Imagine if instead of the All-Star game, the NBA had a 1-on-1 competition to determine the best…
Jack Hammond | Sports Editor and Co-Online Editor
The NBA has so many great rules and is a very fan-friendly league. Adam Silver, the NBA Commissioner, has really done a great job thus far handling tricky situations. However, there are still modifications that should be added to make the NBA a better league, though they might not be realistic. Here is a change I would make to All-Star Weekend that IS realistic:
Add a 1 on 1 contest during All-Star Weekend. Can you imagine? For example, pick any 8 of these players playing to 11 (1’s and 2’s) and put them in a bracket (some aren’t healthy but lets be creative here): LeBron James, James Harden, Steph Curry, Carmelo Anthony, DeMarcus Cousins, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard, Klay Thompson, Kobe Bryant, Derrick Rose, John Wall, Kyrie Irving, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, Anthony Davis, Paul George, or Deron Williams. Am I forgetting anyone? Please feel free to let me know since the options here are limitless. This would break TV rating records. And you can’t tell me that these guys would treat this like the All-Star game by playing no defense. Every one of these players is unbelievably competitive and would want the title as the “best 1-on-1 player in the NBA.”
Watch three of the best, Paul George, Kevin Durant and James Harden, go at it after practice. This video makes me so excited I am going to make my own bracket right now. Based on this season, here are my top 8 that get selected to the 1-on-1 contest in order by skill in isolation plays:
1. James Harden
2. LeBron James
3. Russell Westbrook
4. Kevin Durant
5. Carmelo Anthony
6. Steph Curry
7. Anthony Davis
8. John Wall
First round:
James Harden would beat John Wall 7-5. A good match-up here between two great athletes, but Harden is the better scorer. He can hit the tough jump shots that Wall can’t hit, therefore giving Harden the edge
LeBron James defeats Anthony Davis 7-3. Davis is big, but LeBron forces Davis into too many jump shots and wins.
Russell Westbrook defeats Steph Curry 7-4. Sure, Curry can score, but is anybody as athletic as Westbrook? I think Steph settles for a couple fadeaway shots and misses a few, falling to Westbrook.
Lastly, KD takes down Carmelo in a great first round matchup 7-6. KD comes up clutch, and while Anthony is a great isolation player, KD locks it down.
Semi-Finals:
Harden falls to KD 7-5. Harden’s lack of defense finally catches up to him. While Harden can score like no other, his D holds him back here and KD advances to the finals.
Russell Westbrook defeats LeBron James 7-5. Westbrook uses his freakish athleticism to stay half a step ahead of James.
Finals:
Two Thunder players? What? Yes. Westbrook plays KD in the finals, and this would be great to see two teammates get after it. I see KD coming up clutch again and winning 7-6. These guys know each other so well that the game is back and forth all the way.
There are limitless combinations of players and seeds. I would have the fans vote in four players and then have the next four selected by the NBA. Are you listening yet Mr. Silver? Do it for the fans and let us see something that may be better than the actual NBA finals.
