Monta Ellis, as the star player of the Golden State Warriors, had unlimited shooting privileges on the court.
During the rotation phase of the second quarter, Monta Ellis remained on the court and continued to shoot frantically.
Poor Steph Curry didn't even have as many possessions as Ronny Turiaf.
Although Head Coach Nelson favored him, the players on the court never treated Curry as a core player.
Everyone was a family, and even stat-padding required seniority.
Curry was too young, and the veterans were afraid he wouldn't be able to seize opportunities, so they naturally took away his possessions.
In the latter half of the second quarter, when Kayce went to rest, Steph Curry, acting as an outside shooter, had just made a three-pointer.
However, in the next possession, facing Thabo Sefolosha's defense, Curry's pass resulted in another turnover.
Then, Curry was immediately substituted by Head Coach Nelson.
Facing the perimeter defense of Russell, Thabo Sefolosha, Durant, and Ibaka, Curry struggled.
Thabo Sefolosha's tight defense, in particular, directly caused two turnovers for Curry.
"Thabo Sefolosha's defense has improved greatly this season, but what surprises me most is that Russell is also playing full-force defense.
You might not have seen this guy's defensive attitude last season! It was truly awful."
Jeff Green, who was resting on the bench, suddenly remarked to Kayce beside him.
"Perhaps this is the effect of winning. When everyone knows that hard defense leads to victory, everyone's defensive willingness changes.
Actually, at UCLA, Coach Ben always treated Russell as a defensive expert."
Kayce suddenly recalled the scenes of practicing with Russell and a few others in college.
At that time, everyone was a good boy; Coach Ben was the boss of the team, and anyone who didn't listen sat on the bench.
"Yes, winning is great. My agent told me that I'm playing well this season and should be able to sign a good contract. Thanks, Bro, thank you for your passes. We all know you have the ability to score more points."
Jeff Green suddenly whispered his thanks to Kayce.
"Haha, don't be so polite with me. Stats are like a big cake. You and Kevin are both about to sign contracts, so of course, I'll help you out. Next year, Russell will be the same. Luckily, there are no veterans on our team, otherwise, the Warriors would be our role model."
Kayce also chuckled, and with a meaningful glance, looked at Corey Maggette, who was on the court stat-padding.
Jeff Green instantly understood, and the two chatted happily off the court, while the Thunder players on the court also launched fierce attacks.
Durant had already transformed into a small-time destroyer.
He came off a screen to catch the ball, took one dribble, and pulled up for a jump shot.
"Swish!" He easily sank a mid-range shot.
Corey Maggette, who was guarding Durant, only symbolically extended his hand, but there was a significant height difference between them, and Durant felt no defensive pressure at all.
By the end of the first half, the score was 52:70, and the Thunder had almost secured the victory.
During halftime, Coach Brooks simply reminded the players to take care of their bodies and said no more.
The point difference was too large; once the third quarter was over, the rest of the game would turn into garbage time.
"This is truly a no-pressure game.
I feel like the Warriors players are already thinking about where to go on vacation!"
After returning to the locker room, Durant arrogantly made a statement, mocking the Warriors players.
He had easily scored 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 assist on 7-of-10 shooting and 7-of-7 from the free-throw line in the first half, so there was nothing wrong with what Durant said.
"A boring game. This Warriors team is no longer the 'We Believe' team from back then. They've declined too quickly!"
Russell sighed, feeling a bit nostalgic.
He used to like the Warriors, but he never expected them to fall apart so badly in just a few years.
"I don't care about any of that. I want to know if Kevin has a chance to win Player of the Month. Kayce should continue to win awards, and Kevin shouldn't have too much of a problem either."
With the game no longer in suspense, Jeff Green thought of the awards again, taking the opportunity to boost Durant's prestige.
"That depends on the NBA's judging criteria. If he can win the award, the atmosphere at the arena on the 2nd will definitely be incredibly lively!"
"The Western Conference rookies from the 2009 draft are truly unlucky. Kayce will probably sweep all the Rookie of the Month awards. Brandon Jennings in the East is so lucky!"
"Come on, just because Brandon Jennings won an award, the media compared him to Kayce, and you know the result. Not a single media outlet or critic favored him."
Kayce listened as the conversation in the locker room went further and further off-topic, and he couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth.
There was still a second half to play.
After the second half began, the Warriors immediately gave up, clearly intending to pad their stats.
At this point, the game was essentially garbage time, but to make the game look good, the starters couldn't come off the court yet.
By the end of the third quarter, Durant had already scored 31 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists, and Kayce had also easily put up 22 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists.
Both were immediately substituted.
The fourth quarter was entirely garbage time.
Russell played another three minutes with Jeff Green.
Coach Brooks hoped Jeff Green could quickly find his game rhythm, treating garbage time as a training session.
Steph Curry's possessions also returned.
The veterans had finished their stat-padding, and it was finally his turn.
Curry, playing freely, still had good watchability and even earned some applause from the Oklahoma City fans.
Baby faces were still very popular; many fans in America liked that type.
The game quickly ended, 98:121.
The Thunder defeated the Golden State Warriors at home.
After this game, the Thunder stood at 37 wins and 10 losses, ranking first in the Western Conference, one game ahead of the Lakers.
Perhaps having lost too many, Steph Curry found Kayce with a smile after the game.
The two hugged in greeting and whispered to each other:
"See you at the Rookie Challenge, Kayce. We definitely need to perform well then!"
"I'm confident we can beat the Sophomore team. Go for it, Bro! Stay healthy and wait for your chance. If you want to go fishing, just come find me in Oklahoma City."
Russell, who was nearby, vaguely heard something about the Rookie Challenge and was immediately startled.
Are they really ganging up on me?
Seeing the two separate, he immediately asked Kayce:
"Kayce, what did you just say to Steph? What about the Rookie Challenge?"
"Haha, nothing much. You know, Brandon Jennings and I aren't very close, so I have to say hello to Curry in advance. I don't want to have no possessions then."
Kayce naturally wouldn't say that he had already planned to crush them; otherwise, Russell would definitely be on guard and might even directly team up with Love.
When Russell heard this, he always felt that something was amiss, but remembering that he had already sent a text message to Love, he believed that with Love's help, the Sophomore team could still easily win.
"Haha, it's good to prepare in advance. I won't go easy then."
Russell and Kayce exchanged smiles, and a thought simultaneously emerged in their minds:
"I still need to find more people. This guy is up to something; we have to play 'brotherhood basketball'!"
On February 1st, the NBA announced that Chris Paul of the Hornets had suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee, ending his season and preventing him from participating in the All-Star Game.
Chris Paul's severe injury was a major blow to the Hornets.
The team's performance had just started to improve, and new addition Okafor was gradually developing chemistry with his teammates, but then the team's brain and engine was out for the season.
Chris Paul's absence left a spot open for a Western Conference All-Star reserve, but the NBA's subsequent decision directly angered Oklahoma City fans, as Jason Kidd was named as his replacement.
As soon as the news of Kidd's selection broke, the Reddit Thunder subreddit exploded.
Oklahoma City fans all rallied to support Kayce.
"Why can Jason Kidd be added to the All-Star team? Kayce ranked 3rd in Western Conference backcourt voting, and we are still the number one team in the West, yet only KD was selected for the All-Star team.
This is simply an insult to small market teams!"
"We want to see Kayce in the All-Star Game. Young Jason Kidd is definitely an All-Star player, but he is truly too old. The NBA should consider letting all these veterans rest."
"Although this All-Star Weekend is being held in Dallas, Kayce absolutely deserves to be selected for the All-Star team. This result is too disappointing for me. The NBA should respect our team more and respect our achievements!"
"Boring All-Star Weekend. It's the same old faces every year, and the games lack passion. Honestly, if it weren't for KD, I wouldn't even watch such an exhibition game."
"F*ck! The NBA is a piece of shit. They don't care about the fans' opinions at all. We want to see Kayce play!"
"Unbelievable. Whether it's popularity or team record, Kayce is impeccable. Why did this happen?"
"Obviously, this is out of respect for veterans. Although fans don't like it, coaches will all agree with this decision."
Kayce was not surprised when he saw this news.
The NBA circle was small, and some human relations had to be considered.
Kidd was old, and this All-Star Weekend was being held in Dallas, so everyone naturally showed him respect.
At this moment, Kayce was at home looking at the training plan and asked his trainer, Meg, with some confusion:
"Flexibility training? Didn't we have this training item in the previous coordination training?"
"That's right, Kayce. Honestly, your physical talent truly amazes us. Your left and right hands are almost identical, and your muscle group coordination is impeccable."
"So, we plan to reduce most of the physical coordination training and increase flexibility training. This can also help you reduce the risk of injury. We believe that with half of the regular season still remaining, staying healthy is the most important thing."
"When the offseason comes, we will continue to increase strength training. Tony has already drafted a preliminary plan. Although you'll have to endure some hardship, at least you won't have to take medication, which is already an incredible talent."
Trainer Meg briefly explained the changes in the plan.
Kayce was their biggest employer, so they had to serve him well.
"Medication? The NBA's drug testing is quite strict. Basketball players should rarely rely on drugs, right?"
Kayce asked curiously.
"Steroid hormones, when the dosage is controlled, do not cause harm to the body. They mainly serve to achieve twice the result with half the effort.
Many players use a little, and as long as it doesn't cross the line, the NBA and the Players' Association tacitly approve of it."
"But you don't have to worry about that. Wagner has always been controlling your diet, precisely because he's afraid you'll get fat. Whether it's gaining muscle or losing fat, it's not difficult for you. This is truly an enviable talent."
Meg always felt that Kayce's body was unscientific, with super recovery ability and metabolism beyond ordinary people.
Although he had never met LeBron James, Meg felt that Kayce's talent was definitely not inferior to his.
"It seems I was ignorant. I thought only sprinters would consider drugs. You decide the training; I'll follow the arrangements."
Kayce shrugged with a smile.
"Thank you for your trust, Kayce. Diligent and disciplined. Yi Jianlian is the same; he takes training very seriously, never cuts corners, and never bargains."
Meg might have recalled the players he had served before, as he smiled and complained.
Kayce's expression was a bit strange when he heard this, because Yi Jianlian had performed with an average of 14+10 in January, racking up stats with great satisfaction.
After Love's injury, many media outlets had already bestowed the title of "Double-Double Machine" upon Yi Jianlian.
As Kayce thought of this title, he silently complained in his heart:
"The Double-Double Machines of the NBA will be mass-produced in the future. I hope double-double stats don't depreciate later."
On February 2nd, the Ford Center was exceptionally lively tonight.
Most fans spontaneously wore Thunder jerseys to the arena, and at a glance, large swaths of white and blue intertwined.
Yesterday, the NBA announced the winners of the Eastern and Western Conference Player of the Month awards.
Kevin Durant successfully won the Western Conference Player of the Month for January with an average of 30.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists.
Kayce also successfully dominated the Western Conference's 2009 rookies with an average of 22.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 7.2 assists, once again winning the Rookie of the Month award without suspense.
Oklahoma City fans were ecstatic.
What are "talented players"?
Just look at our Thunder, and you'll understand.
When Kayce and Durant simultaneously raised their trophies, a huge cheer erupted from the crowd.
"Ah!!!"
Hearing the fans constantly cheering for him, Durant looked a bit emotional.
Unlike the Rookie of the Month award, winning Player of the Month in the Western Conference was not easy.
This was his first time receiving this award.
This also showed that in January, he defeated All-Star players like Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Tim Duncan, and Dirk Nowitzki.
He had gained the league's recognition!
There was no host at the venue tonight; instead, Kayce and Durant were arranged to interview each other.
Seeing Durant's excited expression, Kayce picked up the microphone beside him and asked with a smile:
"Kevin, how do you feel about winning Player of the Month for the first time? Don't tell me the trophy is ugly; the league won't like to hear that!"
The audience at the Ford Center burst into laughter, because the Player of the Month trophy was indeed not very attractive.
It was an irregularly shaped clear glass with a base, and that was the Player of the Month trophy.
The only distinctive feature was a reflection of one's own photo in the middle of the trophy, which should have been laser-engraved, but overall, it was still quite simple.
"Wow, I just want to thank everyone, thank the Oklahoma City fans, thank the coaching staff and my teammates. Without your support, I wouldn't have won this award!"
"Kayce, what do you want to say about winning Rookie of the Month again? I really hope you can sweep all the Rookie of the Month awards to make up for my regret from back then."
Back then, Durant almost swept the Rookie of the Month awards, only losing to Luis Scola in February.
Unintentionally, Durant showed off again.
"Haha, winning this award consecutively is easy for me, after all, I have the support of Oklahoma City fans, trusted teammates, and the best Coach in the league. The Thunder are the best, don't you think?"
"Yeah!!!"
The fans in the arena shouted in unison, creating a huge wave of sound.
The Hawks players, playing on the road, saw the heated atmosphere in the player tunnel and collectively felt a surge of envy, bitter to the core.
"The regular season is already halfway over, and we continue to lead the Western Conference. Believe me, the Playoffs are our stage!"
After Kayce finished speaking, Durant naturally took over the conversation.
"We are not satisfied with just making the Playoffs. We will make a run for the championship! Let's work hard together!"
"Thunder Up!!!"
"Thunder Up!!!"
When Kayce and Durant shouted the Thunder's Playoff slogan together, all the fans in the arena excitedly roared and screamed; they were over the moon!
"Ah!!!"
"Wow, roar!!!"
Feeling the fervent atmosphere in the arena, the Hawks players immediately felt that this game was likely lost.
Was there even a chance to fight?
Not only were the players fired up, but the fans were also completely overwhelmed by the strong motivational talk.
Al Horford originally thought that after making the All-Star, he had caught up with Durant's pace, but after seeing this award ceremony, he suddenly felt that he was far behind.
This feeling was especially clear after seeing Durant's stats.
Although the two were not players of the same position, rookies entering the league always compared themselves to their draft classmates.
But reality was so cruel.
Al Horford even had a feeling that not only Durant, but also the rookie Kayce, would be difficult to surpass now.
When the game started, it completely confirmed the Hawks players' suspicions.
It had only been a few days since the two teams last met, and the Thunder's tactics were already very effective against them.
This pre-game boost of morale further helped the Thunder quickly get into game mode.
On offense, Jeff Green's return from injury completely opened up the offensive space on the court.
With the double-screen tactic in play, the Thunder's trio fully unleashed their offensive capabilities.
Al Horford was easily penetrated, and while the Hawks' interior was highly mobile, it lacked height, making it difficult to withstand the continuous assaults from Russell, Kayce, and Durant.
Coupled with Jeff Green's excellent shooting from beyond the arc tonight, the Thunder attacked both inside and out, firing on all cylinders.
On defense, they also fully tangled with the Hawks' perimeter players.
Kayce, with the badge bonuses from [Off-ball Movement Killer] + [Defensive Expert], began to fully chase Joe Johnson on the off-ball.
Combined with the [Ankle Guard] badge bonus, Kayce hardly fell for Joe Johnson's isolations, forcing him to take many strong post-up shots.
Although at a disadvantage in terms of weight, Kayce still managed to limit Joe Johnson's performance with his height and wingspan.
With the Hawks' perimeter core players restricted and their interior unable to get going, after a series of missed shots, the Thunder launched their signature transition offense.
An excited Russell charged forward, pushing past Mike Bibby, then soaring for a one-handed dunk!
"Slam!" The transition dunk was successful.
"Roar!!!"
After landing, Russell roared up at the sky, pounding his chest as he ran back on defense.
The fans in the arena also cheered wildly, and then the Thunder's offense completely went crazy!
It was a game without suspense, 96-114, as the Thunder easily defeated the Hawks at home to continue leading the Western Conference.
On February 3rd, in a back-to-back game, the Thunder challenged the Hornets on the road.
Due to Chris Paul's season-ending injury, Darren Collison got a starting opportunity.
But clearly, this current Hornets team's combat power had sharply declined.
Chris Paul was not only the team's commander but also the team's main perimeter scorer.
Starting Darren Collison did not match the Thunder's game intensity.
Facing the Thunder's perimeter defense, he only managed 7 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 turnovers.
Russell and Kayce struck hard, showing no mercy.
Darren Collison was completely lost under the Thunder's high-intensity perimeter defense, forcing David West to take many tough shots, but with poor results.
Ultimately, 112:96, the Thunder, playing on the road, successfully avenged themselves, easily defeating the injury-plagued Hornets.
After the game, Darren Collison said to Kayce and Russell with a wry smile:
"You two are really merciless. The coach chewed me out. You two have to treat me! I need a hearty meal to mend my wounded heart."
Kayce readily agreed, saying with a generous demeanor:
"No problem, this is your territory, you choose the restaurant, Russell pays!"
"Why do I pay? Nina has restricted my pocket money!"
"Hopeless, poor Russell!"
On the morning of February 4th, the Thunder returned to Oklahoma City for a brief day of rest.
Kayce also, for a rare change, turned on the TV to watch TNT.
However, when he heard Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley discussing the topic, Kayce was a bit confused.
Why were they suddenly discussing the All-Star reserves again?
"We just received news that Brandon Roy of the Portland Trail Blazers is suffering from a knee injury and may miss the All-Star Game, buddy. Who do you think will be added to the roster this time?"
Kenny Smith asked his partner with a smile.
"I think Chauncey Billups should be added to the All-Star roster. During Anthony's injury absence, Billups took on the team's leadership responsibilities, and the Nuggets' record did not decline because of it."
"So, I support Chauncey Billups being added to the All-Star roster."
Charles Barkley said seriously and earnestly.
"Are you sure you're not choosing Kayce? He's been on fire recently, just won Rookie of the Month in January, and in the first two games of February, he easily put up 24+5+6 stats. This performance is clearly better than Chauncey's!"
Kenny Smith directly presented Kayce's game statistics.
"Yeah! Kayce is excellent, but I would still choose Chauncey Billups. He's a veteran, he's won a championship, he deserves more respect, so, entering the All-Star is well-deserved!"
Charles Barkley put on an expression that implied one should respect veterans.
"So, the league's All-Star has started to compare seniority? Come on, buddy, the fans like Kayce! I hope Kayce can be added to the All-Star."
"Buddy, you have to respect tradition, respect those veterans who have achieved great things."
"What does this have to do with tradition? Fans just prefer to see Kayce."
Durant, who was resting at home at this time, was also watching TNT's program.
The thought of Kayce possibly making the All-Star Game suddenly filled him with a great sense of crisis:
"Making the All-Star in his rookie season? Wouldn't that mean surpassing me? Shit! Why does this always happen!"