NBA All-Star Game: Liven It Up With These One-on-One Matchups
Blake Griffin's entrance into the dunk contest has some hoping that it will re-energize the spectacle that used to be a major draw, but now has become less than interesting most of the time and only mildly interesting at the best of times.
We've seen every dunk. There's nothing new under the sun as they say. Watching another person try and do the behind the free-throw line dunk six times before it finally goes down, and the judges overreact and climb all over each other thrusting up 10 cards as though those misses never happened just isn't compelling anymore.
No. The dunk contest isn't going to get re-energized because it's old. If you want to bring the game to the playground, bring the playground to the game. If you really want to draw some HD attention to the viewing public, show us these 10 All-Star caliber one-on-one, first one to 10, gotta win by two, call your own fouls matchups.
The Uglys: Kevin Garnett Vs. Joakim Noah
1 of 10
Kevin Garnett is slapping people in the nether regions and making fun of cancer.
Joakim Noah thinks he's ugly.
How about an ugly matchup? Let these two get out and settle it on the court. Both are high energy, great rebounding, lean mean fighting machine type players. It would be intense. It would be brutal. There wouldn't be any foul calls, but that doesn't mean there wouldn't be any fouls.
In the end. Experience trumps youth, but it goes to OT. 13-11 Garnett.
The "I Did It My Way" Match: LeBron James Vs. Carmelo Anthony.
2 of 10
These two have been compared to one another since the day they were drafted.
Carmelo has taken shots from afar at James, saying he doesn't want to handle the free agency the same way that James did. James says he's taking notes of who's taking the shots.
They might be the two best small forwards playing right now. How about finding out which is the best in a one on one game? If it gets a little nasty, we can live with that.
In this one it isn't close. James runs away 10-6.
The Speedsters: Derrick Rose Vs. John Wall
3 of 10
Admittedly, this one might have to be be slowed down in the playback to actually see what's happening. How about these former Callipari disciples that have given him the one and done reputation he has?
This would be over quick, but it's closer than expected. In the end, though, Rose's length and vertical are just too much for Wall as he gets blocked three times. Rose takes it 10-7.
The Power Dunkers: Dwight Howard Vs. Blake Griffin
4 of 10
Better than a dunk contest would be a contest between dunkers. How about pitting these two giant muscle men against each other and watch them trade wicked-nasty-I-can-be-angrier-than-you dunks on one another.
This one has defense winning. Dwight Howard 11-9.
The rims end up losing, though.
The 7 Foot Euros: Pau Vs. Dirk
5 of 10
Arguably the two greatest Euros ever. Definitely the best seven-foot Euros ever; let's watch them go at each other on the court. Flopping doesn't rule the day, as no one bails them out with a whistle.
Dirk's shooting is the difference in this one. He just makes the court bigger than Pau. He's also the "tougher" of the two. He gets by Pau 10-8.
The Skinny Shootout: Kevin Martin Vs. Mota Ellis
6 of 10
The battle of the skinny shooters. They both like to shoot a lot. They both are good at shooting. Neither plays defense. They both weight 185 pounds. What's not to like?
This one would go back and forth, but it's a lot of fun for both the players and the fans. In the end, Martin's height is a bit too much for Ellis. Martin 12-10.
One Way Highway: Paul Vs. Williams
7 of 10
Why is this a one lane highway matchup? Because there's no passing!
Nope. This one is all about getting the ball in the hoop all on your own. Of course, these two point guards have no trouble doing that. Playing against one another might make that a little more challenging, though, as they are also two of the better on the ball defenders in the NBA.
This one goes deep, but in the end, Paul proves to be a little bit better, 15-13.
If they can't play, then they can have Russell Westbrook and Rajon Rondo as their stand ins.
I 'Love" Vs. New York Kevin Love Vs. Amare Stoudemire
8 of 10
Kevin Love might not have his team primed for the playoffs, but he made huge news when he went off for 30 points and 30 boards against the Knicks earlier this season. In the rematch, he "only" got 33 points and 15 rebounds.
Stoudemire is the All-Star, getting the votes, and leading his team to wins. Love is the guy who gets knocked down a notch because his team isn't very good. Who is really the better player? Settle it once and for all, on the court.
Love takes this one 10-8 based on rebounding. If you can keep taking shots, it doesn't hurt if you miss them.
Fake Tough: Kevin Durant Vs. Chris Bosh
9 of 10
Things got a little nasty between on Sunday. Then Kevin Durant got a lot of attention for calling Chris Bosh "fake tough" after the game. On the heels of Bosh complaining about players diving for loose balls and jeopardizing his ability to "provide for his family," Duran'ts comment carried a decisive "it's funny because it's true" sting.
This one would have a fun little twist to it. Not only would it be "call your won fouls" there'd be a no foul, no point rule. You would actually be required to commit an offensive foul in order to score. It would be the cage match of basketball.
Kevin Durant wins this one in a forfeit. Bosh explains afterwards that he needs to provide for his family and can't risk injuries on All-Star weekend.
The Main Event: Kobe Vs. D-Wade
10 of 10
There's been so much debate over whether Kobe or LeBron is the best player in the world that people lose sight of the real conversation. Kobe or LeBron is apples or oranges. It's the wrong question. What the real question should be is who is the best shooting guard.
Wade and Bryant are the two best. There is such a gulf between them and anyone else, it doesn't even matter who is third best. Let's see which one is better.
Shaq says he wants the winner. The world ignores him.
I don't know who wins. Readers get to make that call.
Also, feel free to offer up your own.
