Imagining a 3-on-3 NBA All-Star Game
/The 2016 NHL All-Star game featured a bold change in the format of the contest. Gone was the typical exhibition between the best of the league's two conferences. In its place was a three game tournament of 3-on-3 play. Each division would get a team, and would play for a championship prize.
The result was exciting, fresh and fun. I loved it. And so did a surprising number of viewers.
Hockey isn't the only sport that could upgrade its All-Star game. The NFL Pro Bowl is beyond repair, and the MLB All Star game has a pageantry and tradition that makes in near unchangeable. But what if the NBA All Star game adapted a 3-on-3 tournament?
In fact, of these four sports, 3-on-3 is a perfectly acceptable form of basketball. We see it being played from youth pickup games all the way up to Pro-Am tournaments. It's a special kind of basketball that encourages the isolation, quick shot taking, and showboating we see in a regular NBA All-Star game.
So what would the rosters look like if each NBA division sent a team of four representatives to the 3-on-3 All-Star Game? And would would win? Let's find out.
Central Division
LeBron James, Jimmy Butler, Paul George, Andre Drummond
A starting three of James, Butler and George offers tantalizing athleticism. All three would be able to switch on defense at ease, with James being the preferred low post defender. On offense, James could easily run the point, his passing has always been a natural strength. And having the option to bring Drummond in to handle larger opponents makes this lineup equipped to handle any offensive option thrown their way.
Key Play: James, Butler and George running together on a fast break.
Atlantic Division
Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, Carmelo Anthony, Isaiah Thomas
If I were creating the best lineup to win, I probably would replace Thomas with a big man like Kristaps Porzingis or Brook Lopez. This team is short, with an average height at about 6-foot-3. But Thomas was born to play in a 3-on-3 tournament. It'd be a shame to not see him play.
In his first full year with the Celtics, Thomas is averaging over 21 points and 6 assists a game on one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. It's amazing that Thomas is the best player on a playoff team and only stands at 5-9.
And Lowry and DeRozan are clearly a package deal. It's hard to see one and to not think of the other. Even the NBA thinks so, naming them Eastern Conference Players of the Month in January. This year, this duo seems to be the best backcourt tandem.
Key Play: Thomas taking something personally and proceeding to make much larger opponents look foolish.
Southeast Division
Paul Milsap, John Wall, Hassan Whiteside, Kemba Walker
Looking at this lineup doesn't really inspire. But no one ever looks at Milsap and thinks of domination. But the reality is Milsap is one of the best players in the league. He's made a living as an undersized power forward, out-rebounding and posting up larger opponents his whole career. At age 30, he's averaging a career high in blocks, and continues to work on a 3-point game. That kind of diversity works well in a 3-on-3. John Wall is one of the premier passers in the game. Milsap's smarts and Wall's dime-dropping could make for some easy scores.
Whiteside might be a questionable add, especially considering the Southeast has a bevy of well-rounded bigs in the likes of Al Horford, Chris Bosh, Al Jefferson and Nikola Vujevic. But Whiteside is the premier eraser in the NBA. I think his ability to block shots warrants an invitation to play in my fantasy tournament.
Key Play: Despite playing in a game full of stars, Milsap quietly racks up a double-double and leads his team in scoring without anyone knowing.
Northwest Division
Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Damian Lillard, Karl-Anthony Towns
Durant could hold his own in the post against larger opponents, but that's definitely the way to attack this lineup. Good luck staying in front of these guys though. Lillard and Westbrook are two of the best at breaking down opponents, and both have exceptional vision to assist a streaking Durant.
Towns is already a versatile big man capable of playing good defense and posting up offensive numbers as well. It would be fun to see a lineup with Durant, Westbrook and Towns.
Key Play: Russell Westbrook dunking on anyone. Because it never gets old.
Pacific Division
Steph Curry, Chris Paul, DeMarcus Cousins, Draymond Green
With Boogie guarding the post, Paul and Curry could take turns breaking defender's ankles and knocking down impossible shots. That lineup is essentially a center with two point guards, so having Green as the jack of all trades backup serves well in case there's a physical mismatch.
Or what about Boogie posting up anyone down low and kicking the ball out to Paul or Curry for a three? This lineup looks a little small but could actually be really good.
Key Play: Paul finds Curry in the corner after coming off a pick and roll from Cousins.
Southwest Division
James Harden, Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard, Mike Conley Jr.
This is a pretty traditional lineup that could play some really great basketball together. Davis and Harden working the pick and roll would be a sight to see. It might be surprising to see Conley in this lineup, but Harden's reputation as a matador on defense creates a need for a defensive specialist at the guard, especially considering the amount of isolation a 3-on-3 tournament would have. A lineup of Davis, Leonard and Conley could shut down anyone else.
Key Play: Harden gets to the rim off an awkward Euro-step, but the ball bounces out only to have Davis clean up with a vicious put-back dunk.
The Results
So who would win this tournament? Well I really like the Southwest, Pacific and Central divisions. I think the Pacific could be boom or bust. On one hand, you have the two best point guards in the league playing with the best center and one of the most versatile forwards in the league. They could just as easily dominate as they could get blown away. In the Southwest, you have the best shooting guard pairing up with the best power forward in Davis, and have an even more versatile forward in Leonard. I want to think the Southwest team comes out on top in the Western Conference.
The Central, with James leading his army of clones in Butler and George, seems like a an unguardable trio. I think they would handle the other Eastern Conference opponents.
So who would win in a 3-on3 between the Central Division and the Southwest Division? I'm going Southwest. This team looks crazy talented and is very diverse. Davis and Harden are near unstoppable on their own, and Conley and Leonard know how to compliment great players.
Anyway, this was a fun little game I played in my head. It kind of makes me miss the video game, NBA Street. This year's All-Star Game will be the same, classic 5-on-5, but we'll definitely get flashes of two guys going head to head. It's the only time the All-Star Game gets fun. From those moments we can start to imagine what a 3-on-3 NBA Tournament would look like.