Blazer’s Edge Guide to the All-Star Break

The NBA All-Star break is upon us and the Trail Blazers won’t return to action until next week’s visit to Brooklyn. Prior to this weekend’s festivities, Blazer’s Edge contributor Steve Dewald put together his survival guide for the week ahead. From movies to supplemental reading, we have you covered until the Blazers return to the court.

Weekend Festivities

Hosting a viewing party centered around a Blazers game can be cumbersome for even the average Rip City junkie. The All-Star Weekend presents obsessed fans with the opportunity to host friends for a NBA event without the anxiety of missing something significant. For me, Saturday’s list of competitions is the perfect opportunity to entertain your most talkative friends.

The Taco Bell Skills Challenge, Thee-Point Contest and AT&T Slam Dunk competition get underway at 5:00 on Saturday (Pacific). Get the food out and get ready to fill the gaps in action with conversation.

Other Media

With the NBA on pause, I like to utilize the break to catch up on other media. If you haven’t checked out High Flying Bird on Netflix, now is the time. Steven Soderbergh’s latest movie follows a fictional story of an agent and his client during the actual NBA Lockout that occurred prior to the 2011-12 season. The story is supplemented with interviews from Reggie Jackson, Donovan Mitchell, and Karl-Anthony Towns.

Here is the trailer:

If you’re looking to follow up the movie with an equally interesting book during the break, I suggest scooping up a copy of Hard Labor. Author Sam Smith, who also wrote The Jordan Rules, put together a must-read narrative that follows the individuals that fought for the rights that today’s players enjoy. With Anthony Davis’ saga playing out in New Orleans, Smith’s latest book couldn’t have come at a better time.

Scouting Homework

It is never too early to start researching the next crop of NBA talent. If you want to get a look at few players that will likely be on the board when the Blazers pick, I suggest you tune in for Tennessee’s game against Vanderbilt on Tuesday (4:00 PST on ESPN). Led by Grant Williams and Admiral Schofield, the Volunteers currently own a 23-1 record. Both players will receive plenty of attention later this year if they continue to produce in big moments.

On the other side, Vanderbilt freshman Simisola Shittu possesses the versatility that NBA teams covet. He still needs to refine parts of his game, but he could easily test the waters after the Commodores’ season concludes.

Follow Along With Us

As always, Blazer’s Edge will be following the All-Star action throughout the weekend. From the Three-Point Contest to the actual All-Star Game, we will have you covered.