NBA All-Star Game Recap: West Beats East 143-138, Jrue Holiday Doesn't Win MVP But We Still Love Him

In one of the MOST ANTICIPATED SPORTING EVENTS OF THE YEAR, the WEST beat the EAST in a glorified game of pick up the 2013 NBA All-Star game tonight.

Prior to tip off, Reggie Miller ever so eloquently touted the game as

"[...] some of the best basketball you probably will have ever seen in the world tonight."

That was certainly the case, as fans witnessed a very excitiZZZZZZZZZzzzzzz....

Falling-asleep-mid-post jokes aside, tonight's exhibition wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. It didn't deviate too much from the typical All-Star Game routine of goofiness, awkward tension, no defense, and flashy dunks. The score stayed close most of the match - a tight-fisted affair, as one Marc Zumoff would call it - up until the 4th when the Western All-Stars started to pull away.

Kevin Durant led the West with 30 points (23 shots) and 5 rebs along with ASG MVP Chris Paul (16 points, 15 assists, 4 steals). LeBron, Dwyane Wade, and Melo led the way for the East.

But really, who cares about any of that because there was a special interest for Sixers fans tonight. A special interest none other than a young man named Jrue Holiday.

Jrue didn't see any action in the 1st quarter (jerk move, Spo), but found his way onto the floor in the 2nd. After a relatively quiet entrance, Jrue caught everyone's attention with a NASTY ONE HANDED SLAM. A few possessions later, Jrue set up Carmelo Anthony with a nice 'oop. When Jrue returned to the bench after his short stint, he discovered a text waiting for him. "WHY WASN'T THAT A LONG 2?" it said. No word on who sent it.

With only a few minutes left in the third, Jrue entered the game again. He didn't have much of an impact save for a mid-range jumper as the clock expired to put the East down only 4 going into the 4th. Another text awaited Jrue this time simply saying "That's more like it".

Jrue saw some more burn in the beginning of the 4th but nothing noteworthy really happened in that time. He finished with 6 points (on 6 shots) 2 rebs, 2 assists, and 2 steals in about 15 minutes of action.

He may not have been the Prom Queen tonight, but who cares? He was totally the sweet, respectable girl with the cute smile that everyone secretly has a crush on.

Hopefully this is just the first of his many appearances to the mid-year dance for years to come.

Other observations:

• I wish I could have been at the game so I knew what Zach Lowe was referring to here:

  Jrue Holiday is really bringing it in these JumboTron videos/jokes/spoofs.

  — Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) February 18, 2013

Update: He was talking about this.

• The pre-game performances were awful. I can't even remember what they were. That's how bad it was. Half-time too. Musical performances at All-Star events are just the worst. Make it stop.
• Speaking of bad... Chris Bosh was HORRIBLE. Awful airballs, terrible turnovers, alternative alliterations, you name it. A very Spencer Hawesian performance from him. Which lead to this tweet

  Chris Bosh wins my "Most Spencer Hawes Player" of the game tonight.

  — Brandon Lee (@BrandonLeeSBN) February 18, 2013

  Congrats, Chris.
• Jrue's kicks were sweet.
• Blake Griffin dunked a lot. LeBron too. Yawn.
• Chris Paul had a billion assists. He's like pretty good or something. He also won MVP.
  
• Kobe Bryant blocked LeBron James and everyone freaked out.