NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on Friday said that "changes will come" to the All-Star Game next year, according to Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.com. Clippers G and NBPA President Chris Paul "called Silver to discuss" making changes shortly after this year's game. Silver, speaking on a panel at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, said of Paul's comments, "Chris said, 'We need to fix this.'" Silver and Paul "tossed around potential ideas like having team captains select starters instead of fan balloting, or instituting a 4-point shot." Silver: "We will change it by next year. It shouldn't be playoff intensity, but the guys should be playing" (ESPN.com, 3/4). Silver said, "You hear people talking about 4-point shots, something that's not about to happen in the NBA, but maybe in an All-Star Game. Maybe there's a few spots on the floor where it's a 4-point shot. Maybe there's a halfcourt shot in the last minute that's 10 points. I don't know. Those are crazy ideas" (AP, 3/4). Warriors coach Steve Kerr said that it is "up to the players to fix" the ASG. Kerr: "We could talk about gimmicks and talk about anything we want, whether it’s the money or involves charity, it just comes down to the players taking it seriously." ESPN.com's Chris Haynes notes Warriors F Draymond Green has a "simple solution for the lack of competitiveness." Green: "Raise the money. I’m serious. That’s how you’re going to make it more competitive" (ESPN.com, 3/4).
MONEY (THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT)? Clippers coach Doc Rivers said that "rather than every player getting a financial bonus for appearing in the game, only the winning team should get paid." Clippers F Paul Pierce added that the bonus "would have to climb significantly from the $50,000 winners get paid and the $25,000 for the losers." Pierce: "Don’t nobody care about that $25-$30,000, when role players are making $70 million and then you got All-Stars making $100 (million). ... They care about not getting hurt. Make the incentive bigger. Give out Mercedes" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 3/4). ESPN's Jalen Rose noted added financial incentives could work. He said, "They could get a sponsor and pay each player on the winning team $500,000, each player on the losing team $250,000. Now you’re investing $9 million in the actual All-Star Game." But ESPN's Chauncey Billups said, "If I’m in my contract and I got an extra million and a half if I make an All-Star Game -- if I'm with Adidas and if I make the All-Star Game I get an extra $2 million -- why am I going to play harder for $500,000?" Billups did suggest the NBA take a page from MLB and have the winning All-Star team get "home court advantage in the Finals" ("NBA Countdown," ESPN, 3/5).
