2004 NBA All-Star Game explained

2004 NBA All-Star Game
Visitor:East
Home:West
Visitor Total:132
Home Total:136
Visitor Qtr1:33
Visitor Qtr2:31
Visitor Qtr3:37
Visitor Qtr4:31
Home Qtr1:31
Home Qtr2:27
Home Qtr3:45
Home Qtr4:33
Date:February 15, 2004
Arena:Staples Center
City:Los Angeles
Referee:Steve Javie (#29)
Blane Reichelt (#37)
Tom Washington (#49)
Mvp:Shaquille O'Neal
Anthem:Nelly Furtado (CAN)
Christina Aguilera (USA)
Halftime:Michael McDonald
Beyoncé
Attendance:19,662
Network:TNT
ESPN Radio
Announcers:Marv Albert, Mike Fratello, and Doug Collins
Kevin Harlan, Steve Kerr, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Magic Johnson (All-Star Saturday Night)
Jim Durham and Jack Ramsay
Prev Year:2003
Next Year:2005

The 2004 NBA All-Star Game was an exhibition basketball game which was played on February 15, 2004, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, home of the Lakers and Clippers. This game was the 53rd edition of the North American National Basketball Association (NBA) All-Star Game and was played during the 2003–04 NBA season. This was also the last time the All-Star Game didn’t feature LeBron James, who has appeared in every all star game since this one.

The West defeated the East 136–132, with Shaquille O'Neal of the Los Angeles Lakers winning the Most Valuable Player for the second time in his career. O'Neal scored 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Jamaal Magloire led the East with 19 points and 8 rebounds.

All-Star Game

Coaches

The coach for the Western Conference team was Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Flip Saunders. The Timberwolves had a 37–15 record on February 15. The coach for the Eastern Conference team was Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle. The Pacers had a 39–14 record on February 15.

Players

The rosters for the All-Star Game were chosen in two ways. The starters were chosen via a fan ballot. Two guards, two forwards and one center who received the highest vote were named the All-Star starters. The reserves were chosen by votes among the NBA head coaches in their respective conferences. The coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players. The reserves consist of two guards, two forwards, one center and two players regardless of position. If a player is unable to participate due to injury, the commissioner will select a replacement.

For the fourth time in the last five years, Vince Carter of the Toronto Raptors led the ballots with 2,127,183 votes, which earned him a starting position in the Eastern Conference team for the fifth year in a row. Allen Iverson, Tracy McGrady, Jermaine O'Neal, and Ben Wallace completed the Eastern Conference starting position, which would've been the same starting line-up as the previous year, if Carter hadn't given his spot to Michael Jordan. The Eastern Conference reserves included four first-time selections, Kenyon Martin, Jamaal Magloire, Ron Artest, and Michael Redd. Jason Kidd, Paul Pierce, and Baron Davis rounded out the team. Three teams, Indiana Pacers and New Jersey Nets, and Charlotte Hornets had two representations at the All-Star Game with O'Neal/Artest, Martin/Kidd, and Magloire/Davis.

The Western leading vote-getter was Kevin Garnett, who earned his seventh consecutive All-Star Game selection with 1,780,918 votes. Steve Francis, Kobe Bryant, Yao Ming, and Tim Duncan completed the Western Conference starting positions, making it also the same starting line-up as the previous year. The Western Conference reserves included two first-time selections, Sam Cassell of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Andrei Kirilenko of the Utah Jazz. The team is rounded out by Ray Allen, Brad Miller, Dirk Nowitzki, Peja Stojaković, and Shaquille O'Neal. Four teams, Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Houston Rockets, and Sacramento Kings, had two representations at the All-Star Game with Bryant/O'Neal, Garnett/Cassell, Francis/Yao, and Stojaković/Miller.

Roster

Eastern Conference All-Stars
PosPlayerTeamNo. of selectionsVotes
Starters
GAllen IversonPhiladelphia 76ers5th1,731,648
GTracy McGradyOrlando Magic4th1,231,825
FVince CarterToronto Raptors5th2,127,183
FJermaine O'NealIndiana Pacers3rd1,629,054
CBen WallaceDetroit Pistons2nd1,982,251
Reserves
GBaron DavisNew Orleans Hornets2nd
GJason KiddNew Jersey Nets7th
GMichael ReddMilwaukee Bucks1st
FPaul PierceBoston Celtics3rd
FRon ArtestIndiana Pacers1st
FKenyon MartinNew Jersey Nets1st
CJamaal MagloireNew Orleans Hornets1st
Western Conference All-Stars
PosPlayerTeamNo. of selectionsVotes
Starters
GSteve FrancisHouston Rockets3rd976,841
GKobe BryantLos Angeles Lakers6th1,759,717
FKevin GarnettMinnesota Timberwolves7th1,780,918
FTim DuncanSan Antonio Spurs6th1,681,435
CYao MingHouston Rockets2nd1,484,531
Reserves
GRay AllenSeattle SuperSonics4th
GSam CassellMinnesota Timberwolves1st
FAndrei KirilenkoUtah Jazz1st
FDirk NowitzkiDallas Mavericks3rd
FPeja StojakovićSacramento Kings3rd
CBrad MillerSacramento Kings2nd
CShaquille O'NealLos Angeles Lakers11th

- Here are the vote numbers;http://www.nba.com/allstar2004/allstar_game/starter_040129.html

All-Star Weekend

Slam Dunk Contest

See main article: article and NBA All-Star Weekend Slam Dunk Contest.

Player !! width=175
Team !Height Weight Pct
GFred Jones Indiana Pacers 6–2 220
G/F6–6 225
F/C6-10 228
G/FRicky Davis6–7 195

Three-Point Contest

See main article: article and NBA All-Star Weekend Three-Point Shootout.

Player !! width=175
Team !Height Weight First round Final round
GVoshon Lenard Denver Nuggets 6–4 205 18 18
F6–10 229 21 16
G/F6–7 212 19 15
F6–10 230 16
G6–4 190 13
G6-3 210 12

Rookie Challenge

Rookie Roster:

Player Team
Denver Nuggets
Toronto Raptors
Miami Heat
Cleveland Cavaliers
Washington Wizards
Chicago Bulls
Dallas Mavericks
Los Angeles Clippers
Miami Heat

Head Coach: Doug Collins
Assistant Coach: A.C. Green

Sophomore Roster:

Player Team
Cleveland Cavaliers
Golden State Warriors
San Antonio Spurs
Los Angeles Clippers
Seattle SuperSonics
Denver Nuggets
Detroit Pistons
Phoenix Suns
Houston Rockets

Head Coach: Michael Cooper
Assistant Coach: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Said to be the most exciting Rookie Challenge in history due to all the highlight-reel dunks. Much of the hype centered on rookie phenoms LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, who had 33 and 17 points respectively. Amar'e Stoudemire set a Rookie Challenge record with 36 points (it has since been broken).

External links