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12th man to Cricket legend. It's a cricket book for cricket lovers only.
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***
On Thursday, January 25, 2007, TNT officially announced the results of the Las Vegas All-Star Game ballot during that night's program:
Clay Lee ultimately received 3,166,188 votes, once again being elected the top vote-getter for this All-Star Game.
At the same time, Clay Lee also became the first player in league history to receive over 3 million All-Star votes, and his 3.17 million votes set a new All-Star Game historical record!
Reddit and Facebook were a great help in the voting, as Lee had already started "bombing" on social media while other stars maintained their image.
The five Eastern Conference All-Star starters were:
Clay Lee with 3.16 million votes, Grant Hill with 2.02 million votes.
LeBron James with 2.39 million votes, Pau Gasol with 1.78 million votes, and Dwight Howard with 1.63 million votes.
The five Western Conference All-Star starters were:
Kobe Bryant with 2.01 million votes, Tracy McGrady with 1.82 million votes.
Kevin Garnett with 1.62 million votes, Tim Duncan with 1.44 million votes, and Yao Ming with 2.15 million votes.
Allen Iverson only received 1.36 million votes.
His popularity had significantly declined after his suspension.
Dwyane Wade was surpassed in the final stage of voting, but his 1.98 million votes are enough to show the popularity of this Rookie.
After the voting results were announced, the trio on the program began to tease this year's voting results, with the past-his-prime Allen Iverson becoming the focus of attention.
"Do you think Allen Iverson can make it into this year's All-Star Game's reserve roster?"
"Judging solely from the voting results, fans' affection for him is decreasing year by year. No matter what you say, Clay Lee is the cause of this outcome!"
"Leaving aside the playoff matchups, the 0-42 record made Allen Iverson lose the demeanor of a star player. If I were him, I would lead the team to the Finals to wash away this humiliation."
Charles Barkley, who loves to watch a good show, gleefully fanned the flames.
He was indeed right.
0-42 had become Allen Iverson's most famous label.
That rebellious young man who once crossed over Michael Jordan had long since lost the aura of a star player.
Now he is just an inefficient stat-padder, an overestimated cancer.
In the studio, Kenny Smith really didn't want to kick a man when he was down.
In his opinion, Allen Iverson was too miserable, so he just said tactfully:
"Defeating your opponent is indeed the best way to prove yourself!"
"But the Denver Nuggets have no chance in the regular season. The compatibility issue between Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony has not been resolved, but I will cast a vote for him for the reserve roster."
"I like to see Allen Iverson's individual performance in the All-Star Game."
Ernie Johnson also disliked talking about past-their-prime stars and proactively changed the topic, discussing the news he had just received yesterday from the Houston Chronicle:
"Due to injury, Yao has confirmed his absence from this year's All-Star Game."
"If nothing unexpected happens, Dirk Nowitzki will replace him as a starter. He deserves it, as the Dallas Mavericks are still leading the Western Conference."
Yao Ming's injury was likely to last until late February.
Tracy McGrady had recently scored 30+ points in several consecutive games, regaining fan approval and completing a comeback in the final stage.
There was nothing much to discuss about the Western Conference All-Star starters.
Even with the Timberwolves' poor record, Kevin Garnett always managed to stay in the fans' sight.
"I'm thinking about the trade that didn't happen in the offseason. If Ray Allen had really joined the New York Knicks, perhaps he would be an All-Star starter now."
"Shaquille O'Neal must be annoyed. He received 1.6 million votes but still lost to Dwight Howard. Times have truly changed. Young people prefer that big boy."
When mentioning Dwight Howard, Charles Barkley inadvertently revealed a hint of disdain.
He genuinely looked down on "jumpers" being elected All-Stars.
The three people who understood Shaquille O'Neal's personality knew that this wasn't over.
The petty guy would definitely mock him publicly.
Kenny Smith was somewhat looking forward to tomorrow's news and chuckled, teasing:
"No matter what the players think, this is the choice made by the fans. The league is already undergoing a generational change, and Shaquille O'Neal is no longer the best big man in the league."
"..."
The unexpected voting results caused Reddit to explode that night.
As the largest online fan gathering place, Cavaliers fans and Shaquille O'Neal's fans directly started a flame war.
At the same time, Dwyane Wade's fans were also unconvinced, claiming that Grant Hill cheated and that the voting results were rigged!
In fact, for the past month or so, aside from the voting channels for New York players, "memory" posts had been constantly appearing on the forum.
Grant Hill always managed to evoke fans' "IF" scenarios, and through such means, he surpassed his opponent before the online voting deadline on the 21st.
Votes cannot be recounted.
Even if fans are dissatisfied, as long as the players remain healthy, the starting lineup will not change.
At his home on 82nd Street in Manhattan, Lee paid attention to the voting results before starting his extra training for the night.
The room didn't quiet down until after midnight, with only some panting sounds remaining.
This vote was actually an experiment.
Online advertising was effective.
The American public at this time was still very "naive," and the final results were even better than expected.
Naked Kim hid herself under the covers, her face flushed.
She adjusted to a comfortable position, snuggled into Lee's arms, and softly voiced her concerns:
"Maybe someone will target Reddit as a lucrative opportunity. Although it hasn't opened up to political news, everyone has seen its potential after this."
Melinda, on the other side, was even redder in the face, her distorted fairness making her voice a little coquettish.
She also snuggled into Lee's arms but gave a different answer:
"There's no need to worry about that at all. America is vast, and people in some regions don't care about these new things at all. Church gatherings are even more effective than online advertising."
"This is just a pastime for young people. In New York, paper ballots for the All-Star Game accounted for the majority, and it's the same in other regions."
Lee finished his deep conversation with the glassy-eyed Scarlett.
The succubus's attempt to sit up and start another overtime session made Kim's face, beside them, flush even redder.
When the large softness rose and fell again, Lee took a light breath, then gently kissed the somewhat worried Kim beside him, and said in a deep voice:
"Big figures won't care about these trivial matters. Just like Bloomberg placing email ads, they have to maintain their image and won't pursue exposure recklessly like celebrities."
Melinda chuckled, looking at the little succubus whose breathing was becoming increasingly rapid.
She also pressed her softness against Lee's chest, and at the same time, leaned in to whisper in his ear:
"I remember you came back very late when the Christmas tree was lit. Is there anything different about the girl who rides horses?"
Lee did not answer, but only threw himself back into the fierce confrontation.
The succubus, having let herself go, quickly screamed after being subjected to multiple attacks.
A new round of overtime officially began, and the physically strong Lee was destined to win the game.
The Heat had recently been in bad luck.
Not only did their core players suffer injuries, but Pat Riley also underwent surgery.
Fortunately, the team finally weathered the difficult period.
After flying to Manhattan yesterday, the news that Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neal would play together was confirmed by the coaching staff.
Shaquille O'Neal, who watched the TNT live broadcast last night, was furious about the voting results.
When he arrived at Madison Square Garden for an early warm-up yesterday afternoon, his face was dark, and he immediately found reporters to angrily blast his opponent:
"I don't know why fans would choose that big guy who only knows how to smile foolishly!"
"Look at his clumsy low-post offense. I don't know why so many people voted for him."
"I respect Head Coach Van Gundy, but he shouldn't call Dwight Howard 'the best center.'"
Shaquille O'Neal, suffering from a knee injury, did not believe he was past his prime.
Even if he struggled to score 20 points in the Eastern Conference Finals last season, he still firmly believed he was the best big man in the league.
To maintain his star player image, Shaquille O'Neal didn't even actively campaign for votes, resulting in Dwight Howard stealing his spot and now he is completely triggered.
The ESPN reporter waited until Shaquille O'Neal finished his rant before smiling and asking another question:
"Shaq, will you miss this year's All-Star Game? You still have a chance to be selected for the backup lineup."
Halfway through the question, Shaquille O'Neal angrily interrupted.
Thinking about having to be a backup for a Rookie, the big man said loudly, annoyed:
"I'm not getting the respect I deserve! Right now, I just want to focus on my recovery."
"As for the All-Star Game, I can only express my regret."
Taking this opportunity, Shaquille O'Neal directly announced that he would not play in this year's All-Star Game.
Watching the big man turn and leave, some sports reporters were secretly laughing.
Dwyane Wade also looked upset, but he didn't act like a diva, nor did he dare to directly announce that he wouldn't play.
At the league's urging, Dwyane Wade had already agreed to participate in the All-Star Skills Challenge.
As for the main game, he could only compromise.
When the topic of voting came up, he couldn't help but join in with a couple of sour remarks:
"Perhaps the league should implement some rules to ensure the authenticity of the votes."
"My shoulder is recovering well, and I don't want to disappoint the fans who voted for me. I'm really looking forward to the game in Las Vegas."
Gary Payton was consumed by jealousy.
Ever since he saw last night's voting results, the veteran felt a deep bitterness in his heart.
This season might be the last year of his career, and Gary Payton naturally wanted to leave in style, but fans had long since forgotten him.
Making it to the Finals was a very long time ago, and the impression Gary Payton left on young fans was that of an old man who was thoroughly beaten by Clay Lee.
Antoine Walker naturally understood his teammate's displeasure.
Looking at Gary Payton, who had a long face, he proactively took the ball and approached him, comforting him in a low voice:
"Don't worry about this nonsense. Maybe we'll succeed this year."
Looking at the dispirited Antoine Walker, Gary Payton showed a 'don't lie to me' expression, and sarcastically self-deprecatingly, he shrieked:
"Success? Hey, Bro! I'm just old, not that stupid. We all know what state Shaq is in."
"The Head Coach doesn't even mention the championship anymore. Do you think we'll succeed?"
"Shit! I just want to see those bastards lose. They've made the league a mess. Look at the young people now, no one respects the veterans at all."
Jason Williams and Haslem looked indifferent.
Neither of them spoke.
They held the same thought: as long as they saw the New York Knicks lose, they would feel better.
On Monday, November 29th, after the Lakers finished their morning practice, Kobe Bryant looked at the newspaper and quickly fell silent.
The New York Times couldn't stop praising them, and the prominent headlines in the sports section reminded Kobe Bryant of his opponent's form for tomorrow night's game.
"Tyson Chandler â New York's Second DPOY!"
In the game against the Heat, Tyson Chandler recorded a double-double of 12 points, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 5 blocks, and 2 turnovers, helping the team to an 81-116 victory over the Heat.
Dwyane Wade only played 23 minutes, leaving the game due to shoulder discomfort, and Shaquille O'Neal only played 15 minutes, sitting on the bench early.
On Sunday, the New York Knicks played an away game against the Milwaukee Bucks. Facing the backcourt combination of Iguins and Williams, Clay Lee once again exploded.
In 33 minutes, Clay Lee scored 48 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals, and 3 blocks on 16-of-21 shooting, including 7-of-11 from three-point range and 8-of-8 from the free-throw line, all in three quarters.
126-78, the New York Knicks crushed the Milwaukee Bucks.
The inside combination of Tyson Chandler and Pau Gasol also dominated Andrew Bogut and Brian Skinner.
This wasn't the first time the two teams had met, but Lee's recent scoring spree was completely different from before, as if November was just a warm-up.
Kobe Bryant didn't believe Clay Lee was using games to train at the start of the season.
As a 'rival,' he had always paid attention to his old opponent's physical condition.
Every year, Lee showed clear muscle definition, completely unlike those lazy fat-covered players.
Kobe trusted his eyes and firmly believed his opponent was training like crazy.
The atmosphere at the practice court wasn't great.
During lunch, the mood-setters gathered in their own small circles, and only Derek Fisher would chat with Kobe Bryant.
Clay Lee's excellent form didn't stimulate those opponents in the Eastern Conference who had already given up, but it greatly agitated Kobe Bryant, as he now carried the label of 'the league's leading scorer.'
Derek Fisher also read the newspaper, but he had lived in New York for two years and was already used to the media's exaggerated reporting.
Looking at Kobe Bryant sitting on the sidelines, he quietly comforted him:
"We just need to maintain our rhythm. You need to communicate with everyone. The trade hasn't happened, so this lineup will most likely last until the playoffs."
Kobe Bryant glanced at his old teammate with a blank expression, then stared at the 'traitors' and said fiercely:
"Communicate? I've already told them how to play."
"They can't be championship pieces, Derek. You know that. I don't want to do meaningless things."
After saying this, Kobe continued to stare blankly at the basket.
Lee's rising score almost made him lose sleep, and the fact that commentators abandoned him to praise Dirk Nowitzki made him even more furious.
Even the German was ahead of him!
Old Fish also fell silent.
In Sunday's game between the Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs, after a tough overtime battle, the Lakers ultimately lost 96-94.
Kobe Bryant, recently triggered, couldn't even control his emotions, elbowing Manu Ginobili during the game.
The vicious elbow ultimately resulted in an additional one-game suspension from the league, meaning Kobe Bryant would be unable to play in tomorrow's game.
Upon returning to the Lakers, Derek Fisher realized the difference between two championship teams.
As the team leader, Lee only made demands on the practice court, never doing extra training, and never speaking harshly to anyone.
The New York Knicks were in an atmosphere of 'if you don't do it, someone else will.'
Their excellent roster depth was the guarantee, and the coaching staff sometimes even struggled with rotation minutes.
The Lakers, however, were completely different.
Kobe Bryant seemed possessed by Michael Jordan, constantly demanding strictness from his teammates, with trash talk being the norm, continuously pushing everyone's limits.
Adding to that, Phil Jackson also liked to motivate players, and under high pressure, Kwame Brown and others couldn't hold on, sometimes playing worse and worse.
The two teams were diametrically opposed in terms of tactics and locker room atmosphere.
Derek Fisher thought about this and helplessly continued to read the newspaper.
His championship experience was useless here.
"44 wins and 2 losses, how did the New York Knicks lose to the Nets before?"
"Didn't you watch Sports Center? Black Mamba exploded! Vince Carter took 34 shots, and Jason Kidd's form was also good after shaking off the domestic violence shadow."
"Oh! So his pre-free throw air kisses were forced, controlled by a woman! Black Mamba certainly sounds cooler than Air Jordan!"
The laughing discussions from Smush Parker, Sasha Vujacic, and Jordan Farmar in front made Kobe Bryant's face even darker.
He had a misconception that the 'Black Mamba' nickname shouldn't belong to Vince Carter.
On November 30th, the Staples Center had good attendance that night.
Although Kobe Bryant couldn't play, Lee, who had sparked a scoring surge, was already worth the ticket price.
Fans who wanted to see a scoring performance were not disappointed.
Facing the starting backcourt combination of Derek Fisher and Sasha Vujacic, Lee once again exploded.
At halftime, cheers and boos simultaneously filled the Staples Center.
Clay Lee, walking towards the player tunnel, was in a great mood, smiling and waving to the fans on both sides.
62-39, the game had already lost its suspense.
Kobe Bryant watched half the game at home and was triggered again.
Ignoring his wife and daughter's surprised looks, he furiously smashed the remote control to pieces:
"Damn New York!"
....
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