2007 NBA All-Star Game

Infobox NBAAllStarGame
name = 2007 NBA All-Star Game


visitor = East
home = West
visitor_total = 132
home_total = 153
visitor_qtr1 = 31
visitor_qtr2 = 28
visitor_qtr3 = 29
visitor_qtr4 = 44
home_qtr1 = 39
home_qtr2 = 40
home_qtr3 = 40
home_qtr4 = 34
date = February 18, 2007
arena = Thomas and Mack Center
city = Las Vegas, Nevada
referee = #24 Mike Callahan
#33 Sean Corbin
#13 Monty McCutchen
attendance = 15,694
MVP = Kobe Bryant
network = TNT
announcers =
rating =
share =
prev_year = 2006
next_year = 2008 The 2007 NBA All-Star Game was played on Sunday, February 18, 2007 at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas' Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. It was the 56th annual All-Star Game. It was the first time the All-Star Game was played in a city without an NBA franchise and first to be played on a college campus. The game was televised on TNT at 9 ET as part as the "NBA on TNT" production studios.

The Western Conference set All-Star records with 69 field goals and 52 assists on its way to an emphatic 153-132 win over the Eastern Conference All-Stars at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Amare Stoudemire racked up 29 points and nine boards and Carmelo Anthony had 20 and nine for the West. 2006 All-Star MVP LeBron James led the Eastern Conference with 28 points, six rebounds and six assists and Dwight Howard tallied 20 points and 12 boards. Kobe Bryant, previously the MVP of the 2002 All-Star Game, moved from 11th to 10th place on all-time All-star scoring, surpassing Magic Johnson. Bryant posted 31 points, grabbed 5 rebounds, and dished out 6 assists and steals; for his performance, he was selected as the MVP of the All-Star game receiving a more favorable reception fom the crowd than 2002. Also, Dirk Nowitzki became the first European born-player to be a starter at the All-Star Game.

Announced on August 5, 2005 the NBA, led by Commissioner David Stern, would not allow wagering on the results of the game in the state of Nevada.Fact|date=February 2007

Las Vegas

The choice to choose Vegas as the location was widely regarded as a bid by the city to give Las Vegas its first sports franchise. Mayor Oscar Goodman met with David Stern to discuss the possibility during the events. On April 5, Goodman sent a letter to the commisionner, requesting a meeting to sort out the matter. [cite news|author = |title=Mayor Oscar Goodman's letter to NBA Commissioner David Stern|publisher=NBC|date=2007-02-13 |url=http://www.kvbc.com/Global/story.asp?S=6333516] All-Star MVP and former teammates Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal welcomed the possibility, amid the gambling. [cite news|author = Robin Leach|title=All-Star Wrap Up: Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, David Stern and Mayor Oscar Goodman on the NBA in Vegas|publisher=|date=2007-08-13 |url=http://www.none.vegaspopular.com/2007/02/19/all-star-wrap-up-shaquille-oneal-kobe-bryant-david-stern-on=nba-in-vegas/]

The All-Star rosters

In one of the most surprising All-Star starting lineups in recent history, 2006 All-Star MVP LeBron James was the top vote-getter, receiving 2,516,049 votes for the Eastern Conference's small forward position. Only one person has received more votes in NBA history, Yao Ming with 2,558,278. [cite news|author = Mary Schmitt Boyer|title=He's the people's choice|publisher=The Plain Dealer|date=2007-02-03 |url=http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/1169804114140120.xml&coll=2] Other players that received more than two million votes in this game: guards Kobe Bryant of the Lakers and Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat and center Yao of the Houston Rockets. All three started at their positions in their respective conference with the exception of Yao Ming due to injury.

In the Western Conference, the race was tight. Allen Iverson, formerly the seven-time East point guard starter, moved to Denver from Philadelphia, attracting votes from reigning NBA MVP Steve Nash. But surprisingly, neither of the two was voted in; both were reserves as swingman Tracy McGrady came in the back door win. [cite news|author = Jonathan Feigen |title=T-Mac edges A.I. to join injured Yao with West team=Houston Chronicle|date=2007-02-03 |url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/4501206.html] Dirk Nowitzki, another player who analysts predicted that would be starting, was not able to muster enough votes to get over former MVP Kevin Garnett's 1,600,000, but was put in by coaches as a reserve and later added to the starting lineup by West coach Mike D'Antoni. Tim Duncan was also voted in as a forward. Carmelo Anthony, the star small forward for the Nuggets, was not voted in as a starter or reserve, contrary to earlier reports that head coaches from the conference would put him in the lineup despite being involved in a brawl, but was allowed as a reserve (because Carlos Boozer was injured). Mehmet Okur of the Utah Jazz and Ray Allen of the Seattle Sonics were chosen by Stern to replace the injured Nash and Iverson.

Gilbert Arenas of the East benefited from Iverson's move to the West. In one of the closest races in game history, Arenas gained enough calls to start as the point guard of the East, over the New Jersey Nets' Vince Carter. Carter was eventually named as a reserve along with teammate Jason Kidd. [cite news|author = Ivan Carter|title=Arenas To Start All-Star Game|publisher=Washington Post|date=2007-02-03 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/25/AR2007012501574.html] In a controversial race, Shaquille O'Neal was voted in as starting center for the 14th straight time (despite playing only four games up to that point), over young star Dwight Howard, whose Orlando Magic were a surprise that season. Chris Bosh of the Toronto Raptors was voted by the fans to start, marking the first time a Raptor started since Vince Carter was the top vote getter in his last season in Toronto. The blooming forward was having his best season yet, and coaches and fans mutually agreed that he deserved a starting spot. Supporters of O'Neal defended the fact that the All-Star Game is a fan event, while detractors said this was an example of what was wrong with the voting system.

Coaches

The coach whose team has the best record in its conference is granted the right to coach their team. However, despite this rule, no one is allowed to coach in two consecutive All-Star Games. The Dallas Mavericks' Avery Johnson, who coached the West last year, fell under this rule so Mike D'Antoni of the Phoenix Suns took his place. The East's coach was Eddie Jordan of the Washington Wizards, as Flip Saunders was ineligible due to coaching the East last year.

Players

Appearance denotes the number of times the player been selected to play in the All-Star game, including 2007. Jason Kidd of the East and Carlos Boozer, Steve Nash, Allen Iverson, and Yao Ming of the West could not play due to injuries. The game featured seven first time All-Stars.

Unable to participate due to injury. Nowitzki was named to the starting lineup in place of Yao. [cite web | url=http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/0216nowitzki0216.html | title=Mavericks' Nowitzki replaces Yao as starter | date=2007-02-16 | accessdate=2007-02-16 | author=Paul Coro | publisher="The Arizona Republic"]
Named to team by commissioner David Stern as replacement for injured player.

Officials

* 24 - Mike Callahan
* 33 - Sean Corbin
* 13 - Monty McCutchen

T-Mobile Rookie Challenge

David Lee hit all 14 of his field-goal attempts for a game-high 30 points as the Sophomore beat the Rookies for the fifth consecutive year, 155-114. Lee, who added 11 rebounds and four assists, took home MVP of the 2007 Rookie Challenge.

Chris Paul notched rookie-game records of 17 assists and nine steals to go with 16 points. Monta Ellis was the beneficiary of many of Paul's assists, as he had 5 alley-oop dunks in a 3:25 span, en route to scoring 28 points. Rudy Gay and Paul Millsap paced the Rookie squad with 22 points apiece.

This game set a number of records for the Rookie Challenge:
* Highest scoring half: 78 points (Sophomores 2nd Half)
* Chris Paul's 17 assist and nine steals

Coaches

Rookies: Head Coach: Mike O'Koren of the Washington Wizards; Assistant Coach: TBD

Sophomores: Head Coach: Marc Iavaroni of the Phoenix Suns; Assistant Coach: TBD

Other events

Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout

Unable to participate due to injury.
Named as replacement for injured player.

Result

Dwyane Wade won his second straight Skills Challenge.

Haier Shooting Stars Competition

The San Antonio team tried to be the first team to win back-to-back titles. Team Chicago (48.8) and Team Detroit (1:06) advanced to final round. Due to Ben Gordon shooting out of order before Candice Dupree, Detroit won by default.

chedule

* February 15–19: NBA Jam Session
* Friday, February 16: NBA All-Star Celebrity Game
* Friday, February 16: 2007 Rookie Challenge
* Saturday, February 17: 1st Annual D-League All-Star Game
* Saturday, February 17: NBA All-Star Saturday (Slam Dunk Contest, Three-Point Shootout, Shooting Stars Competition, Skills Challenge)
* Sunday, February 18: 56th Annual NBA All-Star Game

Trivia

* For the 2007 NBA All-Star Game held in Las Vegas, Leo the Lion of the MGM Grand, and Lady Liberty were dressed in giant replica jerseys. The jersey for Leo was from the West due to the MGM Grand representing Los Angeles. The jersey on Lady Liberty at the New York-New York was representing the East.
* Since Las Vegas didn't have an NBA Team, one dancer from each of the 30 NBA Teams represented their teams in Las Vegas as part of the inaugural NBA All-Star Dance Team.
* The 2007 All-Star Game was shot in 3D and projected live at the Mandalay Bay. This is the first time ever that a live event was shown in 3D. PACE provided the 5 3D HD cameras. [cite news|author = NBA.com|title=SpinCam All-Star Video|publisher=|date=2007-08-24 |url=http://www.nba.com/allstar2007/video/spincam.html] [cite news|author = Matthew Brennan|title=3D Party Brings All-Star Game To New Dimension|publisher=NBA.com|date=2007-08-24 |url=http://www.nba.com/allstar2007/allstar_game/3d_party_070218.html]

References

External links

*youtube|fvmghHqo9W0|Video highlights of the 2007 NBA All-Star Game
*youtube|SBKm3pUc1k8|Video highlights of the 2007 NBA All-Star Saturday Night