bookbashuk Chapter 510 Talent That Won't Be Buried! Two Major Attacking Types from the East and West
Chapter 510 Talent That Won't Be Buried! Two Major Attacking Types from the East and West
What does it mean that misfortune may be a blessing in disguise, and a blessing may be a misfortune in disguise?
Tonight is it.
Good news: Although the Malice at the Palace incident still occurred, it wasn't as drastic as some other incidents. No fans were allowed in, and there was no large-scale brawl. This evening's conflict was just one of the many routine conflicts in the NBA, and at most, it would result in a 1-2 game suspension and a fine of $2-$3.
The worst brawl in NBA history did not occur.
Bad news: Artest was heartbroken. He not only left the game early, but also packed his things and left Detroit ahead of time. Although he had recovered somewhat last year by fighting alongside Lin Tian, he was upset again tonight because no one was there to support him.
This guy has disappeared! For the next ten days or so, no one could find him. He just gave Bird face and told him that he was fine, but needed to rest and calm down.
Good news: Although there was no support from Steve Jackson and Jermaine O'Neal tonight, and although Artest fought alone, at least no bigger conflict occurred, and Artest's reputation did not completely collapse.
Bad news: But the Pacers' team atmosphere is doomed. Few people criticized Artest after this incident, as it was just a flagrant foul. The ones being criticized this time are Bird and Carlisle, who are criticized for failing to create a new locker room culture.
Less than half a year after Lin Tiancai left, the team was already showing signs of collapse.
Good news: Artest's defense and isolation plays still have a certain market value, and if the Pacers want to make a trade, they can still send Artest away for a decent return.
Bad news: The whole world knows that the Pacers are in internal strife, and that Artest is throwing another tantrum and unlikely to return to the team.
Good news: The team can now rightfully promote the promising Josh Howard to the starting lineup. He has performed quite well during the ten-plus days that Artest was absent, and some people even think he can become an All-Star within two years.
Bad news: Even if Artest returns to the team now, he might have to start from the bench.
.........
There are many similar stories of fortune and misfortune intertwined, but no matter what, the Pacers are destined to face turbulent times this season.
As for Lin Tian, he finally managed to contact Artest after the Auburn Hills Palace incident and had a good talk with him.
Before hanging up the phone, Lin Tian only told Artest one thing: If you're unhappy, then go somewhere else. If you like this place more, then put away your temper, start from the bench and play well to regain your dignity.
As for how Artest, or rather Artest and Bird, will ultimately choose, that's not something Lin Tian can or wants to interfere with. In any case, whether it's a trade or a return to the team, the Pacers are not an opponent Lin Tian needs to worry about for the time being.
He now has to prepare for another big game for the team!
On December 11th, the Knicks will play against the Phoenix Suns on the road!
Before this day, the Knicks had played 21 games, with a record of 14 wins and 7 losses. Their situation remained the same as before: aggressive offense and fragile defense.
But tonight, they are about to face a team with almost identical characteristics to themselves!
After failing attempts with players like Hardaway and Marbury, the Phoenix Suns, still defying all odds, brought in another point guard this summer to save the team!
After all, the Suns are an outlier in the league, and they have always preferred to build their team around point guards.
Throughout their team history, they have had a number of excellent or top-tier point guards, including Walter Davis, Paul Westphal, Kevin Johnson, Jason Kidd, Anfernee Hardaway, and Stephon Marbury.
Of these people, apart from Marbury, the others have all achieved some good results.
Now, the Suns have welcomed another point guard, Steve Nash!
This is Nash's second time playing for the Suns in his career. Last time, he was traded to Dallas as part of the deal to acquire Kidd. Now, the player who was included in that trade has become the team's hope for revival and has returned to the team.
Of course, fans weren't particularly fond of this white guard who was over 30 and whose best year in his career was leading the team to the Western Conference Finals as the third option.
Fans don't think Nash can help the team get back on track.
In the early games of the season and during the preseason, Phoenix fans booed Nash and the team's management quite a bit.
But that was at the beginning of the season.
By now, Nash has acquired several new nicknames, all given to him by the people of Phoenix.
"Phoenix," "Rebirth," "Desert Storm," "Sun God," and the one Nash himself liked best and that was most widely known—
"Child of the Wind"!
This season, without Nowitzki and Finley by his side, Nash, for the first time in his career, needed to carry a team's record as the absolute core and become the primary player to complete the game. He also completely unleashed all his offensive abilities and potential.
After he turned 30, the Dallas team doctors declared that he had serious injury risks and would most likely be completely destroyed by injuries within 2-3 years.
Nash has evolved once again, and this time the magnitude and speed of that evolution are astonishing!
This directly elevated him from an ordinary All-Star level to an MVP level!
So far this season, Nash has led the Suns to a 17-4 record, ranking first in the league! At the same time, many players on the team are playing at the best level of their careers!
Marion averaged 22 points and 11 rebounds per game, both career highs!
The team's summer acquisition of Kenyon Martin, the 01 number one draft pick, averaged 16 points and 9 rebounds per game, both career bests!
Joe Johnson is averaging 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists per game, a new career high in scoring!
Quentin Richardson is averaging 14 points and 6 rebounds per game, with 8 three-point attempts per game, both career highs!
Finally, Steve Nash himself averaged 15 points and 12 assists per game, with his assists also being a career high!
Other young players like Barbosa also delivered impressive performances and statistics.
This year's Nash, although his stats may not seem that impressive, has brought about changes to the Suns team that have far exceeded everyone's expectations!
This year, under the leadership of Nash and head coach D'Antoni, the Suns, like the Knicks, have unleashed a crazy small-ball storm in the Westbrook.
They employ a frenetic style of play, with seven seconds or less of shooting time. The entire team relentlessly runs and shoots, unleashing a new offensive storm alongside the Knicks through relentless offense and shooting.
There are two main reasons why the two teams have such a slight difference in wins!
The Suns' Martin and Marion are considered top defenders in the league, and other players like Jason and Richardson also have average or above-average defensive abilities. They allow a lot of points because they run fast and aggressively.
On very rare occasions, they are able to defend against the opponent's attack.
Another reason is that they were lucky.
The shooters on both sides were about the same level, but they missed one or two games as often, which is why they won a few more games than the Knicks.
As for the Knicks, their offense wasn't as balanced as the Suns', and none of their starting five scored in double figures.
Their scoring points are more concentrated and more explosive.
球队前三号的得分手分别是场均22.5分8.7篮板的小斯、场均21.3分5.1篮板的安东尼以及场均23.3分8.5篮板13.1次助攻的林天！
The three top scorers have similar average points per game, but everyone can see that Lin Tian is the absolute core and brain of the three. He single-handedly supports the team's entire offensive system!
除了这三名绝对核心之外，奥库场均14.7分6.8篮板，史蒂夫·杰克逊场均8.5分4.3篮板2.3助攻。
Barnes, Wallace, Mohammed, and Smith, among others, also performed well off the bench.
Compared to the Suns, the Suns are like Nash, the super commander, leading several light machine guns, firing and surrounding them from all directions.
The Knicks, led by Lin Tian, a superhero akin to "Rambo," and supported by Anthony and Stoudemire, didn't bother with any flanking, encirclement, or ambush tactics. They simply attacked the opponent's core position head-on, aiming for a direct confrontation and a hard-fought battle!
Today, these two teams, which currently boast the highest average points per game, the fastest pace, the best offense, and the best dunking ability in the league, finally face off!
"A game that gets your blood pumping just thinking about it, a peak showdown that's already generating immense anticipation even before it starts!" Before the game began, Barkley sat in the studio, a hint of excitement in his voice. "I know defense is the most important thing for a championship, but who can resist a top-tier offensive feast?"
"This isn't the first time Lin has engaged in such a crazy offensive battle!" Kenny added, "Lin once had an epic super matchup with the Trail Blazers, and he also teamed up with the Mavericks to create a historic game with a combined 370 points, the highest score in history."
"Tonight, can the Knicks and the Suns, the two teams that officially introduced the 'small ball' concept to the league and stirred up storms on the East and West coasts respectively, deliver another historic and exciting duel?"
"Let's get ready to take care of our basic needs before the match starts! Otherwise, you'll definitely miss countless exciting moments every time you go to the bathroom during the match!"
On the field, both teams' players have now taken to the pitch.
The Knicks' lineup consists of Okur, Stoudemire, Anthony, Jackson, and Lin Tian.
The Suns' lineup consists of Martin, Marion, Richardson, Jameson, and Nash!
Lin Tian and Nash locked eyes early on, their eyes filled with excitement!
This was certainly not the first time Lin Tian and Nash had faced off. When Nash was with the Mavericks, the two had already played against each other countless times.
But both of them were well aware that, in a sense, this was their first real showdown!
This is the first time that the two of them have stood at opposite ends of the court in the most relaxed and free way!
Game start!
With a whistle from the referee, former number one draft pick Martin, with his explosive athleticism, slapped the basketball down and passed it to Nash next to him.
After receiving the ball, Nash only dribbled forward once before passing it to the frontcourt.
The ball was caught by "The Hacker" Marion!
This guy, who has the build of a power forward but is faster than most small forwards in the league, is a standard fast break maniac. After receiving the ball, he only dribbled once before rushing from the three-point line to the free-throw line area. Then, with another heavy dribble, he took off and sent the ball into the basket with one arm!
Stoudemire really couldn't keep up with that shot.
Although Stoudemire is also known for his explosive athleticism and is called a beast-like power forward, he still can't compare to this guy who has the speed of a small forward.
Fortunately, Stoudemire doesn't need to be faster than Marion.
Because he's fiercer than Marion!
Less than 10 seconds later, Lin Tian and Stoudemire set a screen at the top of the key. Then, Lin Tian made a perfect one-handed bounce pass, and the basketball passed between Marion and Nash at the same time, directly through the Suns' entire defense, and came to Stoudemire's hands.
After receiving the ball, Stoudemire didn't even need to take a step; he simply leaped into the air, raised one arm high, and once again delivered a powerful smash!
"boom!"
After another loud bang, Little S yelled at Marion, excitedly showing off his muscles.
"You ugly monster, you better watch out for me!"
"Who are you calling an ugly monster!" Marion's eyes widened immediately upon hearing this.
This guy clearly lacks Cassel's self-awareness and doesn't think he's ugly.
It's even possible that he thinks he's incredibly handsome!
Otherwise, why would the young man be so angry?
"Sean, did everyone around you say you're handsome all your life?"
"Not when I was little." Marion was quite honest, directly answering Lin Tian's question: "Everyone said I was ugly when I was little, but as I grew up and really blossomed, my friends and family all said I had a lot of presence, a lot of charisma, and a lot of style!"
"And girls love going on dates with me!"
Seeing Marion's smug look, Lin Tian couldn't help but ask again, "Let me guess, did you fully mature around the time you started showcasing your exceptional basketball talent and becoming a basketball star?"
"More or less, but I've forgotten the specifics." Marion scratched his head, indicating that he couldn't remember.
But his expression and reaction had already given Lin Tian the answer.
That's how it is!
That's absolutely true!
This guy, it's absolutely because he played basketball well and showed the potential to enter the NBA that the people around him turned from honest friends to fake friends who wanted to flatter him and get some benefits!
That's how it is!
Case solved!
What was that saying again?
Once you reach a high enough position, you'll no longer hear the truth. The people around you will only think about flattering you, telling you lies you like to hear, and praising you to the point of complete disorientation.
Only in this way can they benefit from you!
Why have there been so many incompetent and mediocre rulers throughout history?
Are they really unambitious or stupid?
Yes, a large part of it is.
But there are times when it's truly because they can't hear the real voices, the voices that are truly meaningful.
They lost themselves in the midst of constant boasting and flattery.
But to be fair, Marion's friends weren't completely hopeless; they didn't say he was handsome or that he was a good-looking guy.
They only said he was stylish and had good looks.
Well, he held up the bottom line of human aesthetics. After all, when Marion was young, he only had a chance to enter the NBA, not actually become the King...
While Lin Tian and Marion were arguing and trash-talking, Nash had already dribbled the ball back to the frontcourt and immediately found James on the wing. James then passed the ball to Richardson on the baseline, who took a three-pointer without hesitation!
"Whoosh!"
After a crisp click, the three-pointer went in!
Turning back, Lin Tian was too lazy to continue discussing with Marion whether he was handsome or ugly. Instead, he received the ball from Okur on the baseline, quickly dribbled to the frontcourt, and then looked around to find that none of his teammates had any clear open space.
Lin Tian dribbled forward and pushed Nash back two steps. Lin Tian then stepped back to the three-point line, glanced at the ball, and launched a wide-open three-pointer!
"Whoosh!"
Lin Tian's average points per game this season have dropped to a new low in recent seasons, not because Lin Tian can't score or his ability has declined.
It was simply because Lin Tian was facing too many double teams, and his teammates were also very accurate in their shooting. He was too lazy to attack himself. Two easy passes were enough to give his teammates a lot of shooting space.
Then let's spread it around!
How relaxing.
However, at least for now, the Suns are not planning to double-team Lin Tian or switch on him; they'll just let Nash guard him.
Nash's defense met Lin Tian's offense...
To put it another way, how many points Lin Tian can score against Nash depends entirely on how many points he wants to score.
After all, Giannis Antetokounmpo is not good at offense and Nash is not good at defense. These two top point guards in the league are very famous for their strengths and weaknesses!
Aside from his ability to anticipate and draw offensive fouls, which is commendable, Nash was at the bottom of the league in every other aspect of defense.
The only players with worse defense than him who can still make it in the league are probably short guys like Boykins or Nate Robinson.
After Lin Tian hit a three-pointer, Nash dribbled to the frontcourt again, but this time he did not choose to set a screen. Instead, he waved to signal everyone to spread out, then suddenly accelerated, drove past Lin Tian to the mid-range area, and then suddenly jumped up with a ridiculously big fadeaway.
No, it's a backhand shot.
The huge backward lean left Lin Tian somewhat helpless. He couldn't very well risk having his younger brother Lin Tian get hit by Nash and rush over to block the shot, could he?
No need!
"Whoosh!"
Then came a crisp sound as Nash's mid-range shot went in!
After one round, Lin Tian naturally wouldn't let Nash off the hook. He quickly moved to the low post, backed down Nash, and then reached out for the ball.
You dare threaten my little Lin Tian? Well then, Master Lin, I'll have to give you Nash to fight back!
"Bang!"
In their first exchange, Lin Tian went all out, forcing Nash to take two steps back.
Lin Tian, having gained space, did not attack immediately. Instead, he continued to squeeze Nash and charged at him, launching a second impact.
"Bang..."
This time, Lin Tian didn't manage to make a proper impact!
With his exceptional basketball IQ, Nash reacted quickly, stepping aside as Lin Tian was about to confront him again!
If someone were a reckless inexperienced person or lacked lower body strength, they would most likely fall down in a sorry state and be unable to walk.
But who is Lin Tian?
Although he didn't realize that Nash was going to remove the chair directly, his core strength was absolutely excellent, and his lower body strength was as stable as a mountain.
So although Nash's move surprised Lin Tian, it didn't result in a mistake.
Instead, Lin Tian simply pulled up and made a bank shot, sending the ball into the basket!
"Steve, where are you? Why did you let me shoot?" After scoring, Lin Tian deliberately spread his hands, looking at Nash and saying, "Or did I hurt you that time? How about I go easy on you next time?"
How is it?
Lin Tian really didn't know, because Nash simply chose to remain silent and shut up. He turned around, went to the baseline, asked his teammate for the baseline ball, and continued to advance!
This time, Lin Tian's defense was even more aggressive than before. He didn't want Nash to keep shooting at him. Nash's attempts to break free and set screens failed, so in the end, he could only pass the ball to Jameson, letting the team's best one-on-one player solve the problem with his own shot.
Unfortunately for Jason, he was up against Jackson, the Knicks' best defensive player in terms of ability and willingness. Jackson was almost the only player on the Knicks who started out on defense and earned his starting position through his defense and aggressiveness.
After a series of maneuvers, Jason was still unable to shake off Jackson's defense, and his final shot, as expected, missed.
However, when the Knicks turned their offense around, Okur's attempt at a three-pointer also missed, bouncing off the rim.
This missed shot by both sides finally put a pause on the crazy and exciting rounds that started the game. In the rest of the game, both teams returned to their normal level and stopped making consecutive shots.
But considering the Knicks and Suns' offensive pace and ability, as well as their almost negligible defensive capabilities, their normal level is already quite frightening!
By the end of the first quarter, both teams had already scored over 40 points.
41: 42!
The Knicks are trailing by one point going into the second quarter.
At the start of the second quarter, Nash rested on the bench, and Barbosa, nicknamed "Brazilian Lightning," took over organizing the team.
In his second year, Barbosa has seen a significant increase in both playing time and shot attempts, resulting in a noticeable rise in his stats. Under these circumstances, Barbosa's confidence has naturally soared.
The price surged, and this guy immediately started provoking Lin Tian.
"I heard you're fast?" Barbosa dribbled the ball up the court, looking at Lin Tiandao, "But I don't think you're as fast as me!"
"Do you know why you only heard that I'm faster?" Lin Tian had seen far too many provocations of this level: "Because you're too bad. Last year, you weren't even qualified to stand on the same court as me."
"So you can only hear about it, not see it with your own eyes."
"You weakling, who gave you the courage to provoke me? Jesus or your adorable grandma who knows absolutely nothing about basketball?"
Lin Tian's words left Barbosa speechless.
If you can't speak, then see you on the court.
Barbosa was a point guard who was completely different from Nash, and even had a completely opposite style.
Nash prioritized passing the ball, supplemented by his personal scoring.
But Barbosa barely saw his teammates; he could only see the basket.
This is a more offensive-oriented point guard, more like a position 2.
His accurate three-pointers and lightning-fast breakthroughs are the reasons why he stands out in the league and dares to challenge Lin Tian.
He doesn't think he's slower than anyone else!
"Snapped!"
Unfortunately, just as this guy got into position to execute a series of crossovers and look for an opportunity to break through, Lin Tian impatiently slapped him across the basketball that Barbosa was dribbling.
The basketball instantly broke free of Barbosa's control and rolled towards the Suns' backcourt.
"Come on, let's see who's faster!" Lin Tian shouted in Barbosa's ear, then suddenly accelerated, darting past Barbosa in the blink of an eye and rushing towards the basketball.
"Whoosh!"
Barbossa only felt a gust of wind beside him before Lin Tian flashed past him, widening the distance between them.
Even though Barbosa tried his best to catch up and ran as fast as he could, the distance between him and Lin Tian did not shrink at all, but instead grew larger and larger!
Lin Tian didn't even forget to glance back at Barbosa until he caught the basketball, before he suddenly jumped up and slammed the ball into the basket with one hand!
The Knicks took a one-point lead.
"Where are you, Brazilian kid?" Lin Tian asked Barbosa teasingly. "Or are you referring to the speed at which you wiggle your butt while dancing the samba?"
"You know what, it's quite perky."
Lin Tian was spewing trash talk while slapping someone on the shoulder.
"Here we go again! Lin's groping his butt again!" Barkley laughed heartily. "It's practically Lin's signature move. I love watching him do it, whether it's to the coach or an opponent!"
"He always manages to break his opponent's spirits with a smile!"
Barbosa was devastated!
As a player who is not known for his composure, stability, or composure under pressure, the young Barbosa was clearly not very good at dealing with this kind of provocation from his opponents.
He only had one way to deal with it: kill Lin Tian!
If he can do it, then encouraging himself and putting in all his effort to beat Lin Tian and the others can indeed greatly boost his and the team's confidence.
But the problem is, he can't do this!
None of the members of this alliance were able to gain an advantage after going up against Lin Tian.
Barbosa dribbled the ball to the frontcourt once again, and this time he chose a more direct and simple approach, accelerating and driving hard to one side, trying to force his way into the paint over Lin Tian!
But this method of breaking through by relying solely on speed and lacking strength might be useful to others, but you're using it to deal with Lin Tian?
That's just asking for death!
Lin Tian not only maintained his position perfectly, but also held firm in front of Barbosa. His original plan was to use his defense to prevent Barbosa from finding any opportunity to shoot, and then force him to pass the ball.
But he clearly underestimated Barbosa's stubbornness.
This guy actually managed to carry Lin Tian all the way into the paint, and then pulled up for a shot right there, right in front of Lin Tian.
If you can surpass or match Lin Tian in any of the following aspects: height, weight, jumping ability, or wingspan, then you still have some hope and a chance to win.
But Barbosa? Obviously not. His physical abilities are completely outmatched by Lin Tian. If he just shoots like that, it's practically giving away a block!
"Snapped!"
With another crisp sound, Lin Tian slapped Barbosa's shot away, sending it flying into Barnes' hands. Barnes dribbled forward two steps and then passed the ball back to Lin Tian, who immediately increased his speed to the maximum, pressing down on the Suns' defense and advancing relentlessly.
Then, as he reached the edge of the Suns' three-second zone, he suddenly made a no-look between-the-legs pass, passing the ball between his legs to someone behind him.
Then Lin Tian quickly dodged away, crossing his hands in the opposite direction, hooking his two thumbs together, and facing his chest with his palms, making a wing shape, and then gently waving them twice.
"boom!"
Then came a loud bang, and Smith, who was following behind Lin Tian, grabbed the basketball and took off, slamming the ball into the basket with a powerful windmill slam!
"Eagle spreads its wings!" Barkley shouted. "Josh is taking off again! I love this high schooler who flies around like that! He's like an eagle soaring through the air, ready to strike at any moment!"
Once they landed, Smith and Lin Tian were perfectly in sync, and together they made a celebratory gesture of an eagle spreading its wings.
"I love this! Lin, I love this!" Smith exclaimed excitedly. "You're a genius! The celebration move you designed for me is so cool!"
"You're welcome, we're brothers!"
Lin Tian smiled at Smith without blushing at all, making no attempt to tell him that this gesture was something Lin Tian had stolen from Smith in his previous life.
The main point is that it spoils the plot in advance and is extremely shameless.
"Design one for me too, Lin!" Anthony stood up from the bench, looking envious. "Give me a signature move too!"
"No problem! I guarantee I'll come up with a cool one for you!" Lin Tian patted his chest, indicating that he could come up with another one for him in no time, no, he would come up with one for him!
While the Knicks players were still chatting and joking, the Suns had already inbounded the ball from the baseline.
Barbosa grabbed the basketball and charged forward with all his might. He was completely focused on winning tonight; no matter what, he was determined to win!
No matter whether it's Lin Tian or Jesus in front of him, don't even think about stopping him!
Barbosa pushed his speed to the limit this time, driving all the way to the basket against the Knicks' defense, then jumping up and gliding to shoot a layup.
"Snapped!"
However, what awaited him was yet another crisp sound.
He got his hat cut again!
It's still Lin Tian!
This guy had just joked with Anthony when he turned around and drove to the basket to give Barbosa another block. After taking the ball, Lin Tian glanced back and threw it out to the Suns' three-point line with a long throw.
This time, Gerald Wallace has the ball.
This physical prodigy certainly didn't disappoint the fans. Several meters from the basket, he leaped up, fully extending his body, and then slammed the ball into the hoop with one arm! (End of Chapter)