I’m Really Playing Basketball

As the current face of the NBA, Chen Xiao needs to take on some things that only a good appearance in the NBA needs to take on.

In this Houston All-Star Weekend, Chen Xiao used his ubiquitous presence to revitalize the NBA's increasingly boring All-Star Weekend.

The attention and ratings of this year's All-Star Weekend have reached new highs in the past five years.

The NBA has obviously been so successful over the years, so why does the All-Star Weekend run counter to the success of the NBA?

It can only be said that it is precisely because of the success and excitement of the NBA regular season and playoffs that the boredom and tastelessness of the All-Star Weekend are set off.

In fact, the NBA All-Star Weekend in this time and space is much more interesting than the All-Star Weekend at this time in history.

However, the limitations of the nature of the performance make the All-Star Weekend only limitedly interesting, even if it is interesting.

In fact, David Stern does not need to continue to reform. The success of this year's All-Star Weekend can be seen that the fans' expectations for the All-Star Weekend are only for the stars.

As long as the stars perform hard and the league works hard to create gimmicks for star confrontation, there is no point in having so many all-star games and guests.

Of course, the idol competition must still be retained. This is the second most watched program during the All-Star Weekend, second only to the All-Star Game.

It can only be said that LSPs all over the world have something in common.

After a tiring All-Star weekend, Chen Xiao was not too tired physically, but mentally, it was indeed a bit hard to relax.

However, Chen Xiao did not ask the Warriors to give him time to rest and adjust.

Because Chen Xiao doesn't want to rest either.

Although the Warriors are now second in the Western Conference, they are not really stable, especially on the day of the All-Star Game, after a team in the Western Conference reached a deal with the Magic for Howard, many players in the Western Conference, except for the Spurs, The team is facing a formidable enemy.

The Lakers and Magic have been talking about Howard's trade for more than two months, and progress has been very slow.

This is actually normal.

Although Howard is very strong and in his prime, he only has a six-month contract after all, and he has stated that he will not go to the Lakers unless he is a Laker, and will not renew his contract unless he is a Laker. Such a statement makes it impossible for other teams in the league to bid for him. , the Lakers can only take over. In this case, the Lakers are certainly unwilling to pay a big price.

If there is no competition, why should I be treated like a fool?

Facing the robbery behavior of dead pigs like the Lakers who are not afraid of boiling water, the Magic are also very tough.

As long as you don't meet my offer, then I will never send Howard to the Lakers at a low price, because the Lakers' current salary is locked. If Howard is really allowed to drift to the free market, the Lakers will not be able to get Howard.

At worst, we will die together. If you want to rob me, just go ahead and dream!

I have to say that the Magic's procrastination and refusal to trade made it very difficult for the Lakers. Originally, it was Howard who helped the Lakers lower the price. After the Magic's behavior, Howard finally helped the Magic pressure the Lakers and stood up to the Lakers. This way.

Howard told the Lakers that if the Lakers are not willing to send Gasol, then he will go to the Clippers!

Howard's behavior of siding with the Magic to force the Lakers to surrender at this time made the Lakers feel very angry and helpless.

This is none other than Gasol, a center who can score by himself, protect the basket, support, and play pick-and-rolls with Kobe, a center that perfectly fits Kobe's style.

Let's put it this way, according to the Lakers' plan, they brought Howard not to replace Gasol, but to replace Gasol. Of course, they were not to drive Gasol away, but to let Gasol Sol went to the bench to lead the rotation.

Gasol has suffered a lot of injuries in the past two seasons, so the Lakers need an inside player who can partner and complement Gasol.

Everyone in the Lakers feels that Howard is a good fit, so they are willing to use their two future first-round picks as the main body to trade Howard.

For the Lakers, the Magic can't make the playoffs. Half a year later, there is nothing. It would be good if I can give you two future first-rounders.

You still want my little Gasol?

How can this be!

This is indeed impossible. Howard's current trading value is the same as Gasol's, and Howard's contract is only half a year. Lakers executives would be stupid to trade with the Magic. Even if Kupchak is stupid, Lakers owner Ko My sister-in-law, Vanessa, and the boss of the Lakers, Huang Ke, are not stupid either.

It can only be said that the Magic have no choice but to kill Gasol, which means that the Magic have no intention of trading with the Lakers.

In fact, this is indeed the case. The Magic just don't intend to fulfill Howard's wish. If you say you want to go to the Lakers, then go to the Lakers. How can I still mess around if my future players follow suit?

Whoever is willing to pay you the highest price can go with you, without any other negotiation.

In the end, the Lakers gave up on Howard, who had been discussing it for two months.

Howard was sent to the Clippers by the Magic in exchange for the Clippers' starting center DeAndre Jordan.

DeAndre Jordan just signed a big contract with the Clippers this season. This season, he played 35 minutes per game next to Pao, averaging 13 points, 15 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game. He is the best in the NBA. One of the young centers, and he just signed a five-year, 70 million contract this year. Judging from Jordan's numbers this season, this contract is definitely a lucrative contract.

A young center who has just turned 24 years old has four and a half years left on his value-for-money contract. This is certainly not something Howard can get in exchange for a half-year contract.

The Clippers are not the Lakers, and it is impossible for the Magic to use the methods of the Lakers against the very sincere Clippers.

In the end, the Clippers traded the team's star center DeAndre Jordan, the team's 2013 first-round pick and Udriel Harrington as bargaining chips, and traded Howard and Ryan Anderson from the Magic.

Using Howard, who can't be exchanged for basically anything, and the valuable Ryan Anderson in exchange for DeAndre Jordan, the cornerstone center of the future team, as well as a first-round pick and two expiring contracts, we can only Said, it is definitely profitable for the Magic.

Of course, although the Clippers seem to be losing money, if they can convince Howard to renew his contract with them in six months, the Clippers will also make a profit.

After all, swapping DeAndre Jordan for Howard was an upgrade, as was swapping backup point guard Udrih and aging Al Harrington for Ryan Anderson.

As long as Howard is willing to commit to staying with the Clippers, then this is a win-win deal.

The Clippers are very confident about whether Howard will renew his contract with the Clippers.

Because Howard really has nowhere to go.

New York and the Lakers have no space this summer, the Heat, Bucks, Cavaliers and Bobcats don't need him, and he will definitely not go back to the Spurs.

As for the Warriors…

The Warriors also have no room now.

So, if you were Howard, where could you go?

As long as the Clippers offer you a maximum salary, you don't have any choice.

And this is why Chen Xiao and the Warriors dare not take a break after the All-Star Game.

Howard is a good friend of Chen Xiao, and Xiaopao is even more so. Chen Xiao is very clear about the characteristics of the two of them.

Let's put it this way, Howard and Pao are really a match made in heaven together.

DeAndre Jordan can be fed by the little cannon into a center that seems to be one defense at a time. What do you think this peak Howard, who has never been injured, will do next to the cannon?

There is also Ryan Anderson. Although this forward is Turkoglu's substitute in the Magic, even as a substitute, this forward can average 10 points per game and hit more than 2 three-pointers in each game. He is a very reliable player. A shooter, by Xiaopao's side, will also play a very important role.

The deal between the Magic and the Clippers adds two powerful competitors to the Warriors for second place in the Western Conference this season.

Why do you say two?

Of course there is another one who is a Laker.

Without the Howard trade rumors, the Lakers can definitely be united.

The Lakers have always been the second strongest team in the Western Conference.

The Gasol brothers, Kobe plus Billups and Joe Johnson.

He is a bit old, but his strength is really hard to say.

The All-Star Game is over and the NBA regular season continues. The Warriors have a total of 6 games and 6 opponents left in February.

Because the Clippers and Lakers are about to advance step by step, Chen Xiao and the Warriors dare not be careless.

And in the remaining six games in February, the Warriors are actually not that easy to play.

On February 19, in the first away game after the All-Star break, the Warriors lost 111 to 115 to the Jazz, who worked hard for the Western Conference playoffs and adjusted for an All-Star weekend.

In this game, Chen Xiao's apprentice, Jordan, who was absent from the All-Star Game, performed very well. He made 9 of 15 shots, 2 of 3 three-pointers, and 2 of 2 free throws. He scored 22 points, 13 assists, and 3 steals, completely defeating Bill. Very uncomfortable.

If you want to say that little Stockton has educated Bill on this draft, there is no problem at all.

To be honest, it is really difficult for rookie players to beat players like DeAndre Jordan. Players like DeAndre Jordan have strong mental attributes. Although their talents are average, they are tough and rarely make mistakes. It is difficult for young people. Playing at your own pace may lead to mental problems.

In this game, not only did Bill have some psychological problems caused by Jordan, but his thick eyebrows were also caused by Jazz insider Millsap.

Historically, Millsap was very good at thick eyebrows. Later, the confrontation between thick eyebrows came up. Millsap got old, and the thick eyebrows suppressed Millsap.

After losing to the Jazz on the road, the Warriors returned to home back-to-back on February 20 and lost to the Suns led by Ade and Bosh. The Suns were also a team going crazy for the playoffs.

The Warriors' players were not in very good shape in this game.

There's really nothing we can do about it, the Warriors have four players who participated in the All-Star Game.

Chen Xiao, Big Eyebrow, Lopez and Clay are not only important in the main game, but also in other games during the All-Star Weekend.

Let's put it this way, except for Chen Xiao, who is the most tired, this group of young people on the Warriors have never come back from the All-Star rhythm.

Moreover, they worked hard for the first half of the season for the All-Stars. Now that their All-Star wish has been achieved, it is inevitable that they will feel relaxed.

With this kind of mental relaxation, coupled with physical fatigue, it would be strange for them to be in good condition now.

Therefore, an interesting thing happened. After the All-Star Weekend, the Warriors, second in the Western Conference, actually lost four games in a row without winning a single victory.

After losing back-to-back to two Western Conference playoff teams, the Jazz and Suns, on February 22nd and 24th, the Bobcats lost home and away to the strongest Spurs in the Western Conference, led by Garnett, Pierce, Rondo, David Lee and others. of the Timberwolves.

A four-game losing streak almost allowed the Warriors to relinquish the second place in the Western Conference.

That is to say, the Warriors' previous advantage was not small.

However, it will definitely not work if we continue to lose like this.

However, desperately, just when the Warriors were in desperate need of victory, the Warriors' next four-game trip in the Eastern Conference began.

Fortunately, this time the opponents in the Eastern Conference's fourth consecutive trip are not so top-notch.

On February 26, with Chen Xiao's performance of 53 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists, the Warriors defeated the Pacers led by Beasley and Love in an away game.

On February 27th, the Warriors faced the Knicks, who were also back-to-back. In the end, with Chen Xiao's another 60+ at Madison Square Garden, and the Knicks' star point guard Westbrook's consecutive mistakes and strikes in the last two minutes. , the Warriors struggled to achieve back-to-back victories on the road.

Facing the Eastern Conference powerhouse Boston Celtics on March 1, Chen Xiao scored another 58 points and led the team to a 106-104 victory over the Boston Celtics.

On March 2, facing back-to-back against the 76ers, the weakest team in the Eastern Conference, Chen Xiao scored 51 points in three quarters to lead the Warriors to a 117-101 victory over the 76ers.

A very difficult four-game trip in the Eastern Conference saw the team lose its second position in the Western Conference.

Chen Xiao relied on his four consecutive 50+ games to help the Warriors win consecutive games in the Eastern Conference.

And this is the first time this season that a Western Conference team has won more than four consecutive games against the Eastern Conference.

This season, in order to train the Warriors' young players, Chen Xiao actually doesn't play like this.

However, in these four games, everyone once again saw the super Chen Xiao who averaged 44 points per game in a season.

"If our God is willing, he can still average 40+ per game in a single season!"

"Logically speaking, he should be the most tired on the Warriors, but he looks more like a young man in his early 20s with unlimited energy!"

What Barkley said during the game between the Warriors and the 76ers made people admire Chen Xiao's strength and endurance.

It also embarrasses the Warriors' group of young people who seem to have hit the rookie wall.

Of course, it also makes the Clippers and Lakers who want to surpass the Warriors despair.

Especially the Lakers.

The Clippers are now third in the Western Conference, which is acceptable to them. They won't see the Spurs before the Western Conference Finals.

But the Lakers are different. As third in the Pacific Division, they can only be ranked fifth at most.

With the strength of the Lakers, it is impossible for them to retreat to seventh place in the Western Conference, and Kobe Bryant cannot do such a shameful thing.

If it cannot surpass the Warriors and Clippers, then Kobe Bryant will have to take the most difficult path in this year's playoffs.

Therefore, the Lakers hope that the Warriors can drop their chain. The Warriors' group of young people seem to be a bit broken.

but……

Obviously, as long as Chen Xiao is there, I dare not say that in the east, but in the west, it is impossible to lose the chain.

At the end of the 2012-2013 NBA regular season, the Warriors defeated the Trail Blazers 119-108 in their last away game. In the end, the Warriors ended the season with a record of 58 wins and 24 losses, ranking second in the Western Conference!