If Howard's joining the Lakers was high-profile, domineering, and vigorous, then Yao Ming's comeback was low-key, silent, and even silent.
really.
The two are no longer players of the same level.
Howard is the undisputed number one center in the league. He has been awarded the Defensive Player of the Year three times in a row, which is the first time in league history. He has also been the rebounding and shot-blocking leader for several consecutive years. His defense in the paint area is rare in the world, and , he is in his prime... Another way to say it is that at the age of 26, he has not yet reached his peak.
In comparison, Yao Ming even seems like a person from another era.
When Howard was giving an exciting speech at Staples' gorgeous press conference, Yao Ming quietly walked into the Clippers training facility. He put on a full set of Clippers equipment, blue and white clothes on his tall shoulders. Physically, it looks extraordinarily... majestic, giving people a sense of depth, like an abyss or an ocean.
The first time Fan Xi raised his head and saw Yao Ming, he knew that the Clippers' big weapon in the restricted area was coming.
Although this powerful weapon may only be used for a few minutes per game, it is enough.
As early as a week ago, Yao Ming told Fan Xi that he was ready. The original estimate was to come back after the Chinese New Year, but Yao Ming passed all the tests and he was sure that he was completely ready.
Interestingly, before he officially signed with the Clippers, he played a game with Rasheed Wallace.
The result is 11:2.
Rashid was the one who got blown up.
Both of them came back after retirement, but after all, the Little Giant is much younger than the Roaring God. Moreover, the weight loss effect of the Little Giant is very obvious. Although the strength of his lower limbs is still strong, he seems much more agile... He can run fast. , the movement speed has not weakened either.
Perhaps in terms of confrontation, it has declined more compared to its peak period.
However, under the premise that today's league centers are speeding up, losing weight, and becoming blue-collar, it is enough.
After Rasheed Wallace finished this game with Vanhee, he said he wanted to retire.
He wasn't willing to waste a single point on the Clippers' roster.
"I signed a contract with old Dunleavy, 3.5 million US dollars for two years, and a player option for the second year." Yao walked in and generously told Fan Xi the result.
Obviously.
Yao wanted to complete the signing before Fanci officially took over the team. He didn't want to be thought of as a back door or any other connection.
3.5 million for 2 years is the market price.
For a former All-Star who has retired and has a history of devastating injuries, it is reasonable. A player as strong as Iverson, in the last year of his career, is almost the same treatment.
So, why let others have useless discussions.
Fan Xi was stunned for a moment, then smiled. He opened his hands and said, "Welcome back, our Great Wall."
He and Yao hugged each other vigorously.
This is the pinnacle of Chinese basketball, the two greatest Asian players in history, and the two greatest yellow-skinned players in history.
With the addition of Yao Ming, the Clippers' center position has become extremely wealthy. DeAndre Jordan, Kwame Brown, and Yao are the three major centers, each with their own style.
Although the power forward position is relatively weak, wait until Nowitzki arrives.
The Clippers may not have the strength to compete with the Lakers in the paint.
Gasol and Howard, one offense and one defense, are indeed very powerful. Just thinking about it makes people feel that they are seamless and impeccable.
However, if the Clippers have a wonderful chemical reaction, they may not be able to fight with them.
The Clippers training facility became lively.
The atmosphere of the Christmas War continues to spread, reaching incredible heights.
"...As we all know, in this year's preseason, the Clippers made a killing in the preseason. They humiliated the Lakers crazily. The Lakers were holding their breath from top to bottom. They had long decided to regain their face in the Christmas game. .”
"The Clippers have been undergoing huge personnel changes recently. The chaos at the top will directly affect the locker room. I think it will be a massacre."
On the way back in the car, the Los Angeles radio station was doing pre-match predictions.
This is also a very famous football commentator who is known for his objective views.
Yao Ming is sitting in the passenger seat of Fan Xi... Fortunately, Fan Xi recently drove a modified Land Rover, otherwise it would really not be able to fit Chairman Yao's huge body. Even so, he looks like a cat in the passenger seat.
"This battle is difficult to fight."
Chairman Yao said with emotion: "The Clippers have always been inferior to others in Los Angeles, and now they have come to Howard to solve the internal instability factors. Our team is still lacking in experience."
Fan Xi nodded.
Howard is far stronger than Bynum, and he and Paul will definitely work very well together. Paul has successful experience partnering with the same type of center Tyson Chandler. Howard is definitely an enhanced version of Tyson Chandler in all aspects. .
Moreover, the most important thing is that Howard, like Paul, is an outsider. He does not have three championship rings. He cannot say to Paul: Before you came, we already won three consecutive championships.
Now, they are united together and have a common pursuit, pursuing the next three consecutive championships, or even the next four consecutive championships.
Interestingly, Andrew Bynum was furious about the deal.
He finally broke his skin and stopped pretending.
He said in the media: "Since the Lakers were taken over by Jeanie Buss, they have become hypocritical, funny, despicable, and ridiculous. This stupid woman wants to prove her power and show the legality and legitimacy of inheriting the management rights of the Lakers. , actually dismantled the championship team. It was she who built this powerful Clippers with her own hands. Jack Fan could obviously become the Lakers' second magician, but she chose to find a stupid, selfish, narrow-minded and self-righteous little man."
"The Lakers have been in a mess for a long time. They are broken from the root. They now look like they are flourishing and will collapse soon. Howard's arrival will accelerate the collapse process."
"We'll see, Jack and I will definitely win the championship before this Lakers. Oh, and Lamar."
What Bynum said was hard to hear.
However, it didn't attract much attention. When the league's top center and best defensive interior lineman joined the Lakers, the Lakers were already in an invincible position.
"No matter how strong they are, our goal is always to kill them. In the Christmas war, we can only win, not lose!"
Fan Xi's eyes were blazing and she said with great certainty.
When he said these words, there was a strong momentum exuding from his whole body.
This kind of momentum has never been seen by Yao Ming before.
He suddenly felt very lucky and regretful at the same time. He was thinking about how great it would be if McGrady had the spirit of Fanci when he and McGrady played together.
McGrady's talent is also among the best in history. His talent is better than Kobe's, and he is younger than Kobe. He even won the scoring title before Kobe. Originally, the combination of McGrady and Yao had high hopes, and everyone thought they could become the next OK
Combination, but in the end….
In fact, Chairman Yao also had the opportunity to join the Lakers back then. Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant were actively recruiting him, but at that time he chose to stay in Houston.
Now that I'm going around in circles, I'm no longer what I was at my peak back then. I have to lament the ruthless changes of time.
…
The focus of the basketball circle is once again focused on basketball itself. The addition of Howard has made the discussion of the Christmas game more intense than ever. The popularity is catching up with last year's finals. After all, this is the Los Angeles Derby, and it is also the two most watched games in the league today.
Showdown between teams.
Their popularity completely stole another Christmas Day game: the Miami Heat vs. the Chicago Bulls.
This made LeBron James a little unhappy. His private conversation was made public: It is really boring for the Lakers to form this kind of super team. The league doesn’t know why it passed such a deal. The Lakers have already robbed it twice. Before.
They robbed Pau Gasol and now they rob Dwight Howard.
After James's words were circulated through unreliable information sources, everyone thought it was quite ironic. Anyone in the league is qualified to criticize the Lakers for forming a super team, but James is not. Because he is the first in the history of the league.
A person who formed a top-level super team as a signature superstar.
Of course, these are just some rumors, and it is impossible for James to confirm them.
But judging from the current neglect of the American Airlines Center in Miami, they must be jealous of this Christmas war taking place on the West Coast.
Although Howard's words were extremely arrogant, they had to admit that the league structure had changed greatly as a result. No one wanted to encounter the Super Hexagon: the Lakers in the finals.
"Lakers fans have been discussing the trade that took place in the summer. I know that many fans like Jack very much. Jack is an extremely good player. He has the quality and fighting spirit of a competitor."
"But, I want to tell everyone that what I am wearing now is the Lakers jersey. I am fighting for the Lakers. I hope to win championships for the Lakers, one, two, three... the more the better."
"I'm really tired of the gossip, whether it's ridicule or sarcasm."
"Jack and I need to make a break."
"I want everyone to know that I am the best player for the Lakers right now. Only then can I help and lead the Lakers to get the trophy that everyone wants."
Chris Paul suddenly posted a long handwritten paragraph on social media.
He expressed it very solemnly.
It seems that he has had enough grievances, and he hopes to use this game to completely end Fanci's influence on the Lakers, and to establish his own authority.
This Christmas war is his battlefield.
This means that he will not retreat anymore, he will fight to the death.
In this way, Fan Xi once again stood in the arena of life and death with the league's No. 1 point guard.
Although this was proposed by Chris Paul, once Fanci loses in this game, he will lose a lot.
Paul has enough confidence in himself, and now all the advantages are on the Lakers' side, and he wants to complete his success in one game.
He is worthy of being the number one point guard in the league, with a smart mind and an excellent sense of the situation.
When Fan Xi saw Paul's "declaration of war", it was already the morning of the next day.
He was on the phone with Liu Yifei. Liu Yifei came to the United States. This was the schedule they had agreed on in the summer. Fan Xi originally planned to pick her up in Malibu, then go to dinner together, and then go to the training hall to prepare for tomorrow night's game.
The final sprint.
However, when he saw Chris Paul's "declaration of war" sent by Lu Yuan, he changed his plan. He apologized to Liu Yifei and said that he might not be able to accompany him. I have a difficult battle to fight.
I have to win this.
Liu Yifei expressed her full support.
Then, give the ticket to Liu Yifei. In this way, their next meeting will be in the NBA arena.
"Saint Paul has convinced me."
Fan Xi hurriedly finished his breakfast, called Chen Ye, and went straight to the arena.
Along the way, Chen Ye was also complaining about Paul. He said that Paul was clearly "bullying others" and "taking advantage of your illness to kill you."
However, Fan Xi calmed down and never tired of deceit. It was in his best interest for Paul to shoot at this moment.