British Basketball League All-Star Game 2024

[johnjack]

Just caught the end on the 1st half. Not proper basketballl for me. Would rather spend my money on a proper game tbh. Lots of empty seats in the copper box

[jasong]

Mar 17, 2024 16:10:37 GMT johnjack said:

Just caught the end on the 1st half. Not proper basketballl for me. Would rather spend my money on a proper game tbh. Lots of empty seats in the copper box

I see ‘some’ empty seats.

[teamnix]

What utter garbage we lost a cup competition for this

[stevetino]

Mar 17, 2024 16:30:58 GMT teamnix said:

What utter garbage we lost a cup competition for this

No watching it, pointless

[spacejammer]

I had been out for the day but I followed the stats whilst I was out and just from looking at the foul count being so low you could tell this game was completely comical.

I then had a brief look on YouTube as well and watched one posession up and down court and could see why as neither side was really trying.

I forgot how much the tickets were but unless you wanted to watch a Harlem Globetrotters and just casual view this was definately a complete waste of time.

I might have a look and watch the game back at some point if I can catch it but overall I would prefer to have the BBL Cup back.

Although I suspect if 777 are still involved their probably either going to spin this to say this was a huge success somehow.
Or accept it was a disaster but then try to bring it back next season and find someway to spice it up so players actually try and play.

On the plus side though atleast no one got injured and all of us on here regardless of team alliance are united under a common cause for once in agreeing we are not in favour of an All Star Game.

[baldeagle]

Looks like a thriller.

[spacejammer]

Mar 17, 2024 18:44:43 GMT baldeagle said:

Looks like a thriller.

To be honest looking on the BBL Facebook page.
The reaction from fans would make you think they had paid for the Willy Wonka chocolate factory experience in Glasgow.

I look forward to listening to the Drew and Jay Podcast to see what their take is on the event.
Sounds like even in the 3 point contest they weren't sure whether they were doing one round or 2?

[tony]

It’s was awful to watch, I had it taped and speeded through it after the first qtr 3 point shooting was so bad, pointless and boring

[baldeagle]

Mar 17, 2024 20:14:54 GMT tony said:

It’s was awful to watch, I had it taped and speeded through it after the first qtr 3 point shooting was so bad, pointless and boring

I openly admit to being a complete cynic about this, having endured All Star games of yore, but as a rule of thumb I’d expect the Russian election results to be more exciting than this.

Sorry…..

[massiveridersfan]

Question: What makes sport exciting?
Answer: Competition (among other things)

This was the most uncompetitive 'game' I've ever watched. Ridiculous. Get rid of it.

[Swish]

The TV coverage and court side reporting was absolutely woeful again, if I had tuned in today for the first time I wouldn’t be watching again.

I am trying to put this as politely and respectfully as possible, look at the demographic in the stands at any BBL game over the past 25 years and look at the demographic that the presentation of the TV coverage and some of the half time entertainment at most games is targeted towards, their is no correlation, it’s great to have free access to stream the vast majority of games but the coverage doesn’t reflect the core Fanbase and the constant increase in ticket costs and game day product won’t attract the audience that the TV coverage is targeting

[eillo23]

Mar 17, 2024 19:20:38 GMT spacejammer said:

Mar 17, 2024 18:44:43 GMT baldeagle said:

Looks like a thriller.

To be honest looking on the BBL Facebook page.
The reaction from fans would make you think they had paid for the Willy Wonka chocolate factory experience in Glasgow.

I look forward to listening to the Drew and Jay Podcast to see what their take is on the event.
Sounds like even in the 3 point contest they weren't sure whether they were doing one round or 2?

Had a look at Facebook and I didn’t see it like you said. It seems those that attended actually had a great time. It was those that didn’t and watched it on YouTube or Sky that didn’t enjoy it. Which doesn’t surprise me, All Star games are never going to be enjoyed by true basketball fans and purists. However I don’t think that is who it’s aimed at. For those that are new to basketball and maybe don’t understand the rules etc as much, I am sure they have a great time. It is also one of those events that is actually sometimes only good if you are there and part of the atmosphere.

Let’s be honest, the best league in the world does an All star game and it also gets slated. It’s more of a commercial thing than a basketball thing these days.

I skipped through most of it as like most of you, I am a basketball purist. But then not everyone is like us so I am sure it will be seen as a success.

What I will check out is the French league all star game that was earlier in the season and compare the BBL to that one.

[silverbirch]

I'd love to know what the strategic objective of the All Star Game was. Much of the new regime of the BBL's focus has been about broadcast ready and sell-able asset but as someone has already said an event like this is not an enjoyable watch as its not competitive.

If its to sell tickets, which hasn't been their focus, even though that was something the BBL did well at their major events, then that wasn't achieved.

And if it was to drive high profile celebrity status, clickable content, and just general buzz then i'm not seeing that either.

I know this isn't again popular with the purists but a competitive hybrid of the sport such as the Matchroom sports All Star 5's event from previous years, or 3 x 3, would surely be a better fit for this space if another cup competition wasn't deemed suitable.

This takes a leaf out of the sports that have seen big rises in non-traditional formats such as cricket (20:20, Hundred) or Rugby with their 7's version of the game.

It takes a brave person to park their ego to one side and admit something didn't work and do something different next year, so doubt that will happen and we'll see All Star Game v.2.0 this time next year.

[SamH]

The Harlem Globetrotters aren't competitive either but they attract big crowds and always have done. I wonder if the idea of the ASG was similar to that, i.e. the entertainment side of it rather than the competitive side. The Globetrotters certainly attract fans who wouldn't go to a normal basketball game, but maybe take up an interest after seeing them (even though it's totally different!) so perhaps that was the thinking. Obviously this game wouldn't be as entertaining as the Globetrotters, but you could see the idea being similar. It's still a shame the players and coaches didn't put a bit more emphasis on defence and competing to win though.

[eillo23]

An allstar game is never going to be played competitively, no matter what league it is played in. And again, the aim of the Allstar game is not to have a competitive game of basketball, but more to bring the league together commercially and to add some fun to the BBL. I am a huge basketball fan and have played at a high level, and find Allstar games hard to watch and rarely enjoy them, however I also understand that no everyone has the same opinion. For someone new to the game and the league, I can see it being a very enjoyable day out. And lets be honest, I dont think anyone in this forum is the target audience for the league right now. They are trying to drum up new eyes and interest, which I feel events like these can do.

I personally like the idea of the Allstar game, and feel the balance of BBL and trophy has worked well this season, with the exclusion of the Cup. Especially with more teams playing in European competition and the added games to their schedules.

The Allstar game adds a little fun to the season. For the first one in I cant remember how long, I thought they did a good job.

[johnjack]

So I watched a bit of it, for me it was barely watchable. My issue is, if this is a way of getting people interested in basketball then it is totally wrong. They expect the sport to be show reel after show reel with uncontested dunks, no closing out and well zero defence (the cynical side of me wants to say, follow this way of attracting people and you end up with the NBA and the hot mess that is with literally no defence). However...... and this is something the other half mentioned, why not make this a massive CHARITY event. Surely it would curry favour for the league if they manage to publicly raise a ton of cash for charities through an event like this..........

Anyway, can we get back to proper basketball now??

P.S on the Globetrotters, I watched them in Liverpool with Bear recently. The Echo or M&S or whatever it is was not as full as I thought it would be, even with the upper tier curtained off. I knew it was a "show" but I was disappointed with the lack of skill on display. I expected the messing around and it not being really competitive and some of it was pretty funny. But................ anyway have a good day all!

[WeetaNix]

They went about this totally the wrong way if they wanted to attract new fans.
The "all stars" were only stars to actual UK basketball fans and anyone with interest in the sport.

If they wanted to bring in a new generation of fans to the sport or attract a bigger audience then it should have been similar to Soccer Aid. In other words half BBL players and half (probably minor) celebs. Like people from Love Island, the traitors, retired footballers, anything really. Ironically Ovie Soko would have brought more eyes to the game, I know he did a few years ago when London played in Cheshire.

[SamH]

I get the point but if there would be one way to make this game even less appealing it would be to add Z list celebrities to the lineup (for real fans anyway!)

[milehigh]

There was a "Hoopsaid" game as part of BBL finals day for several years, which was ok, and raised some money for the involved charities, but it wasn't great basketball.

I'm not sure that removing a competition with a final in a provincial city and replacing it with a non competitive exhibition game in London is really going to grow the game throughout the country.

[reallyoldfeenixfan2]

Mar 18, 2024 13:39:52 GMT WeetaNix said:

 Ironically Ovie Soko would have brought more eyes to the game, I know he did a few years ago when London played in Cheshire.

True we had a big  crowd that night. my wife even got a photograph of him (she claimed it was for our daughter not too sure about that TBH)