all demonstrated a variety moves to secure both offensive and defensive boards. Rebounding is largely effort but there are other little tricks that permit a player to use their hands and feet to their advantage.