It was 3 PM at the end of January.
The Boston Celtics training facility, first floor players' lounge.
The large screen on the wall of the lounge was locked onto the TNT channel. Host Ernie Johnson sat at a table in the studio, with a thick envelope in the middle of the table. Kenny Smith sat next to him.
Garnett, Pierce, Big Ben, Gary Payton were sitting on the sofa, while Rasheed Wallace stood by the door carrying a golf club bag.
Lin Qi and Rick Carlisle stood at the bar at the back of the locker room. Lin Qi held a cup of black coffee, while Rick Carlisle held a tactical board. Neither of them spoke, quietly watching the group of players gathered in front of the television.
"What are you doing bringing this thing to the training facility?" Gary Payton strapped the ice pack to his right knee and looked up at Rasheed.
"I'll Fort Lauderdale after this week's games." Rasheed leaned his bag against the wall. "If I'm not on the All-Star starting lineup, I can take an early vacation and won't need to come back before next Wednesday."
"You really don't want to go to Philadelphia?" Pierce flipped through a page of Sports Illustrated in his hand.
"I've been there, it's not interesting." Rasheed casually picked up an Apple.
Big Ben lifted his eyes from under the towel and glanced at the TV screen. " Ernie's about to open the envelope."
Gary Payton tossed the remote onto the table and turned up the volume.
" Eastern All-Stars starters." Ernie Johnson pulled a piece of paper from an envelope and said to the camera, "The roster we're going to read today might make some people scream."
He read it from top to bottom:
" Eastern Conference starting center - Ben Wallace, Boston Celtics."
There was a moment of silence in the lounge. Big Ben took the towel off his neck and draped it over his knees.
Garnett chuckled and reached out to pat Big Ben Affleck on the broad shoulder, "Did you hear that?"
"I heard you." Big Ben nodded expressionlessly.
Rasheed Wallace walked over, gave Ben Affleck Big Ben hug, patted him on the back, and didn't say a word.
On television, Ernie Johnson read aloud.
" Eastern Conference starting forward – Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics."
"It's rightfully yours," Gary Payton snorted.
" Eastern Conference starting forward – Chris Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics."
Pierce closed the magazine, glanced up at Garnett, and said, "Three."
"One more," Garnett said.
" Eastern Conference starting guard – Vince Carter, Toronto Raptors. 1.41 million votes, leading the Eastern Conference vote."
" Eastern Conference starting guard -- Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers."
Gary Payton scoffed and pressed the ice pack against his knee. " The Raptors have such a terrible record this season, and this guy is even in the starting lineup?"
"They're popular," Pierce said.
"What's there to be angry about?" Gary Payton retorted irritably. "I'm averaging eight assists and two steals per game this season, with the best record in the league. I should be the one starting."
"What's the rush?" Garnett unscrewed the electrolyte solution in his hand. "The coaching staff's roster for substitutes will be released tomorrow, and you'll definitely be on it."
On television, Ernie Johnson then announced the Western Conference starting lineup.
" Western Conference Starting Center - Shaquille O'Neal O'Neal, Los Angeles Lakers."
" Western Conference Starting Forward - Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs."
" Western Conference Starting Forward - Chris Webber, Sacramento Kings."
" Western Conference starting point guard – Michael Jordan, Los Angeles Lakers. 1.52 million votes, league-leading vote-getter."
" Western Conference starting point guard -- Jason Kidd, Los Angeles Lakers."
Kenny Smith shouted on television, " The Lakers have made history this year! Jordan, Kidd, and O'Neal are all in the Western Conference starting lineup! The last time the Lakers had three All-Star starters was back in the 'Showtime' era."
Gary Payton laughed out loud from the sofa, reached over and turned off the TV: "I've watched enough."
Big Ben turned his head and suddenly looked at Gary Payton: " Gary."
"What?" Gary Payton looked up.
"Before the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers last Tuesday, you said in the locker room that if a center who can't even shoot from the outside and relies entirely on guesswork to get into the All-Star starting lineup, you'd change your name. You even bet me $50." Big Ben Wallace held up one hand expressionlessly. "You owe me $50. Also, just so you know, my free throw percentage is now 68% after Chip corrected it."
Gary Payton paused for a moment, then grinned and cursed, "68% isn't just a fluke? Fine, I'll make it up to you in cash another day."
Rasheed picked up his golf club bag. "Not starting? Perfect. I'm off to Florida."
After saying that, Rasheed pushed open the door and left.
At the bar, Rick Carlisle looked at the printed data in his hand and whispered to Lin Qi, "Three starters. And Michael got the league's top vote, David Stern has turned Los Angeles into the most dazzling showcase. Although we have the best record, the limelight is all in the Western Conference."
Lin Qi took a sip of coffee and glanced at the list on the table.
In the original timeline, Jason Kidd should have led the New Jersey Nets to Eastern Conference top of the Eastern Conference this season, eventually reaching the NBA Finals.
Currently, the Celtics, under his leadership, firmly hold the Eastern Conference Celtics. Closely following in second Eastern Conference is the Orlando Magic, which he personally nurtured in the summer. Their star player Jermaine O'Neal, has evolved this season into a well-rounded interior player averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds per game.
The structure of this alliance has long been distorted beyond recognition under his influence.
"By the way, Rick," Lin Qi put down his coffee cup, his tone unusually relaxed, "This year, you're definitely going to be the Eastern Conference head coach. Go prepare for your trip to Philadelphia."
Upon hearing this, Rick Carlisle showed no excitement whatsoever; instead, he wore an expression that resembled a toothache.
" Frank ( Frank Vogel ) was joking with me yesterday that he could go in my place," Rick Carlisle shook his head. "But I've thought about it seriously, and I don't want to go."
Lin Qi raised an eyebrow and put down his coffee cup. "What do you mean?"
"Those three days of All-Star Weekend were a complete waste for me," Rick Carlisle said flatly. "I couldn't even finish watching my own team's play videos, and I hadn't even figured out the development plans for those young guys at the end of the bench. And now I'm going to Philadelphia to play an exhibition game with a bunch of billionaires, standing on the sidelines as a mascot. Coach them? Forget it."
He paused, then added, "I plan to feign illness."
Lin Qi stared at him for two seconds, then suddenly laughed, " Rick, have you forgotten? You skipped last season by claiming illness."
Rick Carlisle's expression stiffened for a moment.
"Last year you submitted a sick leave certificate to the league in advance, saying you were feeling unwell and needed to rest. The league approved it and extended the leave to Larry Bird Brown. This year you submit the exact same sick leave certificate again. What will the league think?"
Rick Carlisle was silent for a few seconds.
"They'll think I'm playing them." He sighed.
"Yes." Lin Qi nodded. "Last year when you claimed to be sick, the league could take it as you genuinely needed rest. This year, if you claim to be sick again, they'll just think you're publicly humiliating the position. Not only will your sick leave certificate be rejected, but the league will also make things difficult for you in terms of refereeing standards and scheduling, and you won't even have the right to complain."
Rick Carlisle leaned back on the sofa, tapping his fingers on the armrest, and remained silent for a long time.
"What should we do then?" he finally asked. "I really don't want to go."
"Go ahead and experience what it's like to be a mascot. According to the ' Pat Riley Rule,' you don't need to go next year."
Rick Carlisle smiled helplessly upon hearing this.
The league's famous " Pat Riley Rule " originated in the early 1990s. Pat Riley's "Showtime" Lakers were so dominant that Pat Riley held the Western All-Stars head coaching position eight times in nine years from 1982 to 1990. To break this monopoly, the league introduced this mandatory rule: regardless of a team's record, if the team's head coach had already coached All-Star Game in the previous season, they would automatically be disqualified that year, and the spot would be awarded to the head coach of the team with the second-best record in their division.
The next afternoon.
The league office officially announced the All-Star reserves selected by the coaching staffs of the Western Conference Conferences.
When the fax reached Rick Carlisle's office, Gary Payton's name was prominently listed on the Eastern Conference reserve roster.
Vince Carter missed the All-Star Game due to injury, Kobe Brian ( Chicago Bulls ) became the starting point guard for the Eastern Conference.
Eastern Conference bench: Antoine Kemba Walker ( Heat ), Jermaine O'Neal ( Magic ), Alonzo Mourning ( Heat ), Baron Davis ( Hornets ), Gary Payton ( Celtics ), Glenn Robinson ( Hawks ), Reggie Miller ( Pacers ).
Western Conference bench lineup: Tracy McGrady ( Suns ), Ray Allen ( Seattle SuperSonics ), Dirk Nowitzki ( Mavericks ), Steve Nash ( Mavericks ), Carl Malone ( Utah Jazz ), Eddie Jones ( Sacramento Kings ), Steve Francis ( Rockets ).