LOS ANGELES — Midway through pop singer Fergie’s shrieking, slow-tempo rendition of the national anthem Sunday night at Staples Center, TV cameras caught Warriors forward Draymond Green, mouth agape, apparently zoning out before he broke into a chuckle.
The 11-second clip quickly rippled through the blogosphere, setting a decidedly awkward tone for an All-Star Game that failed to impress. To squeak out a 148-145 win over Team Stephen, Team LeBron needed until the waning seconds, riding a late Russell Westbrook layup to victory.
For a game decided by one possession, however, it was surprisingly unremarkable. The porous defense and lack of effort that prompted the NBA to change the showcase’s format again defined the night.