On tuesday, January 15, 2008, as the All-Star voting deadline drew closer, some past-their-prime star players seized the opportunity to speak out.
The Washington Wizards recently became the focus of sports commentators, not because of their excellent record, but because they swept the "The Big Four" in games last friday and Monday.
The Celtics' schedule was relatively easy, but their 1-2 record last week, Ray Allen's discomfort, Pierce's slump, and Marbury's one-game suspension left the old guys feeling a bit fatigued.
Their previous loss to the Bobcats had stunned many, and being swept by the Washington Wizards was even more jaw-dropping, especially since Gilbert Arenas had undergone left knee surgery in late November, likely ending his regular season.
78:85. With everyone playing, the Celtics only scored 13 points in the 4th quarter, while Washington Wizards core Antawn Jamison shot 4 for 15, and Caron Butler shot 5 for 17.
To win with such a performance undoubtedly showed that the Celtics performed even worse.
The Washington Wizards, with an incomplete roster, had a mediocre record, reaching only 18 wins and 16 losses after these two victories.
The Los Angeles Times, waiting for the trade to watch the excitement, started to make sarcastic remarks.
Since they confirmed that they would get Tim Duncan, they began to actively participate in the discussion of the championship, and their corresponding comments also swelled:
"You can't win a championship with just a large number of stars. A dual-core team is the best championship combination."
Related articles received praise from Los Angeles Lakers fans, and some young fans even called on the internet not to vote for Dirk Nowitzki, while also campaigning for Tim Duncan, trying to reverse the German's votes.
This year's All-Star seemed very different from previous years.
Fans no longer paid attention to stats or specific player performance.
Many only voted for the stars they "liked."
In other words, votes were only reserved for idols, and opponents had to be stepped on.
When someone heard of "fanning Kevin Garnett," some onlookers would even mock:
"Traitors don't deserve votes?"
Such an external environment led to the high probability that the Celtics' "The Big Four," despite their excellent record, would miss out on an All-Star starting spot.
New York fans were the most active, initiating the boycott of Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan, those two cowards.
Seeing the Los Angeles Lakers about to return to championship contention, Kobe Bryant also couldn't escape:
"What about Kobe?"
This was the most popular "meme" on Reddit.
Whenever Los Angeles Lakers fans tried to find a sense of presence, relevant comments would always appear below.
Fortunately, there were many loyal Los Angeles Lakers fans, so the boycott had little impact.
On ESPN's morning show, the phenomenon of All-Star Game voting in New Orleans was also reported.
Gilbert Arenas's big-mouthed remarks during an interview last night also became a hot topic of the day:
"I don't care about any 'The Big Four.' All players know they broke the unwritten rules."
"I've been following the voting results recently, and I've seen the fans' reactions. If they ultimately don't make the starting lineup, I won't be surprised."
"The All-Star Game is a gift to the fans. They have the right to decide who starts! Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan are disliked, so losing their spots is deserved."
"Actually, I dislike Kobe Bryant even more. He always acts like a winner. In fact, he's no different from me. The only difference is he has an MVP-level teammate."
As the trade was about to happen, there was more discussion about Kobe Bryant. Gilbert Arenas was clearly possessed by envy again.
His popularity had plummeted after his injury, and fans had almost forgotten him.
ESPN also liked to stir things up, proactively helping fans recall the performance of Kobe Bryant's former MVP teammate, Old Shaq.
Shaq was likely to miss out again this year, but he hadn't been idle during this time.
With an 8-29 record, the Heat are likely to be aiming for the first overall pick.
O'Neal's attendance has been an issue, and his mind isn't on the game.
Recently, he's been constantly making sarcastic remarks about his old teammate:
"I feel sorry for the Los Angeles Lakers. They overestimated Kobe Bryant. He's not suited to lead a team. He always makes the locker room a mess."
"Kupchak deserves respect. He found another MVP. But I'm not optimistic about this combination. Clay Lee will once again shatter their illusions."
"Two ordinary All-Stars cannot defeat a superstar. If the Los Angeles Lakers make it to the Finals, I'll be there to witness their failure."
When the Heat suffered a crushing defeat to the Chris Paul-led Hornets, O'Neal, who was out with an injury, was in the locker room after the game, wide-mouthed, commenting on the news.
Shaquille O'Neal has almost become a commentator this year.
Every time they lose, he shifts the topic, but many reporters love such a big mouth.
It's much more interesting than reporting on the Heat's dismal record.
The ESPN show this morning had a good effect.
Gilbert Arenas and Shaquille O'Neal were just the beginning.
After the voting results are announced, there will be another wave of discussion!
The Celtics' loss was great news for the New York Knicks, as they had another five-game week ahead of them.
Although it was better than a continuous road trip out West, the overly dense schedule still drained their enthusiasm for the game and increased the risk of injuries.
On sunday, facing the Detroit Pistons with a 7-man rotation, the New York Knicks had their first poor shooting night of the new year, but ultimately held onto a home victory with tough Defense.
85:94. The score difference didn't seem large, but the game actually went into the fourth quarter.
On tuesday, at home against the Washington Wizards, the New York Knicks only managed to score 104 points, and it was another hard-fought battle that went into the 4th quarter before they secured the win by 10 points.
By wednesday, in a back-to-back road game against the Nets, Kidd, who was caught in trade rumors, finally had a good game, finding his shooting touch repeatedly from beyond the arc.
Ultimately, the Nets ended the 29-game winning streak.
The atmosphere at Izod Center after the game was a bit strange.
Many fans didn't feel the joy of winning.
Instead, there were more complaints.
The Nets' record reached 19 wins and 19 losses, still on the edge of the playoffs.
Some people bought tickets to watch the opponent, as they had long given up any hope for this team.
Jason Kidd, who was being interviewed, didn't look well either.
He was fed up with the home atmosphere and had always been bothered by that playoff run from back then.
He had even fantasized more than once, if the Nets' home atmosphere had been a little better, would they have been able to win a series?
It wasn't until a middle-aged reporter from the audience gossiped about the latest news that Kidd completely snapped back to reality, then immediately denied it, saying:
"I don't want to talk too much about news unrelated to the game. LeBron James is an excellent young man, but I will not join the Cavaliers."
"I want to thank Head Coach Van Gundy for his praise. The Nets must get serious at this stage. We need to gain some advantage before the trade deadline."
The Cavaliers, still trying to trade Larry Hughes, approached the Nets.
LeBron James's agent was also working hard, and everyone on the team agreed to have "Captain America" play in Cleveland.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer even promised local fans that they would acquire an All-Star point guard before the trade deadline, but it now seems to be just "unrequited love."
"Dallas also seems to be pursuing you. What do you think about returning to the Dallas Mavericks? Michael Finley believes you can help the team."
Looking at the persistent ESPN reporter, Kidd, sitting on the stage, began to frown.
After thinking for a moment, he didn't give a definitive answer, but rather replied with a hint of meaning:
"I'm no longer young. I hope the team's goals align with mine."
"As for Dallas, that's where my career began. I spent three wonderful years there."
The Nets are planning to completely "tank."
In an era where stars are starting to "team up," the current roster is already struggling to contend for a championship, and Kidd and the team are once again at odds.
Hearing this not-so-positive answer, many reporters knew that Kidd was very likely to leave, and another Eastern Conference team would drop out of championship contention.
With the winning streak ended, in the visiting team's locker room, many New York Knicks players felt regret.
If their form had been better, they might have had a chance to break the record.
Role players felt very involved in the game, a reason that some commentators found absurd: with Lee slacking off, others could better immerse themselves in the game.
This pattern was discovered by Hollinger, an ESPN data expert.
After extensive data analysis, he found that if Lee simply scored an unremarkable 30 points per game, the role players would perform better.
An article on this topic was published in an ESPN column at the beginning of this year, and of course, countless people disagreed.
If this view were translated, it would mean "Lee's excellent regular season stats make his teammates lose their rhythm."
Fans naturally disagreed, believing that "Brother Dove" should average 50 points per game!
There are always some outrageous statistics that refresh people's perceptions, but for the New York Knicks' coaching staff, Hollinger actually had a point.
When leading by a large margin, everyone plays bravely, but during close games, it's easier to miss shots.
Role players can hardly reach the level of core players, and disappearing when the team is struggling is actually the norm.
Raja Bell, back in his seat, slapped his hands in frustration.
He had too many games this week and hadn't focused enough on training, which led to his fluctuating performance:
"We almost broke the Los Angeles Lakers record."
In 2003, the New York Knicks already had a 29-game winning streak.
For veteran players, records had lost their novelty, but everyone was still interested in the statistics.
"The schedule is terrible.
If we could have three games a week recently, I guarantee I'd perform better!"
Ron Artest grumbled, feeling a bit low on energy.
Ever since he was diagnosed with a heart problem and underwent conservative treatment, his body tired easily.
This decline was helpless; most professional players would go down this path.
After all, most players couldn't even play a full four years, and only those "monsters" could ignore the wear and tear.
Even the usually "Zen-like" Boris Diaw felt regret.
He claimed not to care about outside opinions, but ultimately he still wanted to prove he deserved his contract.
After all, the New York Media's big mouths sometimes didn't distinguish between friend and foe, even criticizing their own people when they were unhappy.
"There are also back-to-back road games. Luckily, there are only two games next week, and the opponents will definitely lose again."
Boris Diaw also joined the discussion.
Even a team with the New York Knicks' roster depth would feel tired before the All-Star Weekend, and the Celtics, who relied heavily on their starters, would clearly be even more exhausted.
Lee casually glanced at the statistics handed to him by the assistant coach and then paid them no further mind.
Instead, he teased Pau Gasol beside him.
The voting was about to end, and the Spanish big man got a great deal this year:
"I bet you'll be a starter, congratulations in advance, Pau!"
Upon hearing about the voting results, Pau Gasol's face involuntarily broke into a smile.
In terms of popularity, he really couldn't compare to the "The Big Ticket."
United States Team fans deeply loved tough guys like Kevin Garnett.
But this time, the tough guys teamed up, and coupled with the disastrous loss in the Christmas War, their impression points plummeted, causing Pau Gasol's votes to quietly surpass his opponents.
"I'm reminded of Dirk Nowitzki. He should thank Tim Duncan. I didn't expect us both to have a chance to be starters this year."
Pau Gasol's tone revealed schadenfreude
Witnessing the decline of old "superstars" felt wonderful.
Back in the locker room, Mike D'Antoni didn't offer any motivational speeches.
He simply gave a few words of encouragement and announced a week off, which drew cheers from everyone.
Training was good, but occasional relaxation was even better!
On Monday, January 21st, after the All-Star online voting closed, some basketball commentators revealed that this year's voting results would surprise everyone.
This annoyed Gilbert Arenas a bit.
The Washington Wizards' victory over the defending champion Heat only lasted one day?
On Friday, with Dwyane Wade and Old Shark both resting, the New York Knicks easily defeated the Heat on the road, helping the Heat continue their dive for the first overall pick.
The next day's back-to-back game saw the Washington Wizards shoot them down.
Antawn Jamison, who had been in a slump for several games, had a breakout performance, which the Washington Post extensively reported on after the game.
Unfortunately, fans didn't care about any of this, as the Washington Wizards were never a championship contender.
After the New York Knicks' home victory over the 76ers on Monday, everyone's attention turned to this year's All-Star Game voting results.
This was a contest of "family"!
On Thursday, the 24th, the results of the New Orleans All-Star Game voting were officially announced on TNT's program that evening:
Clay Lee, with a record-breaking 3.21 million votes, was unequivocally elected as the top vote-getter, breaking his own record and greatly invigorating his "family"!
Partnering Clay Lee in the backcourt was Dwyane Wade, with 1.4 million votes.
Although his vote count wasn't high, he still surpassed Jason Kidd and successfully secured a starting spot.
At the forward positions, LeBron James with 1.92 million votes and Pau Gasol with 1.88 million votes secured their spots.
Center was a victory for the youth.
Dwight Howard received 1.96 million votes, not only surpassing Shaquille O'Neal but even exceeding his teammate LeBron James in popularity.
The Western Conference All-Star voting results were even more surprising.
Such a situation would have been impossible in previous years:
The starting backcourt consisted of Kobe Bryant with 1.68 million votes and Chris Paul with 1.38 million votes.
The forward positions went to Carmelo Anthony with 1.58 million votes and Dirk Nowitzki with 1.56 million votes.
The starting center was Yao Ming, who received 1.51 million votes.
After announcing the results, TNT specifically highlighted Allen Iverson, who received 1.02 million votes, and Tim Duncan, who received 1.47 million votes.
Both were ultimately overtaken in the third round, which was a very rare occurrence.
In the studio, Ernie Johnson's expression was unreadable.
This time, Clay Lee's fans made a big splash, setting a record for their idol and pushing his "successor" into the All-Star Game.
They also boycotted Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan, and in the final stage, Kobe Bryant also faced resistance.
Ultimately, this roster could be said to be a complete "manifestation of popularity."
Charles Barkley didn't know how to comment for a moment.
In previous years, All-Star starters were always players of outstanding ability, but this year's situation was truly different, and the voting also felt outrageous to him:
"3.21 million votes, God! It's truly unbelievable. More and more people are starting to pay attention to Clay Lee."
"Congratulations to Chris Paul, who earned a starting spot in his first career All-Star selection! Head Coach Scott has the opportunity to coach the Western Conference All-Stars. They deserve recognition."
Watching his partner speak diplomatically instead of offering sharp critiques, Kenny Smith couldn't help but smile, turning to him and teasing:
"Chuck, I thought you'd have something to say, especially since this year's All-Star voting results surprised so many people."
Uncharacteristically serious, Charles Barkley did not criticize fans for voting haphazardly but rather said meaningfully:
"All-Star Weekend is a gift to the fans. Everyone who votes can make their own choice. They will decide who they want to see start that weekend."
"Of course, I won't talk about skill issues. From my perspective, this is more about respect!"
"Clay Lee has always been with the New York Knicks. He has brought honor to New York and turned Madison Square Garden into a true basketball mecca, so everyone respects him."
At this point, Charles Barkley paused, feeling a bit sore inside, but ultimately continued:
"And some players made their own choices for a championship. Fans don't like such decisions, so they can vote for others."
"Adults must be responsible for their actions, not beg for charity! If there's a new champion this year, I think they will regain respect."
Hearing these words, Kenny Smith was a bit surprised.
He had expected his old partner to defend some players, but he didn't expect that the other party actually disapproved of "teaming up" either.
"A championship will make them regain respect?"
"Are you sure, Chuck?"
Ernie Johnson, sitting in the middle, also turned his head and asked.
Noticing both of them looking at him, Charles Barkley finally responded in an unreadable tone:
"No matter what others say, in my opinion, a championship is always the most important."
"When they face an unbeatable opponent, choosing to unite is understandable. Teaming up and still losing to the opponent is the problem."
"..."
Perhaps seeing reflections of himself in some players, Charles Barkley was not as active as usual in the subsequent program.
History seemed to be repeating itself, and he had a strong feeling.
As the broadcaster, TNT had started promoting this year's All-Star Game very early.
At the end of the program, Kenny Smith previewed this year's G League All-Star Game:
"This Friday will be different from previous years. We will enjoy a dream night of the G League."
"Remember to tune into TNT in advance!"
The day after the voting results were announced, some players immediately broke down.
Allen Iverson and Tracy McGrady simultaneously complained to the media after their games.
Tim Duncan, who didn't make the starting lineup, remained silent.
Perhaps the former MVP had already put all his thoughts into the upcoming trade, but soon, a piece of news from Los Angeles made Tim Duncan unable to sit still.
On sunday, the 27th, the Los Angeles Times broke the news of Kobe Bryant's injury, and then the Lakers immediately confirmed the related news:
"Kobe Bryant has a torn ligament in his right pinky finger.
The injury is still under observation and he may be unable to play in the All-Star Weekend."
The San Antonio Spurs were on the road preparing for their game against the Utah Jazz.
That evening, the atmosphere within the team was strange.
Everyone avoided looking at Tim Duncan, but their meaning was clear:
"Boss, the opponent's core player is injured. Are you still leaving?"
Tim Duncan still did not give a direct answer, but instead left silently by himself.
Gregg Popovich had originally wanted to use this opportunity to talk with his star player again, but seeing the situation, his heart sank once more:
"It's over. San Antonio no longer has Tim Duncan."
....
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)