9:16 - During the break, they did a tribute to Red Auerbach. Very nice. Also, they just showed Dave Chappelle on the jumbotron. Man I miss that guy. Byaaaaah!
9:18 - Ray Allen just hit two straight three's. Man, do I love that guy's shot. Then Chauncey Billups served up an alley off the backboard to Vince Carter, probably the best dunk of the night so far. Joe Johnson still hasn't gotten into the game yet, as Shaq and Gilbert Arenas are now back in for their second tour of duty. Ummm, did Joe make eyes at Eddie Jordan's wife or something?
9:21 - Did I mention I am going to miss Shaq when he is gone? He missed a dunk, but Rip Hamilton got the rebound and gave it back to him. This time he threw it down, partially because Tracy McGrady stood by and watched the whole thing. To show his appreciation, Shaq planted a smooch on T-Mac's noggin on his way back down court. Given what Barkley did last night and what we have seen from O'Neal this weekend, I think TNT would be crazy not to hire him the second he retires and add him to the studio show.
9:24 - It's a timeout, with the West up 52-37. They are showing more of the celebs in the crowd, and they just showed whatshername from Grey's Anatomy (sorry, I don't watch). I know her as the object of Luke Wilson's affection in Old School. Anyway, she played (acting?) like she didn't know she was on camera, then did one of those "look up at the jumbotron and see yourself, then acknowledge everyone" things. Ummm, the camera is right in front of your face, lady. I hate that show anyway.
9:28 - Halfway through the quarter, and still no Joe. I may be wrong here, but I think he is the only Eastern Conference player not to get in. I officially hate Eddie Jordan.
9:32 - FINALLY. Joe gets into the game after this timeout. There is a huge round of applause. I prefer to think it's for Joe, but they are showing Queen Latifah on the screen. You make the call.
9:33 - Joe appears to be playing the point, though sadly he turned the ball over. Hopefully that doesn't mean Eddie Jordan will yank him from the lineup, but who knows. That guy is suspect.
9:37 - Joe just fouled Kobe on the drive. I think it may have been leftover resentment from the Hawks-Lakers game at Philips a couple weeks ago. At least I like to envision it was. Now they are interviewing David Hasselhoff (aka, "The Hoff"), who just said his highlight of the weekend was speaking German with Dirk Nowitzki. Man, he is really riding that one out, eh? Incidentally, he is starring in The Producers here in Las Vegas, which I bring up only because I think its amazing that The Producers was a movie first, then it was turned into a broadway musical, then turned into a movie adaptation of the musical based on the movie. Personally, I look forward to the play-based-on-the-movie-based-on-the-musical-based-on-the-movie. That will be entertaining.
9:43 - Joe shoots, he scores!!! 1-1 from the field now for three points. Feed him the rock, he's hot!
9:45 - The first half ends with Joe getting one more shot, a three from the corner, but he missed. Well, no one is perfect. At the half, it's 79-59 West, with Kobe Bryant your early MVP leader with 17 points. Hopefully Eddie Jordan will apologize to Joe in the locker room and give him a lot more PT in the second half.
