334: Rising Knicks

"But I know I can't rest on my laurels. My team is on a 25-game winning streak, we're 49-4, and my teammates and I are all All-Stars! This is just a prelude, and hopefully at the end of the season, I can lift the O'Brien Cup above my head as I do now! ”

The All-Star Game ended when Chris. Paul made this declaration with the All-Star MVP trophy. Standing behind him is the "King of New York" Cameron. Anthony, a little not very happy.

In fact, Paul's friendship with Anthony began as early as his teenage years, and the two met in connection with one event, which was AAU.

AAU is the abbreviation of the American Amateur Sports Federation, and there are competitions for different age groups, and the American high school league is also affiliated with this. The AAU, on the other hand, has a national competition for different age groups, and players from different regions can form teams to compete, which helps young players broaden their horizons and compete with the best players from all over the country.

Chris. Paul made a name for himself in the AAU League, leading the Capa Magic to the AAU Under-17 National Championship and being voted the tournament MVP. During his time playing AAU, Paul gained valuable camaraderie in addition to his laurels.

The 2003 AAU League, except for LeBron. In addition to the team of James and Paul, there is another team that has gained national attention, and that is the team led by Cameron. Anthony's Baltimore Elite team, as early as two years ago, "Melon" led the team to the final four of the National Championship with an average of 25 points per game. When Paul faced Anthony, the basketball talent point guard confessed: "This player from Baltimore is strong, really strong, the strongest player I've ever seen." ”

The confrontation between American high school players at the highest level has given birth to a sincere friendship, and the basketball teenager Paul and Anthony are enemies on the court, but they become friends off the court. In competitive sports, there is often outright hatred among peers, but Paul and Anthony, who are still in high school, obviously do not have such a city, and their friendship is simple and pure.

They all love the sport of basketball, and it's basketball that binds them together. Some friendships come and go quickly, so when you get a real friendship, you should know how to cherish it, and Paul and Anthony have always done that.

The fusion of private circles is undoubtedly evidence of the deep friendship between Paul and Anthony, Jordan and Pippen are known as the strongest duo in NBA history, but the two with near-perfect chemistry on the court are not close friends off the court, especially since private circles are not open to each other. When the Bulls won the championship in 1997, a reporter asked Pippen if he would celebrate with Jordan after the game, and Pippen replied bluntly: "I'm with my friends, and Jordan has his own partners." ”

And although Paul and Anthony have not been teammates on an NBA team, their personal friendship is difficult to compare with most basketball partners who have worked together for many years.

It stands to reason that two friends who are so close should be happy with each other's achievements. But that's the peculiarity of competitive sports, as long as you don't play on one team, no matter how good the relationship is, you're all enemies!

Therefore, the better the relationship with the friend, the more serious it will be on the basketball court. What's more, the Knicks are still direct competitors of the Pacers, and the Knicks' third record in the East this season also gives them hope of hitting the Eastern Conference championship or even the championship!

So Chris. Paul's remarks made Anthony feel overlooked.

Yes, this season in the East, the New York Knicks are the best team except for the Miami Heat and the Indiana Pacers, two "super ships"! Although the team went through all kinds of troubles, they managed to survive in the end.

However, even so, the Knicks still have little presence. To be exact, the Pacers' players didn't have much presence at the All-Star Game before Paul won the All-Star MVP.

But Paul was able to vent by winning the All-Star MVP, but Anthony didn't have such a chance. The only thing he can do is defeat his best friend in an official match and remind him, "Hey, your good brother is third in the East this year!" ”

Anthony and Paul can become friends, and the two naturally have some similarities. That is, on the basketball court, they are the kind of ruthless corners that will not be soft! When on the basketball court, both of them forget about their "friends" status.

So the day after the All-Star Weekend, Chris . Paul received a text message from his best friend Cameron, whom he had known since he was a teenager. Anthony.

"Be careful, Chris. The next game in Indianapolis, I'm not going to let the water out. Let's have a real competition like we did at AUU! Your friend and rival, Melo. ”

Paul wanted to laugh because Anthony's text message made him feel funny. But I can't laugh because Anthony and the Knicks are really strong enough this season.

On Feb. 20, the Indiana Pacers, the No. 1 team in the league, played at home against the New York Knicks, who were third in the East. Whether to laugh or cry, Paul's "ultimatum" has a deterrent effect or not, it depends on the game.

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The New York Knicks, this season, they do have the capital to call the defending champions.

The team is welcoming Cameron. Anthony and Studemire were almost desperately the team before that. Its chaotic team management and the bloodbath record set by the biggest stars at Madison Square Garden have put the high-profile New York team to shame.

But the arrival of Anthony and Stoudemire has given the whole team a new look. And this season, it is undoubtedly the Knicks who have welcomed Cameron. Anthony this offensive kaleidoscope, the most successful season.

Before the start of the 12-13 season, the Knicks welcomed Jason, a Mavericks championship point guard and one of the best point guards in the league. Kidd, signed "Roaring Celestial" Rashid, who has not competed in the field for two years. Wallace and the 35-year-old "old rookie", Argentine point guard Pablo. Prigioni, a former New York veteran, was born in the past. Felton is also back in the team.

After the start of the regular season, the Knicks, who were missing Stoudemire, unexpectedly won a wave of 6 consecutive wins, creating the team's best start in nearly 20 years! While the six-game winning streak doesn't pale in comparison to the Pacers' 12-game winning streak, it means a lot to New York fans.

Although in the long course of the regular season, the team also suffered a lot of turmoil. For example, Anthony was once plagued by a shoulder injury, which led to ups and downs in form, and the "Little Overlord" suffered another injury after his comeback in January and had to take another truce. Chandler's injury led to the team signing Kenyon. Martin, Rashid. Wallace was injured and announced his retirement again

But fortunately, in the regular season this season, Anthony and his former Nuggets teammates. Smith is good enough. So far, Anthony is at the top of the league's scoring list with an average of 28.7 points per game and third on the MVP list. Whereas. Smith averaged 18.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, ranking first on the Sixth Man of the Year prediction list!

When a team has both the leading scorer and the best sixth man, no one can ignore them. Last season, who was also the scoring champion + best sixth man, the young Oklahoma City Thunder reached the Finals!

Therefore, it is not surprising that the Knicks were able to leap to third place in the East this season. He also knows that it will not be easy to take a win away from the New Yorkers this season. Of course, it won't be too difficult.

"Did you see that? Chris. Paul was in great trouble. Before the day's training began, Vogel, who was sitting in Henson's office drinking coffee and reading the newspaper, grinned and shook his head.

"What's wrong?" Henson asked casually, but instead of looking up, he stared at his phone with his head buried in his head. Kobe Bryant actually sent a text message inviting him to a charity dinner in Los Angeles, and Henson was grateful for Kobe's invitation, but he didn't plan to go. This guy has never been interested in dinner parties.

After winning the All-Star Game MVP yesterday, his remarks made a lot of people red-eyed. What did the Miami Post reporter say? He said that he wanted to win the championship after winning the All-Star Game MVP, which is ridiculous! ”

"It's rare," Henson looked up at Vogel with interest, "this time, it's not me who was scolded. ”

Vogel glanced at Henson, as if holding back his efforts not to let himself laugh, "You know, Henson, you don't have a good reputation in New York. ”

Since the last time Mark. After Berman sparked a press war in New York and Indianapolis, and after the Pacers' victory at Barclays Center and the ridicule of the New York media, Henson became almost a public enemy of New York fans. So Vogel was right, Henson's reputation in New York was not good.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, you're saying that too early. In New York, there may be a lack of great players and great coaches, but there is never a shortage of people who are willing to attack you. ”

"Well, I should have guessed," Henson shook his head, "who is it this time?" Which boring journalist? Or Cameron. Anthony. ”

"No, this time it's a film director who scolded you."

"Oh? It's him? Henson scratched his head, "Looks like I have another 'loyal fan'." ”