This year's All-Star Weekend was a bit deserted. Most of the Bobcats players chose to take a vacation instead of attending the game. New Orleans doesn't have as much entertainment as Las Vegas, and it's not fun to go. Moreover, the Bobcats players are not famous enough, and many people feel that they have no star flavor and are unwilling to go to New Orleans to join in the fun. This time, only Hayes, Landry, and Azubuuk were traveling.

Although he is only participating in the Rookie Challenge, Landry is very excited, and this season, he can contribute 8.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, and only play 19.2 minutes per game, which is very efficient. He is ranked 9th on the rookie list. He is the only one on the list who is a second-round rookie.

This year's rookies didn't play well. At the top of the list is the Warriors' Chinese player Yi Jianlian. In the game in February, Yi Jianlian hit the "rookie wall", and his statistics declined, playing 33.2 minutes, still getting 14.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks. In the Warriors' big win over the Clippers in January, he shot 14-of-18, 2-of-3 from three-point range and 4-of-4 from the free-throw line to finish with a rookie season-high 34 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Although the Warriors are now the second-to-last in the West, only one win ahead of the Clippers, the rookie rankings generally only look at the stats and not the record.

In second place is the Eagles' Deroni Starkey. Because of being developed by the Hawks, Starkey played an average of 33.4 minutes, scoring 12.2 points, 4.8 assists and 1.1 steals, ranking second on the rookie list. However, he missed the All-Star Rookie Challenge because he missed two weeks due to a shoulder injury, and the Raptors' Brooks was selected as a replacement.

Third place went to Mike Conley of the Celtics. He averaged 32.4 minutes per game, 10.8 points, 3 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.1 steals.

The fourth place is Kevin Durant of the Trail Blazers. He averaged just 24.2 minutes per game, 11.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists. He shot just 41.7 percent from the field and 28.4 percent from three-point range.

Durant's terrible play this year is the most surprising thing. If it weren't for Oden's draft, the Trail Blazers wouldn't have chosen Durant. While the Trail Blazers avoided Oden's reimbursement, Durant didn't play as well as he should.

"This year's rookie has no stars, and Oden was injured before he played. Durant is nothing more than that, he was touted too much in the draft. If Carl had played more than 30 minutes, the stats would probably be better than them, and now he would be the Rookie of the Year, right? When it comes to winning the Rookie Challenge, Azubuike is dismissive.

"I don't think so, it depends on the tactical system, such as the Grizzlies' Al Horford, who has only 7 points and 7 rebounds, but he is efficient, because with Gasol and Milicic, he doesn't have many opportunities to play. Otherwise, his stats should be close to two pairs. There's also Durant, who doesn't play well and plays less minutes on the one hand, and overlap with Brandon Roy on the other. Hayes said.

That's all Hayes can think of. In his previous life, Durant was the scoring champion. Even in his rookie season, he scored 20 points and shot 43% from the field with the SuperSonics, and now Durant is even more iron.

The player in charge of attacking with the ball in the Trail Blazers is Roy, who is very good at handling the ball, is good at changing direction on the dribble, has a very realistic feint, has a clear purpose in moving and passing, and is good at handling the details of the ball. The cutting ability is very good, and the body is strong enough, not afraid of collisions, and easy to create fouls. Roy is very strong in singles but rarely brute, once he gets close to the basket, he will use one-handed picks or other ways to make defenders unable to block, and he has a natural perception of the defender's position, knows how to avoid blocks, glide in the air or slide the baseline backhook, and change angles in the air are all common methods he uses.

The Trail Blazers have Roy, and the coach can't arrange tactics for Durant, he doesn't have many opportunities to attack with the ball, because Aldridge and Prizebila occupy the inside, and Durant's height and long arm rebounding advantage can't be played, so he can only run on the outside, receive passes and shoot from teammates.

Roy and Aldridge's pick-and-roll combination is the Trail Blazers' top offensive tactic. Roy is averaging 19.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 6 assists and 1 steal per game this season and is the No. 1 core of the Trail Blazers. Aldridge is said to have a soft style of play. But it's just "soft"! He can't play as aggressively as Howard, but he has the height, he's very consistent in the high post, and if he improves his playmaking ability, he's not too far from Gasol! This season, his stats are 17.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.2 blocks. A favourable contender for the most improved player.

The two took up so many shots that Durant often shot desperately when the two were off the court. Durant wanted to show himself, but his approach caused disgust among Trail Blazers fans.

Some media have used "parallel imports" to describe Durant. He can't compare to Auden at all. Auden the Great didn't play a game, and he is still the best rookie in the eyes of the fans, which is really speechless.

After arriving in New Orleans, Hayes and others first thought that this place could not be compared with the bustling Las Vegas. Las Vegas is a haven for entertainment, and New Orleans is just a very modest city. Hayes has played many games here, and the hotel treatment for the All-Star players is not much the same as the usual team plays. Despite this, the New Orleans All-Star Game is the most warm and meaningful in NBA history.

This year, the NBA took the initiative to "give" the All-Star Game to New Orleans, with the aim of helping the hurricane-stricken jazz capital rebuild its home as soon as possible. New Orleans' levee, which collapsed when Hurricane Katrina arrived in late August 2005, flooded 80 percent of the city and caused the heaviest cost of a natural disaster in U.S. history ($81.2 billion), with 1,836 casualties, the highest toll from a hurricane in nearly 80 years.

The 2008 All-Star Weekend in New Orleans benefited the city that had been hit by Hurricane Katrina. In fact, as early as three years ago, shortly after the disaster, many NBA players spontaneously organized a charity game, which included Wade, Kobe, James, Garnett, Maddy and Anthony and other big-name stars, and the game was even more exciting than the All-Star Game, and the more than $1 million donated from the game was all donated to New Orleans victims.

This year's All-Star Weekend is expected to bring in $80 million to $90 million in revenue for New Orleans. All-Star Weekend was a catalyst for New Orleans' rebuild. While bringing a lot of income, more importantly, it is a good boost to people's confidence.

New Orleans has always been a source of concern, and when Hurricane Katrina arrived, there was a massive outbreak of unrest. Rockets All-Star Maddie publicly stated back last year that he would consider withdrawing from the next All-Star Game if the security situation at the New Orleans All-Star Game didn't satisfy him, and now he's safe.

Billy Hunter, president of the NBA players' union, also expressed concerns about the safety of his players at the time, and also hinted at a possible request to the league to change the location of the All-Star Game. It was only after a field trip that the players' union recognized the city of New Orleans as a host, and the All-Star Game was staged in New Orleans for the first time.

The NBA used their way to express their gratitude to the New Orleans organizers. On the first day of All-Star Weekend, the NBA organized a volunteer army of 2,500 people, including All-Star players, to participate in community events at 10 locations across the city.

"Hi, Kobe." Hayes greeted.

"Hello, Chuck." Kobe Bryant laughed: "Are the injuries all healed?" ”

"No problem. Minor injuries. But what happened to your fingers? Will this All-Star Game still be played?" Hayes said as he looked at Bryant's right hand with black finger covers.

"I gave up on the three-point contest, I'll play as an All-Star, but it won't be for long. I know you're playing hard, so be careful not to bump into me. Bryant laughed.

In the game against the Timberwolves on the 14th, Kobe Bryant suffered a torn ligament in his finger and may be out for six weeks. On Thursday, the Lakers announced that Kobe Bryant's finger injury had been confirmed. The news is regrettable that Kobe Bryant was injured some time ago and suffered a complete tear at the ligament junction of the little finger of his right hand, and he also had an injury near the wrist joint. Experts suggest that Bryant would do the best surgery, and if it happens, Bryant will be forced to rest for six weeks. However, the competition for a playoff spot is currently heating up, and if you have surgery, you will not be able to compete for six weeks. So, he was ready to choose a conservative treatment regimen and stick to the tournament through the season and then compete in the Olympics in Yenching this summer. After that, he will have surgery.

Kobe Bryant is one such person who is desperate for victory. A year ago, Hayes was a little disgusted with Kobe. Now he has begun to admire his victory**, and the two have become good friends.

In his previous life, Gasol was originally going to transfer to the Lakers, but after the failure of the Bobcat robbery, Hayes was relieved and simply blessed Kobe. "I have to congratulate you, Gasol has come to the Lakers, plus you and Lamar (Odom), Derrick (Fisher), I think the Lakers now have the strength to compete with the Spurs and the Mavericks."

"Thank you." Kobe Bryant is in a good mood today, he doesn't like to talk and smiles all the time. "You have to do your best, and hopefully we can meet in the finals."

Compared to James, Kobe Bryant is now more optimistic about Hayes and the Bobcats.

In the afternoon, the All-Stars arrive at an elementary school where they are tasked with laying the lawn. Hayes and Yao Ming got together again, and in addition to Yao Ming, he also met kung fu movie star Jet Li.

Jet Li, who is only 170cm, is very happy standing next to Yao Ming, and his height has just reached Yao Ming's armpits, like a child. After Jet Li and his daughter survived the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, they set out to start a foundation dedicated to helping rebuild their homes after a major disaster, named the "Jet Li One Foundation Program", which has begun to take shape, and the fund is a partner with the NBA. So Jet Li has long become good friends with many NBA stars. Today, Jet Li met a lot of NBA stars in private.

Hayes has watched all Jet Li's movies and is a kung fu fan, Jet Li happens to be a fan of Hayes, and the two hit it off and left their contact information. Regarding charity and foundations, Hayes has something to consult Jet Li, and is willing to cooperate with Jet Li in the future.

Hayes has one more celebrity buddy.

(To be continued)