NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 773 You Want to Be the Face of the Store Too? (Chapter without Main Character)

On Monday, January 24, 2011, the third round of voting for the Los Angeles All-Star Game concluded, and the NBA once again warmed up for this year's All-Star Game.

Unlike previous All-Star games, this year the league is promoting young players, and 25-year-old Dwight Howard is reaping the benefits. "The Happy Beast" has become a representative of the new generation of players who stay with one city!

Compared to the Heat's three players, Howard, although his team's record is slightly inferior, is more popular with fans. At least all Cleveland fans strongly support their star player.

Even after the voting ended, many Cleveland fans were still speaking out for "The Happy Beast" on social media. Before the results were even announced, some fans were already saying:

"Dwight Howard will become the face of the league in the new generation!"

33-year-old Li You has been voted All-Star MVP for 10 consecutive seasons, a record that is hard to break. But considering Howard's age, die-hard fans have taken out a 5-year loan for him.

Even local sports media in Cleveland are hyping it up, with many columnists predicting a championship in advance, once again painting a rosy picture for local fans:

"If Howard can lead the team to break Cleveland's championship curse, being a five-time All-Star vote leader is not the end; he will become the most successful player of the new generation!"

"."

Because Li You has monopolized the vote leader and championship in recent years, young people have never been able to get major exposure. Fortunately, this year he has finally gotten back on track, and ESPN is also helping Howard build momentum.

The overwhelming publicity even overshadowed the issues with the labor agreement. Negotiations will continue before the All-Star Game, but fans won't pay attention then. Under the media's guidance, everyone wants to witness the birth of a new face.

That evening, the Cavaliers hosted the Pistons at home. Before the game, the DJ enthusiastically introduced the "Happy Beast".

Fortunately, Howard has the honors of DPOY, rebounding champion, and shot block champion, so after a roar, he still came out in a very dignified manner.

This is also the weakness of the Heat's trio. With none of them having any outstanding achievements, the "leftovers" have become an advantage. In this respect, Howard has even performed better than some veteran stars.

With a bright white smile, Dwight Howard, dressed in the Cavaliers' red training jersey, jumped and high-fived his teammates amidst cheers that echoed throughout the arena.

Before the warm-up, "Happy Beast" even pulled James's washed-up sidekick Gibson into a dance in front of the scorer's table. Howard actively showed his humorous side, igniting the atmosphere of the scene before the game even started!
Being a "face" isn't just about words; it also means receiving preferential treatment from the referees during matches.

After entering the league, Howard was often plagued by foul trouble in some games.

He was relatively well-behaved when playing under Van Gundy, but after Mike Brown took over the team, "Happy Beast" started to let loose.

Last season, Howard received 14 technical fouls during the regular season, almost getting suspended early, while so far this season, he has only received 2.

Pistons rookie center Greg Monroe complained incessantly from the start of the game, repeatedly gesturing to Howard to use his elbow to block when turning in the low post.
Late in the first quarter, Wilson Chandler was blocked by a volleyball player during a drive and complained to the referee that Howard had goaltending!
With the help of his "pole vault," "iron elbows," and "three fouls in hand," Howard led his team to dominate the opponent in the first half, even pulling off a fast break dunk after a steal.

"what!!"

Wearing red energy armbands, Howard completed a dunk, tilted his head back, and roared with passion. He pounded his chest in front of the camera, eliciting continuous cheers from the crowd.

After several disappointing games, Artest finally found his rhythm from beyond the arc tonight. Coupled with three-pointers from championship guard Raja Bell and the playmaking of Mo Williams, the Cavaliers secured the victory by halftime.

At 42:56, Channing Frye grinned and celebrated passionately with Howard as they walked toward the tunnel.

Plagued by injury, Hamilton has missed a week of matches, and he traveled with the team tonight in a formal suit.

After the second half began, seeing the Pistons completely collapse, Hamilton rested his chin on his hand and remained silent. Rebuilding seemed a distant prospect, and the team appeared utterly dejected.
As the game entered garbage time in the fourth quarter, Wilson Chandler couldn't stand the smug look on "Happy Beast's" face and angrily threw his towel back on the bench.

Finally, after Howard left the court, he still couldn't resist showing off, yelling and stomping on the towel. Wilson Chandler was so annoyed that he covered his mouth and muttered to his teammates:

"That black guy is too arrogant! Even Li didn't get this kind of special treatment back then."

Without foul trouble, Howard, whose free throw shooting is still terrible, has been able to contribute a basic double-double of 20+13 every game, and tonight he even delivered 4 blocks.

Impressive stats, explosive playing style, driving into the low post for a dunk, single-handedly holding down the interior defense – that's the strength of the new face of the team!
Hamilton shook his head and didn't say anything. Everyone could see that Howard was being heavily promoted by the league, and commentators were constantly creating a "grudge" between the Cavaliers and the Heat.

Add to that the topic of "new and old giants," and this is the biggest highlight of the new season so far. In addition, the "MVP" award is also a hot topic of discussion.

At the end of the game, cheers echoed through the arena once again. The Cavaliers easily defeated their opponents 90-108, bringing their record to 32 wins and 12 losses, once again surpassing the Celtics to rank second in the Eastern Conference.

Hamilton rose to shake hands with his opponent, and seeing Howard's smug smile, he was somewhat speechless, but still maintained his composure and stepped forward to congratulate him.
"Congratulations, Bro, you guys did even better tonight!"

"Yee! Man, I'm really looking forward to playing against a healthy Pistons team. You know, I love a challenge."

With a beaming smile, Howard pulled Hamilton aside and began to "modestly" boast. The inflated "happy beast" has stopped pretending lately; he's getting special treatment, and he's the face of the league right now!
The Pistons players, looking grim as they walked towards the player tunnel after their loss, were particularly angry. Rodney Stuckey, with a dark expression, said angrily:

"Damn it, what's he so smug about! Does he really think he's a superstar? He's just a piece of shit who gets preferential treatment from the referees!"

These words seemed to resonate with everyone. Back in the locker room, the atmosphere-building group also chimed in, criticizing the league for being blind and accommodating such a guy.
As the new core player of the Pistons, Rodney Stuckey was even more frustrated when he saw that Hamilton hadn't said a word. If he didn't even respond to his boss, then Hamilton should be traded!

When head coach John Kuster returned to the locker room to review the game, Rodney Stuckey was already lost in thought in his seat, and the thought of Howard's special treatment made him feel a pang of jealousy again.
"I wish I could get that kind of treatment!"

-

On Thursday, January 27th, TNT announced the starting lineup for this year's Los Angeles All-Star Game during their program that evening.

The starting five for the Eastern Conference All-Stars are:

Li You received 248 million votes, Dwyane Wade received 201 million votes, LeBron James received 203 million votes, Kevin Garnett received 131 million votes, and Dwight Howard received 251 million votes.
The five starters for the Western Conference All-Stars are:

Chris Paul with 130 million votes, Kobe Bryant with 127 million votes, Kevin Durant with 186 million votes, Blake Griffin with 103 million votes, and Yao Ming with 148 million votes.

25-year-old Dwight Howard became the first player of the new generation to win the vote leader, and the "Happy Beast" became famous overnight!

In contrast, the host Kobe seemed to have completely faded into obscurity. Under the influence of the media, not only Los Angeles fans boycotted him, but fans across the United States also looked down on the Mamba.

Tim Duncan received the same treatment. He wasn't particularly popular to begin with, and his playing time and stats shrank significantly in the new season. He ultimately only received 75 votes, falling short of the popularity of rookie players.
After announcing the roster, the director also released the All-Star vote leader data. Li You ranked first with 10 votes, and Michael Jordan ranked second with 9 votes.

Following that are Julius Erving's 4 times, and George Gervin and Magic Johnson's 2 times each.

The next players are all those who have won the MVP award at least once in their careers. Howard successfully joined the ranks of legends such as McAdoo, Rick Barry, David Thompson, Moses Malone, and Barkley.

The trio also connected with Howard on the show, the first time for a new generation of players. On camera, "Happy Beast" was all smiles, his smugness practically written on his face.

Charles Barkley wasn't particularly impressed with the new vote leader. While Howard's skills were good, he felt they weren't MVP-level. After offering his congratulations, he immediately chimed in:

"Many fans are discussing whether the new generation of players are ready to take over the mantle from Li. What are your thoughts on this?"

Seemingly surprised by his partner's immediate question, Kenny Smith glanced at him, and before he could add anything, Howard confidently replied on camera: "I'm ready! You know, even though I'm a young player, I'm very old-fashioned in some ways."

"Cleveland fans have always been looking forward to a championship. I want to become a city hero like Lee. The championship is my goal. The Cavaliers have the ability to break the curse."

"We have a wealth of championship experience, and as the best defensive player, I have also been constantly refining my low-post skills over the years. This is the best Cavaliers team!"

"If any of the new generation of players can be the face of the team, I think I am the most suitable!"

Seemingly surprised by Howard's confidence, Charles Barkley blinked without saying a word, while Kenny Smith offered a compliment, trying hard to control his expression in front of the camera.

Only Ernie Johnson seemed genuinely convinced that "The Happy Beast" would become the face of the new generation, and continued to ask:

"Do you think the Cavaliers need to strengthen their roster before the trade deadline? We've noticed your offense is a bit inconsistent; will this problem be amplified in the playoffs?"

"I'm confident I can help the team get more rebounds! As a big man, I can carry the offense when necessary!"

"You know, the closer you are to the basket, the higher your shooting percentage. Three-pointers are just one of our offensive weapons, and I'm very happy with our current roster."

"I don't want to pursue the 'superstar' model; that's a weak choice. I don't even crave MVP teammates; I want to become a true MVP!"

"."

Howard's eloquent words flowed freely, and his increasingly enthusiastic "Happy Beast" left Barkley speechless. He was already like this before even winning any significant awards; what would happen if he actually did?

As the call ended, Howard grinned widely at the camera, flashing a bright white smile and giving a military salute. It was a highlight of his career; he was overjoyed.
"If Howard wants to become a superstar, the first thing he needs to learn is to control his emotions."

Barkley, having ended the call, dropped the pretense and started his usual rant, glancing at his partner before adding:

"He should see how Lee does it; that's not how superstars do it! Howard still has a lot to learn."

Kenny Smith didn't want to spoil the fun, not all young players are as mature as Li You, remaining calm and composed in the face of various records:
"What surprised me the most was Kobe's vote count. The All-Star Game is being held in Los Angeles, which is his home arena, and so far, it seems that he doesn't have the support of the fans."

"This is related to his declining stats this season. The 32-year-old Kobe seems to be starting to decline. Compared to Wade at the same position, he is no longer the best shooting guard in the league."

Earl Johnson offered his frank comments, a look of regret on his face, but considering the Mamba's experiences in the new season, he ultimately added some positive words:
"Without the triangle offense, Kobe is still adapting to the team. He may not be able to return to his peak, but we need to give him some time."

"The Lakers are still a team to be reckoned with. They have a wealth of Finals experience, and perhaps Kobe will give everyone a surprise in the later games."

-

On Friday, January 28th, while Cleveland was still celebrating Howard's lead in the polls, local fans took the opportunity to attack the "Chosen One" again, mocking James's weak "Decision".

If James chooses to stay with his hometown team, Cleveland fans believe he will definitely win the vote leader this season, and even the MVP award is not out of the question.

As a result, he left his hometown to pursue greater goals because of some unfounded rumors, which local fans still feel is a betrayal.

The Quicken Loans Arena erupted again that night, and the Nuggets, who were visiting the arena, were taken aback by the atmosphere. Had they already won the championship?
The 34-year-old Billups is in good physical condition, and the arrival of Devin Harris after Anthony left the team has relieved the pressure on him.

New signing Danilo Gallinari has been in good form since recovering from injury, and the team has maintained its current record.

With a record of 25 wins and 19 losses, Billups' team performance was quite good, and head coach George Karl praised the championship-winning guard's leadership on more than one occasion.

In his first game after winning the vote, Howard was very active, constantly "taking off" in the first quarter, and even showing off his ball-handling and breakthrough skills!
The Nuggets' backcourt consists of Devin Harris and Chauncey Billups, plus Danilo Gallinari, who can also handle the ball. Multiple ball-handlers can always find opportunities to "pass the ball" to the inside.

After Kenyon Martin and Nene Hilario adapted to the officiating standards in the second quarter, they also began to "intensify" the play against the Cavaliers' big men, and the actions on both sides became increasingly aggressive, with whistles sounding continuously.

George Karl was no pushover either; the old man kept stirring things up and complaining from the sidelines, and occasionally signaled to his players to increase physical contact.

With 2 minutes and 58 seconds left in the first half, Harris drove to the basket and assisted Kenyon Martin for a dunk. Martin landed and celebrated excitedly, pushing Howard away as he was about to inbound the ball.

Hey! You idiot, show some respect!

Howard turned and glared at his opponent, yelling loudly. Kenyon Martin, however, didn't back down, adopting a condescending attitude and retorting with a haughty, dismissive tone:

"Who do you think you are? When Li and I were playing in the divisional finals, you were still dribbling the ball in the corner!"

"Don't act like a superstar in front of me."

Realizing something was amiss, Artest also started to act cool, grabbing Kenyon Martin and casually saying with a smile on his dark face:

"He's still a child, Bro, give me some face!"

Ignoring the boos from the entire arena, Kenyon Martin sneered at Howard, patted the championship forward on the shoulder, and stopped his trash talk. Seeing the two laughing and talking as they ran towards the halfway line, "Happy Beast" got angry!

Howard responded quickly, receiving the ball in the low post on the left and turning around. As he released the ball with his left hand, he swung his right elbow, knocking Kenyon Martin to the ground.

The "Happy Beast," breaking along the baseline, ignored Nene's help defense, burst forward under the basket, and slammed the ball in with both hands, yelling loudly in mid-air as he pulled hard.
"what!!"

The Quicken Loans Arena erupted instantly. As soon as Howard landed, Kenyon Martin rushed over, and the two shoved each other again, shouting insults at each other.

"Old dog! Show some respect for the storefront!"

Even after being pulled away by the referee, Howard continued to taunt loudly, and the cheers from the crowd never stopped. George Karl on the sidelines was already jumping up and down, and the old man was angrily arguing with the linesman.

Head coach Mike Brown noticed something was wrong and loudly signaled to Artest and the others to control the pace. When the game restarted, the Nuggets missed their outside shots, and the actions of both sides became increasingly aggressive when it came to rebounding.

After Nene received a technical foul, Howard clapped his hands gleefully and grinned as he laughed.

When the Cavaliers attacked again, Mo Williams and Channing Frye set a screen and drove into the paint. The ball was tossed to the upper left of the basket, and Howard immediately took off!
Kenyon Martin, who was turning to defend, knew he couldn't stop Howard. Frustrated, he didn't jump but shoved Howard in the waist with force just as Howard was retrieving the ball.

"Oh!!"

Amid gasps of surprise, Howard, who lost his balance in mid-air, lost control of the ball and landed on his back, his entire body slamming horizontally onto the floor.

Howard, suffering from severe back pain, heard the referee's whistle, followed by Kenyon Martin's shouting and cursing. It seemed James Harden was doing it on purpose; even as he was being restrained, he continued to taunt loudly.

"Hey bastard, you want to be the face of the store?!"

"."

(End of this chapter)