The Way of the Center

On January 1, 2014, before he knew it, Anjie had already entered the 2014, which sounded very strange, with the company of basketball. When An Jie entered the professional basketball world in 2008, he never imagined what he would become in 2014.

At that time, he only wanted to survive in the NBA, and only wanted to make a living by playing basketball. But now, Anjie has become one of the hottest stars in the world. When Rickard was in the street court, he felt that anything could happen to Anjie. No, MVP, championship, money, honor. Indeed, too many incredible things happened to An Jie.

Speaking of the regular season, on New Year's Day last season, the ratings of the Trail Blazers' battle with the Knicks in New York were very gratifying. Thanks to China's New Year's Day holiday and the wonderful performances of both parties, David Stern also discovered for the first time that a match with Chinese players during China's New Year's Day would have such a gratifying ratings.

So this year, Stern specially arranged a "New Year's Day War" for Anjie and Chinese fans.

The game promotion full of Chinese style, newly designed for both sides, jerseys printed with the team name in Chinese. And "fortunately" to be the opponent of the Trail Blazers in the New Year's Day War, it is the Philadelphia 76ers who drove high and low this year.

Don't underestimate the 76ers. David Stern believes that when a game is given a special meaning, even the weak side will explode with impressive strength.

The 76ers have not had many opportunities to broadcast live in the United States this season, let alone this game will attract the attention of a huge crowd as far away as Asia. Therefore, everyone on the 76ers team will definitely seize the opportunity to perform to the fullest. After all, playing in a small market and on a small team doesn't come often.

Who has trouble with money? Especially for the 76ers players who have received low attention, the word honor has little to do with them for the time being. Filling their reputation and wallet first is the primary issue they need to consider now.

Therefore, for this New Year's Day battle, the players of the 76ers made a lot of preparations. Even though the 76ers' current record of 11 wins and 21 losses is far from the Trail Blazers' record of 29 wins and 3 losses, isn't this what often happens in the NBA?

A miracle happened here, and this slogan was so appropriate for this game.

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Michael Carter Williams, this guy with a very "dominant" name, is the biggest surprise of the Philadelphia 76ers this year.

Sixers fans even called him Philadelphia's "new answer" early on in the season. On the day of the opening game, even Iverson, who was watching the game, would give McAway a standing ovation from time to time.

In the first week, McAway led the 76ers to a three-game record. In the first phase of ESPN's strength rankings, the 76ers ranked second, second only to the Trail Blazers led by Anjie.

But after that, McAway's performance gradually returned to calm. Although he can still play brilliant moments, the 76ers have once again embarked on the road of losing.

The 76ers have become uninterested from the beginning of the season, and the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia will leave a large number of vacancies in almost every game. Reporters have never been keen to go to Philadelphia for interviews. After all, how much news can you dig out for a team that aims to be the No. 1 pick?

Therefore, when McAway, who is used to being left out, stepped out of the team bus today and saw the crowds, he wondered if he had been playing a fake NBA all along.

The entrance of the Moda Center has long been surrounded by reporters, not only local American media, but also many yellow-skinned and black-haired reporters. During the New Year's Day war, people came for Anjie and the Blazers. But I have to admit that the 76ers, who are the opponents of the Trail Blazers, also benefited a lot.

The 76ers players struggled to push their way through the crowd and into the Moda Center.

Even Thaddeus Young, who entered the league a year earlier than Anjie, had never seen such a grand occasion.

"This is fucking crazy." Thaddeus Young's first words after entering the visiting team's locker room aroused strong sympathy from his teammates.

"I have never seen so many foreigners in my life. Today, I have seen the concept of a population of 1.3 billion." The second-year rookie of the 76ers traded from the Grizzlies, backup guard Tony Roten said to Just surprised by the size of the crowd outside the stadium.

"You idiot, the crowds outside just now are all over the streets in China." Evan Turner, second place in the 2010 list, took over Tony Roten's words. After all, the figure of 1.3 billion is for this group of guys. It is really unimaginable.

"Okay, we're not going to travel to China. Stop your fantasies about eastern countries for now. In front of so many people, if we can win, it will completely change the outside world's perception of us!" The 76ers Team coach Brett Brown closed the door of the locker room. Although the management did not give Brown any tasks, it is impossible for Brown to let the 76ers lose like this.

"Look at the new jerseys in your locker. I don't even know the Chinese characters written on your chests. Everyone regards this game as a carnival between An Jie and the Chinese. But we want to disturb the Yellow League. The malice! The whole world is waiting to see Anjie slaughter us so that the Chinese people can celebrate the festival happily. But we are an NBA-level team, not lambs to be slaughtered!" Brett Brown was very emotional Don't be so excited, because the league's attitude towards this game shames Brown.

Everyone believed that 76 had failed, and everyone was waiting to see An Jie complete the massacre. What about the 76ers? They are just a foil. This kind of blatant contempt was unacceptable to Brown.

After Brown finished speaking, the 76ers players put away their hippie smiles. Yeah, since when did they get used to failure. Isn't victory what these young men were after?

Thaddeus Young is gearing up for the fight. Recently, his training state and competition state are good. Evan Turner's eyes also became firm. As a second place, he always hopes to prove himself.

As for McAway, this guy looked at his jersey with Chinese characters printed on his chest. Which rookie has never thought of becoming famous in one battle? What rookie doesn't want success?

In the first game of the season, he has already defeated James. Today, McAway is going to compete with Anjie, a guy on the same level as James! An Jie has changed from a guy who is not expected to become a game specially arranged by the league for him and his country. McAway also hopes to become such a player.

Fans have poured into the stadium, and many yellow-skinned guys occupy large areas of the stands. Ricard is still controlling his volume, what about Anjie? He also, as always, encouraged his teammates to cheer up before the game.

Everything looks as expected, high ratings, high attendance, no pressure opponents, easy holiday games...

But at this time in the locker room of the visiting team, everyone in the 76ers is ready to break all the rules.

In the New Year's Day war, the 76ers don't intend to play the role of a clown who brings joy to others.

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Speaking of the 76ers, Anjie's impression goes back to his first game in the NBA. In the 2008-2009 season preseason, the Oklahoma City Thunder played against the Philadelphia 76ers. That day, An Jie knew for the first time what an NBA-level game is.

That game is the one Anjie remembers most about the 76ers. However, Iguodala, the head star of the 76ers team, has now become the right-hand man assisting An Jie.

Since changing the team logo and jersey, the 76ers can really be described as a blank in Anjie's mind. The change of the team's management and the reshuffle of the players made Iguodala, a guy who played for the 76ers for 5 seasons, feel strange.

The current 76ers seem to be a brand new team with the old name, so before the game, Anjie did not greet or hug any players of the 76ers. It's not that An Jie looks down on the other party, but that he really doesn't know that group of guys well.

Prior to this, the Trail Blazers had played against the 76ers twice. There is no doubt that in these two games, the 76ers contributed their own strength to the Blazers' 26-game winning streak.

Facing such a "harmless to humans and animals" opponent, An Jie also played quite easily after the opening.

He didn't talk nonsense with Haus, because there was no need for An Jie to talk trash to this kind of guy.

In the first round, Anjie just relied on Howard's recklessness in the three-second zone to push Hawes and dunk at the basket.

Anjie's attack like a fish in water under the basket made the Trail Blazers fans firmer in their determination to win.

"Damn it, there's no defense at all!" Hawes smashed the basketball angrily, and the basketball rebounded hard into his hands. But this still couldn't alleviate the resentment in his heart.

"Don't be so anxious Spencer, look at this scene, look at this group of guys cheering for Anjie. Let them be happy for a while, today, we will dedicate a good show to this damn Christmas battle!" Sai Diss Young patted Hawes on the shoulder, and ran towards the frontcourt with his head held high.

Today, the 76ers must seize this rare opportunity and play a different game!

This is a New Year's Day battle, not a New Year's Day carnival!