Two Hundred and Eighty-One: The Forgotten Shooter

On January 17, NBA officials finally announced the 2012 NBA All-Star Weekend three-point contest contestants list.

Heat player James Jones earned an automatic spot in the 3-point contest for winning the 2011 3-point contest. Another Heat guard, Chalmers, also qualified.

In addition to the two players from the Heat, the other four players invited to the 3-point contest are Timberwolves forward Kevin Love, Magic forward Ryan Anderson, Nets guard Anthony Morrow, and the recent Redskins. Link, he will replace the injured Eagles guard Joe Johnson in this three-point contest!

After yesterday's consideration, Link finally decided to accept the league's invitation. It doesn't hurt to go play. And participating in the three-point contest is better than being pulled by Kobe to train at four or five in the morning. Now, there is an excuse to refuse Kobe's training invitation.

Link's participation suddenly made this All-Star Game more interesting. Like Griffin last season, Link almost became the protagonist of this All-Star Game.

Because from the Rookie Challenge on the first day to the three-point contest to the All-Star Game, Link participated without fail.

The news of appearing in Time magazine and joining the three-point contest happened to coincide, and Link literally swiped the entire basketball circle.

But unlike the controversy when he was selected for the All-Star Game, this time Link participated in the three-point contest, and basically all the media and fans gave positive comments.

As a result, Link's 35-point shooting percentage per game this year is indeed high enough. Second, Link has been very popular recently, adding a lot to the star-studded three-point contest.

Seeing that the media was full of reports about him, Link reluctantly pouted.

If he had this popularity last year, it is estimated that Griffin would not be the best rookie.

But speaking of it, last year Link was still envious of Griffin, a popular monster. But this year, he himself has become a popular monster Benbeast. The leap this season really makes Link feel dreamy.

That night, the Grizzlies lost to the Nuggets by one point at home, ending their second seven-game winning streak of the season. But Link still used his 4-for-6 three-pointer to satisfy the appetite of the fans.

Now, expectations have grown for Link's performance at All-Star Weekend.

But another player who played well from beyond the arc was completely ignored. And he is trying to make everyone remember himself again.

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At the same time as the Grizzlies and the Nuggets battle, in Oklahoma City, the Thunder, currently ranked first in the Western Conference, is playing against the Golden State Warriors.

Before this game, no one thought the Warriors would cause any trouble for the Thunder. After all, judging from the record, the two sides are not at the same level.

So far this season, the Thunder have 22 wins and only 7 losses. Kevin Durant is averaging 2 points per game, and he's become a more mature scoring machine. Russell Westbrook averaged 236 points and shot 457 from the field. Most of the time, the No. 0 guard stays calm. Sergi Ibaka averaged a terrifying 37 blocks per game! He made the Thunder's weak rim defense less vulnerable

Of course, the Thunder's biggest gain this season,

It's James Harden from the bench!

As a freshman, Harden averaged less than 10 points and hit a miserable 40.

Harden averaged 122 points last season, but he's still not quite a figure, and most players can easily lock him up.

This season, Harden's scoring has skyrocketed to 16 points, averaging 491 shots per game and 39 three-pointers!

James Harden has been leading the way in sixth-man best predictions. He has become the most well-known sixth man in the league this season, no one! The combination of him and Westbrook and Durant began to make people more and more fanciful.

A defensive fighter, two scoring machines and a super sixth man, maybe this young team can really hit the championship! ?

However, it is such a strong and terrifying team. Today is at home, struggling on the verge of a rollover.

All because of one person, Stephen Curry!

"Stephen, after catching the ball and shooting directly on top of Westbrook's head, is there any more!? Go, go! Three-pointer! Stephen Curry, this is already his six three-pointers of the game. This is crazy, 6-for-3, and Stephen Curry is on his own against the Thunder!"

On the commentary stage, Weber's voice was hoarse. Curry looks like he's on the hook today, and he has a three-point shot!

After Curry scored, he waved his fist very hard. He is not protesting at the Thunder players and fans, but expressing his inner unwillingness.

It's been a tough season for Curry.

Last offseason, Curry underwent ankle surgery to repair a torn ankle ligament, but it didn't make his condition fundamentally better. Curry has sprained his ankle twice in the first seven games of the season. In January of 2012, Curry sprained his right foot. In February, he sprained again, and it was only a few days after his comeback.

Due to the constant injury, Curry has not played many times this season, and the data has plummeted. From 16 points per game last season, it has become only 147 points.

He's incredibly frustrated, feeling like he hasn't done anything since last summer other than rehabilitate his ankle.

Seeing that it will soon be the day when the third-year player renews his contract with the parent team in advance, but the Golden State Warriors have been slow to make an offer. With a super high three-point shooting rate of 455, Curry did not receive an invitation from the league to participate in the three-point contest. These two things made him find that he seemed to be abandoned and forgotten!

Therefore, today Curry vented all the anger and unhappiness in his heart. He wants to prove to the Warriors and the world that I have not fallen, I can still fight, I can still win!

Unfortunately, the Oklahoma City Thunder hit the muzzle.

After Curry made the 3-pointer, the Warriors had a four-point lead over the Thunder in the final 435 seconds of the game. The Thunder have only lost 7 games so far this season. But they never imagined that the Warriors, who couldn't even make it into the top eight in the Western Conference, would become the first team to defeat them.

The Thunder missed several key shots in the final moments, and eventually, the nightmare became a reality. The Thunder, who ranked first in the West, unexpectedly lost at home to the Golden State Warriors, who ranked third from the bottom in the West!

At the end of the game, the baby-faced defender who was not favored by all parties raised his arms high to celebrate his victory.

With 34 assists and 6 three-pointers, Curry completed his redemption with impeccable performance. This is also the first time this season that Stephen Curry has scored 30 points in a single game.

After the game, Stephen Curry once again won the favor of reporters. He can't remember how long he has been forgotten by everyone.

"Stephen, this is a great victory. The league didn't invite you to participate in the three-point contest, did they not respect you enough?" The reporter threw a very sharp question as soon as he came up.

Curry gave a wry smile and didn't answer. But that smile is worth more than a thousand words.

"Then next game against the Memphis Grizzlies and against Link, who replaced Joe Johnson in the three-point contest, do you think you can continue to play well?"

"I will try my best to fight every game."

Curry's eyes are firm. Although he has a baby face, he has the heart of a strong man.

Link and his teammates don't know yet, they have been targeted by their opponents in the next game in advance.

A Stephen Curry who is eager to prove himself may also bring huge trouble to the Grizzlies.