dmims Chapter 282 The Most Anticipated All-Star Game in History!
Chapter 282 The Most Anticipated All-Star Game in History!
Chapter 282 The Most Anticipated All-Star Game in History!
The Mavericks' resistance didn't last long tonight; in the latter part of the second quarter, the gap between the two teams widened to more than 20 points.
Although Finley and Nash worked together in the third quarter to narrow the gap to within 15 points at one point, that was their limit. They were unable to maintain their offensive momentum, and the gap between the two sides remained above 20 points for most of the time!
At the start of the fourth quarter, Bird once again fielded that lineup that struck fear into everyone's hearts: Lin Tian, Carter, Miller, Christie, and Webber!
This pure offensive lineup only took 3 minutes to completely disrupt the Mavericks' defense. In those 3 minutes, the Pacers went on an 11-2 run, pushing the point difference to over 30 points!
Then, the suspense of the game was completely gone!
Bird called it a day and substituted his key players off the court.
The Mavericks didn't put up much resistance. Finley, Nowitzki, and Nash played for another 3-4 minutes, narrowing the gap to 20 points before leaving the court to rest.
In the end, the score was 121:99!
The Pacers have won another game by more than 20 points!
In this game, Lin Tian scored 20 points in the first quarter, but in the last three quarters, because Don Nelson benched Strickland, Lin Tian also toned down his aggressive style of play, so that Don Nelson did not feel what despair was, nor did the Mavericks experience the joy of being outscored by 62 points in three quarters.
最终林天拿下了39分12次助攻5篮板4抢断的漂亮数据，韦伯则有22分11篮板4助攻入帐，卡特也再次拿下21分！步行者三剑客，再次联手轰下82分！
Their firepower is truly unmatched in the league!
For the Mavericks, Nowitzki scored 18 points, Finley had 20, and Nash, who came off the bench and got a lot of playing time in the last three quarters, had an impressive 16 points and 8 assists! As for Dazhi, although he scored 5 points as soon as he entered the game, he only scored 7 points in total for the whole game!
在登场的惊艳之后，他在其余的时间里3投只有1中，全场比赛5投3中拿下7分3篮板1助攻1盖帽，对他来说也算得上是还不错的表现。
For Don Nelson, he is well aware that his team's goal is not to quickly become a top team in the league within the next year or two; the team still needs to grow and gel.
So losing to the league's top team didn't bother Don Nelson at all; he thought it was normal to lose this game! He was actually quite happy!
Because he discovered Nash!
Before tonight, his impression of Nash was that he was a decent point guard who could shoot and pass, but his defense was questionable.
But tonight, after giving Nash ample tactical autonomy, this guy delivered a performance that left a deep impression on Don Nelson! His passing, his court vision, and most importantly, his commanding presence when directing his teammates' movements—once the ball is in Nash's hands, he doesn't care whether it's Finley or Nowitzki; if he tells you to set a screen, you have to come up!
Another thing that impressed Don Nelson was that in the second half of the third quarter, when defending Lin Tian's fast break, Nash stood firmly on both feet without any fear and blocked Lin Tian's path, drawing an offensive foul from Lin Tian!
Although the referee called an offensive foul, Nash was like someone who had been hit by a charging bull. He was almost airborne with both feet off the ground before crashing out of bounds!
In today's league, everyone knows that Lin Tian is practically the number one heavy tank and monster on the backcourt. Any point guard who is slightly weaker or shorter will be driven to the brink of collapse by Lin Tian's endless back-to-the-basket attacks.
Drawing an offensive foul on him? It's not impossible, but that's something only big, strong interior players dare to do. Very few perimeter players would actually do that.
After all, it's only a few hundred a month... Well, it's only that little money a month, there's no need to work so hard!
In short, Nash's performance today left a very deep impression on Don Nelson. Nelson also regretted that he had only discovered the level and talent of such a player half a season ago. This year, he had spent too much energy on Nowitzki, causing him to neglect the growth of other players.
In the second half of the season, we should distribute the benefits more evenly!
Okay, let's do it that way.
As for Strickland? Go away, don't even think about it. Don Nelson can't stand this kind of loser. If there are no surprises, Strickland will be traded before the deadline, and the Mavericks will find another point guard of similar ability to be Nash's backup.
Don Nelson has decided to promote Nash to the starting lineup for the second half of the season!
This New Year's battle was actually a bit of a letdown, with the two sides not entangled for long. The Mavericks put up almost no resistance in the second half, and Lin Tian and Da Zhi's matchup lasted for less than 10 minutes.
Although he had several highlight moments where he scored 5 points in a row, those 5 points were his only highlight moments.
Fortunately, Lin Tian still performed at a high level today, bringing the fans an extraordinary visual feast!
Lin Tian's fans were very satisfied today, saying they enjoyed watching the game!
Of course, there are other special programs following this match.
In this era of the internet's rapid, unbridled growth, some domestic portal websites have begun to enter the public eye. After this match, these rapidly growing portal websites have come up with all sorts of tricks to attract fans' attention and clicks!
"The top high school player easily scores 2 points with a dribble, then hits a three-pointer after receiving a pass! Ryota scores 5 consecutive points, showcasing his 'Moving Great Wall' skills!"
Five consecutive points led the team to a comeback! He won the coach's trust in roughly two minutes!
He skillfully faked out Lewis under the basket, then decisively attacked from beyond the three-point line, scoring 5 points in a row before simply smiling slightly!
"5 points and 2 rebounds in a single quarter led the team to a comeback! He was determined to win, but Don Nelson wouldn't give him a chance, and he couldn't turn the tide!"
A multi-angle replay of his most impressive footwork! In terms of footwork alone, he's definitely among the top three in the league today!
"If we focus all our efforts on developing him, he's no worse than Nowitzki! Seven dimensions and nine data points prove that Zhidao is the better one!"
"Don Nelson will be fired sooner or later! This kind of player isn't given opportunities or a tactical role; in terms of stubbornness and stupidity, he ranks in the top three in the NBA!"
Head-to-head showdown! Dazhi throws himself into a diving tackle to block Lin Tian's powerful dunk, but Lin Tian deftly dribbles and finishes with a flick, easily scoring 2 points!
A clash of titans between Chinese and NBA stars unfolds in the NBA! Lin Tianke gets a 9, but I'd give him roughly a 10!
……
Such ridiculous clickbait headlines are rampant on major portal websites and forums, attracting countless clicks, ridicule, and mutual insults and arguments from fans who are having a great time arguing.
As for why these abnormal posts are all related to [the topic], the reason is quite simple.
Lin Tian no longer needs these things.
Lin Tian's fans won't be attracted by these things.
When reporting news related to Lin Tian, the most basic and normal methods are sufficient.
Write normally, and you'll get enough traffic!
With the conclusion of this Spring Festival battle, Chinese fans had their fill of excitement and then began to enjoy their happy Spring Festival holiday!
NBA games are still proceeding smoothly.
With the All-Star Game approaching, the league has used every possible publicity stunt. If they continue like this, all they can come up with is some ridiculous story like Lin Tian and Carter shooting each other in the locker room for a spot in the dunk contest.
Fortunately, thanks to Stern's efforts, everything has settled down by now!
On February 5th, a week before the All-Star Game, the NBA officially announced the participants for this season's Three-Point Contest!
Even with the official announcement, league officials couldn't resist adding a sentence before the list of participants for the Three-Point Contest, which was unusual for them.
"The complete roster of the greatest 3-point contest in history!"
Yes, the official endorsement of this year's 3-point tournament has given it the title of the strongest in history!
After carefully reviewing the roster, fans surprisingly had no objections and unanimously declared: "It is indeed the strongest ever!"
The eight-player roster for this Three-Point Contest is as follows: Steve Kerr, Jeff Hornacek, Ray Allen, Reggie Miller, Glen Rice, Brent Barry, Gary Payton, and Lin Tian.
This roster truly deserves to be called the most luxurious 3-point tournament in history!
Kerr was the 1997 Three-Point Contest champion, Hornacek was the 1998 Three-Point Contest champion, and Rice was the 1995 champion!
If Tim Legler, who won the championship in 1996, hadn't declined significantly and become a fringe player on the team, and if Price, who won the championship in 1993 and 1994, hadn't retired, Stern would most likely have brought them in as well!
Although the two of them are missing, the fact that three of the champions of the last four Three-Point Contests are all on the court makes this year's Three-Point Contest even more prestigious and exciting!
Besides those three, Miller, although he never won the Three-Point Contest, is widely regarded as the greatest shooter in NBA history, while Ray Allen is considered by everyone to be the best shooter after Miller!
In addition, although Payton's three-point shooting percentage is only 36%, he averages 2.5 three-pointers per game this season, ranking second in the league.
If Payton wins by sheer volume, then Brent Barry wins by sheer volume and quality. This season, he averages 2.4 three-pointers per game, ranking third in the league, while his three-point percentage is as high as 41%, ranking sixth in the league!
With both of these two most important shooting statistics ranking in the top 6 in the league, Barry is definitely one of the best shooters in the league today!
As for Lin Tian, he averaged 2.9 three-pointers per game this season, ranking first in the league, with a shooting percentage of 43%, ranking fourth in the league!
In terms of both quantity and quality, Lin Tian can now easily surpass Barry! Lin Tian is practically the league's top shooter right now!
It's also worth mentioning that because Lin Tian has a very high accuracy rate with three-pointers and often shoots three-pointers from close range and long distances, the league is now seeing a trend of shooting long distance and close-range three-pointers.
Although it hasn't become a truly orthodox offensive method yet, all the top shooters in the league have increased their number of three-point attempts to varying degrees, and correspondingly, their number of three-pointers made has also increased significantly!
This is still because Lin Tian has not made three-pointers his specialty and has not been shooting wildly in every game. If Lin Tian really learned to shoot as wildly as Curry, he could bring the three-point shooting trend that Curry started into the league more than 10 years earlier!
However, while it's cool to throw a few long-range shots and follow-up three-pointers, if you just keep throwing and only shoot three-pointers, then it's not quite the same.
The combination of driving and shooting is the coolest!
Regardless of the circumstances, these eight are the league's top shooters, and also the eight with the highest status, best reputation, and most trusted reputation in the league. To be honest, if you asked fans to find one or two more people to replace these eight, they wouldn't be able to!
These eight players are indeed the best and top-tier marksmen currently active in every aspect.
TNT, on the other hand, immediately gave this 3-point tournament a very lofty but very corny name: Battle of the Gods!
While various media outlets and fans were discussing who was most likely to win the championship and who had the best chance of becoming the Three-Point Contest King of Kings, the league announced the list of players participating in the Slam Dunk Contest just one day after the Three-Point Contest list was released!
Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, Steve Francis, Larry Hughes, Jerry Stackhouse, and Lin Tian!
All six players participating in the dunk contest arrived at the same time!
The list of these six players has also excited fans!
Every single one of these six players is one of the top dunkers in the league's younger generation!
Vince Carter needs no introduction. He was already famous throughout the United States for his dunks in high school, and in college he was hailed as the best dunker at North Carolina since Jordan! His physical attributes, in-game dunking ability, and the powerful beauty he displays when dunking make him the most anticipated dunker by fans, without a doubt!
As for McGrady, he has made steady progress in his three years with the Raptors, improving with each game. From a pure substitute and sixth man at the beginning to finally becoming a starter this season, he has even become one of the team's most important players after Rose left. He has a very promising future!
Compared to Carter's powerful, violent, and decisive dunking style, McGrady's slender and perfect physique made his dunks appear elegant, graceful, and casual! He and Carter can be said to be two extremes in dunking style.
As for Francis, the second overall pick who caused a lot of controversy at the beginning of the season by refusing to report to the Grizzlies, he also showed his terrifying talent after joining the Rockets. He is the shortest of the six players, so he can do the most complete and beautiful tricks such as folding and spinning in the air!
These three are considered the three most likely to win this year's Slam Dunk Contest, and many believe that the final champion will be one of them!
As for Larry Hughes and Stackhouse, although both of them have amazing physical abilities and can fly high and fast when they play, they would actually be qualified to compete for the dunk contest in other years. But this year, those three guys are really abnormal.
Almost everyone thought: there was absolutely no chance for them!
As for Lin Tian, it has been a long time since an MVP-level player in his prime participated in the Slam Dunk Contest, since the peak showdown between Jordan and Wilkins.
The reason for this is that many players do not want to be labeled as spiking champions, and many top stars are worried about losing or being embarrassed if they spiking poorly.
For players at the All-Star level and above, the title of Slam Dunk Contest champion is not important, but losing it would be a huge loss!
But this year, Lin Tian has arrived! This true top star, who was last year's regular season MVP and is currently leading the MVP rankings, has joined the Slam Dunk Contest!
This immediately reignited the hype surrounding the entire Slam Dunk Contest! The Slam Dunk Contest, which nearly went bankrupt in 1997 due to Kobe Bryant's poor dunking performance, attracted considerable attention and interest early on this year!
What excites fans even more, besides the head-to-head showdown of top dunkers, is the judges of this year's All-Star Slam Dunk Contest!
The league announced the list of referees for this year almost at the same time as announcing the participants.
In previous years, the role of judge in the Slam Dunk Contest was never specifically mentioned, but this year it was, which means it's definitely completely different from previous years!
Dominique Wilkins in "The Human Highlights of Cinema"!
Potato Webber!
Larry Nance Jr., nicknamed "The Hawk"!
Rick Barry, the "scoring machine"!
Charles Barkley, the "Flying Pig"!
The announcement of the five judges immediately excited the fans!
Of these five players, the first three, Wilkins, Webber, and Nance, have all won the Slam Dunk Contest and have all delivered classic dunks that are highly prestigious and worth revisiting by fans!
Those three are absolutely legendary figures in the NBA dunking world!
As for Rick Barry, although he is not known for his dunks, he is the Warriors' number one legend besides Chamberlain. Since the All-Star Game is being held in Oakland, it is natural to find a Warriors legend to fill the space.
Unfortunately, Chamberlain died young, otherwise Stern would have found this "Big Dipper" no matter what.
As for Barkley, who seemed completely out of place with the other four and whose style was entirely different...
Okay, he's Stern's alternative.
Stern couldn't find another suitable person to be the fifth judge, so he brought in Barkley.
Stern originally wanted to invite Jordan to be a judge in the Slam Dunk Contest, but the guy was unyielding and refused to be a judge no matter what Stern said. Stern tried his best to persuade Jordan, but Jordan remained unmoved.
No matter what I say, I won't come.
However, Stern was prepared for this, because Jordan had been elusive for the past six months after his retirement, making it extremely difficult to find him.
But recent news indicates that Jordan is in Washington, where he is discussing the possibility of acquiring the Wizards team with the team's owners!
He wants to buy a team just for fun!
As for the details and content of his discussions with the Wizards, whether it was just buying some shares or buying the entire team, Stern didn't know. It's likely that the details would only be released by both sides after the final agreement was reached.
Because Jordan was unwilling to participate, and Stern couldn't find another dunker who could sit alongside those three, he simply contacted TNT and borrowed Barkley, who was good at creating entertaining content and generating buzz!
With this, the Slam Dunk Contest judging panel was officially formed!
The judges for this year's Slam Dunk Contest are definitely the most prestigious and anticipated in NBA history!
Fans and players alike are very curious about how these top slam dunkers will view the younger slam dunkers and what scores they will give them.
What kind of dunks will this group of players, who can be considered the best dunkers in the history of the league, deliver?
Fans' expectations were already at rock bottom a week before the All-Star Game officially began!
After attracting a huge amount of attention with the gimmick of the three-point contest and the dunk contest, the league also announced the list of All-Star reserve players for this season before the All-Star Game!
On the Western side: Michael Finley, Rasheed Wallace, Scottie Pippen, David Robinson, Mitch Richmond, Jason Williams, Antoine Jamison!
East Team: Grant Hill, Karl Malone, Dikembe Mutombo, Gary Payton, Reggie Miller, Ray Allen, Jerry Stackhouse!
On paper, the Eastern Conference's bench is clearly much more luxurious than the Western Conference's, for a simple reason: Stockton retired, and Payton and Malone moved to the East.
The Western Conference team suddenly had three more All-Star spots, which could be given to players who didn't seem quite qualified.
For example, Jamison and Williams, two players from bottom-ranked teams, have decent stats, but their teams' records are so bad that coaches wouldn't normally choose them.
However, with several more spots available in the West, the coaches cast their votes for Williams, who was very popular among fans, and Jamison, the star player of the host Golden State Warriors.
By past standards, neither of these two individuals would have been eligible for selection.
However, given the situation in the Western Conference this year, these two still benefited greatly from the East's dominance over the West, successfully making it into the All-Star team.
Compared to the West, which is unsure who to select, the East has several players who have been overlooked for the All-Star game.
Houston of the Knicks, Glenn Robinson of the Bucks, Glen Rice of the Hornets...
At least in terms of team record, player ability, and individual statistics, they are clearly more qualified to be selected for the All-Star Game than Williams and Jamison.
But there's nothing that can be done; that's just how the rules are. These players who didn't make the All-Star reserve team can only look forward to the next opportunity with regret.
In terms of the number of players selected, the Pacers are the only team with four players selected for the All-Star team, while the Heat and Spurs each have three players selected, and the Pistons have two players selected.
Although the Lakers had two players selected as All-Star starters, none of them were on the bench. On the contrary, the Trail Blazers and Spurs each had two players selected as reserves, making them the biggest winners in the West.
Next, the league announced a brand new format for the Rising Stars Challenge! Because last year's All-Star Game was canceled, and in order to allow more players to appear in the All-Star Game, the NBA Rising Stars Challenge has changed from having rookie players divided into two teams based on the East and West divisions to having first-year players play against second-year players!
This brand-new format not only allows more and better players to appear in the All-Star Game, but also prevents the previous situation where a single rookie draft was not good enough to assemble two teams with outstanding players, making the All-Star Rookie Game very boring.
Changing the East-West rivalry to a first- and second-year competition makes it easier for players and fans to feel a sense of belonging and responsibility, making the games more exciting and thrilling!
Once all the preparations for the All-Star Game and the participants were finalized, everyone's attention was focused on Oakland that weekend. This directly led to the last few regular season games becoming less appealing, with teams and fans alike becoming "victims" of the All-Star Game.
Fortunately, these days of being ignored only last a few days!
On February 9, all teams in the league finished their last game before the All-Star break.
On the 10th, representatives from various teams and participating players arrived in Auckland in small groups.
Because only Antawn Jamison was selected for the All-Star team this year, and Jamison is only a sophomore and doesn't have connections with many players, there wasn't even a party organized at Oakley Airport this year!
The players can only rely on their own initiative to hold all sorts of parties and events in the absence of a host country, so that the players can have a great time while the fans are entertained!
From morning to evening on the 10th, players from all over the world who participated in the NBA All-Star Game arrived one after another, quickly filling the hotel booked by the league. In the evening, as long as you came to the lobby of the hotel, you would find NBA stars chatting everywhere!
After all, the NBA had arranged a full day of community outreach activities for the players on the 11th, allowing them to go into the community, build relationships with local people and charitable organizations, and interact with them. Then, on the evening of the 11th, which was Friday night, the All-Star Rookie Game, with its brand-new format, was launched!
There will still be some activities during the day on Saturday, but the main event will obviously be the All-Star individual competitions in the evening!
Then comes Sunday, when the league no longer schedules any activities for the players. Instead, it opens the training facilities of the Eastern and Western Conference All-Star teams early in the morning, allowing reporters to take close-up photos of the two teams' training sessions and conditions.
In the afternoon, it's time for the roundtable discussions that reporters love most. They have almost the entire afternoon to interact closely with the players and ask them all sorts of questions.
Finally, and of course, is the main course and most important game at the end of every All-Star Game: the All-Star Game itself!
As the NBA's most star-studded, relaxed, and anticipated annual event, the All-Star Game has always been a favorite among fans during All-Star Weekend.
But some changes have occurred this year.
Because when fans voted for the most anticipated event of the year, 41% of them chose the Slam Dunk Contest!
From participants to spectators, everyone is full of confidence for this year's Slam Dunk Contest!
They are all looking forward to a historic dunk contest!
On the afternoon of the 10th, Lin Tian, along with his three teammates who were participating in the All-Star Weekend and Bird, who was going to coach the Eastern Conference All-Star team, got off the plane. They had just played a game in Vancouver and had traveled almost halfway across the United States to finally arrive in Oakland.
But to Miller's dissatisfaction, no one was there to pick him up at the airport!
"These kids in Auckland have absolutely no manners!" Miller muttered, grumbling.
"Come on, Reggie. You know they're kids, but do you even have any of their phone numbers? You've never even spoken to them, so why would they come pick you up?" Lin Tian glanced at him and mocked him without hesitation.
"So how do we get to the hotel? By taxi?" Weber asked, quite clearly, raising a very crucial question.
"I'm prepared." After saying that, Lin Tian led the way towards the parking lot. As soon as they reached the parking lot, Lin Tian picked up his phone and made a call.
Less than two minutes later, a white bus with dark tinted windows, but a simple, dilapidated body that looked like it had been used many times, drove towards the group.
"Get on the bus!"
After Lin Tian finished speaking, he was the first to board the bus.
The other four people were a little confused, but they followed Lin Tian onto the bus.
Then... they saw Rashid sitting in the driver's seat, waving excitedly at the group.
"This is a trick we learned from Lin! This All-Star game is teeming with paparazzi, cameras, and reporters! If we want to have a good time, we have to find a way to avoid them!"
"A simple bus, nothing special, designed to prevent peeping, is our best choice!" Rashid boasted excitedly.
"This bus has 54 seats, enough to fit all the players coming to All-Star Weekend! And it's discreet and hard to spot. Who would imagine that a group of top players like us would drive a beat-up, second-hand bus to a high-end nightclub for fun?"
"I'll lead the way this time, and I guarantee I'll take you guys all over the Bay Area!" Rashid excitedly turned on the bus's stereo, and immediately the whole bus was filled with energetic and deep black rap songs. Then the bus went dark, and each seat lit up with flashing colored lights.
I must say, the sound effects are amazing and the atmosphere is fantastic!
"This junk cost less than $5000, but I spent $3 on the sound system! It's absolutely top-notch! I also added leather seats, a refrigerator, and ambient lighting! The last two rows of seats can be folded down anytime!" Rashid was swaying to the music, with a "I'm awesome, praise me" look on his face.
"Rashid, you've got some nerve!" Lin Tian knew exactly what his little brother wanted, and sitting next to him, he gave him a thumbs up and said, "Come on, call the guys, it's on me tonight!"
"What are you talking about! How can we let the BOSS treat us when we're on my turf! I'll treat! Damon, Scott, and Avidas are all here! Anyway, it's not far, and they've all come to have fun. This time, we'll treat you, BOSS!" Rashid shook his head, then stepped on the gas, and the bus immediately drove off into the distance.
"When did you become so close to these Portland cockroaches?" Miller couldn't help but ask when he saw Lin Tian return to his seat. He really didn't know that Lin Tian had been hanging out with these Portlanders.
"I don't know either. It just feels like all of these people suddenly started treating me like an older brother." Lin Tian spread his hands, indicating that he really didn't know what was going on.
The only plausible guess is that he's good at fighting, good enough that this gang of thugs worships him like Guan Yu (a legendary figure in Chinese mythology).
Although it's outrageous, it does seem to make a lot of sense.
But those things were obviously unimportant. What was important was that Lin Tianzhen hadn’t expected these guys who made a living in Portland to be so familiar with the Bay Area!
There are even a few places that Webber, who once played in Oakland for a year, had no idea about.
Rashid explained, "You were barely out of school when you were playing golf in Auckland; you weren't even qualified to enter many of the venues!"
How to put it? Lin Tian can only say that every city has its unique charm, every city has completely different local customs and traditions, and every city has its own scenery that is worthy of recognition and makes people linger.
When it comes to Auckland, what is the most memorable thing?
Without a doubt, it's the Warriors logo and the Bay Area Bridge, a landmark of the entire city!
Lin Tian never imagined that this group of people could rent a yacht under the Bay Area Bridge and have fun on it.
Looking at the bridge while drinking and dancing, it's a truly wonderful feeling.
Then, the next day, Rashid and his group found several guides to introduce Lin Tian and his group to the unique features of the Bay Area.
How was it introduced?
Simply put, it's cosplay!
Several attractive and well-dressed female secretaries gave the players a thorough lesson, from the origins of the Bay Area to the naming of the city, from the gold rush a hundred years ago to the major economic, technological, and financial companies that made it the technology center of the entire West Coast.
How so?
Learning through entertainment!
Lin Tian liked this teaching method of teaching by example, especially the part about teaching by example!
There are indeed aspects of capitalist teaching methods that are worth learning!
In the past few days, led by Rasheed and his team, a group of All-Stars rode in that dilapidated bus like night travelers, wandering through the streets and alleys of the Bay Area. They were no different from Batman, except that they did not perform any acts of chivalry.
During the day, they engage in charity activities, always with a smile on their face, showcasing their care for the underprivileged, their commitment to giving back to society, and their service to the community.
At night, experience the passion and fiery spirit of the girls here.
Next up is the All-Star Rookie Challenge.
As the first time that rookie and sophomore players have faced off, this All-Star Rising Stars Challenge is quite a spectacle.
Every draft class of rookies has its own supporters, and every draft class of rookies claims to be the best!
This kind of challenge match between first and second graders is sure to generate a lot of buzz!
Moreover, playing for their own year's rookies gives players a greater sense of belonging, making it much easier for them to give their all than playing for the East or West!
The viewership ratings for this rookie competition broke previous records right from the start! It reached its peak, and the numbers will undoubtedly go even higher when the competition reaches its most intense and exciting moments!
As Stern listened to the data reported by the staff in his box, he couldn't help but feel proud. After all, he was the one who came up with this brand-new rookie tournament format, and now that it had been a great success, he was naturally happy!
Do the same thing next time!
Hmm... let's do it this way!
To be fair, the rookies from the classes of '98 and '99 were of very high quality!
While Ogvorkandie, the number one pick in the 98 draft, was unremarkable, they still had the North Carolina duo of Carter and Jamison, Dirk Nowitzki and Paul Pierce, who had grown into the team's second-leading scorers, and Jason Williams, who was also selected for the All-Star Game!
In addition, there are other talented players who play important roles on the team, such as Mike Bibby, Rif Lafrenz, Larry Hughes, and Bonzi Wells.
Compared to the class of '98, the class of '99 was just as good!
Elton Brand, the number one draft pick, averaged 20+10 in his rookie season, while Steve Francis, the number two pick, averaged 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Lamar Odom of the Clippers, Szczerbiak of the Timberwolves, Andre Miller of the Cavaliers, and Shawn Marion of the Suns have all established themselves in their respective teams!
Therefore, this match was incredibly exciting, especially since both sides had many talented high-flying players and players with fancy passing skills. The match was full of exciting moments and could be described as a series of climaxes.
As a perfect appetizer for All-Star Weekend, this Rising Stars Challenge was absolutely flawless!
Originally, the second-year team should have had the upper hand in this game due to their experience and more mature playing style. However, because Carter, Jamison, and Williams were all selected for the All-Star Game, and Carter will also participate in the Slam Dunk Contest tomorrow night, their exposure is destined to be much higher than that of other players.
With this in mind, the second-year team's coach, Carlisle, an assistant coach from the Pacers, did not give the three players much playing time, but instead gave the other players more playing time and more exposure.
Without the three strongest players on the team, the second-year team inevitably fell into a disadvantageous position. In the end, they failed to win and were instead defeated by the rookie team. The number one draft pick, Brand, who scored 16 points and grabbed 21 rebounds, became the first MVP of the Rookie Game after the rule change!
Then?
Then the bigwigs from each team left early, boarded that mysterious bus, and disappeared into the Bay Area night.
(End of this chapter)