The 2023 NBA All-Star Game ended with 211 points for the East and 186 points for the West, and the two teams combined for 397 points to refresh the NBA All-Star single game scoring record. In addition, Lillard won the MVP trophy with 14 of 26 shooting, 11 of 23 three-point shooting and 39 points and 6 assists.

The score of the All-Star Game has reached a new high, but the fans' "ridicule decibel" has also reached a new high, because the quality of the game is getting lower and lower, the whole game is sleepy, and the court is filled with boos.

As we all know, in recent years, the NBA has entered the "small ball era", both players and teams, are conforming to the trend of honing 3-point ball tactics.

However, when the All-Star Game, with its entertainment and gimmicks, became a three-point practice, fans' aesthetic fatigue went into a concentrated outburst.

So is it really the "Age of small ball" that has robbed the NBA All-Star Game of its charm?

(14) Basketball - NBA All-Star Game: East wins West
On February 18, local time, Lillard (left) of the Eastern Conference All-Star team shot a three-point shot during the game. In the 2023-2024 NBA All-Star Game, the Eastern Conference All-Star team defeated the Western Conference All-Star team 211-186.

It is a false proposition that the "era of small ball" is unwatchable

The "small ball style" prevailing in the league now is undoubtedly the technical tactics represented by the "five small deaths" of the Warriors in those years. This technique will remove the traditional number five player in favor of a more flexible swingman up front. Without the restriction of the number five player, the attacking space on the court becomes larger. Court players create shots for perimeter players with strong mobility by moving out of position. Simply put, the "small style" makes the offensive end fickle and more conducive to shooting three-pointers.

But "small ball tactics" is not without shortcomings, first of all, the team attaches too much importance to the front line swingman, is bound to weaken the traditional center players. In the past, the league prevailed in "the rebound wins the world", and now it has become "the three-point winner wins the world".

Secondly, it weakens basketball antagonism. The game is now full of small outside shooters who are good at creating shots by running the post. There is no problem with this technique and tactics, but there is a naked confrontation in competitive sports, and the loss of confrontation naturally reduces the enjoyment.

Finally, it affects the development of technology. It is because the small ball technique and tactics are invincible that everyone comes to practice the three-point shot. So we see such a picture: the center does not practice hook foot practice three-point shooting, the forward does not practice the card shot practice three-point shooting, the guard does not practice the breakthrough pass practice three-point shooting. All three points, other techniques naturally can not be passed on. Some fans have also listed the "classical techniques" that are likely to be lost in the "hour era" - wipe board shooting, dry pull shooting, backbody singles, hook hands, and so on.

But these so-called drawbacks are relative, for example, the confrontation is relatively reduced, and the decrease of the confrontation is not the same as that of the defense. For example, the tactics of "five dead" can cause pressure on the opponent and reduce the success rate of the attack on the defensive side. For example, the weakening of the centre-forward is also relative, in the past, the interior attack was limited to the box or even the three-second zone.

In the era of the four major centers, a small part of the interior line had the ability to shoot, but most of them relied on hand-to-hand combat, low position attack and defense in the restricted area to earn a living. In the era of small ball, especially when the time comes to today, the definition of inside line has jumped out of the category of history, and the all-round inside line with throwing, passing and sudden threats has become the mainstream.

Embiid, Wenbanyama, Towns, Antetokounmpo, as well as Jokic, Porzingis, Holmgren, Markkanen, Anthony Davis, Shen Jing, Bankello and so on, they are the new era of the interior line, both the shadow of the classical interior line, and adapt to The Times to develop shooting, dribbling. In the words of Porzingis, "They are all talents." So the NBA in the "small ball era" is no fun to watch? This is obviously a false proposition.

If it's not as bad as it used to be, it's not as bad

Indeed, most fans still miss the All-Star Game, with Jordan's "fairy layup" under the double team and drag, O 'Neal's bloody buckle after a strong opponent, Kobe Bryant's nose bone was broken by Wade's malicious foul, but said angrily: "I like this feeling of competition!"

Data can also prove this, from the NBA Central released 30 years of NBA ratings change chart we can see that since entering the "small ball era" NBA ratings overall decline trend, the most serious time TV ratings fell 26%.

But even if the ornamental decline is only relatively speaking, it will not end up in the point of breaking the pot. But unfortunately, this NBA All-Star Game has abandoned all the inner and charm of the "small ball era", and only retains the crude expression of the three-point long shot, which enlarges all the shortcomings of the "small ball era" infinitely, and appears to have no wisdom and spoil the scenery.

Pre-match fine taste of the east and west starting list, fans have been aware that "three points" really become the only way to live. Sure enough, the two teams shot 168 three-pointers in the whole game, hitting 67 three-pointers (42 in the East and 25 in the West), and also set a number of records: the two teams scored a total of 397 points to set a new All-Star game scoring record, which was 374 points before; The Eastern Conference set an All-Star game record with 211 points, up from 196. The Eastern Conference All-Star made 42 three-pointers, also setting an All-Star game record.

Indeed, in the era of small ball, less can inspire fighting spirit and "hormones" fierce confrontation, but more such as Curry, Owen jaw-dropping scoring methods, we sigh in the three-point ball like a rain into the net at the same time, but also miss the golden age of 80, 90 points per game. But even if The Times are different, the mainstream play is different, and the viewing degree is also high and low, but today's NBA All-Star Game will not end up with such a reputation. There is no attitude to the game, there is no blood and confrontation, and it is no wonder that the fans are disappointed.