Y13 [EN]: Chapter 221

Y13-221 (221/296)

00221 2011-2012 Regular Season ====================================================

“Although I didn’t make the All-Star starting lineup, the All-Star reserve team will be announced in a week. Do you think you’ll be selected?”

“Well, I think that depends on the coaches’ votes. I personally believe I’ve performed well enough to be selected for this All-Star game, but they may not see it that way. I won’t be upset if I’m not selected as an All-Star.”

As soon as Irock Lyker’s question ended, another reporter immediately jumped in with the next question.

“Are you not satisfied with your role? You’re among the players who score over 20 points but have fewer clutch-time points. Do you think you should ask for a bigger offensive role?”

“I’m very satisfied with my current role. The team has overcome its early slump and is playing well, and other players besides me are also in good condition. Players like Nowitzki and Terry have been responsible for the team’s clutch performances for a long time. Sharing clutch time with them is a good thing; it gives the opponent more to think about on defense. And it doesn’t necessarily have to be an attack. I think I can contribute enough to the team with defense as well.”

Youngjae received a few more questions after that, but he skillfully wrapped up the interview as usual, and the questions began to shift to Nowitzki.

“Nowitzki, you recorded 28 points and 9 rebounds with a good field goal percentage of 12/20 in today’s game. How are you feeling right now?”

At the reporter’s words, Nowitzki nodded a few times and began to speak honestly about his feelings.

“This season is personally one of the most difficult seasons for me. The start of the season was uncertain, so I wasn’t physically or mentally prepared at all. So I think it took me a long time to find my rhythm. But my condition now is pretty good.”

“I’m Richard Powell from Culture Map Dallas. Nowitzki, in the All-Star fan vote results released on February 2nd, you received 540,000 votes in the forward category, ranking third. What are your thoughts on this?”

At Richard Powell’s question, Nowitzki paused slightly, but soon began to share his inner thoughts calmly.

“As far as I know, this year is the worst in my career since the ’00 season. Fortunately, even with my slump, my teammates are performing at 120% of their ability and filling in the gaps, so I think Dallas is achieving these results now. Honestly, I’m not sure if I deserve to play even if I’m selected as an All-Star in my current form.”

Nowitzki had never failed to be selected as an All-Star in 10 years. If he is selected as an All-Star this year as well, he would become a player who has been selected for 11 consecutive All-Star games, a feat only Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, and Kevin Garnett have achieved among active players. But Nowitzki wasn’t the type to be so concerned about such things.

“However, you’ve been selected as an All-Star for 10 consecutive years, and 11 or more consecutive years is an honorable position held only by Kobe Bryant (14 consecutive years), Kevin Garnett (14 consecutive times), and Tim Duncan (13 consecutive times) among active players.”

“I know that very well. It’s the greatest honor to stand shoulder to shoulder with such players. But the good performance of the Dallas Mavericks is more important to me than my personal honor. The current team is good enough to challenge for the top. That’s why it’s more important for me to recover my condition right now.”

Nowitzki wanted to focus on recovering his condition rather than being selected as an All-Star. In other words, because recovering his condition was important, he meant that he wouldn’t be disappointed even if he wasn’t selected as an All-Star.

“Do you want to win the championship for the second year in a row?”

“I think there’s no reason why we can’t. I’m very happy with the current Dallas team, and I want Dallas to win more than anyone else. I like the Dallas Mavericks’ high-flying play so much that I don’t have the energy to focus on personal All-Star games.”

With that, the interview ended appropriately, and Nowitzki and Youngjae left the press room looking tired. Coach Carlisle, who came out after them, smiled faintly, satisfied that the two tired players had faithfully completed the interview.

[Announcement of the 2012 NBA All-Star Reserve Team Roster]

Finally, the reserve team members who will play in the 2012 All-Star Break have been announced, and the final roster has been revealed.

1) Western All-Star Reserve Team

Youngjae Yoon (Dallas Mavericks/SG) [Shooting Guard]

Steve Nash (Phoenix Suns/PG) [Point Guard]

Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder/PG)

LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland Trail Blazers/PF) [Power Forward]

Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas Mavericks/PF)

Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves/PF)

Marc Gasol (Memphis Grizzlies/C) [Center]

2) Eastern All-Star Reserve Team

Deron Williams (New Jersey Nets/PG)

Joe Johnson (Atlanta Hawks/SG)

Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers/SG)

Luol Deng (Chicago Bulls/SF) [Small Forward]

Paul Pierce (Boston Celtics/SF)

Chris Bosh (Miami Heat/PF)

Roy Hibbert (Indiana Pacers/C)

Seven reserve team members were selected from each of the Western and Eastern teams. These players, who were selected by the votes of the coaches in each district, are the stars who will light up the All-Star main game along with the five starters selected by fan voting. Since they are selected by the votes of the coaches, there may be an imbalance by position, and there may be players who were unfortunately not selected.

The coaches of each team selected 2 guards, 2 forwards, and 1 center. (They cannot select players from their own team.) And 7 players were selected according to the combined vote.

First of all, Dirk Nowitzki was selected as an All-Star for the 11th consecutive year despite his worst season since 2000 in his career. Despite recording the lowest career average score since his second season, the coaches selected Dirk Nowitzki.

“It was very difficult to get my health back, but I have represented the Mavericks for 10 years, and I am honored that the coaches have selected me as an All-Star. I will do my best in Orlando (the venue for the 2012 All-Star Game).”

Paul Pierce was selected as an All-Star for the 10th time despite a foot injury. However, Kevin Garnett finished his record with 14 consecutive All-Star selections, and Tim Duncan finished with 13 consecutive All-Star selections. All-Star regulars such as Ray Allen and Amare Stoudemire will have to watch the game at home, losing out to players such as LaMarcus Aldridge, Marc Gasol, Andre Iguodala, Roy Hibbert, and Luol Deng. These five players are first-time All-Stars in their careers.

Also, Steve Nash, the league’s assist leader, Russell Westbrook, who is recording a career-high score, and Kevin Love, last season’s MIP [Most Improved Player], were selected. Nash became the fourth player in history (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone) to be selected as an All-Star at the age of 38 or older.

Dwight Howard of Orlando, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade of Miami, Derrick Rose of Chicago, and Carmelo Anthony of New York have already been selected as Eastern starters, and Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum of the LA Lakers, Chris Paul and Blake Griffin of the LA Clippers, and Kevin Durant of Oklahoma City have been selected as Western starters.

In this preliminary vote, the coaches voted after seeing only 25 games, and veterans such as Nowitzki and Pierce weren’t fully prepared due to the shortened season and brief training camp. That made it difficult for them.

Rudy Gay (Memphis Grizzlies/SF), Monta Ellis (Golden State Warriors/SG), Tony Parker (San Antonio Spurs/PG), Josh Smith (Atlanta Hawks/PF), Brandon Jennings (Milwaukee Bucks/PG), Kyle Lowry (Houston Rockets/PG), Rajon Rondo (Boston Celtics/PG), Paul Millsap (Utah Jazz/PF), etc. unfortunately didn’t make the All-Star list after fierce competition. However, if a player gets injured, Commissioner David Stern can select a replacement player.

Re: The position balance seems to be better in the East. The West just keeps picking number 1 and number 4.

ㄴRe: Oh! Isn’t this the first Korean All-Star? Amazing!

ㄴRe: Seriously, being selected as a reserve is great! It’s fun to watch the NBA!

ㄴRe: Even if you expand the scope to Asia, it’s the second after Yao Ming.

Re: The East only has Bosh as a traditional power forward… There are two small forwards in the starting lineup… and three in the candidates… They’re going to run a lot… haha. On the other hand, the West doesn’t have a small forward, and only three stretch-type power forwards with poor defense were selected.

Re: Joe Johnson is making his 6th consecutive All-Star appearance without anyone noticing.

ㄴRe: Who? I can’t see the name?

ㄴRe: Atlanta’s…

ㄴRe: That fantastic 4 invisible cheek…

ㄴRe: Oh Harry, you mustn’t say his name… I don’t know him.

Re: It’s a shame about Gay. I thought he would be selected this time.

ㄴRe: Gay shouldn’t be selected because of Love.

ㄴRe: Is that forbidden love…? Now Love seems to be taking up a spot in the All-Star game every year… Just let them love each other!

ㄴRe: I want to see Gay, Johnson, and Love play on the same team.

Re: San Antonio has 0 All-Stars for the second year in a row. I thought Parker would be selected.

ㄴRe: Duncan played instead of Yao Ming last year, so there was one. The replacement player is also a record.

Youngjae was finally selected as an All-Star reserve member in his second season, achieving the honor of becoming the first Korean player to become an All-Star. It’s not that he didn’t expect it, but Youngjae couldn’t help but yell when he actually made the All-Star team. Emily, who said she called as soon as she saw the announcement, had a slightly tearful voice but congratulated Youngjae more than anyone else, and Youngjae comforted Emily, telling her not to cry.

The team members also celebrated Dallas having two All-Stars for the first time in a while and ate a hearty dinner with Nowitzki and Youngjae. During Nowitzki’s 11 All-Star appearances, the only Dallas teammates who went to the All-Star game with him were Steve Nash in 2002 and 2003, Josh Howard in 2007, and Jason Kidd in 2010. The disappointing thing is that they aimed to have three All-Stars for the first time since the team’s founding, but unfortunately, Chandler was edged out by Marc Gasol, so they had to wait until next year.

Of course, Nowitzki, who earns 10 times more than Youngjae, seemed to have paid for most of the dinner, but Youngjae still paid a portion of Nowitzki’s meal expenses, saying that he wanted to contribute a little.

“Hoo! Hoo!”

And on February 15th, the day of the home game against Denver, Youngjae was sweating in the gym with Barea, who he has been training with lately, after the morning team meeting was briefly over.

“Ugh, ah!”

The two people lifting heavy weights were concentrating on their workout, looking in the mirror and checking whether their muscles were being stimulated as much as possible in the correct posture and slowly but surely.

Thump-

Front barbell squat. A movement in which you put a barbell, a weightlifting device, on your shoulder line and take a squat posture. Youngjae and Barea each had their own rhythm and completed all sets perfectly. After that, they put a kettlebell (a heavy weightlifting device similar to a bowling ball with a handle) on the ground and put both hands on the kettlebell, then did push-ups, kettlebell squats with kettlebells in both hands, and cable seat rows, etc. Leaning on a gym ball with the upper body and firmly placing both feet on the ground, then pulling the cable hard with both hands… The two people, who digested an enormous amount of exercise that could be believed to be the usual amount of exercise for a bodybuilder, then relieved their stiff muscles and performed various exercises to avoid interfering with the game.

“More! More! Barea!”

Youngjae held a large square mitt made of materials similar to cotton and latex in both hands and pushed Barea hard, and Barea dribbled the ball with his left hand and pushed the mitt hard with his right shoulder. Conversely, when the exercise of Youngjae pushing hard against Barea was over, he wrapped elastic bands made of rubber material around both ankles and knees and started stepping sideways. Eventually, when the workout was completely over at lunchtime, the two people lay down with a relieved expression, and trainer Smith joked, ‘You two will be flying around in today’s game?’ and left to eat lunch first.

“Huh…”

“It’s tough, isn’t it?”

It was less severe than the hellish time he spent bulking up during the offseason, but it was a pain in the ass to try to do this kind of training steadily while the league was in progress. Youngjae sighed and then burst out laughing.

============================ Author’s Afterword ============================

★Thank you to those who gave advance reservations, recommendations, comments, and coupons!!

＠Youngjae was taken out and Parker went in. Originally, Parker was in the 12-year All-Star reserve team, but I had to take out one of Parker, Westbrook, and Nash, but considering the record and the number of votes, I decided to take out Parker. Parker did well in the first half, but the second half was in crazy mode.

＠NBA fans will probably know the Joe Johnson cloaking story. In one article, a photo of Rajon Rondo was posted on a Joe Johnson article, so they jokingly called Joe Johnson Rajon Rondo. Anyway, he is a player who really has no presence. But his salary is 2nd in the entire NBA. It’s about $24.89 million.

Lazze/// That’s right. Youngjae is closer to Nash than Curry, so it seems like it will be a bloody battle with Curry haha.

Heukgom12, Sarajiyeonghon, misscherry, Painensia, Lee Dongseokdong, magara/// Thank you for your comments!!

Invi/// Thank you for pointing that out. Why did I write it like that;;;

Ultra10/// Today was really a chaotic opening game. Atlanta was completely 털렸by Drummond, and Cleveland couldn’t fill the void of Irving-Shumpert. And Davis wrote a 역대급 black history.

-DarkANGEL-/// Originally, it’s best to hear it in the finals, but since it’s the same league… And surprisingly, Duncan jokes and gives advice to players from other teams.

ㅎ0ㅎ/// It’s a scene that will remain in NBA history ㄷㄷ. Michael Jordan couldn’t even do itㅋㅋ

Luscinia, -DarkANGEL-/// As explained by -DarkANGEL-, I used it in the sense of Man of the Match, the second meaning of MIP. A detailed explanation is in the -DarkANGEL- comment in the previous episode. Thank you for the explanation, -DarkANGEL-.

Baedeok’s Fire, Yabesu, Blue Gauri/// 엌ㅋㅋ It can’t be. Then Youngjae will become an 오징어 next to Parsons ㅋㅋ

goimosp/// Since there is no Irving-Shumpert, I feel like the outside attack and defense are not working. I think MoWill and JR should both come out as sixth men to show their skills.