The All-Star Game was once an anticipated, star-studded spectacle that attracted casual observers, hard-core fans, and those who covered the game because of its dazzling plays, fierce competition and passionate participants. Now, it’s a sham. – an unserious, nearly three-hour lollygag fest that sedates viewers at home and players can’t wait for it to end.

Believe it or not, defense was once expected and highlight plays on that side captivated the crowd and audience at home.

For example, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar rejected six shots in the 1980 ASG. In 1987, Hakeem Olajuwon was so active on D that he fouled out. In 1990, coach Hubie Brown, working as a broadcaster, said during the first half of the game, “Guys are making shots, but the defense is right up there, challenging it, and you can feel the intensity level. People are in this game and appreciate defense.”

What changed? Players don’t have interest, and many insult the intelligence of observers with drivel: We don’t want to get hurt.

It’s gotten so bad that at last year’s postgame presser, Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone (2023 West ASG coach) said it was the worst game ever played and that he didn’t know if it was fixable.

Then Utah forward Lauri Markkanen tried to be diplomatic, saying games with high and low RPMs are worthwhile. “It’s fun to get out there and do some dunks and stuff like that. But we’re all competitors. I think everyone would enjoy [it] if we play against each other and it gets competitive.”

And Celtics forward Jayson Tatum was asked at press if more defense is preferred. He said, “Safety first right? You don’t want anyone to get injured.” He added that the exhibition in Chicago in 2020 was the best one he’s been a part of. (Seventy 3-pointers were attempted in the 2020 ASG.)

Word. And the fans don’t want to get ripped off. Imagine forking out between $400-27,000 for some seats and/or meet and greet passes, then most of the players treat the event like a walkthrough. It wasn’t cute when Warriors guard Stephen Curry laid down as if artillery fire was blasting to the side as Giannis Antetokounmpo advanced on the break for a dunk in 2017. And LeBron James hammering the rim on uncontested lobs is boring, too.

And worst of all, the broadcasters, who in fairness are league partners, gaslighting the audience into thinking what they are watching is quality is some underhanded trash.

The reality is injuries can happen at any moment a player steps on the court- for training or competition- and that’s something reps in the NBA office will tell you themselves. The attitude adopted by current All-Stars disrespects the past entrants that busted their rears in this exhibition when the league wasn’t a billionaire-dollar empire. The OGs going hard in the ASG helped grow the game and, in turn, the league, making everyone richer and happier today.

These players don’t have a clue or are too shallow to care. In 1964, way before guaranteed contracts, undervalued NBAers, such as Oscar Robertson, Jerry Lucas, Wayne Embry, and the remaining All-Stars threatened to sit out of the game before the league’s first national TV exhibition as union leader Tommy Heinsohn and unofficial member and attorney Larry Fleisher pushed for a boycott. These ballers had something to lose.

According to Sam Smith’s Hard Labor: The Battle That Birthed the Billion-Dollar NBA, owners tried to bully the players to suit up, informing them the league would dissolve if it got humiliated on TV. But pensions and workplace rights mattered to the athletes more. Eventually, owners caved, in writing, to discussing pensions at a later time. Subsequently, the show went on, and Robertson won Most Valuable Player at Boston Garden that evening in front of 13,464 fans.

Perhaps current hoopers wouldn’t give fans the proverbial bird if more knew what it was like for the torchbearers previously. And sadly, the way things are going today, players have inadvertently diminished the significance of the ASG MVP crown to nothing. The award used to carry weight for a Hall of Fame ballot, but no mas.

The NBA’s All-Star product is so second-rate that no real basketball lover can watch it and ask for more. For reference, in 2003, the ASG generated 10.8 million viewers in the United States. In 2023, it accumulated 4.6 million observers. The NBA was lucky even that many tuned in.

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Coban Porter, brother of Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr., has changed his not guilty plea to guilty to vehicular homicide and vehicular assault for the drunken accident that killed Katharina Rothman, a mother to a then four-year-old while working for Uber on Jan. 22, 2023. He also pleaded guilty to unlawfully operating a vehicle, injuring Rothman’s passenger, in the same crash.

The night of the accident, Porter was bailed out on a $2,000 surety bond paid for by his brother. Elected DA Beth McCann told reporters in a scrum in September that her office requested a $50,000 bond for Porter but was denied. Magistrate Michelle Kline made that decision, per court documents.

Porter, 22, was crying at the stand beside his attorney Harvey Steinberg. His significant other, mother and two friends did so in the back row, too.

Porter must report to the probation office by the end of Friday. Sentencing is scheduled with a pre-sentencing report for April 19 at 8:30 AM. He faces the possibility of up to eight years in prison, per the DA’s communications office.

Eight members of Rothman’s family and Mothers Against Drunk Driving representative Jocelyn Rhymer were in attendance for Porter’s plea change. MADD is a nonprofit organization that advocates for the strictest possible sentence.

Rothman’s grandmother, Mary, was one of the family members present. She wore a black shirt with Rothman’s face on it that said, “Rest in peace, my amazing granddaughter Katharina – May 1980 – Jan. 2023.”

When leaving the courthouse, Johnson said, “I’m really happy with the outcome. But it still doesn’t bring my daughter back.”

Johnson has thought about her daughter every day and said the first anniversary of the accident was difficult to endure.

Steinberg offered no comment when asked how satisfied he was for his client. Deputy DA Austin Leighty provided none as well.

On Sept. 1, the City of Denver’s transportation and services unveiled a street sign in Rothman’s honor. “Please drive safely – In memory of Katharina Rothman,” reads the sign attached to a light pole on South University Boulevard and Buchtel Street.

During Porter’s arraignment, Judge Erika Englert permitted Porter to reside out of state and agreed to remove the GPS tracking requirement despite the DA’s objections. Porter was ordered to take a daily breathalyzer test but was no longer forced to take random urine analysis tests, per court documents.

Englert also denied a request by 9News for expanded media coverage on Oct. 17 for the Oct. 19 court date.

Initially, on Oct. 19, Porter pleaded not guilty. At that time, he had already met twice privately with the Johnson/Rothman family, apologizing for the accident, according to Johnson.

Rothman’s son occasionally still asks where his mother is.

The visiting Magic got shut down, and vintage Jimmy Butler returned.

Early, the Heat’s defense swarmed the Magic in man coverage and the 2-3 zone, contesting on time and forcing the guests to seven of 20 baskets in the first quarter. Markelle Fultz and Paolo Banchero were the only mystical ones causing problems- the former splashed a corner triple and two transition layups; the latter dunked on the break and pivoted past Terry Rozier in the post for a two-handed jam.

On offense, the Heat were bothered by the Magic’s backline and committed five turnovers. But Caleb Martin hit a pair of jumpers, Bam Adebayo dunked twice, and Tyler Herro got inside the lane for two layups. Jimmy Butler recovered three boards and supplied three dimes- finding shooters in the open and half court plus passing to a cutting Jaime Jaquez Jr. for a baseline score.

The rest of the crew logged three of nine attempts, but the Heat led 26-19.

In the second quarter, the advantage bulged to 20 points through seven minutes as the Heatles registered nine of 13 baskets. Then, the group took its foot off the gas, allowing Wendell Carter Jr. and Banchero to shatter the zone with mid-range jumpers. On top of that, Banchero slammed a putback in between three defenders, Jalen Suggs buried a right corner triple and Jonathan Isaac added a tray.

Following the hot start to the second frame, the Heat made 33% of its tries. To boot, Adebayo got flagged for his third penalty with 97 seconds left in the period. After he sat, the Heat scored one point to close, and the backline was attacked twice as Fultz overpowered Rozier in the post for a bucket and Banchero got to the line, making both freebies.

At halftime, the Heat were up on the glass by three and on the scoreboard 56-19, permitting the Magic 55.6% of attempts to fall in the second after only 35% in the first. Additionally, the hosts had 30 paint points, 16 on the break, four via second chances and nine off turnovers. The scoring leader for the club was Rozier, with 11 points and four dimes.

The Magic tallied 24 in the box, eight in the open court, four from extra tries and 10 off turnovers. Banchero was its main option, producing 14 points on 55.6% shooting.

Next, the Heat dispensed 40 points in the third quarter, marking the seventh occasion of the season the club has notched at least as many for a sequence. Adebayo was in charge, logging a putback and four more close-range baskets. Martin made a top-of-the-key long-two-pointer, dunked on the break and shook Moritz Wagner on the baseline for a reverse layup. And the rest of the crew racked up half of its shots and six of eight free throws.

Defensively, the Heat lost track of Carter, allowing a pair of triples and two dunks. Banchero was another issue -hitting a pull-up triple on the break, spinning past Rozier for a jumper in the paint and returning to the line, contributing four freebies.

Despite weak inside and long-range protection in the third, the Heat started the fourth quarter ahead 96-75. The dull security continued for nearly five minutes as the Magic filed five consecutive baskets to cut the lead to 10 points.

Then Butler erupted, scoring three straight times. He canned a step-back corner triple, dropped another banger in transition, and drove into M. Wagner for a layup, catapulting the Heat back up by 18 points.

The team recorded its last six of nine baskets to end the game. Additionally, it allowed the Magic just 39.1% of its tries in the fourth quarter.

The Heat won 121-95 and collected four more rebounds than the Magic. It had 58 paint points, 27 on the break, 10 via second chances and 19 off turnovers. Butler was the high Heatle with 23 points on six of nine looks, plus eight rebounds and eight assists. Rozier was next on the scoring ledger with 18 points, and he had seven dimes and six boards.

The Magic had 44 interior points, 18 on the break, 11 from extra tries and 12 after turnovers. Banchero had 23 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.

At the postgame presser, coach Erik Spoelstra said, “That’s four games in a row now where we look a lot more consistently closer to our identity defensively.”

In the locker room, Butler was asked about his hot 3-point shooting and his goal of making half of his trays this season. He said, “I think everyone wants me to shoot more of them, honestly. I’m not going for that, though. I’m still going to run in there and hit people.”

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Merlin’s powers couldn’t save the Wizards from getting neutered by the Heat’s 2-3 zone in the second half after success against it in the first. Yet, in quarter two, the visitors were thrown in a double-digit ditch, but Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo severed the hosts’ defenses, combining for 11 baskets on 15 tries while most of the group struggled.

In the first frame, Washington’s Corey Kispert auditioned to get rescued, splashing three triples. Additionally, the rest of the Wizards logged half of its attempts, including four in the restricted area and scored 13 points off five Heat turnovers.

Despite the visitors registering 16.7% of 3-point attempts, Butler thrivingly targeted the rim four times, scoring 10 of the club’s 31 points. Kevin Love nailed a pick-and-pop jumper on the left wing and threw his weight around in the paint, taking multiple trips to the line for three freebies. And Adebayo had two consecutive alley-oop dunks, running PNR with Tyler Herro and Terry Rozier. (Consecutive lobs to #13 haven’t been seen since ‘Nam.)

But the Heat went down 11 points nearly four minutes into the second quarter after giving up a second-chance triple to Delon Wright. In response, Butler recorded a putback, made four freebies and splashed a late triple. Herro connected on two trays. And Adebayo scored six more points as the group closed the half on a 22-14 run.

At halftime, the Heat was down 56-59 but ahead on the glass by 11. Furthermore, the squad had 32 paint points, seven on the break, 12 via additional tries and four after turnovers. Butler was the high Heatle, scoring 19 on six of seven shots.

The Wizards had 20 points in the square, three in the open court, three from extra opportunities and 13 after turnovers. Kispert was the scoring leader with 15, making five of nine trifectas.

Defensively, the Heat’s zone shut down the Wizards, permitting 29% of ventures to fall for 15 points.

On the attack, Rozier made five free throws and set up Highsmith in the dunker spot for a deuce, passed to Love for a transition layup and distributed to Jaime Jaquez Jr. cutting through the middle for a soft finish. Butler gashed the baseline for a bucket and buried three more charity shots. And Love prosperously got inside twice and swished a right-wing tray.

The Heat entered the fourth quarter ahead by 13 points. After four minutes and change, it went up its largest advantage of the evening, 16, but the Wizards gave one last push, making eight of its last 17 shots.

The Heat watched its cushioning evaporate as Herro, Rozier, and Josh Richardson failed to tally any 3-pointers in eight attempts. On top of that, Butler was uninvolved after checking in.

With under a minute left, Jordan Poole’s pull-up 3-pointer at the top of the key cut the Heat’s lead to five points. He got to the charity stripe once more after drawing contact against Rozier on the break, followed by one of two makes.

Rozier was then fouled twice on purpose, closing for the squad with four points.

The Heat won 110-102 and outrebounded the Wizards by 16. It also scored 58 in the box, with 13 on the break, 19 from second chances and 14 after turnovers. Butler had 24 on the scoring ledger on seven of 10 looks, plus nine rebounds and three dimes. Adebayo dropped 20 points and 14 rebounds.

The Wizards had 48 paint points, eight on the break, seven from extra attempts and 19 after turnovers. Kispert tallied 26, making 55.6% of shots.

At the postgame presser, coach Erik Spoelstra said the group was able to show more of its identity and that the third quarter was its best stretch. (Heat’s Defensive Rating in the frame was 57.7.)

On the topic of Rozier getting to the line, Spoelstra said, “[Rozier] has an ability to play on the ball, off the ball, to get to the basket…you could see the possibilities with [Rozier]. He’s a guy that to a fault, wants to fit in, wants to complement. Once he gets comfortable, these are the shots he’s made a name for over his career, in particular, the last two or three years.”

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To start, the offense was jammed worse than traffic during rush hour on the Don Shula Expressway. But the defense made it just as ugly for the visitors, aside from Keegan Murray and Kevin Huerter, with on-time contests in man coverage and the 2-3 zone.

It took nearly seven minutes of action for the Heat’s offense to settle itself. Jimmy Butler cut back door for a lob assisted by Kevin Love’s pass at the top of the key + Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s back screen on Harrison Barnes. To end the quarter, the Heat converted its next four of seven shots to take a 28-22 advantage.

Then Josh Richardson blasted the Kings with a handed-off triple by Adebayo at the top, two left-wing trays, a left-handed layup in transition and a floater in the lane to start the next frame. Additionally, Adebayo contributed four of six baskets, thrashing the paint in transition and the half-court. Two possessions later, Caleb Martin carved the baseline for a reverse layup, giving the Heat an 18-point lead, its largest of the night.

But the separation on the scoreboard was short-lived.

Defensively, the club lost track of Murray behind the arc when he cut on the baseline and the instance he ran past miniature Terry Rozzier on a transition lob similar to a wideout elevating over a cornerback for a touchdown. Domantas Sabonis broke interior protections, pouring eight points into the paint. And the Kings went on a 24-10 run to close the quarter.

At halftime, the Heat was up 59-54 and ahead by four on the glass, with 26 points in the paint, nine on the break, two via second chances and five after turnovers. Richardson was the scoring leader with 16 on 66% shooting, followed by Butler’s 11 on four of six attempts.

The Kings had 30 points in the square, plus 14 in the open court, six from second opportunities and four after turnovers. Murray had 21, making 73% of looks, and Huerter dropped 11 on five of seven tries.

Next, the Heat had one of its top halves of the season moving the ball, recording 19 assists on its last 21 baskets.

In the third quarter, Rozier got the ball to Butler for an inside drive when his dribble picked up an extra defender, plus had four more dimes. Herro tallied a lob to Adebayo after the handoff up top, resulting in a two-handed dunk, and two feeds to Butler in the right corner and baseline for points. Adebayo set up Herro for a nine-foot floater with a handoff and found him at the top of the key for a trifecta when Murray overreacted at the nail.

Conversely, the Heat conceded four of 10 3-pointers. Adebayo ignored Sabonis.  Rozier and Martin incautiously left their man. And De’Aaron Fox splashed a pull-up 27-footer. The defense prevented any shots at the rim but gave up six out of 11 attempts in the paint non-restricted area, which is 10.1% better than the league average for the Kings.

In the fourth, the Heat cranked up its defensive RPMs close to what it was in the first quarter. Doubling after the catch, flying around in the 2-3 zone, baiting into tough shots and a chase-down block by Richardson on Huerter overwhelmed the Kings. Initially, JRich’s denial was called a goaltend, but after quickly seeing the review on the monitor above, coach Erik Spoelstra boldly demanded a challenge. The Heat allowed its guests to register 35% of its baskets in the sequence.

On offense, Butler prosperously shot over Barnes from mid-range on the left side, dunked in transition and made four freebies. Richardson connected on two triples and got past Huerter for a layup. And Adebayo thwacked the rim on a lob from Herro and buried a jumper at the nail over Sabonis.

The Heat snapped its seven-game losing streak, 115-106, with a franchise record of 40 assists. On the side, it had 50 paint points, 15 on the break, seven from second tries and 12 after turnovers. Butler had 31 on the scorecard on 71% shooting with seven rebounds and six assists. Adebayo supplied 16 points, 11 rebounds and four dimes.

The Kings racked up 54 interior points, 22 on the break, 17 on extra attempts and six after turnovers. Murray finished with 33 points on 12 of 18 ventures. Sabonis had a triple-double- 19 points, 17 rebounds and 13 helpings.

Herro handled the on-court interview. He said that after Tuesday’s “intense” film session, the players had to counter. “[We had to] give more effort on both ends. I thought we responded well to the meeting yesterday, and we came out with a W.”

At the postgame presser, Spoelstra was relieved that the longest losing stretch in his career is over. He said, “For one day, it feels great, and I’m okay with everybody having a little bit of an exhale, and then we’ll get on that plane and get ready to start this process again when we get to [Washington] D.C..”

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