Just Cancel the All-Star Game

Not that the All-Star game is ever a monument to poetic basketball, but... the NBA's is the best All-Star competition and sports, and if you know what to expect going into it, it can be a lot of fun. This year, it won't be.

ESPN's Bill Simmons is a big proponent of the idea that point guards drive All-Star games, and I think that's exactly right. They set up the countless lobs, they get the ball into the hands of the guys who will manufacture highlights, and they can, as Magic Johnson did with Tom Chambers in 1987, dictate who will win the MVP.

The guy on the West squad who could've made it fun to watch was Steve Nash. He's out. The guy on the East squad who could've made it fun to watch was Jason Kidd. He's probably out (he's not playing the next two games, and I don't imagine the Nets would be thrilled if he rushed back from an injury to play in the All-Star game). The third best guy at making it fun to watch would've been Allen Iverson. He's out.

That leaves Tony Parker as the only point on the West, with Chauncey Billups and Gilbert Arenas as the only points on the East (unless you're counting LeBron James, and Mike Brown certainly isn't). Chauncey Billups and Tony Parker are your best chances at any kind of productive All-Star passing, and they aren't going to play 48 minutes each. Expect to see a lot -- a lot -- of lob passes that fail miserably.

It's time to pull Magic Johnson out of the Shooting Stars competition and get him into the game on Sunday night. I'm only half kidding. Magic Johnson Theatres will be fine without him for an evening. If we don't, I fear that this will look like a pick-up game between a bunch of 6'8" guys who all just want to prove they can dunk.

And while we're on the subject of things that will not make the All-Star game any more exciting... Mehmet Okur and Ray Allen have been added to the West's roster.