Lang GreeneLang Greene Email Print 0

Haier Shooting Stars

Team Atlanta entered this year’s competition attempting to become the first repeat Haier Shooting Stars champion but suffered a major blow before All-Star weekend began as shooting guard Joe Johnson had to bow out due to injury.

Veteran guard Jerry Stackhouse filled in admirably for Johnson but Team Atlanta failed to advance the championship round.

So did the host squad

Joel BrighamJoel Brigham Email Print 0

LaMarcus Aldridge Finally Gets His All-Star Props

Last February, the city of Portland really felt pretty strongly that LaMarcus Aldridge should’ve made the All-Star team. There was some sentiment that perhaps he was more deserving than Blake Griffin, and when Yao Ming couldn’t play because of his injury, Kevin Love also leapfrogged Aldridge for the replacement spot. It was, quite simply, the most glaring snub of the season, but there was no way it was happening again in 2012.

Now that Aldridge finally has the All-Star designation he deserves, he’s focused on staying healthy, winning games in Portland, and figuring out a way to compete more consistently in the Western Conference the second half of the season.

As for making the All-Star team, Aldridge appears to understand that receiving this sort of accolade is all part of the patient growth of an NBA star.

Alex RaskinAlex Raskin Email Print 0

Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins doesn’t always have a smile on his face during the season. After a three-loss campaign at Kentucky in 2009-2010, Cousins has just 35 wins under his belt in a season and a half of pro ball. His frustrations can be seen from the last rows of Sacramento’s Power Balance Pavilion to Cousins’ hometown of Mobile, AL; but during the NBA’s All-Star Weekend, Cousins can usually be found sporting a grin.