6 Alternate Ways to Choose the NBA All-Star Teams

Like most All-Star games the NBA All-Star game has become a very boring event. Last year I suggested that Major League Baseball improve All-Star weekend with some more competitions. The NBA All-Star already has the slam dunk contest, a point guard contest, a three-point contest and a rookies vs. sophomores game. Since they already have the competitions they need to change the actual game. Here are some suggestions on alternate ways to decide the All-Star teams.

Alternate All-Star Game #1: Winners vs. Losers
In the winners vs. loser games the winners All-Star team would be made up of the two teams that made the Finals the previous season. The losers team would be made up of All-Stars from all the other teams.

This year's All-Star game: You might think this game would be a blowout. If this alternate All-Star game was used this year then the loser team would have Kobe, Chris Paul, Steve Nash, Amare Stoudamire, Jason Kidd, etc. They would have a loaded team. Yeah, but the Winners team would have the San Antonio Spurs plus Lebron James, I'll take that.

Alternate All-Star Game #2: USA vs. Foreign
Major League Baseball has talked about doing this and that's a much better idea for them because of all the Dominicans and Puerto Ricans and even Japanese players. There aren't as many great foreign players in the NBA but it's worth a shot.

This year's All-Star game: On paper this looks like a blowout for Team USA, but the 2004 Olympics looked like Team USA would win on paper. Who won that again?

Alternate All-Star Game #3: Offense vs. Defense
The fans can vote the players onto the offensive All-Star team since that's basically who they vote for anyway. The players vote players that are the toughest on them defensively and they make the defensive team. Then the commish tells both teams to actually play on both sides of the ball and tells the referees to actually call fouls and let them go at it.