It takes time to gain significant weight and muscle, especially during the season, which is a challenge for Noah.
However, although Noah has a flamboyant personality and is a bit proud of his superiority as Deng said, there is one good thing about him, that is, he does what he says.
Just like he had promised to train with Xu Yong before, even if it was four o'clock in the morning, now that he lost the bullfight, he would do it even if it was a challenge.
And another characteristic of him is that he is actually very smart and knows that doing so is good for him and the Bulls.
These two characteristics really made Xu Yong feel that although they were born completely different, Noah and Rodman still have some similarities.
Time flies to the end of January.
The Bulls' overall performance in January was very impressive. Although they were almost reversed by the Kings and defeated the Magic, their overall performance was outstanding. They won 10 of 15 games. Their overall record has reached 26 wins and 20, and they have rushed to the top. Ranked sixth in the Eastern Conference.
The most important factor comes from the backcourt combination of Rose and Xu Yong.
The two had a tacit understanding of each other, and after Xu Yong gradually adapted to his opponent's improvement in performance, Rose's performance did not decrease but increased.
In the January game, Rose averaged 22.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game, shooting 49.6% from the field, and even 31% from three-point range.
Xu Yong averaged more than 20 points per game for the first time, averaging 20.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. His shooting percentage and three-point shooting percentage were 51.2% and 41% respectively.
At this time, the league successively announced the results of the All-Star voting and the list of substitutes.
It is this voting result that has caused huge controversy.
Eastern starting lineup: Wade, Xu Yong, James, Garnett, Howard;
Eastern Conference bench: Rondo, Rose, Iverson, Johnson, Pierce, Bosh, Al Horford.
Western Conference starting lineup: Nash, Kobe, Anthony, Duncan, Yao Ming;
Western Conference substitute lineup: Paul, Deron Williams, Roy, Durant, Nowitzki, Stoudemire, Gasol.
Xu Yong was directly selected as the All-Star starter!
In fact, this matter had already caused controversy in late December, when the results of the first round of All-Star voting came out.
Because at that time Xu Yong was ranked third among guards, second only to Wade and Iverson in the East, and more than Rondo, Pierce, Joe Johnson and other stars.
In fact, the issue of the number of votes for Chinese players has always been a topic of intense controversy.
You must know that Yao Ming, who averaged only 13.5 points and 8.2 rebounds per game in his rookie season, already overpowered O'Neal with 27.5 points and 11 rebounds to become the starting center in the Western Conference.
It was only because Yao Ming proved his strength little by little that he was worthy of being in the starting lineup, so this topic gradually faded away.
But last season, this topic was brought to the forefront again, because Yi Jianlian, who averaged only 8.6 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, actually suppressed the "Wolf King" Garnett in the first three rounds of voting, and almost became the Eastern Conference winner. Starting forward.
After that, the alliance has secretly adjusted the voting ratio in China. Although there is no clear statement from 1:7 to 1:14, judging from the overall number of votes cast this year compared to the past few years, it can be seen that it It does exist.
But even with this ratio, Xu Yong still became an All-Star starter.
All I can say is that there are so many fans in China!
At this point, perhaps only Xu Yong, who has seen Future Village BA, knows how terrifying the number is.
And Xu Yong is the detonator of the fans' enthusiasm, so it is not surprising that his votes have been rising all the way, and he was finally selected as the starter.
But it was this kind of surprise that made those American fans who called for voting for Iverson in rounds of voting, but still couldn't stop him in the end, furious.
If they can't change this outcome, they can only vent their anger on social media.
It just so happens that the previous wave of the dunk contest has not passed yet. This can be considered as "new and old grudges" together, and the firepower is full.
"The NBA voting system is a joke. This is definitely the most shameful NBA All-Star Game."
"Xu is not worthy at all. It doesn't matter if he doesn't watch this All-Star Game. We should boycott this year's All-Star Game."
"I would be happy to go there and watch Xu make a fool of himself in the dunk contest and the main game. Wouldn't it kill two birds with one stone?"
…
However, among all the scoldings, there is an account called "KBforever" who is arguing with these people, and it feels like one person is equal to a thousand people.
"Can you control the fans' choice?"
"Then you must not go, and remember, don't turn on the TV. If you can't do that, I will look down on you."
"You guys are a little abnormal, spending money to see something you don't like?"
…
Of course, this kind of debate is weak, and doubts about Xu Yong are rampant on social media.
New York, NBA headquarters.
Xiao Hua was talking to Stern about the results of the All-Star voting.
"Should we continue to increase this proportion next year, or directly divest the votes in China?" Xiao Hua suggested.
Just like in the original draft, he has always been a loyal supporter of the domestic market in the United States, and the overseas market is secondary in his mind.
Stern waved his hand and then said: "Adam, you should know that even if you strip away the votes from China, Xu's local votes this year are not low."
Xiao Hua could not refute this.
In fact, when most people focus on Xu Yong's Chinese background, they ignore some other aspects of Xu Yong, such as Xu Yong's playing style.
Mike's pull-up, dunk from behind, fancy dunk, change of direction without slowing down, which one of these is not full of visual impact?
In addition, he defeated the Cavaliers in the opening game, beat the Lakers against Kobe Bryant, scored a lot of points in the Chinese Derby, and defeated Evans in the best rookie game. In which game under the spotlight did Xu Yong fail to play well?
Fans may be divided by nationality and skin color, but they are not blind.
Of course there are those who are not blind but are still in the minority.
Not to mention, Chicago, as the third largest city in North America, has a large number of fans. If you include Arizona, it is the two largest ticket base.
"But the fans..." Xiao Hua was unwilling to give in.
"Fans don't have to worry about it. Doesn't this just continue to increase the popularity of the All-Stars?" Stern interrupted Xiao Hua.
Seeing this, Xiao Hua had no choice but to nod.
After all, the league president at this time is still Stern.
After Xiao Hua left the office, Stern also stood up and walked to the window.
In fact, he thought much more than Xiao Hua thought.
Unlike previous dunk contests, the controversy this time is completely a good thing.
Because apart from his background and playing style, Xu Yong's performance as the second pick was actually very good.
So far, Xu Yong has played 46 games, averaging 19.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.2 steals, 1.6 blocks, 1.5 turnovers, 48.2% field goal percentage, and 39.2% three-point field goal percentage.
The last swingman who played so well as a rookie was Kevin Durant, who has been booked as the next potential league leader candidate after James.
If we count one more, we have to catch up with Vince Carter. That was all in the 1998-99 season.
So he had no reason to stop Xu Yongda from doing something.
He was even happy to see it.
Although because of Xu Yong's identity, he is unlikely to train Xu Yong as the future leader of the league, he is very happy to see such an opponent with the appearance of an overseas player in James or Durant's career. .
If there is contrast, there will be topicality;
Only when there is competition can there be enjoyment.
Duncan, don't they all have Nowitzki?
And as he and Xiao Hua said, the dunk contest and the main game have already made this year's All-Star Game extremely popular.
If nothing else, let’s just say that there is no need to worry about selling the unprecedented 100,000-plus seats scheduled for the Dallas Cowboys Stadium this year.
…
"Xu, congratulations on becoming an All-Star starter." In the locker room the next day, Rose congratulated Xu Yong.
"Congratulate me when you are also selected as the All-Star starter, otherwise I will just go through the motions." Xu Yong said with a smile.
Although it is a joy to be selected as the starter this time without canvassing for himself at all, he is very sober in the world.
Whether he wants to admit it or not, the circle thing exists.
When chatting with Yao Ming before, Yao Ming told him about this.
"If I had a choice, I really don't want to go to the All-Star Game, but I have no choice. The fans support you, which means they want to see you."
These were Yao Ming's original words.
Not to mention overseas players, even white people are now excluded from the black circles, not to mention that they are inherently controversial.
If I don't pass the ball to you and let you practice running back and forth on the court, even if you are Jordan, there is nothing you can do if you don't have the ball in your hand.
That's why Xu Yong talked about Rose's selection.
If they started together, the situation would be very different.
After all, the ball is in the hands of the defenders, and they are both defenders.
And Ross doesn't know, but he knows that he doesn't have to wait long, it will be done next year.
"Compared to this, Qiao Jin, I have a favor that I need your help with." Xu Yong then turned to look at Noah on the other side.
There is only half a month left in the dunk contest, and he is already getting ready.
He can go through the motions in the main game, but definitely not in the dunk contest.
He is determined to win this championship.
(End of chapter)
