Top 5 things we want to see All-Star Weekend
Draymond’s defense
No one plays defense in the All-Star Game. The guys turn from world-class professional basketball players to world-class matadors when they have to go to that side of the floor. It’s a joke.
The last few years in particular have been really bad for defense. The offensives have fired away at will with little to no resistance. When the game is close near the end, the teams will pick it up defensively, but it’s mostly a poor effort.
And, it makes sense. Offense is sexy. People want to see three-pointers and dunks, not perfectly executed hedging.
However, Draymond Green is all on team #MakeDefenseGreatAgain. He’s the best man for Secretary of Defense. If votes were cast right now, Green would be the league’s Defensive Player of the Year after finishing as the runner-up the last two seasons. He’s been amazing on that end.
Even good defenders refuse to play defense in this game. But that won’t stop Green from digging in and getting after it. He has too much pride to let anyone score on him at any time. Even if it is in a silly exhibition game.
No one is going to hold it against him if his man goes off. It’s the All-Star Game. I should correct myself–no one except Green himself will hold it against him. He takes it personally.
He doesn’t have the offense tools to really dazzle crowds. He doesn’t have Russell Westbrook’s athleticism, Steph Curry’s shot, or Kyrie Irving’s crossover. He is a dog on defense and he’s going to show that.
Green recently had a game with a career-high 10 steals. The record in one game is eight, by Rick Barry. The game will be a wide open one with no-look passes and careless turnovers all over the place. Green can very well pick some of those off.
Additionally, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has the record with six blocks in a game. This one will be harder to secure, but if anyone can do it, it’s him. He’s one of the best rim protectors in the entire league.
In a game where only offense is valued, it’ll be refreshing to see someone try on defense.