This NBA All-Star weekend received a lot of mixed reactions from the viewers this weekend. Many people who have been around to watch many All-Star Saturday Nights and all-star games like myself, made the statement that this NBA All-Star Weekend was downright terrible. Saturday night, the skills challenge had probably the most excitement but that wasn't even intense. The three point contest, although it had a shoot-off, didn't have the same fire as previous years' contest. That dunk contest was arguably the worst dunk contest in the history of dunk contests.

None of the dunks are worth mentioning, not even worth remembering. Saturday night was a complete fail, and on Sunday many felt the same, as the NBA All-Star Game was a true no defense affair. That game had more points than the L.A Rams scored all last season in the NFL. (It's a fact look it up.)

All-Stars, no defense

The NBA All-Star Game was the game all fans under the age of 16 could ask for. Alley-oops, three point bombs, dunks that make your face scrunch up, and the occasional layup. For everyone else, it was simply boring to watch. Let me throw some stats at you to show you. In Sunday's All-Star Game, the points record was broken with both teams scoring a combined 374 points. It broke the previous record from a year ago, with 364.

The last four years, the new scoring record has been set 318 in 2014 to 321 in 2015 to 369 last year to 374 on Sunday night. The teams set a record for most points in one quarter (101) and field goal percentage (58 percent). There were 75 dunks in Sunday's game, 18 more than last year, and 56 more than the highest amount of dunks in a regular season game (19).

Out of the 162 made field goals, 155 were a combination of dunks, layups, or three-pointers. This screams no defense and everyone is sick of it. I understand that it's an exhibition game and it's good for the younger fans but come one. This is ridiculous. I'm not the only one who is sick of it either. Stephen A. Smith unleashed on all-star weekend on his final take on ESPN's "First Take." Reggie Miller who was a broadcaster for the game said "That’s all it is.

It’s all scoring and there’s no defense. So yes, the younger generation, the millennials, [think] ‘Oh, that was a fantastic All-Star Game. Guys of our generation, we’re like ‘This is a joke, this is an absolute joke and mockery of the game.’ ” (TNT)

One of the better and funnier moments was when Stephen Curry went prone on the floor, avoiding a dunk from Giannis Antetokounmpo. That was funny, but also showed how the evolution of a lack of defense is now part of the All-Star Game.

Back to the old school

Just like many people of the older generation, I miss the old all-star games where there was actually competitiveness.

Maybe it's just the generation we live in now, where actual competition is frowned upon (Just ask Kevin Durant). Maybe I'm just an old soul in the wrong generation. I guess for the players, it's not that big of a deal as they get paid either way. Yes, the winning team's players get $50,000 and the losing team gets paid $25,000. So with guaranteed money in the books, there isn't a reason to put your health and future at risk, from the player's perspective and I understand that. The days of Jordan, KG, Kobe and competitiveness are fading fast even in all-star games, and I'm that old soul who wants those days back quickly.

Enough of bashing the game, the real question is how do we get it back to the old school days?

We could make a bunch of rules and ways that the players could play harder. But honestly, the competitive drive comes from within. The players themselves have to decide that "it's an honor to be named an all-star, so I'm going to play like one." Many options are available, but it is simply on the players. We have another year to get over this all-star game, as the location for next year's event is in Los Angeles. Hopefully, the players will bring a little defense with them there.
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