What we learned from NBA All-Star Saturday Night

It's a night of fun but it's also something we can learn from.

Hamidou Diallo (left) and Russell Westbrook. Diallo won the Dunk contest.

NBA All-Star Saturday Night is fun but it's also something we can learn quite a bit from.

This weekend has been interesting. Young talent was showcased and surprising innovations were made. But there's room for more change.

Here is what we learned from the NBA's All-Star Saturday Night.

Jayson Tatum is playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers

So the Skills competition always seems to come down to the final 3-pointer to close out the round and several times on the night players who got to the shot first wound up losing because they couldn't hit that first attempt.

"NO HE DIDN'T!"@jaytatum0 hit the half-court bomb to defeat Trae Young and win the #TacoBellSkills challenge! pic.twitter.com/5NMz3h4Ajt

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 17, 2019

 

But as the night went on, people got more and more creative. First, it was Trae Young thinking smart as he hit a 3-pointer with a runner to beat De'Aaron Fox.

Celtics forward Jayson Tatum was studying everything going on, though, and he was not going to get beat by the 3-pointer in the finals. Against Young, he took a runner — from half-court — to edge out Young for the win.

This challenge is changing before our very eyes.

Nets players keep showcasing well

The NBA All-Star weekend is starting to feel like a showcase for Nets.

First, last season Spencer Dinwiddie won the Skills Challenge. Then this year, Joe Harris outdueled the greatest 3-point shooter of all time in Stephen Curry to win the 3-point contest. And on Friday, Rodions Kurucs scored 10 points while adding five assists, four rebounds and two 3-pointers made in the Rising Stars Challenge.

"SUPERMAN IS IN THE BUILDING!" @hamidoudiallo WITH THE ELBOW DUNK OVER SHAQ.#ATTSlamDunkpic.twitter.com/w7VB0Nw2UR

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 17, 2019

 

And on Sunday, D'Angelo Russell will make his first career All-Star appearance. Talent is starting to show for Nets which is probably a pretty good reason why it is currently in line for a playoff spot with a 30-29 record at the break. This team is almost defiantly on the up and up even though few take notice.

It's time to change something with the Dunk Contest

There were memorable moments in this year's dunk contest. Hamidou Diallo jumped over Shaq.