novelhk Chapter 283 I'm afraid my brother is suffering, but I'm even more afraid he's driving
Chapter 283 I'm afraid my brother is suffering, but I'm even more afraid he's driving
Chapter 283 I'm afraid my brother is suffering, but I'm even more afraid he's driving a Land Rover!
At 7:30 pm on February 12th, the highly anticipated individual competition began!
If the Rising Stars Challenge is a stage for the league's young talents to showcase themselves, serving as an appetizer for the All-Star Game, then the All-Star individual competitions are the dessert after the appetizer.
Of course, that was the case in the past. This year, the situation is completely different!
The lineups for both the three-point contest and the dunk contest are just too intimidating!
An absolute showdown of kings!
Marcus, who was there to commentate on the individual events, bluntly stated: "Tonight's level of individual event matchups are probably one of a kind again! As the first All-Star Game of the 21st century, the league has done an amazing job this year! This kind of lineup matchup is something we'll remember for the next twenty years!"
When a game is so highly praised by fans and media, the players certainly won't miss it! They know better than the fans and media how rare this lineup is, and they know better than anyone else that these shooters and dunkers are definitely going to make a big splash tonight!
So when the TV cameras panned across the front row of the audience, everyone noticed that almost all of those sitting in the front row were NBA stars!
For example, Shaquille O'Neal, dressed in a hip-hop outfit and joking around with a DV camera, said he was going to record every detail of the night. Next to him sat Kobe Bryant, who looked very calm, dressed in dress pants, leather shoes and a shirt, looking out of place among the other hip-hop style basketball stars around him.
Then there was the Trail Blazers gang not far away: Rasheed, Pippen, Sabonis, Stoudemire, Smith, and O'Neal, who was being bullied by them on the ground.
I'll teach you to run away on your own!
And then there's Garnett, who stands out even among Black people. Sitting on the sidelines, he lacks the passion he displays on the court, quietly waiting for the game to begin. On either side of him are Sprewell, sporting a Nezha-like hairstyle, and the team's newly acquired potential striker, Szczerbiak.
In addition, Duncan, who dislikes attending such occasions and prefers to stay at home reading comics, was also dragged out by David Robinson. Next to this pair of big men sat Richmond and Jalen Rose, who also looked like good buddies – the Spurs' Big Four!
It was extremely rare for Iverson and Marbury, these lifelong rivals, to sit together. They were muttering to themselves, and it was unclear what they were talking about, but judging from their expressions, they were both very excited.
The most imposing pair was the Heat's Twin Towers, Malone and Mourning. Both of them had serious expressions, giving off an unapproachable vibe. With these two most difficult guys in the league sitting together, no other NBA player was willing to come near them.
That's pointless!
Of course, as the host, Warriors players such as Jamison, Hughes, Mills, Marshall, and Blaylock formed the largest contingent, with more than half of the Warriors players present.
Even though they're not participating in the game, it's still a must for them to come and support the event held at their home stadium!
The DJ and MC on site were also working hard to get the fans excited, constantly raising the atmosphere, followed by a series of warm-up performances, including celebrity performances, cheerleader dances, and mascot antics.
Then, after all the preparations were completed, the eight players who participated in the three-point contest tonight were the first to walk out of the player tunnel!
The eager fans immediately erupted in deafening cheers and shouts!
This is exactly what they've been waiting for!
Tonight, nobody's here to see cheerleaders or mascots perform!
The eight contestants stood in a row, and the camera focused on each of them in turn, then displayed their three-point field goals made and their field goal percentage for the season.
Once the players had finished their appearance, the host immediately went over to them and began the interviews.
"Come on, guys, on this night—the most anticipated and star-studded night in league history—let's each say something first. Give your opponents a tough rap!"
When Hornacek, Cole, and Barry first spoke, it was fine. These three were either late in their careers or were complete role players. They knew very well what they should and shouldn't say, so they just said meaningless nonsense. The whole atmosphere was peaceful and serene.
Everything changed the moment Miller took the microphone. His previous calm and humility vanished: "I hope they don't go home crying after they lose tonight, because Reggie is going to win his first Three-Point Contest!"
"You're washed up, the Three-Point Contest isn't for you." The usually humble and low-key Ray Allen seemed to be affected by the atmosphere, and immediately started trash-talking Miller.
"See Reggie? He's a piece of trash who's nothing but a young idiot. He's not afraid of you anymore. You're nothing to be afraid of! You're just a noob who can't even make the starting lineup!" Payton followed up by yelling at Miller and Allen.
Then it was Rice, the guy who once wanted to challenge Jordan but is now content to be the Lakers' third option. He too was spurred into action, shouting, "You three are all going to lose tonight! I'll treat you to drinks after I win the championship!"
The fans were excitedly cheering as they listened to the star players exchanging barbs; that's what they came to see!
Who wants to see you being humble, polite, and courteous to each other?
It's not like a primary school student behavior demonstration.
This is supposedly the most intense three-point contest in NBA history. If it doesn't have some tension, what's the point?
Finally, when the microphone was handed to Lin Tian, he looked at everyone else and asked, "Have you finished discussing? Have you decided who should be second place?"
Lin Tian's words were clearly a copy of Larry Bird's arrogant and provocative remarks during the three-point contest, but although it was a copy, the effect was excellent!
Fans love his arrogant attitude!
In an instant, the entire Oakland Arena erupted in thunderous cheers and shouts!
This is a true reflection of how the fans feel right now.
Let's do it!
Fuck his ass! Smash his balls! Beat him to death! Hang him up and beat him! Press him to the ground and beat him!
Just do it!
The MC was getting incredibly excited by the trash-talking exchange between the star strikers behind him, and he shouted, "Well then, let's see who the ultimate winner is tonight!"
With his shout, the atmosphere reached another climax, and the eight contestants dispersed to warm up, while the staff quickly prepared the venue.
Basically, you just put the basketballs on five hoops, wipe the court, and check the nets.
The whole process took less than 5 minutes. Then the MC asked the players to return to their seats, and the 8 players took turns going on the court to shoot.
The order of shots is determined by the number of three-pointers made in the regular season. The fewer three-pointers made per game, the earlier you enter the game. If the number of three-pointers made per game is the same, then the total number of three-pointers is considered, followed by the shooting percentage.
According to this rule, the first player to go on stage is Cole, followed by Hornacek, then Barry, Rice, Miller, Allen, Payton, and finally Lin Tian!
Although Kerr had limited playing time in the regular season, if we only consider shooting skills, especially spot-up shooting, this guy is definitely a player of league history. He was very experienced in his first appearance and easily scored 21 points!
In previous years, this score would have definitely guaranteed a spot in the finals, but this year...
That's hard to say!
Next up was Hornacek, a veteran who performed steadily and scored 23 points!
Next up was Barry, whose father is a Warriors legend, so this was practically his home court. The fans cheered him loudly, and he didn't disappoint his hometown supporters, scoring a high of 22 points!
After the three role players, who are no longer considered stars, took their shots, it was time for the main event of the night!
A showdown between five All-Star caliber players!
Rice, the first player to take the court, made five consecutive shots at the first spot and maintained a very good touch throughout. This player, who was the league's regular season three-point leader two years ago, finally scored 23 points!
Ray Allen, who came on next, disappointed the fans. Despite being hailed as the top scorer of the new generation, he only managed to score 19 points!
At this point, only 5 people have been voted on, and those scoring less than 21 points are no longer eligible to enter the finals!
Even if Miller scores 22 points or more in the next round, Cole, who scored 21 points in the first round, will be eliminated!
The level of this year's 3-point tournament is truly terrifying!
Then, Miller, widely regarded as the league's greatest scorer of all time, stepped onto the court, let out a long sigh of relief, and began his performance.
Three goals were scored at the first spot!
The second point, two hits!
The third point, and again only 2 goals were scored!
The fourth point, not a single one made!
By the fifth point, although Miller had scored four, it was too late.
He made 11 shots, including 3 lucky shots, for a total of only 14 points.
The lowest score of the game so far.
After throwing, Miller shook his wrist, bit his lip, and shook his head helplessly.
His performance this year has really declined a lot. His stiff right wrist is really struggling to handle these kinds of rapid, consecutive shots.
"It's okay, Reggie. Michael once scored 5 points, so your 14 points is nothing." Lin Tian reached out and bumped hands with Miller, comforting him and telling him to relax.
"I'm fine," Miller said, shaking his head as he sat down, but everyone could tell he was alright.
"Gary hasn't even shot yet, and I bet he'll shoot even worse than you!" Lin Tian patted Miller on the shoulder and said, "At most 13 points!"
"What did you say, kid?" Payton, who had already stood up to shoot, turned around and looked at Lin Tian, saying, "I'll only get 13 points at most?"
"Just focus on shooting, why are you making such a fuss?" Lin Tian waved his hand impatiently. "Be careful, if you only score 4 points, you'll embarrass yourself!"
"You think I'd shoot 4 points? You think I'm some weakling like Michael? I'll shoot 25 points right now and show you!" Payton cursed, then turned and walked toward the court.
Four points? Are you kidding me? Even if I stomp my hands, cut off my feet, and sat on the floor shooting with my head, I still couldn't score only four points! Do you really think everyone is a piece of trash like Jordan?
Filled with dissatisfaction, Payton stepped onto the court. As the player with the most three-point attempts and the highest production volume this season, his three-point shooting percentage was actually the lowest among all the participants tonight, and the only one below 40%.
Four points? Are you kidding me!
"Gary!"
While Payton was lost in thought, Malone suddenly roared from the sidelines, drawing Payton's attention.
"Go for it!" Malone gave a thumbs up: "Teach that kid a lesson!"
It's fine to cheer on your teammates, and it's also fine to let them teach your arch-rival a lesson.
But the timing that Malone chose was very clever.
When Payton turned around, the countdown to 3, 2, 1 had already begun.
By the time Malone finished saying his encouragement and Payton quickly turned around to shoot, the game had already started. Although he wasted less than a second, Payton's rhythm and preparation were completely disrupted.
The first point, all lost!
The moment between Malone and Payton made Lin Tian, who was sitting in the audience, burst out laughing.
Goodness, Malone has played with Stockton for so long and hasn't learned anything else, but now he's practically the second assist king!
Payton scored a goal from the second spot!
The third point is another all-rail!
He only scored 2 points after taking most of the shots!
Miller, who had just been looking dejected, immediately perked up. His slight dejection and disappointment vanished in the blink of an eye!
He stared wide-eyed at Payton with great anticipation.
The fourth point is still a complete loss!
At the fifth point, Payton reached his historic moment!
He needs to score at least 3 points to tie Jordan's worst record in history, and 4 points to avoid finishing last!
He's nervous! Even the usually carefree Payton is nervous!
His hands were trembling slightly. Damn it, we're really going to be last in history?
Then, on the last point, with the first ball, he completely missed it!
After that shot, Payton's shooting touch got even worse, and he missed two more shots in a row!
He only has two goals left to score!
The last two shots, one a regular ball and the other a fancy ball, if both were close, would have been three points, and could have even dragged Jordan down to share the last place in history.
If one is lost...
Payton couldn't even imagine it!
He steadied himself, even took a deep breath, before finally releasing the ball.
"Whoosh!"
3 points!
Payton saved his career!
We've got an opportunity! An opportunity to catch up with the last-place team!
He picked up the last flower ball, steadied himself, aimed carefully, and released it!
"Whoosh!"
It's in!
YES!
Although Payton didn't show his excitement, he was relieved!
It's better that no one is in last place.
But before he could even catch his breath, the referee on the scene gave a signal.
No!
The last flower ball doesn't count!
Timeout!
Payton is overtime!
The last shot doesn't count! He holds the record for the lowest score in the history of the Three-Point Contest!
Upon learning this, Payton was completely stunned!
Holy crap, did I really manage to get the lowest score in history? You must be kidding me!
Payton rubbed his eyes in disbelief, then looked at the big screen.
It's definitely a 3-point score!
Then?
Then, Miller and Lin Tian, those two vicious guys, rushed wildly onto the court. Miller grabbed Payton and shouted excitedly!
Lin Tian jumped up and bumped shoulders with Payton in mid-air!
Excited! Happy!
He was overjoyed to see a new historical record set on site!
Miller completely forgot about the gloom he had just experienced and had forgotten all about scoring only 14 points.
What was that saying again?
I'm afraid my brother is struggling financially, but I'm even more afraid he's driving a Land Rover!
That's just how people are!
It doesn't matter if I'm bad, as long as you're worse than me!
It doesn't matter if my score is low; 14 points is at least a normal score.
Could it be 3 points?
Hahahahaha!
Payton will be forever etched in NBA history!
At this time in Washington, a triumphant Jordan had just finalized a contract to acquire a portion of the Wizards' shares, officially becoming the Wizards' second-largest shareholder. Along with the share transfer agreement, he also signed a contract to become the team's executive president.
In other words, starting next season, Jordan will officially take charge of a team as general manager. The basketball god is back!
However, Jordan was actually a little annoyed at the moment because he was watching the All-Star Game live while he was negotiating his contract with the Washington team.
That damn bastard Payton only scored 3 points!
Such a wonderful moment, such an incredibly joyful instant, such a joyous occasion for all to celebrate, and I wasn't even there!
What a pity, what a pity!
For the first time, Jordan felt a pang of regret. Why hadn't he accepted Stern's invitation? If he were a judge in the Slam Dunk Contest, he would surely be rushing onto the court right now, celebrating happily with Payton and offering him his heartfelt congratulations.
Instead of watching Lin Tian and Miller hug Payton like they'd won the championship, O'Neal rushed onto the court and hugged Payton as if he were his best brother since childhood, while the Trail Blazers bastards danced and sang around Payton.
Although the TV broadcast kept giving Payton close-ups in a very subtle way, letting fans all over the world see his expression of utter disgust, and watching it from multiple angles, the effect was completely different from watching it live!
I want to see it live, I want to send my blessings live, and I want to celebrate with my dear friends from the bottom of my heart.
envy!
I'm so jealous!
"Michael Jordan's emotions have fluctuated, resulting in a loss of 100 experience points!"
Ok?
Lin Tian, who was freestyle singing lyrics for Peyton with Rashid, suddenly froze for a moment.
Lin Tian understood why Payton gave him experience points, and he also understood why Miller and Rashid gave him experience points out of happiness.
But Jordan, shouldn't he be in Washington right now discussing taking over the Wizards? Why is he getting involved in this mess?
It's such a loyal, thick-wool sheep! You can't get it all off no matter how much you try to pluck it.
Lin Tian had no idea that Jordan had sent him the gift out of jealousy, but Lin Tian's happiness was absolutely genuine.
Seeing others make fools of themselves is so joyful and exciting!
I could watch it 100 times and never get tired of it!
What was that saying?
Anyone who embarrasses my brother, I'll make them pay with their life. But if my brother does something stupid and ridiculous, I'll take a picture and post it on WeChat Moments, Weibo, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, QQ Space, Renren, Renren, Tieba, forums, and all the major portal websites!
We want the whole world to know!
Happy and joyful!
Payton's face was now ashen, as if he had eaten 100 cans of expired herring with flies and maggots; he was green with envy from head to toe.
He now deeply regrets ever participating in the three-point contest. Why did he make such a stupid choice?
The entire three-point contest was interrupted for more than 5 minutes because of Payton's antics. There was no way around it; too many players rushed onto the court to celebrate. Everyone was just too happy.
Even Malone and Mourning couldn't help but laugh at this moment. If they weren't teammates and couldn't go too far, they would definitely have rushed onto the court to celebrate together!
That's 3 points!
Even if you put O'Neal's grandma up there to shoot, she would have a good chance of scoring 5 points!
For NBA-level players, even if they shoot well and seriously, scoring 3 points in a three-point contest is definitely harder than scoring 30 points!
Such a scene is truly rare for him!
After the players had finally had their fill of fun and had completely broken Payton's mentality, everyone remembered that Lin Tian hadn't even taken the shot yet.
So, Lin Tian took the stage.
However, Lin Tian wasn't really focused on shooting right now. Compared to winning a three-point contest, he was more interested in doing something flashy, maybe even getting a pleasant surprise...
For the first shot, Lin Tian chose to shoot with his left hand!
The first two were not well adapted to and both ended up missing the mark.
But the third, fourth, and fifth flower balls went in one after another!
4 points!
At the very first point, Lin Tian surpassed Payton!
"Gary! Left hand! Look at my left hand!"
Lin Tian excitedly ran to the second spot, waving his left hand and chatting with Payton.
But Payton completely ignored Lin Tian, showing him no respect whatsoever!
Not giving them face? That won't do!
Once he reached the 45-degree angle on the wing, Lin Tian turned his body to the side and started shooting with a hook shot!
He looked at Payton while turning to the side and hooking his arm around him.
In that instant, Lin Tian was possessed by Jabar!
"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"
The first four shots all missed.
But no problem! Because on the fifth ball, Lin Tian swished and hooked it in!
"Gary! Hook shot! It's a hook shot! You can try this next time!"
Lin Tian was having a blast right now, laughing heartily as he reached the top of the arc. This time, he didn't even look at the basket; he threw a shot with his back to the basket.
"Whoosh!"
Outrageous!
They even got in!
Lin Tian threw five balls from the top of the arc with his back to the goal. The second, third, and fourth balls missed in a row, but the last one went in!
What does Payton say now?
Lin Tian believed that he would rather go to hell, or be whipped by Satan, than appear on the field tonight!
But there's nothing he can do; Satan isn't working today! He's going to watch Payton make a fool of himself!
When he reached the fourth point, Lin Tian glanced at the timer.
Wow, they're having too much fun, they'll probably never finish throwing the balls.
But does it matter?
Obviously not important!
Upon reaching the fourth spot, Lin Tian yelled at Payton again, "Gary! This is my gift to you tonight! Look me in the eyes! Look carefully!"
After saying that, Lin Tian closed his eyes.
"Whoosh! Bang!"
The first two balls, one in and one out!
Then Lin Tian got bored, so he switched to his left hand again and started throwing with his left hand!
At this moment, the fans in the stadium also saw Lin Tian close his eyes. They immediately understood what Lin Tian was doing. As a result, the Auckland fans immediately became like mind readers to Lin Tian!
They started shouting the trash talk that Lin Tian most wanted to hear.
"Gary! Look into Lin's eyes!"
"Gary, Lin is using his cunning to aim!"
"Gary, Lin could be more accurate with his left hand even with his eyes closed!"
At this moment, Payton really wanted to die!
Never before had he so longed for death and liberation!
"Bang! Swish! Bang!"
Fourthly, Lin Tian threw three balls with his left hand while his eyes were closed, 2 of which were misses and 1 was a hit!
At the same time, he finally missed his first money ball.
Lin Tian wanted to run towards the baseline, but found it was too late; the one-minute match was over.
Without taking a single shot at the last spot, Lin Tian only took 20 shots, including five left-handed shots, five back-to-the-basket shots, five hook shots, and five shots with his eyes closed, and scored 11 points!
Although he finished second to last, and although 11 points is quite low in the entire history of the NBA, Lin Tian was very happy, even happier than if he had scored a perfect score!
Payton's face darkened further. He had lost face in front of the whole world, and then that bastard Lin Tian was still relentlessly chasing after him and cursing him.
"Lin, he's throwing with his left hand? He... he even did a hook shot? Is he trying to force Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to come back? That bastard! If I were Payton, I would kill him! God! He turned around! He turned his back, and he closed his eyes again! Oh damn! Poor Gary! I feel sorry for him!"
Marcus's expression was quite interesting at this moment. He turned to Smith beside him and asked, "Smith, have you ever seen anything crazier than this?"
"I saw it, just 10 minutes ago, Gary hit a three-pointer with his right hand! Isn't that even crazier?" Smith couldn't hold back any longer and burst into laughter. He laughed so hard his stomach hurt.
"Lin Tian, this athlete..." Sun Zhengping, who was in charge of commentating on the match for Huaxia Sports, hesitated for a long time, not knowing how to describe Lin Tian's performance just now.
"Lin Tian, his insults are really sophisticated!" Su Qun, standing next to him, gave a perfect answer.
Yes, that's a really sophisticated way to insult someone!
How high-end is it?
"Gary Payton's emotions have fluctuated, resulting in a loss of 2000 experience points!"
"Gary Payton's emotional state has caused him to lose the permanent skill: Glove Spin LV1 (0/2000)."
"Glove Spin LV1: Increases back-to-the-basket ability by 7%, spin move by 7%, finishing ability under the basket by 7%, and strength by 7%!"
Wow, a double whammy!
Lin Tian suddenly received a reward that far exceeded the 3-point tournament championship for him!
Payton not only gained 2000 experience points in one go, but also unlocked a new skill!
And it's Payton's signature move!
Or rather, it's Payton's core offensive skill!
Post-up moves and spin moves!
When ordinary people talk about Payton, the first thing that comes to mind is his impenetrable defense.
从他当年锁死凯文·詹森获得『手套』这个绰号开始，到他曾经在总决赛上0：3落后于公牛队的时候开始1对1和乔丹单挑，并在之后的3场比赛中将前三场比赛中场均轰下31.7分命中率50%的乔丹限制到只有23.7分，命中率只有36%。
The claim that Jordan was limited to Kobe's level originated from these three games, which were also the only time in Jordan's Finals career that he scored less than 30 points in three consecutive games!
Of course, Payton ultimately failed to reverse the series, and the Bulls still became the champions that year.
But as the only point guard in NBA history to win the Defensive Player of the Year award and a nine-time All-Defensive First Team selection, when people mention him, they think of his defense!
But only those who truly understand Payton know that he is equally formidable on offense!
A career average of 16 points per game may seem unremarkable, but he averaged over 20 points per game in 7 out of his 17-year career, and over 19 points per game in 2 of them. In a world without Lin Tian, he was the most offensive point guard of the 90s!
Of course, his offense doesn't feature those high-flying dunks or lightning-fast breakthroughs; his playing style is more practical and concise.
His signature attack has three moves!
First, he uses a slight change of direction followed by a hesitant step to draw the opponent's weight, then quickly spins past the opponent to complete the breakthrough. Second, he has a post-up game; he has top-tier height and weight for a point guard in the league, as well as top-tier instincts. He can seize the moment when the opponent makes a defensive mistake, use a quick spin to create space, and then complete the shot.
His signature moves include a low-handed floater after a turn and a mid-range shot.
As for the third one...
It was that overconfident three-pointer that made George Karl curse repeatedly.
For most of his career, his three-point shooting percentage was only slightly over 30%. Even so, he still liked to pull up directly after a screen, and from time to time he would pull up in a chase. As for efficiency, it can only be said that it was just enough to keep the coach and home fans from getting high blood pressure.
The skill Lin Tian acquired this time, judging from the description alone, is Payton's breakthrough and post-up game; he failed to learn his three-point shot...
Thankfully, I didn't learn that.
His three-pointer was completely useless against Lin Tian; it might not even have been as effective as Lin Tian's own "pick and roll shot"!
Anyway, although Lin Tian failed to reach the finals in the three-point contest and even ranked second to last in the game, he was happy!
I'm so happy! And I gained so much!
Lin Tian didn't keep the 2000 experience points that Payton gave him; he used them on the spot!
「手套旋转LV2（0/4000）：背身能力增加9%，转身技巧增加9%，篮下终结能力增加9%，力量增加9%！」
Yes, I feel great after making this purchase!
At this moment, not only Lin Tian was comfortable, but the fans in the entire Oakland Center were also very happy. After all, sometimes, even if you only score 25 or 6 points in a three-point contest, it's really not that interesting.
Payton's three-pointer is a once-in-a-lifetime achievement!
Watching superstar athletes miss shots, embarrass themselves, and make fools of themselves is really entertaining!
Moreover, Lin Tian's fancy shot that taunted the crowd and scored 11 points was also incredibly entertaining, making the fans in the stadium and those watching on TV go wild!
This kind of fancy trickery in the three-point contest is also unique in NBA history! So exciting!
Jordan was also very happy!
What is he so happy about?
He's happy now that he wasn't even there!
He had no doubt whatsoever; he was 100% certain that if he were there, Lin Tian would definitely say to him: "Michael, I only shoot from 4 spots and I still get 11 points. How did you shoot 5 points back then? Did you shoot with your ass looking at the basket?"
That bastard will definitely take the opportunity to mock me!
It's one thing to mock me, but to mock me while doing it! I can't stand it. Luckily, I'm smart and didn't give this bastard a chance to mock me!
At the same time, Jordan was also relieved that when he participated in the three-point contest 10 years ago, no one was so arrogant, and no one dared to shoot like that to mock him, otherwise...
Jordan thought about the terrible, pained expression on Payton's face just now.
hiss……
That's terrifying!
"Michael Jordan's emotions have fluctuated, resulting in a loss of 100 experience points!"
Oh, here we go again!
Lin Tian, who was comfortably and completely relaxed in his chair, ready to watch the Three-Point Contest final, was moved by Jordan's gesture of sending a gift from afar.
Or I could thank him later when I dunk, to express how much I miss him?
Otherwise, how could I possibly repay my friend for sending me a sports car!
Of course, the number one buddy right now is Payton, who has a sour face and doesn't say a word.
This guy's psychological trauma will probably last for quite a while.
How should I put it about this year's three-point contest?
This was completely unexpected by everyone.
The three most likely to win the championship and the biggest names among the contestants—Lin Tian, Payton, and Miller—were voted to be the bottom three, with Payton even getting the lowest score in history. This is completely different from what the audience expected!
But when it comes to a three-point contest, if several players with a score of 15-6 are just faking it out, it's not very interesting. But if someone comes out as the worst in history, and someone else is openly showing off fancy shooting skills to mock them, then the competition immediately becomes very interesting!
So much so that few people are paying attention to the finals now. Everyone is immersed in Payton's earth-shattering three-pointer and Lin Tian's cursing style of play. These two are really too funny!
Even Lin Tian's trash talk before the competition, saying who among them was there to compete for second place, will no longer be mentioned by anyone now or in the future.
A casual trash talk is nothing compared to the thrill and fun of casually shooting a basket and making it all the time.
Ultimately, this unexpected three-point contest, which was far more interesting in process than in result and was hailed as the greatest in history, ended with Hornacek successfully defending his title and becoming the three-point king for the second consecutive time.
I don't know if it was the unexpected events and incidents in the preliminary rounds that caused the players to lose their rhythm and feel. In the first round, they were shooting wildly, and the shooters who were as accurate as cruise missiles were collectively off-target!
Even the champion, Hornacek, missed his shot, scoring the lowest winning three-pointer in NBA three-point contest history.
13 points!
The champion only scored 13 points, so it goes without saying how badly the remaining guys who made it to the finals shot.
In short, after a preliminary round that was both entertaining and highly professional, the final round truly turned into the most boring kind of match between noobs.
The only slight regret is about Lin Tian.
During his final interview with the eight contestants on MC, asking them for their thoughts, he laughed and said, "If I had known I'd shown off my fancy shooting skills when I made it to the finals, I might have even won!"
"Thank goodness for Gary." Miller's answer was very direct, expressing his heartfelt gratitude to Payton.
If it weren't for Payton, he would have been the one embarrassing himself today.
As for Payton? His mouth practically shrugged to his chest. When faced with the MC's question, he only uttered one sentence: "FUXX!"
Well, he used profanity, which will most likely result in a $2 to $30000 fine for Payton after the game, but if he doesn't say it now, he'll be incredibly frustrated.
Aside from that one unavoidable swear word, Payton hasn't uttered a single word all night since Lin Tian started shooting.
He was truly furious with Lin Tian, with everyone present, and with himself!
Next came a brief awards ceremony, where Hornacek posed for photos with his trophy, gave a speech, and then left with the other seven people.
Next up is tonight's grand finale, the most exciting dunk contest!
Of course, before that, there has to be a segment featuring GG and cheerleaders.
"How's it going, Charles? Feeling like you're about to become a judge." Because his partner was going to be a judge, Kenny had been doing a solo performance most of the night, but now, before the dunk contest started, he still found Barkley and made time to chat for a bit.
"I'm so excited! Honestly, I've seen the dunk highlights of these six contestants, and all I can say is that tonight will be an absolute battle of titans! At least five of them have a chance to win! I believe this dunk contest will definitely not be like the three-point contest, which became just a lighthearted diversion."
"I'm really looking forward to tonight's Slam Dunk Contest; it might just be the most exciting one in NBA history!"
"Then tell me, out of your five contenders, who is your favorite?" Kenny said with a smile.
"Vince! I can't support Lin this time. Once you've seen Vince dunk, you'll know he was born to dunk!"
"So who is the person who isn't on your shortlist?"
"Larry... Damn it, Kenny, you bastard, you tricked me?" Barkley reacted quickly, but it was too late. After all, there was only one contestant named Larry tonight.
The bigger problem is that Larry Hughes is a Warriors player. Although he has only been there for less than 40 days, the fans consider him one of their own. After hearing Barkley's pessimistic remarks broadcast throughout the arena via loudspeaker, the fans immediately launched a barrage of boos at Barkley!
This deafening roar of boos certainly warmed up the atmosphere for the slam dunk contest!
As for Barkley, he took advantage of the camera moving away to quickly give Kenny the middle finger, then turned and headed towards the judges' table.
Amidst the boos and Kenny's triumphant laughter, the temporary stage was set up, and the five judges near the middle of the court were in place!
The MC then began introducing the five judges.
"Spud Webber, the shortest dunk champion in history, proved that ordinary people can fly too!"
"One of the greatest dunkers of all time, 'The Human Highlight Film' Dominique Wilkins!"
"Cleveland's eternal pride, Larry Nance, the 'Little Hawk'!"
"The least dunking-minded top-class rim-smashing machine, 'The Round Mound of Light' Charles Barkley!"
"The greatest player in Bay Area history, the 'scoring machine' Rick Barry!"
Apart from the boos directed at Barkley, the other four judges received the most sincere and heartfelt cheers from the fans!
With such a star-studded judging panel, the slam dunk contest is bound to be entertaining!
Now, everyone's expectations are at their peak!
After reciting a few more lines, the MC called out the six dunk contest participants from the player tunnel!
Vince Carter! Tracy McGrady! Steve Francis! Jerry Stackhouse! Larry Hughes! Lin Tian!
The six men waved to the fans in turn, but this time there was no trash talk segment like in the Three-Point Contest, because the MC knew that it was no longer important.
Now, everyone is eagerly waiting!
The dunk contest is about to begin!
The first one to take the stage is Vince Carter! He's also the most favored contestant in this dunk contest, with over 27% of fans believing he can win!
Second on the list is Lin Tian with 21%, third is Francis with 18%, and fourth is McGrady with 15%. Only 10% and 9% of fans believe that Stackhouse or Hughes can win the championship.
The approval ratings also show that although Carter is the most favored, his lead is not that big!
It's not because he didn't dunk well, but because the competition this year is just too fierce!
As Carter shook his head and stretched his body as he walked onto the court, the entire arena fell silent.
Everyone wanted to see how this top dunker, who could deliver countless spectacular dunks in actual games, would perform on his first play.
Carter pursed his lips, first strolled leisurely to the basket to measure the distance, then tossed the ball and jogged to the three-point line.
On the sidelines, O'Neal had already raised his DV camera, eagerly preparing to start filming.
At a 45-degree angle to the left, two meters outside the three-point line, he started off calmly, without any step adjustments or complicated little steps. Carter hadn't even fully accelerated yet!
He strode directly to the basket and then jumped up suddenly.
Then, against the momentum of his own charge, he spun rapidly, performing a 360-degree reverse turn that defies the laws of human anatomy and physics, followed by a one-armed windmill!
"boom!"
(End of this chapter)