WASHINGTON The NBA's all-star weekend is designed to be a real crowd-pleaser, featuring the three-point shooting, dunking and showboating that basketball purists disdain.

Patient offense, tough defense and team play at both ends of the court are nowhere to be found. It is not surprising that some players have mixed feelings.

Moody Portland Trail blazers star Rasheed Wallace was asked Friday if it was an honor to be here. "I see it more as a personal accolade -- and I'm not about personal accolades," he said. "I'm about team accolades. I don't care if it's 50 or 75 all-star appearances, that can't beat a championship ring."

"It's completely different," the New York Knicks' Allan Houston, a second-time all-star, said of Sunday's game.

"This is a game where you're just going out looking to have some fun. You're looking to win, of course, but from what I've seen, guys are looking to make spectacular plays and try to make highlights."

Revealing a guilty fear that he was betraying his coach, Houston added: "Fortunately, it's just one game, so it isn't enough to break me out of Jeff van Gundy's habits."

Gunner Mentality

Young Tracy McGrady, who made his way to the Orlando Magic after being unable to share the Toronto Raptor spotlight with his spectacular cousin Vince Carter, claimed to be unsure he had it in him to make a splash in his all-star debut.

"I don't care because deep in my heart I feel like I have many more all-star games to come," he said, adding that some of the players were real "gunners." He vowed: "I'm going to try to get that mentality, but I don't have it."

Because of an injured knee, Carter will not defend his slam-dunk title, leaving six young contestants few casual fans have ever heard of.

Traditionalist Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz, going to his 13th all-star game, insisted the point was not simply to have a good time. "No, it's pride," said Malone. "We want to win. I didn't come all the way here to Washington to lose. We definitely want to win."

But even he admitted the intensity was lower than during the regular season: "It's neat to let the guard down for a minute, but then you have to get ready to play next week."

Seattle's veteran point guard Gary Payton was refreshingly frank when asked whether the game was a "pride thing."

Said Payton: "Not Really. I think most guys are going out there, trying to have some fun, but trying not to get hurt, just trying to get back to their teams."

License to Thrill

Kevin Garnett of the Minnesota Timberwolves is looking forward to playing for Sacramento Kings coach Rick Adelman, with Kings superstar Chris Webber, and under the wide-open Kings' style exemplified by flashy passer Jason Williams.

"I definitely think it's going to be entertaining," said Garnett, in his fourth all-star game in six seasons since joining the NBA straight out of high school.

"Especially with C. Webb. and the Sacramento system is in place, so we can throw behind the backs, out of bounds and not come out of the game. Rick Adelman is used to seeing bad passes and stuff.

"Knowing that I don't have that burden on my shoulders, I know I can throw a no-look pass and I won't get thrown out of the game."

Payton, so identified with defense that he is called "the glove," said the real fun does not start until the game is 75 percent over. "In the first three quarters, it's more of a fun thing for the fans. We're trying to give the fans a show.

"I think in the fourth quarter, everyone starts doing what they're supposed to."

Malone, who in past years has expressed his disinterest in playing in the all-star game, said for the first time he felt it was his "duty" to participate because of league image problems in a half-season of crimes, ill-chosen words and squabbling egos.

"I think that in the past, when we didn't have the negative thing going, I didn't think it was a big deal," said Malone. "With everything that's happening, I think it was a big deal this year for me to be here ... and that's why I showed up."

(Reuter)