San Francisco-Lautrend he enjoyed this 12 months's all-star game format, the Milwaukee Bucks-Wachmann Damian Lillard still longs for the NBA All-Star game.

This 12 months, the NBA radically modified the all-star game with a format in tournament style. The players were divided into three different teams and played games into 40 as a substitute of getting a watch to finish the sport.

Lillard, a member of Shaquille O'Neals OGS, won the tournament and had his moments when he scored the sport winner within the semi -finals in the primary game of the team against Candace Parkers.

But when asked what he would change within the format in the long run, the Oakland High Alum said that he would like that the sport should return what it was.

“I am a fan of the original path: east against west,” said Lillard.

When asked what the sport could make more competitive, Lillard identified more incentives for players.

“Just put more in the line,” said Lillard. “(A financial incentive) I am sure that I would get people going. But that doesn't suggest that.

“Anyone who wins East or West gets home to the final, similar to baseball (it used to be before). It could be everything. But I think east against west is the best way for me. “

Lillard isn’t any stranger to play hard in an all-star game. Last 12 months Lillard won the All-Star MVP after he had dropped 11 3 points and a complete of 39 points. In the seven all-star games during which he played, Lillard scored a mean of twenty-two.3 points from the sector at 47.5%.

While Lillard recognized the necessity that the all-star game is competitive, he believes that the timing of the sport and the opportunity of injuries make it difficult for players to play as hard as possible.

“The game is faster, it is more up and down and the pace is higher than ever,” said Lillard. “The game style only bears the boys' bodies. The break is so deep into the season. We only have fewer than 30 games left, in order that our body continues to collapse during an extended season.

“We attempt to get within the playoffs healthy. I don't think it’s a matter of the boys who don't worry about it. It's just a lot pressure on you. … we wish to be our greatest. You don't wish to exit and be hurt. I believe certainly one of the things that may do higher is to bring the all-star weekend closer to the beginning of the season, just like the actual center. “

Curry enjoyed hosting

Although Stephen Curry had a full schedule, it didn't matter to be the Ambassador of the Bay Area for the weekend.

Curry passed numerous community events, including the opening of the newly renovated Mcclymonds High Gymnasium.

“The hosting experience was incredible,” said Curry. “I will not complain about the entire exhaustion. This is an honor and a blessing to celebrate and share this beautiful Bay area, which has been part of my life for 60 years. The basketball story and culture, which is here, amazing fans who are here, the effects that the game had on both cities here was great. “

Curry said he had turn into emotionally within the Oracle Arena to go to the Oracle Arena for the All Star exercise on Saturday.

“If you were a part of our trip that understood the ups and downs of every part we’ve experienced, the Oracle Arena is a logo for it. It is such a novel place, such a novel city, unique city and the concept that we had the chance to pay homage to the 47 years we played on this constructing and the memories we had. I actually became emotional yesterday. “

Local all-stars enjoy the time back in Bay

The Houston Rockets Guard Amen Thompson and Memphis Grizzlies Wing Jaylen Wells – two players with Bay Area bonds – had the chance tonight to play on the rising stars in the same team.

Thompson, a Thompson from San Leandro, said that he was happy to get the chance to play against Curry – a player he idolized.

“It is crazy to observe what Steph did out here,” said Thompson. “To give you the chance to play against him after I went to a few of his camps, that's just crazy.”

Wells played two seasons in Sonoma State. He actively showed his support for the sports department of his former school after Sionoma State announced that he would shorten all sports.

“I plan to really go there tomorrow and meet with just a few people and hopefully see the coach,” said Wells. “I used to be mostly sad for the athletes and only knew that that they had to alter schools. They probably went to a faculty that they chose and love them, they usually can do a sport they love, and the one solution to play their sport is to alter the faculties.

“I wouldn't be here without them. I developed rather a lot in the primary two years and I believe lots of the person I’m today come from the state of Sonoma. They gave me such a giant role so early and I didn't think I used to be ready for it. “

Originally published: February 16, 2025 at 10:16 p.m. PST

PASADENA — Two minutes into the fourth quarter, the Rose Bowl sound system played “Shout,” the famous song played at every Oregon home game. Tens of hundreds of green-clad fans sang in unison because the shadows lengthened and the sun set behind the San Gabriels. But on the Oregon sideline, players stood motionless or huddled silently with coaches.

Across the sector, the scene was very different: Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State's star defenders, immediately recognized “Shout” and started dancing to the music.

Ohio State had done all the things else for the Ducks over the course of a remarkable Wednesday afternoon. Why not adopt their beloved tradition too?

And so the team not playing for the Big Ten title defeated the conference champions with a 41-21 victory within the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff that was much more lopsided than even the rating would suggest.

The result put eighth-seeded Ohio State in a matchup with Texas next week, eliminated the top-seeded Ducks and undoubtedly left an interested viewer with mixed feelings.

According to a conference spokesman, Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti was present at the sport but was not available for interviews. So we’ve to guess his response.

In one respect, Petitti is probably going pleased: Penn State will advance to the semifinals alongside Ohio State after a decisive win over Boise State within the Fiesta Bowl on Tuesday.

But Petitti left the Rose Bowl perhaps frustrated that his conference couldn't get a 3rd team to the semifinals — because Oregon and Ohio State needed to play one another due to a flawed CFP process that prioritizes conference championships.

If the CFP selection committee had seeded the 12 teams based on the ultimate rankings, the Ducks and Buckeyes wouldn’t have played an elimination game within the quarterfinals.

Ohio State would have been a No. 6 seed, not a No. 8 seed, and faced Texas within the quarterfinals. And as a No. 1 seed, Oregon would have needed to play the winner of the sport with Nos. 8-9, Boise State or Indiana.

Both the Buckeyes and Ducks could have advanced to the semifinals, together with Penn State, which might have been a No. 4 seed in a bunch based on the rankings.

Petitti and the opposite conference commissioners who make up the CFP Management Committee are scheduled to satisfy in Atlanta in three weeks.

It's obvious that Petitti will push for the format change. Over the years, the Big Ten's top teams are more likely to be ranked higher than the ACC, Big 12 and Group of Five champions.

Our guess: SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey will agree with Petitti, perhaps in return for Petitti's support on whatever issue Sankey cares about most.

To make format changes in time for next season, the Big Ten and SEC will need unanimous support from the opposite FBS conferences (and Notre Dame).

But that won’t be the case for the 2026 postseason. There isn’t any agreed format. There isn’t any unanimity requirement. The Big Ten and SEC can impose whatever changes they need — with ESPN’s blessing, after all.

At the highest of the list may very well be eliminating the seed reference given to conference champions.

More reactions from the Rose Bowl:

– The Ducks looked slower and more out of sync than they’ve all season – and never within the slightest. The 24-day break clearly had an impact on their performance.

This has been the case with quite a few playoff teams up to now. This will not be an Oregon-specific problem. Layoff causes rust and heavy legs.

The difference this time: Oregon's opponent didn't have a 24-day break. The Buckeyes played within the opening round of the CFP 11 days ago.

In other words, the No. 1 overall seed was at a competitive drawback in comparison with the No. 8 seed.

That too has to alter.

(Notable: The higher-seeded quarterfinalists with weeks off, Oregon, Boise State and Arizona State, were outscored 42-3 in the primary quarter by lower-seeded opponents who played 10 or 11 days ago.)

— The results of Oregon's last two playoff games are as follows:

Ohio State 42, Ducks 20 (2014 championship)

Ohio State 41, Ducks 21 (2024 Quarterfinals)

The opponent is, after all, a part of the issue – Ohio State is as talented as any team within the country on an annual basis. But the top game stays unchanged: The Ducks proceed to pursue a national championship for 86-year-old benefactor Phil Knight.

Was 2024 their best likelihood?

Nope.

This team was an impressive combination of talent, experience, coaching and circumstances. The Ducks were higher prepared for all times within the Big Ten than Washington and USC and benefited from Michigan's poor season.

But it's entirely possible that a rather weaker regular season results in a more successful postseason – that tweaks to the CFP format and no 24 days off and never fidgeting with the pressure of an undefeated season result in an unexpected run through the postseason.

Playoff expansion has created a tournament environment much like March Madness, where momentum comes from nowhere and momentum is fluid.

Remember, the yr the Ducks reached the Final Four, they were a No. 3 seed.

---

Originally published: January 1, 2025 at 7:18 pm PST

1. The first on-campus playoff games in college football history had the next scoreline: home teams 145, visitors 68.

Average margin of victory: 19.3 points.

Four games over 28 hours and never a competitive fourth quarter. The atmosphere within the stadium was incredible, but the tv was bad. And bad television is bad for faculty football.

To be fair, one-sided playoff games are nothing latest.

During the four-team playoff era, quite a few losses occurred within the semifinals.

There are setbacks within the early rounds of the NFL playoffs.

There are losses within the early rounds of the NCAA Tournament.

But there’s a difference, which we'll get to in a moment.

2. The major competitive takeaway from the weekend is more of a reminder than a lesson.

The 4 winners played at home, were higher seeded and, most significantly, had larger, stronger and higher players at the road of scrimmage.

The sport's postseason has modified dramatically, but the muse for fulfillment has not. Notre Dame, Penn State, Texas and Ohio State dominated up front and, in consequence, on the scoreboard.

The CFP could grow to 16 or 32 or 64 teams, but the elemental truth stays: Only a handful of teams each season have the talent mandatory to advance deep within the tournament.

Nothing will change this reality. There is not any reminiscent of the 3-point line that allowed Oakland to beat Kentucky or Yale and topple Auburn last spring. It's all about talent within the trenches.

But unlike the NCAAs or the NFL, college football has the flexibility to make short-term structural changes to extend the drama.

3. Conference commissioners, who serve because the CFP's administrative committee, will meet next month in Atlanta to start discussing adjustments for the 2026 season, when a brand new contract cycle with ESPN begins.

The deal will raise $1.3 billion annually for six years. But every little thing else concerning the CFP within the 2026 season is changing.

Common sense and organizational unity aren't exactly hallmarks of faculty football usually, let alone the CFP. But the commissioners should use the present blank slate to create a greater product for the opening round.

That's the goal, in spite of everything: to offer the general public with essentially the most compelling content possible – not for the fans within the stadiums, but for the die-hard and casual observers who watch on television and drive the rankings that generate the revenue for ESPN, which serves as a sporting event ATM

For this purpose, the seeding process must be modified. The top 4 spots ought to be reserved for the top-ranked teams and never exclusively assigned to the conference champions.

If the seeds were based on the rankings, No. 1 Oregon wouldn’t face Ohio State, ranked sixth but seeded eighth, within the quarterfinals.

If the seeds were based on the rankings, Boise State, seeded third but ranked ninth, would have faced Indiana within the opening round as an alternative of getting a bye to the quarterfinals.

If the seedings match the rankings, the likelihood of competitive play within the opening round increases.

4. Limiting the variety of blowouts is far more vital today than it was within the four-team format. Why? Because the semifinals were typically played on New Year's Day, which is a component of faculty football.

The opening round games the weekend before Christmas have direct competition… from the NFL.

It's tough enough that the game can compete directly with the king. Regular one-sided games only make the situation worse.

Typically, college football television rankings are released on Wednesday. That could change next week due to Christmas – viewership data might not be available until Thursday.

We expect a blast in each the rating game and the games on the sector.

5. Ohio State's win over Tennessee reinforced our pre-CFP belief that the Buckeyes are one among the few teams able to winning the national title.

The others: Oregon, Notre Dame and Georgia, although Texas might be on the list too.

But the consequence in Columbus had broader implications. By destroying the Volunteers, Ohio State deprived the SEC of what would have been a serious talking point for the conference and its ESPN media machine: that SMU and Clemson's double-digit losses proved the ACC didn't deserve two teams.

In other words, the SEC could have used those losses to argue that it deserves three or 4 bids in the following round of the playoffs (together with the Big Ten), thereby having access to the ACC, the Big 12 and the Group of Five would have made it tougher.

We could still get there. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey is undoubtedly preparing to make use of his influence as essentially the most powerful figure in sports to insist on format changes that may profit his conference.

But had the Vols played a competitive game in Columbus while the ACC teams failed, Sankey would have had significantly more influence at next month's administrative committee meeting in Atlanta.

Everything concerning the way forward for the game, including postseason structure, have to be viewed through the lens of the SEC and the Big Ten.

6. Four games and 4 losses later, the Hotline needed to ponder which teams have reason to be frustrated with the choice and seeding process:

– Oregon is in fact at the highest of the list.

As a reward for winning the Big Ten and getting the No. 1 seed, the Ducks will face Ohio State within the quarterfinals relatively than Arizona State or Boise State.

(Incidentally, Oregon is an underdog against the Buckeyes within the Rose Bowl.)

– Notre Dame also has a case.

The Irish took fifth place in the ultimate rating. But as a No. 7 seed, they are going to face No. 2 Georgia within the quarterfinals, not No. 4 Penn State.

— And there's one other one: Brigham Young.

We addressed the Cougars' situation before CFP Selection Day, arguing that they were significantly undervalued based on their resume, especially in comparison with SMU.

The Cougars beat SMU head-to-head in Dallas and have a greater record and schedule strength, but were seven spots behind the No. 10 Mustangs and watched SMU fight for the ultimate at-large spot.

We suspect they’d have been more competitive Saturday morning at Beaver Stadium.

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Originally published: December 22, 2024 at 8:23 am PST

LAS VEGAS – As expected, the upcoming NBA All-Star Game in San Francisco can be a three-team mini-tournament consisting of the league's top 24 players and the team that wins the Rising Stars Challenge.

Yes, the concept behind the change — this can be the league's third different All-Star format since 2020 — is to make the sport more competitive. But also, or as a substitute, or a minimum of to make watching it on TV more interesting.

“I think we've come to terms with the fact that modern All-Stars are partly about competition, but ultimately they're about entertaining fans and giving them a strong experience,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said on Tuesday in an interview with and other national media.

“As you know, I was wrong last year,” Silver said. “I thought that the guys in Indiana, given that it was considered the heartland of basketball, so to speak, and had a strong presence of some legends there, that the guys in Indiana would go back in time a little bit and play a traditional game, but that wasn't supposed to be the case .

“And so we went back to the drawing board with the players' association, spoke directly to the players and said, 'Let's come up with a format that we think has a better chance of making a game, or in this case a series. ' of competitions that will be of interest to fans.'”

The recent format, announced jointly by the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association on Tuesday, includes three games – two semifinals and the championship – during which the primary team to attain 40 or more points wins. There is a prize pool of $1.8 million, with the champion team receiving $125,000 per player.

The NBA and NBPA today announced a brand new format for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game within the San Francisco Bay Area.

Additionally, NBA All-Star Voting presented by AT&T will happen on Thursday, December nineteenth at 10 a.m. ET.

All details https://t.co/KntyklRIe7 pic.twitter.com/3jIbW1tZWZ

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) December 17, 2024

Nothing changes within the number of the league's top stars. Twelve players from each conference are named All-Stars, with fans, media and players voting on each conference's five “starters” and 7 reserves, as determined by the coaches.

These players are then placed right into a pool where they’re chosen by TNT's three analysts – Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O'Neal – who function honorary general managers for the three All-Star teams. They will split the teams into three groups of eight All-Stars on February 6 before TNT's weekly doubleheader.

Honorary Executive Director of the Rising Stars team is one other Turner Sports analyst, Candace Parker. The Rising Stars Challenge takes place on the Friday of All-Star Weekend; The All-Star Tournament will happen on February sixteenth on the Chase Center.

The coaches for the All-Star Game will consist of the staff of the first-place team in each conference starting February 2nd. The head coach of every first-place team will coach an All-Star team, an assistant on certainly one of their staffs will coach the Rising Stars champion, and one other assistant will coach the remaining All-Star team.

In November, it was reported that Silver's office was consulting with players, including Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry, about changing the All-Star Game again to make the event much more competitive. Silver thanked Andre Iguodala, executive director of the players' association, for leading the player-side discussion with Silver's office.

As Silver mentioned, last yr's All-Star Game in Indianapolis set a brand new scoring record – and that wasn't good, as players from each teams simply didn't show the slightest effort on defense.

“Since we're the elephant in the room in the competition, it's expected and sensible for them to try to shake things up,” said Oklahoma City star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a two-time All-Star. “But in the end it comes down to whether the players want to take part and I would like to see that. I definitely love being a part of it and hopefully it happens.”

Fan voting for the All-Stars begins December nineteenth. No changes were announced to Saturday's All-Star program, but Curry and WNBA star Sabrina Ionescu, a Bay Area native, are expected to participate in a shooting competition for the second All-Star Saturday in a row.

Silver said the league worked with the players' association to cut back pre-All-Star Game introductions and national anthem production in order that players could complete a more normal warm-up routine before the sport.

“Growing up and watching All Stars as a kid, it was one of the few opportunities you had as a fan to see a lot of those players,” Silver said. “It was one of the few times these players came together. It's just a completely different world now. They are together all the time. They are together in the summer. They are on national teams together.

“For us, it’s a recognition that it’s a different time,” Silver continued. “And you know, we’ll see. I feel encouraged by this new format that we can create real excitement there.”

Required reading

The NFL recorded a record low of twenty-two percent of kickoffs returned last season, and only 4 of those were returned for points. The NFL implemented significant changes to its kickoff rules for the 2024 season to extend the motivation for more players to return kickoffs — while limiting touchbacks and injuries.

In Week 1 of the brand new kickoff format, Cardinals returner DeeJay Dallas sparked the comeback with an exciting 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

THE FIRST DYNAMIC KICKOFF RETURN TOUCHDOWN.

DJ DALLAS. 96 YARDS.

: #AZvsBUF on CBS/Paramount+
: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/COYfonnYxR

— NFL (@NFL) 8 September 2024

He broke three tackles on the 40-yard line, sprinted toward the tip zone and threw himself past kicker Tyler Bass to attain. The Bills, who led 31-20 with 8:44 minutes left, regretted their deep kick. The Cardinals then took advantage with a successful two-point conversion by James Conner, narrowing the gap to 31-28.

The touchdown was Dallas' first kickoff return in his NFL and college profession, although he has return experience and has accomplished kick returns in all three seasons within the league.

Although the brand new rule was slow to take effect, the primary Sunday of the NFL season still caused a stir with three kickoff returns over 50 yards. In 2023, there have been only 10 returns over 50 yards or more.

The Bills maintained their 1-0 season lead, beating the Cardinals 34-28. Buffalo will face AFC East rival Miami on the road in Week 2 of Thursday Night Football.

Required reading