Pick Westbrook

Chapter 319 No Lower Than Anthony
The All-Star Weekend is over.

Chris Paul led the Western Conference team to victory in the All-Star Game with 20 points, 15 rebounds and 4 steals, and was named the All-Star MVP.

In the three-point contest, Kevin Love overwhelmed Ryan Anderson, Mario Chalmers, James Jones, Anthony Morrow, Kevin Durant and other players and won the All-Star Award Champion of the three-point shootout.

It's just that this year's slam dunk contest made most fans extremely dissatisfied. Both the fame and strength of the participating players are far from the level of previous years.

Jeremy Evans of the Jazz had the last laugh, beating Chase Budinger of the Rockets and Paul George of the Kings to win the All-Star Slam Dunk Contest.

On the contrary, this year's Rookie Challenge satisfies the appetite of countless fans.

Since its inception in 1994, the Rookie Challenge has undergone many reforms.

Originally, this event was also called the rookie game, which means that only rookies can participate in the game. It was not until 2000 that there were no rookie and second-year team games.

And this year will be the first time in history that a mixed team of first and second graders will compete against each other. All young players want to win the first MVP trophy after this reform.

So the Rookie Challenge was extremely intense from the very beginning.

查尔斯·巴克利队的凯里欧文全场13投12中，三分球8投8中，罚球2罚2中，得到了34分9助攻的数据。

The 34-point score is also the fourth-highest in Rookie Challenge history.

But the MVP of the Rookie Challenge is not him, but Leonard of the Shaquille O'Neal team.

伦纳德全场11投6中，三分球3投2中，罚球4罚3中，得到了17分7篮板3助攻的数据。

At first glance, it seems that Leonard's data is far from that of Irving, but Leonard sent 4 steals and 4 blocks at the same time. He also became the only player in the history of the Rookie Challenge to send 4 Players who record steals + 4 blocks.

On top of that, Team Shaq beat Team Charles Barkley 146-133.

Li Lai got the news from the list of gods in his mind immediately after the All-Star Weekend.

[Chris Paul: Phased goal of Conferred God mission completed]

All-Star MVP, regular season assists leader, best defensive player DPOY, regular season MVP, single-season double-double, championship, FMVP, regular season steals leader, 180 clubs.

Complete 4 items to become a god, and 1 items have been completed. 】

[Unlock Chris Paul skills: Pass Master (Bronze) increases pass stability by 1% when passing, and increases shooting percentage by 1% when teammates catch the ball.With the growth of the player's own strength and practice upgrade]

[Kawhi Leonard: Phased goal of the mission of conferred gods completed]

All-Star MVP, regular season scoring champion, best defensive player DPOY, regular season MVP, single-season double-double, championship, FMVP, regular season steals champion, Rookie Challenge MVP, best rookie.

Complete 4 items to become a god, and 1 items have been completed. 】

【解锁科怀·伦纳德技能：安静的刺客（青铜）无球进攻时，增加1%的投篮命中率、1点进攻、1点速度、1点力量、1点弹跳。随球员自身实力的增长和练习升级】

Hornets training facility.

The slapping of basketballs, the clashing of players' muscles, and the trash talk.

"You only have this defensive strength? I really don't know why the MVP of the All-Star Rookie Challenge was awarded to you, an idiot."

"Your press isn't as tight as that girl I slept with last night."

Leonard was sprayed to pieces by this small, dark guy in front of him. Of course he knew that the opponent was Gary Payton, a well-known glove in the league.

At the same time, Payton also has a nickname as the number one stinky mouth king in NBA history, and Reggie Miller and Larry Bird are also known as the three strong mouthers.

However, Leonard was indeed taught a good lesson by Payton. He was actually robbed by this guy who had left the court for 44 years at the age of 5.

"Is it true that the coach can't find anyone? He even sent a fool like you to guide our defense."

Seeing that his friend Leonard was so sprayed that he couldn't even speak, Jimmy Butler stood up and said to the spray without hesitation.

But Jimmy Butler finally knew from Coach Stevens that Gary Payton was the team's defensive coach from now on, so he stepped back while spraying back.

Peyton nodded in surprise and glanced at Jimmy Butler, and signaled: You are not bad, you are very suitable for my appetite.

Then the defensive competition in the training hall turned into a contest between Jimmy Butler and Payton.

Jimmy Butler said very arrogantly after scoring a goal over Payton's defense.

"You are too soft! Soft like a puddle of poop, this is DPOY? Forgot to tell you, I also had diarrhea tonight!"

Payton immediately fought back, elbowing Jimmy Butler's neck during the layup, and then said with an easy layup.

"FXXK! If you can't stop me, call me an offensive foul, or go home and practice, or go to the WNBA."

Jimmy Butler, who had already been fouled by Payton, rubbed his neck and was even more angry.

"I really want to take a piece of paper from the toilet and gag your mouth."

Next to the guardrail on the second floor of the training hall.

Hammond looked at the intense physical confrontation and trash talk under his feet, and he was full of worry and asked: "Is Payton going too far?"

Li Lai said with a smile: "A defensive team needs blood, and more importantly, it must be able to withstand the blood of the opponent. This is what we lack the most."

"Payton's arrival can make up for that for us."

Stevens nodded in agreement.

Competition on the court has never been a literati's poetry and painting. If you hit me, I will hit you. If you play tricks on me, I will fight you. If you dare to spout garbage, I will naturally respond to you more fiercely.

This is basketball, this is competitive sports.

"It's just that Leonard doesn't seem to be good at these things. On the contrary, Jimmy is more suitable for Payton's old-school training method."

Stevens said slightly worried.

Li Lai shook his head and said directly, "Don't worry at all."

"Leonard's family background is extremely wealthy, so he has never been exposed to the trash talk at the bottom of society. Leonard's series of experiences also made him not good at dealing with others."

"But Jimmy Butler is different. He has suffered too much and has seen countless things that have happened at the bottom of society. He is like a hodgepodge, and he can calmly deal with all kinds of people and things."

When Stevens heard this, he fully understood why Li Lai shook his head.

"Payton also came from the bottom of this society, so he and Jimmy Butler were naturally easy to chat with."

"Leonard doesn't adapt to this way like he always plays extremely clean on the court, but that doesn't mean he can't learn a lot from Payton."

Li Lai nodded and said, "But Jimmy already has enough trash talk and petty tricks, and now he has Peyton's guidance. I'm worried that this guy will become a more annoying guy than Peyton in the future."

At this time, another player was added to the training camp.

Beverley was excited to join in after seeing Jimmy Butler and Payton's trash talk and fierce confrontation.

Peyton waved his hands again and again and said, "Who are you, if you ask me to practice defense with you, I have to practice defense with you?"

Beverly, who heard this sentence, didn't care whether Payton was an NBA star or not. The team's new defensive coach directly responded: "You clown, why stop you uncle."

Peyton looked at Beverly blankly.

Originally, he thought that the Hornets had Jimmy Butler, a player who was very suitable for him, and he was extremely satisfied. He didn't want to have another player who was more suitable for him.

Beverly also stared at Peyton arrogantly, looking at you for being sloppy.

Peyton smiled and said: "Labor will beat your shit out and stuff it in your mouth."

Seeing this scene on the court, Li Lai sighed helplessly.

"With Beverly asshole, the most hated player on the Hornets can't get Jimmy Butler."

3 month 1 day.

Hornets vs Thunder game.

Kenny Smith said: "The regular season is coming to an end, and the ranking of the Eastern Conference teams has probably been determined. The only possible variable may be the teams ranked 6th to 9th."

"But looking back at the West, there are still big variables from No. 11 to No.[-]. Any team that relaxes its vigilance in the next game is likely to be overtaken by the team behind it, or even fall out of the playoffs. match."

Barkley on the side nodded again and again. Even though he has played for so many years and commented on games for so long, it is the first time he has seen such a fierce division ranking.

The Spurs currently rank first in the Western Division with a record of 42 wins and 19 losses, followed by the Lakers in second place with 40 wins and 21 losses.

The difference between the two teams is only two games.

There are still 21 games before the end of the regular season. During this period, both the Lakers and the Spurs are likely to rush to the top of the Western Conference record.

Of course, neither team may hope to hit the first place in the league's record.

After all, the Heat's record is 50 wins and 11 losses, and the Bulls' record is 47 wins and 14 losses. The difference is too great.

It's just that the Eastern Division is strong and weak, and the strength of each team is too obvious. For example, the eighth-ranked Philadelphia 76ers only have a record of 29 wins and 32 losses.

In comparison, except for the Spurs and Lakers in the Western Division, the record of each team is extremely eye-catching.

黄蜂队39胜22负排名第三，独行侠队38胜23负，国王队37胜24负，火箭队36胜25负，灰熊队35胜26负，快船队34胜27负。

Behind them are the Timberwolves and Nuggets who are both 33 wins and 28 losses, and the Jazz who are 32 wins and 29 losses.

In other words, there are 50 teams in the Western Conference with a winning percentage of more than 11%, and the difference between the teams is not obvious.

As long as a certain player of a team is injured or accidentally loses two or even three consecutive games in the next game, it will be in a very dangerous situation, and it is not impossible for the team to directly leave the playoffs.

Li Lai knew that the Hornets were also in danger.

Coupled with the fact that the Mavericks and Kings have been pressing hard behind them, the Hornets have no chance to take a breath at this time.

In the past, in the final stage of the regular season, the core players were able to get the opportunity to take turns, but in this year's regular season, the matter of taking turns will be completely forgotten by the Hornets coaching staff.

"The Thunder's current record is 30 wins and 31 losses. They also have the possibility of making the playoffs theoretically."

"As a competitor in the Western Conference, there is no reason for us not to win tonight's game."

"And Durant is currently the league's leading scorer, averaging 29 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists per game."

Stevens reminded.

In his opinion, as long as the Hornets can win tonight's game, they will further lock in the playoffs, and there is a great possibility that they can stay in the upper half and retain the first round of the playoffs home field advantage.

Du Feng mentioned an interesting thing.

"Durant was already complaining about leaving the team last season, and was appeased by their general manager Sam Presti later, and promised to find a strong helper for Durant during the off-season. Playoffs."

"As a result, they just traded Lazar Hayward from the Minnesota Timberwolves, and at the same time completed a contract extension with Jeff Green, who averaged 16 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists per game, for 4 years and $3600 million."

"In addition to Jeff Green's biggest contract extension, the Thunder also signed rookie Reggie Jackson and got the Lakers championship point guard Derek Fisher in a mid-season trade."

"But Fisher's arrival didn't help the Thunder very much, and their record didn't improve significantly."

"So, Durant was delayed by the Thunder for another season."

In fact, during the All-Star Game, Durant still had fantasies about finding all the star players in the locker room and asking if they had the possibility of joining forces this summer.

But all the star players shook their heads and left after hearing the word Thunder.

This is just like James of the Cavaliers back then. No one wants to come to his team. Durant is also considered to have not proved himself.

He has indeed won the league's scoring title and has been an All-Star player for several years in a row, but the Thunder have been unable to make the playoffs for many years, making no player willing to take risks for this team.

In the end, Durant had no choice but to return to Oklahoma in despair. After Fisher joined, the team's record has not changed significantly, and the playoffs are still getting farther and farther away.

"Durant should be in a hurry."

Li Laichang said with a sigh.

But no matter how you look at it, the Thunder will never send Durant away easily, because anyone with a discerning eye can see Durant's top scoring ability, especially his personal indiscriminate singles ability, which is definitely the best in the league.

The more it comes to high-intensity games like the playoffs, the more Durant's unsolvable personal offensive ability can reflect its value and importance.

So as long as Sam Presti is not stupid, he will not trade Durant.

Even if it really comes to the point where Durant and the management are torn apart, Sam Presti will definitely open his mouth to the next team, the Lions.

Its trading chips are definitely not lower than those when the Nuggets traded Anthony back then.

(End of this chapter)