Clipperholics
Fansided

LA Clippers: Chris Paul reaches out to Adam Silver about All-Star Game

By Leonard Saldana

Feb 19, 2017; New Orleans, LA, USA; Western Conference guard Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder (0) handles the ball against Eastern Conference guard Kyle Lowry of the Toronto Raptors (7) in the 2017 NBA All-Star Game at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 19, 2017; New Orleans, LA, USA; Western Conference guard Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder (0) handles the ball against Eastern Conference guard Kyle Lowry of the Toronto Raptors (7) in the 2017 NBA All-Star Game at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

The NBA All-Star Game has seen less and less defense. LA Clippers and NBA Players’ Association President, Chris Paul, reached out to Adam Silver about the competitive nature of the All-Star Game.

Chris Paul might not have played in the NBA All-Star game this year, but it didn’t mean he missed it. Shortly after the game, the Clippers’ guard reached out to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and threw ideas around to see what can be done to make it a more competitive game.

NBA All-Star Weekend has seen many changes happen during the weekend (none more so than the dunk contest.) The All-Star Game, which is the main event for the weekend, is supposed to be the NBA’s best going at each other. The fans hope the players treat it like game seven of the NBA Finals, but of course its not worth risking injury. But let’s make it a little more competitive.

There is being little to no defense played. At times you would see first year attendee Giannis Antetokounmpo play hard on both ends. However, even he seemed to settle in and the game was garbage time the rest of the way.

Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

Bill Oram of the OC Register reported Chris Paul’s comments after the latest Clipper loss:

"“We collectively want to try to make All-Star weekend better for the fans,” Paul said after the Clippers’ 112-101 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. “All the way around. Even in (Collective Bargaining Agreement) talks and stuff like that, that was one of the things that the players, the owners and everybody was talking about. Trying to fix that, spice it up a little bit to keep it interesting.”"

Minor changes coming

When players are making some much money, the incentive is not the same as it once was. Make it worth the players while and it could be a show for a few quarters, but then in the fourth they turn up the defense and earn their incentives.

Giving away lavish gifts or even larger amounts of cash wouldn’t hurt. That would at least be a change of pace to give it a refresh.

Change is good. It helps keep the league fresh and no one wants it to get stale. We do not want to have our All-Star Game look like some previous NFL Pro Bowls, where they just looked like practice. Both sides are coming off a new collective bargaining agreement and seem to be working on all cylinders.

Expect to see changes as the conversation continues.

More from Clipperholics