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With the battle for NBA All-Star selections heating up, the Twitter world held host to a contest of words Friday afternoon when the Trail Blazers Twitter team took offense to a remark by ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith regarding the All-Star candidacy of point guard Damian Lillard:
Some people will say anything for attention. pic.twitter.com/pNiYmgw8UB
— Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) January 19, 2018
Blazers beat reporter Casey Holdahl also joined in, and he mentioned some similar-sized markets that will have All-Star representatives, with Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins in New Orleans getting in as starters and Russell Westbrook in Oklahoma City a shoo-in for a reserve spot:
Got to get into one of those big markets like Oklahoma City and New Orleans and on teams with almost identical records. That'll show 'em. https://t.co/qHRBScROsz
— Casey Holdahl (@CHold) January 19, 2018
Stephen A. Smith responded on the offensive:
Hey @trailblazers, I saw the tweet you sent out! Attention? That’s part of the damn problem. For some reason, I’m able to generate more attention for YOUR own All-Star than YOU guys are!
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) January 19, 2018
Here is full video of Smith’s original remarks:
One could make the case that Smith’s outspoken and somewhat abrasive stance could be helpful for expanding the talk on Lillard’s All-Star chances.