basketball pope

Chapter 53 [Losing is not a loser]

Ewing doesn't play, and the Knicks' strength is greatly reduced. After all, this is a stable 20+10 player. Before the wrist fracture, Ewing was a recognized star.

Oakley's starting cameo center, defense is good, and the offense inevitably deteriorates.

Houston, Starks, Oakley, and Big Ben played off-ball screens, which were much less effective than Ewing’s screens. Everyone knew that keeping an eye on the perimeter was the key. Those two shots weren’t much of a threat, and guard switching was enough.

Oakley is a tough guy on the defensive end, but just soy sauce on the offensive end.

Ben Wallace is even worse. His weaknesses have been figured out by other teams. He shoots 33.6% of the free throws. Who will he cut if he doesn't?
Big Ben catches the ball under the basket, the opponent fouls, and then he lets go when he is far away. Big Ben dares not shoot, and waits for his teammates to move in response, which is really bad for morale.

The Knicks' inside attack was completely abandoned, and they could only rely on outside shots to open up the situation. They lost 88 to 98.

Even if Yang Rui proposed to make adjustments several times, it would not be able to make up for the disadvantage. The Bucks also rely on the outside to win, just to restrain the Knicks.

96年5号新秀雷阿伦打爆了阿兰-休斯顿，砍下35分5篮板4助攻，无愧为黄金一代的超级分卫。这只是他生涯第二个赛季，场均19.6分4.8篮板4.3助攻1.4抢断。

Small forward "Big Dog" Glenn Robinson scored 27 points and 6 rebounds, blowing up Bowen and Mills.

The big dog is not ordinary. When he first entered the league, he signed a 10-year rookie contract of 6800 million yuan. He has not been selected as an All-Star, but he has star power.

He was not selected as an All-Star because Robinson's character was too bad and unpopular. He was always treated coldly in the selection of various NBA honors.In the first four seasons of his career, he averaged more than 20 points per game, but he was lazy, never willing to work hard in training, and always played with talent.

The team lost, and Van Gundy was so depressed that he complained at the press conference. "Patrick's absence is the main reason for the Knicks' loss. We have already missed two important players before. It's a pity that Patrick can't play."

Yang Rui didn't regret it at all and breathed a sigh of relief.

Ewing escaped this disaster and may be able to finish the season healthy.As long as he sticks to his jump shot and coordinating style of play, unless the opponent hurts people maliciously, it is difficult to get seriously injured.

The reporter asked Van Gundy: "Will Ewing come back next game?"

"We've had a great start. Everyone wants to keep the momentum going. Whether he can come back depends on his personal thoughts and the medical team." Van Gundy said blankly.

On the way back, Van Gundy and Yang Rui sat together and scolded Yang Rui all the time, but Van Gundy couldn't take it anymore.

"If it weren't for your broken proposal, we would definitely not lose."

"After the game was lost, Patrick's stats didn't drop. You don't have to get excited. If he played this game, it would not be so easy for him to get good stats." Yang Rui was not impatient or impatient.

"We lost the fourth game." Van Gundy said depressedly.

"So what, do you think it's difficult to get the best record in the regular season?" Yang Rui smiled.

Van Gundy was stunned.

Not difficult?Is it easy for you to get the best record?Many coaches have worked all their lives and have never led a team to win the first place in the regular season, and even fewer coaches have won championships.

"Do you want to bet? I'm sure the Knicks will have the first record in the league, so I proposed to rotate to ensure the physical strength of the stars. Because the competition this season is not so fierce." Yang Rui said lazily.

Van Gundy thinking was taken away by him. "How many wins do you think it takes to be No. [-] in the regular season?"

"65 wins is enough, the main rival in the East, the Bulls, with the current situation, even if Pippen returns, it may not have 60 wins. The Western Jazz, SuperSonics, and Lakers are three teams of equal strength, and they will win each other. It is estimated that the final 60 wins or so. ."

Van Gundy was bluffed for a while, and judging from the current winning percentage, it might really happen.The Lakers currently have 6 losses, the Jazz have 10 losses, and the SuperSonics with the best record in the West have lost 5 games.

"The Sonics only lost five games, so why don't you think they'll keep it up?" Van Gundy asked.

"First, the location is not good, the league is reluctant to support the SuperSonics; secondly, the SuperSonics have an easy first half of the game, and the winning percentage is moist, unlike our strong teams in the playoffs; thirdly, the SuperSonics rely on Payton and Wen. Baker's pick-and-roll, other guys pull the shot, the overall strength is average. I don't believe they can take the first place in the West in the end."

Van Gundy asked, "What about the Lakers?"

"The lack of three-point shooters is the Achilles' heel. No matter how strong O'Neal is, he can't solve all the problems alone." Yang Rui smiled: "Don't take this Lakers seriously, unless they trade a pitcher, the playoffs will not be possible. It would be nice to be swept away.”

No matter how good Yang Rui's memory is, he can't say that for most of the 1997-1998 seasons, he certainly remembers the key games. The Jazz swept the four-star Lakers in the 1998 Western Conference Finals.

The Jazz center Ostertag, nicknamed "White Bear", is 218cm tall and weighs 130kg. His offense is all about picking up leaks, and he doesn't have a mid-range shot, but he can resist O'Neal without being double-teamed by his teammates. This makes the Sharks a headache. It's hard to beat the Jazz without it.

Van Gundy has never been a high-profile person. Since he joined the Knicks, he has not had the best record with the team, so he does not believe Yang Rui's analysis, but thinks that he deserves a beating.

"Don't you mean to say that as long as we play according to your offensive tactics, we will definitely win first, right? Why do you think you can do everything that Riley and Nelson can't do?"

"You're mistaken, Jeff? If you take the first place, the media will focus on you instead of me. I'm just an assistant coach. I can't do it alone, but with your defense, there's no problem." Yang Rui laughed.

Van Gundy was stunned for a moment, resisting not raising his hand to pat his forehead.

I've been led into a ditch... I'm the head coach, how can you say he's leading the team?

Thinking that Ewing resting, reusing Jackson, and Bowen were all suggestions from Yang Rui, he was confused.

Yang Rui asked in a low voice, "Have you never thought that it is possible to win the best coach this season? As long as the team has the best record, there is a chance."

Van Gundy's heart jumped a few times, who doesn't want honor?But before the dust settles, he doesn't want to think too much, for fear that the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment.

Van Gundy had a smile on his face. "I thought you've become calm recently. How can you still be so unreliable? Let's beat the Mavericks first."

"It must not be difficult to end." Yang Rui said easily.

"Have you forgotten who ended our 16-game winning streak?"

"It's just a coincidence. The Mavericks are a bad team, and they have suffered injuries. There are not many who can play. I just hope they don't lose too quickly." Yang Rui closed his eyes and began to rest.

Van Gundy's face darkened slightly, and he turned his head and stopped talking.

The loss to the Mavericks was Van Gundy's worst performance on the field this season.The Mavericks currently have a record of 5 wins and 20 losses, and the only playoff team that has ever won is the Knicks.

PS
(End of this chapter)