Some Tough Questions About H.O.R.S.E.

Filed under: Celtics, Kings, Warriors, NBA All-Star Game, Thunder

We tried, we failed. Despite the best efforts of myself and others to get Monta Ellis in the NBA's vaunted H.O.R.S.E. contest, when the field was announced, Monta was nowhere to be found. Instead, we got defending champion Kevin Durant, shooting-impaired Celtics All-Star Rajon Rondo, and Israeli up-and-comer Omri Casspi. And with that announcement, a good idea died before it even got off the ground.

I was more of a fan than most of Durant's showing last year. Long arms and long threes are always exciting, especially from a seated position. But Rondo and Casspi are, to say the least, curious selections. Rondo is a master of seeing the court in unorthodox, seemingly arbitrary ways, but his only reliable scoring move is a streaking lay-up. I like Casspi's game a lot, but have absolutely nothing in my memory banks that would lead me to pick him for this event.

While last year's field of Durant, O.J. Mayo, and Joe Johnson wasn't perfect, for a first try, it wasn't bad. However, I'm fairly certain that Durant -- one of my favorite players -- ruined the new H.O.R.S.E. contest forever.

When taken in tandem with his wondrous doings in the equally inconsequential Rookie/Sophomore Challenge, Durant managed a mini-coming out party of sorts. Remember, this is a guy many felt belonged in the real thing, and someone the league very much wants on the minds of fans. Unfortunately, he plays in one of the most minor of markets, and at the time the playoffs, and network broadcasts, seemed a ways off for the Thunder.

But between his record-setting showing in Friday's event, and his relatively entertaining win in H.O.R.S.E., Durant did get some national exposure out of that weekend -- and the chance to make a good impression. The league smiled, and with that, H.O.R.S.E. went from being, well, H.O.R.S.E. to a way to promote young players. You'd think the dunk contest would be a better fit, not in the least because it's not on in the middle of the day and has a long, storied tradition (and its own commercials!), but I guess even the NBA knows how broken it is.

 

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Full story at http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/02/09/some-tough-questions-about-h-o-r-s-e/