Live Thread: 2016 NBA All Star Game (#GoodbyeMamba)
2016-02-14
No matter what actually happens in the 2016 NBA All Star Game… unless aliens invade, or the world actually ends (like the crazy lady in Ghostbusters 2 predicted), the narrative will spiral around the erstwhile “Black Mamba” one Kobe Bean Bryant. His Western Conference teammates will pass and defer to him… his Eastern Conference counterparts will part like the red sea for him to drive and fire at will… and the fans will predictably go nuts, shouting “KO-BE!” “KO-BE!” “KO-BE!” for one last midseason showcase. There will be Valentine hugs from friends and foes alike… tributes galore… and an endless stream of platitudes spewing from anyone with a microphone. Even Shaq might muster up some begrudging compliments for the dude who ran him out of tinseltown just a decade ago…
Oh, there will also be a game of sorts played. It will be hard to top the wildly rejuvenated Slam Dunk Contest from the night before, but there should be some notable highlights beyond the ultimate ring kissing ceremony for Kobe. Unfortunately for Cavs fans, there will only be a solitary representative to cheer for in a year when their team owns the best record in the Eastern Conference. But, the King should be smack dab in the middle of the All Star chapter of the “Goodbye Mamba Tour” (expect at least a trifecta of one-on-one duels in the fourth quarter). Ty Lue will also have a good (high) chair to watch the track meet with basketballs unfold, and he should have plenty of time to thumb out loyal texts and “wish you were here” vines to old pal David Blatt.
The All Star Game is a show like no other in sports, even if it can barely be called a game. Still, it’s always enjoyable for most… and even the most cynical fan can enjoy the fact that this will be the last time they’ll ever have to see the Mamba participate in one of them.
Prediction: The West edges the East 165-162 as everyone on both teams rebound and pass the ball back to Kobe repeatedly in the final two minutes until he finally hits the last three to win it. Kobe is also named the oldest All Star MVP at age 37 (once again getting the better of Shaq — the current oldest MVP at 36), despite taking 45 shots to notch his game high 30 points…
KO-BE! KO-BE! KO-BE!
Despite going 7-17 from three…
As crappy as this game was, try should have just given it to kobe
Wow… that game was straight ridiculous… hard to even call it a “game”
They couldn’t have gotten to 200 anyway… apparently the Toronto scoreboard only goes up to 199…
Wow… WC really didn’t want to let PG-13 break the record…
Or more like his team mates didn’t want that
Kobe Farewell Tour continues…
Oh man…this is the worst all star game in the history of super talented players on the same court. West took the smart route early and only shot dunks or threes or kawhi Leonard twos. East took the route of not letting Thomas and PG-13 shoot enough, and letting Lebron shoot at all
50 assists for the West vs. 33 for the East
14 TOs for the West vs. 24 for the East
There’s your ball game…. looks like Pop did coach them hard per Kobe’s request LOL!
Kobe one on one with Pau…
Dafuq??? Is this real? He’s in jeans!!!
He’s a Circque de Soleil guy I think…
Dude can get up…
I’m in disbelief!!!! That guy can’t be that tall… AND his head is at or above the rim!!! WTF?!
#LETSGOFOR200!
Hey thanks for the posts EG… haven’t even bothered to watch it…. actually enjoy your comments more than the actual game itself!
Can’t wait to see Melo and LBJ clank 3 balls together again for the rest of the season /s.
Yeah… it’s kind of ridiculous… I was trying to be intentionally funny with my score prediction of 165-162… but they’re going to blow by that…
I’ve been checking in on the box score occasionally, and I’m surprised by the amount of scoring. Also, the West has like 45 assists. Another interesting observation is the West has 4 dead eye 3pt shooters and the East has PG-13 and that’s it. LOL
Yeah PG-13 has been amazing… Wall has hit a few outside shots too, but otherwise just dunks for the EC…
Man, if Wall ever had a reliable jump shot… and I don’t see any reason for him not to, he could make that leap to elite status.
I am also skipping the game and reading the CtB posts.
I entered this one like 50 times… /s
Steph is like “I think I can… I think I can…”
Ty Lue getting punished for going small right now…
PG-13 really wants that MVP trophy…
At least Ty Lue won’t play Bron 40 minutes tonight… probably…
LBJ with a dunk contest entry…
Westbrook has gone nuclear…
Sorry for the double post. I should have double pumped.
It was worth saying twice…
I thought the 3-point contest was last night?
The allstar game is for CHILDREN, or fans coming out of a medically induced coma. The last three I watched I was embarrassed by. Can they make something matter like some playoff implication for the wining conference??
PG-13 is pretty good…
The allstar game is for CHILDREN, or fans coming out of a medically induced coma. The last three I watched I was embarrassed by. Can they make something matter like some playoff implication for the wining conference?
So while we are here EG…Toronto is in 2nd place and looks likely to stay there. What did we even bet on that?
And does Griffin have the balls to trade Andy verajao? He doesn’t, right? I’d be even more angry than when they traded z and rebought him
Looks like I’ll owe you a 2016 C:tB T-shirt… per our original bet…
I don’t care about All Star games, but I know some people do, so I’m glad it’s there for them. I saw most of the first half at dinner, since the restaurant had it on – looked like a pretty nauseating celebration of Kobe at the start. Nate must have been enthralled. It’s hard for me to believe sometimes that OKC has both Durant and Westbrook on their team. That team is going to be dangerous, even for the Warriors. Both of those guys seem like they want it this year. It really shows how you run into diminished returns… Read more »
Yeah not just Kobe at the beginning… but all the way through…
I agree MikeO there are moments KD and Westbrook play the ultimate team ball and it’s unstoppable… they just don’t trust it enough because they both believe they can score at will.
Pretty much the same problem with KI and LBJ except KD and Westbrook have been together a lot longer.
And LBJ’s jumper from three is still broken…
Yeah. We need to figure out how to trade skills, not players. I’ll offer lebron’s handle for Kyle korver’s shot. Lebron won’t dribble so much and could actually knock down the umpteen open catch and shoot threes he sees every gamr
Sting doing his very best to put me to sleep with the stalker anthem. Time for leftover Christmas ales to seal the deal
LOL… hang in there Scotch!
PRETTY MUCH THE ” GLOBETROTTERS VS THE WASH. GENERALS “——HAVE TURNED OFF ALREADY—–PREDICT ON MONDAY SOME TEAM WILL MAKE THE 1ST TRADE AND START A DOMINOE OF TRADES ——BARKLEY LIKES THE IDEA OF CAVS PURSUING MCCLEMORE——–HOPEFULLY CAVS ARE ON THE COURT TOMORROW ( GETTING MUCH NEEDED REPS TO ” LEARN THE NEW PROCESS ” ) CAN’T WAIT TO SEE THE MUCH TALKED ABOUT PLAYS ” PUNCH ” AND ” SLICE “
YES! HAPPY ALL STAR GAME EG!!!!!!!!!
LOVED that moment!!
CP3 to The Brow for a HUGE throwdown!
That’s like their 4th hookup!
DeRozan with a sick 360 dunk…
Does Chris Haynes know the code (/s)?
And the crowd goes wild…
One cycle around the rim for each ring a big man won for Kobe.
We called those a “toilet ringer” when I was growing up.
Haynes on fire…
Haynes with the ironic tweet of the night so far…
Just so hard to get up for all star games. Nice dunks though.
LBJ with a pretty sick throw down…
LBJ scores…
Kobe v. LBJ for opening tip… smh…
Actually… SUPRISE! There is no All Star Game… just Kobe Night!
Is this ASG ever going to start?
Has anyone ever had a video dedicated to him to open an ASG?
James Naismith born in Canada. Who knew?