All-Star Game gets makeover
Captains to pick teams from among the top vote-getters.
The NBA is scrapping the East vs. West format for its All-Star Game and will have captains pick teams this season. The league said the two starters with the highest fan vote totals from each conference will choose teams from the pool of players who were voted as starters and reserves.
The change will begin with this season’s game in Los Angeles on Feb. 18.
Players and league officials have been eager to inject new interest in the often defense-absent game, and they decided to act after another dull affair last February in New Orleans.
“I’m thrilled with what the players and the league have done to improve the All-Star Game, which has been a priority for all of us,” National Basketball Players Association President Chris Paul of the Houston Rockets said in a statement. “We’re looking forward to putting on an entertaining show in L.A.”
The sides worked closely — with Charlotte owner Michael Jordan, chairman of the league’s Labor Relations Committee, heavily involved in the conversations — and chose a format that has been used by the NFL and NHL for what will be the first NBA All-Star Game that doesn’t pit the Eastern Conference against the Western Conference.
The 10 starters will continue to be chosen by a combination of fan, player and media balloting, with the coaches from each conference then selecting the 14 reserves.
The captains will then draft their teams at an undetermined time — making certain that those chosen starters are split up so they remain starters.
Cavaliers: All-Star Kevin Love is being moved after all — from forward to center. Love, who has been the subject of trade speculation for three years in Cleveland, will be the club’s new starting center, coach Tyronn Lue announced.
Lue has experimented with Love at center during training camp and believes the new lineup will create matchup problems for opposing centers, as well as open the floor for LeBron James, Derrick Rose and others. “He’s a great passer,” Lue said of Love. “(Centers) have to get out and try to guard him on the pick and roll with LeBron and D-Rose and those guys making plays, so it’s going to be tough for those guys. We liked it.” More on the Cavaliers, C1.
Morrises acquitted: A Phoenix jury acquitted NBA players Marcus and Markieff Morris in their aggravated assault trial Tuesday. The twin s were accused of helping three other people beat 36-year-old Erik Hood in January 2015 outside a high school basketball game.