The All-Star weekend is a busy one -- and not just for Damian Lillard (who will be in five events during the weekend).
For the players selected to the team it is a whirlwind of media events, community events, practices and, oh yea, a basketball game. Plus a few parties. Then a few more parties. You think it’s a weekend off but it’s more like that vacation your wife schedules out where she wants to see and do everything in Italy/New York/San Francisco/wherever that you are constantly running around and when it’s over you don’t feel like you rested at all.
It’s not much of a rest for the players (there is a reason Tim Duncan didn’t want to be on the team this year, the coaches granted him his wish and didn’t vote him on even though he was deserving).
Some players have brought up the idea of expanding the All-Star break to a week, including players’ union president Chris Paul, and the.“I definitely think it’s something that should happen,” Paul told NBA.com while attending a pep rally and press conference at a New Orleans grade school, where he was inducted into the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation ambassador program.
Paul said he spoke with Silver about the possibility of a longer All-Star break.
“Obviously All-Star Weekend is all about the fans and showcasing our game to the entire world, but it would be nice to get a little break,” the Clippers guard said. “Not saying the all stars are unhappy or ungrateful for being all stars, but to enjoy your family for a couple days would be nice.”
“I said, ‘We’d be happy to look into it,’ ” Silver said. “The notion is that, in addition to the All-Star Game and the events itself, there would be a break built into the schedule. Maybe we could resume play on Thursday night, later in the week, to insure that the All-Stars got time off as well.”
Silver is more open to discussing new ideas than David Stern was, at least that’s the feeling around the league.
He’s also a negotiator. If he gives the players this what is he going to want in return?
It’s not a bad idea, a little longer breather in the NBA schedule. Just something to watch as the new commissioner and the new union president start to talk about issues of concern to both sides.