By Cameron Salony

February 19, 2008 | So it turns out that Jazz guard Deron Williams did not suit up for the All-Star Game as an injury replacement for Kobe Bryant. Bryant made an almost symbolic appearance Sunday because he did not want to take the chance to re-aggravate his finger injury. In three minutes Bryant only recorded one rebound.

Since Bryant played in the Lakers' last game before the All-Star break, he either had to play Sunday or be forced to sit out the Lakers' next game, according to league rules.

However, that did not keep Williams from traveling to New Orleans and even filling his pockets with an extra $35,000.

Williams won the NBA Skills Challenge with a new record of 25.5 seconds. The challenge includes an obstacle course consisting of shooting, passing and dribbling. The competition was part of the NBA's All-Star Saturday night activities. It was interesting that Williams beat Jason Kidd, Dwayne Wade and -- oh yes -- Chris Paul to win the contest. Kidd, Wade and Paul were all chosen as All-Stars and Williams was not.

Perhaps it was even more interesting for Jazz fans that Williams beat Paul by nearly six seconds during the two-player final.

Surely Williams must be sick of sports analysts comparing him to Paul, but those comparisons will continue to come especially since the two have had so many opportunities to match up against one another. Williams has flourished during their match-ups while Paul has been disappointing.

Was it appropriate that the finals came to down D-Will and CP3?

"Yeah, of course it had to,'' Williams told an interviewer. "It's a rivalry. We like to go against each other."

Doesn't Williams' victory prove he is the better player?

"We're just out there having fun," Williams said."It was just coincidence; I guess it was me and him that it went down to."

Fine! If this doesn't prove it, then I want to see the New Orleans Hornets and the Utah Jazz square off in the Western Conference Finals. I can already see the playoff promos. The league would make a fortune off of this rivalry. We could finally decide who the better point guard is: the one who advances with his team to the NBA Finals. Although, even that might not be a true predictor of the better point guard because Paul doesn't ever appear to be on the top of his game against Williams. Until then here is my campaign slogan: Williams for All-Star 2009!

All-Star notes:

The Eastern Conference All-Stars edged the Western Conference All-Stars 134-128. Let's admit it the East was the more entertaining of the two teams and deserved to win.

Utah Jazz forward Carlos Boozer played 19 minutes and scored 14 points on 7 -15 shooting and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds during Sunday's game.

The real All-Star game MVP was Ray Allen who in only 19 minutes scored 28 points on 10-14 shooting which included five 3-pointers that stalled the West's potential comeback. However, the fan voting determined Lebron James as the game's MVP. James scored 27 points on 12-22 shooting, boarded 8 rebounds, and dished 9 assists.

During the final free-throws of the game former New Jersey Net guard Jason Kidd appeared to be overly chummy with reigning league MVP and Dallas Maverick forward Dirk Nowitzki. Dallas had tried to acquire Kidd from New Jersey via trade during the previous week but had experienced major complications. However, the trade was indeed finalized today.

Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard became the tallest player to ever win the NBA Slam Dunk Contest. Howard, who is 6 feet-11 inches tall, wowed the crowd with his Superman slam complete with cape and flying act. Howard also had five dunks in the All-Star game by halftime.

Former Jazz forward Karl Malone was one of the judges for the slam dunk contest.

Prior to the game NBA Commissioner announced that he expects the Seattle Super Sonics to move from the city either this year or in 2010. The team has played in Seattle since 1967.

There were fewer arrests during this year's All-Star weekend compared to last year's in Las Vegas. We'll see how Phoenix measures up next year.
MS
MS