@LL-$*@R

Every year the NBA's best gather for a weekend vacation in some hot spot city around America. They engage in a series of activities that are suppose to transcend the game across the masses. The crown jewel of this event use to be the much hyped dunk contest. Some of basketballs best moments came in the dunk contest be it the ABA or NBA. My favorite was seeing Jordan glide through the air with that gold chain on. Another competition was the 3 point shooting contest, and I solely blame my interest in this competition on my love for Larry Bird's shot. The centerpiece for the allstar event is the annual basketball exhibition by the leagues most popular and best players. My love for this event is still huge but I don't take it as serious. I don't believe the league or players take it serious. The league has a pretty good core of talent across the board so there is no reason the skills competition is the only event that brings the best players. The 3 point is always going to be entertaining because sometimes the leagues best shooters aren't the leagues best players. This year Kevin Love's shot held truer than Kevin Durant's shot. Then finally we have the yearly flop we call the Dunk Contest. Through out the years we've had some great contest. I remember the dunks by a young Kobe, or VC, Dwight and Nate, and Blake Griffin stands out at first glance, but after that is a whole bunch of whatever. The dunk contest was the most popular event because it took a certain skill that all great ballers don't have. In it's essence basketball is a playground sport that kids all over join in on. 1 on 1, Horse, 3 point shoot outs, around the world, and 21 are played as variations of the game but the dunk contest are only played by a certain breed. When the league started the contest, people stood in awe watching the athletes perform flying through the air with ease effortlessly. The contest grew in popularity and the players did also. It was an add on to a stellar career for great players and not so great. Then, one sudden year all of the pazazz stopped and the dunk contest became a relic. Some call to end it, some say force the big names to do it, I say put a little prize for the winner. Put some value by letting the dunkers try new tricks, like how Dwight Howard used the 12 ft court. Raise the popularity of the dunk contest then you raise the popularity of the weekend. I even think amateurs should even be allowed to participate or compete in their own event televised nationally. Blake Griffin made a great point when he said cut down on some of the required appearances and maybe the big names would commit, I agree. Then we have the all star exhibition and all it's unwritten rules. In my opinion a pick up basketball played by 8 year olds blind folded is more entertaining. There is no competition or good defense. The style of the game is a horrible way to represent basketball even in an all star matter. The popularity of the game has declined dramatically to me because the lackadaisical style of the exhibition. If there where more competition and the teams actually played defense and wanted to win, It would make the game more watchable. I say move the event to the summer, right before training camp also. That way the season wouldn't be an issue and players could actually play. There should also be a bigger purse and style of voting to get players involve. Most importantly the ticket prices have to drop and be sold to families and common men and women. The league needs to fill the arena with basketball enthusiasts instead of folks living the night life. More highschool and little league basketball players, colleges ballers, and more fans of the game. A tougher game with a prize is entertaining and fun to watch. What's not fun is a game full of great dunks bad defense and great cuts to bad celebrities. Honesty I love this event, but hate the unentertaining spectacle its become and would love to see it return in popularity and entertainment. This event is no way away to cut the season in half, they should just give them a week break like a league wide bye. The style as is still works for me but it needs a spark, or a reboot. I don't want to see it done away with either, that would be horrible. The NBA just needs to rethink this event and give it new life.