By Ponciano Melo – In an intense game, talking trash is normal. It\’s given that the emotions will be high, but it will always be a fine line of the limit on the interaction between the audience and the player, especially in the NBA.

A more exact scenario, especially in the NBA playoffs. Basketball is on a whole new level comes to the playoffs, expecting players to go all out every day to keep their championship dream alive.

However, last year\’s playoffs were different, with no fans in attendance due to the coronavirus. A year later, the NBA, with all of its effort, was able to bring fans to the arena.

Everything is slowly getting back to normal, and they love it except for one thing, the disrespectful fans.

Over the years, cases of fans cursing, bad-mouthing and even throwing things at players have risen and it is very alarming for the league, especially for the players\’ safety.

Russell Westbrook was the latest victim of it. In video footage of his exit due to an injury, a fan upstairs poured popcorn on his head. Westbrook was outraged by the action and was held back by the officials from chasing the one who did it.

Westbrook was upset about it and LeBron James backed him up.

Several players and personalities also reacted to the incident which was labeled rude and disrespectful. No matter how much you hate a player, you\’re just a fan. No one has the right to disrespect them because they play to bring entertainment to the people in attendance.

With the NBA not skipping the traditional All-Star Weekend and the voting already started, who are the players who should take part on this year’s All-Star game?
Every year players are being left out that fans think they deserved to be included.
Zach Lavine of the Chicago Bulls should be an All-Star this year. Actually, he really should have been an All-Star last season. Lavine’s statistics are getting better every year in every category. People overlooked that aspect because his team is not playing well.
He is also on that All-Star level. His hard work and talent are speaking on behalf of him. Such grace and athleticism deserve to play in an All-Star game.
Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns should also be in. Booker is a young just like Lavine but plays in a high-level. Ever since he entered the league he has been carrying the team on his back. A pure hooper.
The likes of LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and Giannis Antetokoumnpo will surely have their spot in the All-Star.
James Harden could still be an All-Star, but he would probably be coming off the bench. The former MVP who found a new home with the Brooklyn Nets has been, playing differently, compared to his Houston Rockets days. In Brooklyn, he has Durant and Kyrie Irving who can equally share the offensive output.
Bradley Beal should also make it to the All-Star. Although his Washington Wizards are currently struggling, Beal has already put a monster performance in the season. He once dropped 60 points and several 40-point games, we are not even in the half of the 72-game season.
I doubt Jamal Murray of the Denver Nuggets will make it. He is being, overshadowed by Nikola Jokic’s greatness. Murray had a bubble to remember in Orlando, but he is not making that much noise this season even though he is indeed capable of doing such things,

The National Basketball Association (NBA) and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) are in talks for the possible All-Star Weekend in March to be held in Atlanta.
Indiana was supposed to house this year\’s All-Star but was cancelled due to the pandemic. However, NBPA President Chris Paul supported the idea of having a new venue in Atlanta, in one of the city\’s historically black colleges and universities gyms.
The NBA will have a break from March 5-10. It\’s also the date that All-Star could take place.
Protocols and restrictions will be the top priority due to the cases, of the coronavirus are not levelling down in the US.
If pushed through, the event will still be held with limited fans or with no fans in attendance at all.
Numerous games have been already cancelled in this early stage of the season due to the stricter protocols being imposed by the league to assure the safety of the players, coaches and staff.
Compared to the Orlando bubble last season, the challenge is the travel of teams from city to city, that made them prone to the virus.