web1_garrison-keillor.jpg

Every day is an adventure in America

web1_web1_BLOTTER-41.jpg

Reports of man with gun cause Wilkes-Barre Area school to go on lockdown

<p>NEW YORK &#8212; The NBA is scrapping the East vs. West format for its All-Star Game and will have captains pick teams this season.</p><p>The league said Tuesday that the leading vote-getter from each conference will choose teams from the pool of players who were voted as starters and reserves.</p><p>The change will begin with this season&#8217;s game in Los Angeles on Feb. 18.</p><p>Players and league officials have been eager to inject new interest in the often defense-absent game, and they decided to act after another dull affair last February in New Orleans.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m thrilled with what the players and the league have done to improve the All-Star Game, which has been a priority for all of us,&#8221; National Basketball Players Association president Chris Paul of the Houston Rockets said in a statement. &#8220;We&#8217;re looking forward to putting on an entertaining show in LA.&#8221;</p><p>The sides worked closely &#8212; with Charlotte owner Michael Jordan, chairman of the league&#8217;s Labor Relations Committee, heavily involved in the conversations &#8212; and chose a format that has been used by the NFL and NHL for what will be the first NBA All-Star Game that doesn&#8217;t pit the Eastern Conference against the Western Conference.</p><p>The 10 starters will continue to be chosen by a combination of fan, player and media balloting, with the coaches from each conference then selecting the 14 reserves. The captains will then draft their teams at an undetermined time &#8212; making certain that those chosen starters are split up so they remain starters.</p><p>The teams will play for charity. They will select either a Los Angeles-area or national organization for donations to go.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1_ChrisPaul-Trade.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">FILE - In this March 20, 2017, file photo, Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul warms up before the team's NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Kang, File)</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1_ChrisPaul-Trade.jpg</photo0><caption0>FILE - In this March 20, 2017, file photo, Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul warms up before the team's NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Kang, File)</caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Brian Mahoney</p><p>AP Basketball Writer</p></bylineMeta></div>

NBA changes All-Star Game format; captains will pick teams