At the end of the program, the rosters for the East and West, no, it should be called Team Lin Ying and Team Curry, were finally released.
Lin Ying team: Harden, Kobe, Lin Ying, Green, Jokic;
Substitutes: Paul, Walker, Klay Thompson, George, Embiid, Drummond, Horford.
Team Curry: Curry, DeRozan, Durant, James, Anthony Davis;
Substitutes: Irving, Westbrook, Beal, Wiggins, Antetokounmpo, Towns, Aldridge.
Judging from the final result, the unprecedented lineup of this year's All-Star Game also made the outside world's expectations completely different from those in the past.
Lin Ying and Thompson are teammates, Curry and Durant play together, and Curry and James are on the same team again. These are all elements.
And judging from the paper configuration, the strength of the two teams can be said to be very close.
If both sides really play seriously, even in the last quarter, this game will become very interesting.
After returning from the selection show, Lin Ying returned to the arena and saw a bitter-faced Durant.
The promised second pick, now has nothing.
Forget it if it’s gone, he went to team Curry!
"Give me back my stuff."
Durant is quite real.
"I gave it to Xiao Lin Yi."
Lin Ying was also shameless.
Durant's face fell instantly.
He definitely didn't really want his things back, but it was too uncomfortable for him to be teammates with James.
"No, I want to say I'm injured."
Durant immediately spoke.
This is indeed a feasible solution for simple buttock muscle soreness.
Normally, if you are injured and absent from the league during the regular season, you will need an injury certificate, but this is generally not required for events like the All-Star Game, because in theory, no one will intentionally not go.
After all, this represents the highest honor for a player. Even if you don't want to play, just like Yao Ming, just go and play for a few minutes.
Seeing Durant's expression, Lin Ying knew that Durant was serious.
"Kevin, do you remember when you said you wanted to leave the Nets?"
"Um?"
Durant was unable to get around Lin Ying's big turn.
This topic jumps a bit too far.
"If so, isn't this reliving the feeling of being an opponent?"
Lin Ying said with a smile.
Durant was stunned because Lin Ying's words left him speechless.
"That's true, it's just..."
As I said just now, the key to the problem is to be on the same team as James.
Others may not know, but Lin Ying knows that he is a big black guy.
But just after he was entangled, he suddenly remembered something, and then suddenly looked at Lin Ying with a smile.
This change of expression happened at lightning speed, like a face change in Peking Opera.
Now Lin Ying was a little confused by him.
Only when Durant spoke did Lin Ying understand what he was thinking.
"Lin, how do you feel about being a teammate with that guy Draymond?"
The previous feud between Lin Ying and Green was more intense than the one between him and James.
After all, he just looked down on James, but Lin Ying had serious conflicts with Green on the court.
"Feeling? Nothing at all? Have you forgotten that my coach here is Lu?"
Lin Ying said with a smile.
He has great trust in Lu, and he feels that Lu will not give Green too much playing time.
After all, wouldn't it be nice to play Embiid and Jokic against the Twin Towers?
After Lin Ying said this, Durant changed his face again, and his face fell back.
But after sighing, he didn't pretend to be sick as he had just said, but accepted his fate.
Lin Ying's words were meant to remind him that this was just the All-Star Game after all.
…
A week later, the All-Star Game officially kicked off in Los Angeles.
This weekend, the passion of fans in Los Angeles was completely ignited.
Not only this unique All-Star Game, but also because Kobe is back.
There was no need to wait for the All-Star Game to appear. On the first day of public training, the arena was packed with a large influx of fans.
When the Lin Ying team was training, Kobe's appearance immediately caused bursts of whistles and cheers to ring out.
As rivals in different divisions, the two teams only meet twice a season.
Fans were discussing whether Kobe would be cheered or booed when he returned to the Staples Center to play, but the topic was ended prematurely here.
Those who shout about fans turning to black or turning fans on social media are only a minority after all.
Or, most of them may just be fans of other stars setting the pace.
The fact is that as the totem of Los Angeles basketball, the influence of Kobe's name on this city, just like Jordan's on Chicago, will never be erased.
At this time, Lin Ying saw Durant staring blankly at the scene in front of him.
From Durant's eyes, he saw a hint of envy.
As a historical player, who doesn’t want to have this number of fans? Or who doesn’t want to become a totem of a city?
Just like what Kobe Bryant is to Los Angeles, what Lin Ying is to Brooklyn now.
He once had that opportunity in Oklahoma, but because he failed to reach the top in the end, he chose to leave.
You can't hide the look in your eyes that yearns to lead the team alone and achieve success.
Lin Ying suddenly felt that Durant might leave earlier than imagined.
The warm-up session was just a signal. The enthusiasm two days before the All-Star Weekend was much higher than expected.
When the All-Star game came on the last day, this emotion reached an unprecedented level.
It may make some people feel uncomfortable to say it, but the reality is that Staples on this day was more lively than ever before this season.
The passion that bursts out from the fans' bones is purer than the team's Big Three this season.
And in the stands, a large number of fans held various KT boards high.
"Welcome Kobe home", "Los Angeles is Kobe's forever home", "We will always love Kobe"...
KT boards like this can be seen everywhere.
Suddenly, everyone seemed to think that Kobe was still with the Lakers.
Not only Durant but also Lin Ying were shocked by this scene that day.
It's just that some people seem embarrassed in such a scene.
James's embarrassed expression felt like he could dig out four rooms and two living rooms from the ground.
He and Rich Paul have been working hard to shape themselves into the new totem of Los Angeles.
They controlled public opinion, created momentum, and everything seemed to be as they expected.
It was only when Kobe returned to Los Angeles that they discovered that it was an illusion.
The totem of the city of Los Angeles cannot be changed. No matter who comes here or what achievements they achieve, they cannot replace it.
Everything they did before was just a mirror in the water, and in the end they just deceived themselves.
And Tatum also understands this well, because there are no Eastern and Western divisions, he let Lin Ying's team appear after Curry's team.
The purpose of this is to allow Kobe to make his debut at the end.
Facts have proved that his arrangement was very successful.
When Kobe Bryant was the last player to take the court for the Lin Shadows, the Staples Center was filled with a bombardment of cheers.
"Kobe! Kobe!"
After that, the fans cheered in unison, which made people even feel a little sore in their noses.
Yes, Kobe will probably never wear a Lakers jersey again.
But it is precisely because of this that the fans' cheers are louder than ever before.
Like, do you think those middle-aged men really became so crazy because of Cyndi Wang and her song "Love You"?
No, they are just missing their youth.
So does Kobe.
And this may also be the true definition of totem.
James completely lost at this moment.
After the debut ceremony, players from both sides came on stage one after another to prepare for the game.
Although they had already greeted each other in the locker room, when they actually came on the field and looked at each other, it still felt very magical.
Because they are in different divisions and only play twice a season, they feel somewhat unfamiliar.
Jump ball between Jokic and Davis at midcourt.
Amid the cheers from the fans, Davis leaped high and moved the ball back to James' half.
Curry directly controls the ball and moves forward.
The All-Star Game was relatively simple. After Curry arrived in the frontcourt, he chose to give the ball to Durant and then ran away.
Curry is still the same Curry, always giving up the leading role when needed.
Durant held the ball and challenged Green.
Although he changed his jersey and became Lin Ying's opponent, at this time he had to admit that Lin Ying's choice of Green was indeed a quick move.
At least, when he's on the court, he can continue to deliver the same insults as before.
Durant made a pull-up jumper after facing Green's three threats.
Green defended very seriously, but he couldn't guard Lin Ying, and he couldn't interfere too much with Durant.
"Whoa!"
Durant showed excellent touch and hit a pull-up against Green's defense at the beginning.
In Lin Ying's team's offense, after Harden pushed the ball into the frontcourt, Lin Ying did not ask for the ball, but made a motion to give the ball in.
Over there, Kobe has just reached his familiar high position.
There is no need to familiarize yourself with "Emotional Intelligence", because the reaction of the fans at the beginning said everything.
If Kobe is not given more shots at the beginning, the fans at the scene may not be happy.
Harden also quickly put the ball in.
The entertainment-oriented All-Star Game is primarily designed to please fans.
And in this situation, whoever grabs the ball and refuses to let go will inevitably be sprayed after the game.
Kobe caught the ball in the high post and beat DeRozan in front of the frame.
Durant plays Green, and Kobe plays DeRozan. After watching the games this season, you will magically find that these teams are so familiar.
At this time, I have to sigh with emotion. Although there are ups and downs, Lin Ying and Curry's choice of each other is called "wonderful"!
DeRozan also defended very seriously.
Because of this special competition system, these All-Stars have never experienced it before, so the entertainment nature of the beginning is gone and they are all taking it seriously.
Kobe tried a wave of three-threat attacks but failed. In the end, he swayed in place and then made a difficult fallback shot.
DeRozan rushed forward and was disturbed.
Kobe basically faced DeRozan's difficult shots.
The fans held their breath suddenly, and then...
"Whoa!"
There was a crisp sound of hitting the net, and Kobe's shot also went in!
Moreover, this was his first shot since returning to Staples Center, and he scored!
But why is this so strange?
After all, no one knows this venue better than Kobe!
The venue was quickly filled with cheers from the fans.
Their youth is still there!
On Team Curry's side, Curry reached the frontcourt and gave the ball to Durant.
Durant also continued his hot touch from the opening, and after receiving the ball, he directly pulled up and hit the ball on the spot.
This is, 4 points in a row in the opening game!
And this time after making the goal, Durant also made Lin Ying's "calling" celebration gesture to Lin Ying, which was full of "provocation".
It seems that he is ready to be cruel to Lin Ying as he said before!
On the Lin Ying team's side, Kobe continued to catch the ball in singles.
But this time he failed to hit again.
On the one hand, DeRozan has always put a lot of defensive pressure on him. More importantly, James is now helping to defend Kobe!
Obviously, at the moment when the dream was shattered, James also put down all his pretense and completely lost his face.
Since he is destined not to become the city's new totem, he will also destroy Kobe's "comeback" performance.
What he can't get, he will destroy with his own hands!
"Dang!"
Kobe's shot was interfered with and hit the frame.
But just when Jokic and Davis were frantically stuck under the basket, a figure jumped up high and poked the ball up, then quickly took off a second time and grabbed the ball in his hand.
.
Lin Ying!
If James went to flank, it would inevitably mean that Lin Ying would be missed.
And just when Lin Ying picked off the offensive rebound and James and DeRozan were quickly shrinking towards the basket, Lin Ying made a blind pass and sent the ball to the middle.
Only then did the fans notice that Kobe did not stop after shooting, but was also rushing downwards.
Lin Ying's pass was quite comfortable. After receiving the ball, Kobe made a flying layup and sent the ball directly into the basket!
Durant scored 4 points in the opening game?
Kobe also scored 4 points in a row!
Curry's team advanced to the frontcourt again, and James was a little anxious to get the ball.
He didn't want to watch the game turn into a showdown between Durant and Kobe.
Curry hesitated and passed the ball.
It's just that Lin Ying of Lin Ying's team also directly attacked James.
It is said that it is disrespectful to come and not reciprocate.
Lin Ying went up very quickly, and James could only choose to distribute the ball.
After a while of transmission, the ball still reached Durant's hands.
After Durant made consecutive hits in the opening game, his teammates already instinctively trusted him.
But what Durant did in the next second was shocking.
When he saw Lin Ying assisting in defense, he directly... passed the ball to Lin Ying!
We spent too much time playing together. When we saw Lin Ying running over, we thought he was catching the ball, so we subconsciously passed the ball over!
Lin Ying was forced to "steal" a ball, then turned around and went into the fast break.
At this moment, a figure came down the fast break. Lin Ying saw the shaking No. 24 jersey and threw the ball directly.
After receiving the ball, Kobe quickly went on a fast break. After reaching the frontcourt, he jumped into the air with the cheers of the fans and made a signature reverse dunk.
"Bang!"
Maybe the take-off height was not high enough, so the ball hit the basket directly.
The rebound of the ball sent Kobe flying straight up and down.
Fortunately, Kobe had good body control and was still holding the ball after landing. He still put the ball into the basket before James could help defend.
This wave of offense was not perfect, and Kobe himself was happy about it.
However, the moment the ball was scored, the Staples Center was still filled with cheers from the audience.
Whose youth will be perfect?
Chapter completed!