basketball pope

Chapter 57 [Resolutely double-teamed, only Jordan]

Before the start of the game, players from both sides went to the arena locker room early to wait.

Michael Jordan jumped rope for a while and sat on a stool to rest.

In basketball games, the strength of a player often depends on the state before the game. Depending on the state, the player's own strength will definitely be different. If adjusted properly, it may show 120% of the strength.Jordan is someone who is particularly good at adjusting himself.

"Zen Master" Jackson stood beside Jordan and whispered, "I haven't seen you adjust in this way in a long time."

Jordan said with his face: "We must not lose this game, otherwise the record gap will widen again."

After a pause, he stood up, clapped his hands, and said loudly to his teammates: "Pay attention to running and cutting to the inside line. I will pass the ball when I have a good chance."

After the Bulls' two championships, Jordan has changed. Although he is still the strongest star in the eyes of many people, he himself is aware of the decline in strength.

Jordan used to say, "TEAM doesn't have the letter I (I) in it, but WIN has I (I) in it."

Now, he knows that he cannot leave the team without the cooperation of his good teammates.

Jordan's biggest weapon is no longer his body and technique, but his tenacious will.His desire to win surpassed everyone else. In Game 38 of last season's finals, he had a fever and dehydration. He still scored [-] points to lead the team to a win. In the end, he was helped by Pippen.

This season, Jordan also relies on will to win, trying his best on both ends of the offense and defense, not like a veteran at all.

In the home team's locker room, Ewing's expression was equally serious.

In the past years, Ewing has been overshadowed by Jordan's edge. He only made one finals through Jordan's first retirement. Jordan is his worst enemy.

The teammates didn't communicate much, for fear that if they smiled at this time, the coach would feel that they were not serious enough, and the atmosphere in the locker room was like a prison.

It was Yang Rui and Van Gundy who broke the silence. The two had differences in tactics. Yang Rui suggested to resolutely double-team Jordan. Van Gundy planned to defend alone. The reason was that he was training for the playoffs.

"We lost when we double-teamed Jordan. He would pass the ball and lead the team to open up, not just play by himself." Van Gundy said solemnly.

Yang Rui shook his head, and he also had insights on defense: "Pippen can still double-team when he comes back in the playoffs. My suggestion is that except for Kerr, you can double-team Jordan and let others shoot. The reason is very simple, Kerr can't make it, the Bulls don't have a three-pointer from the bottom corner, can't they rely on rotation on the outside?"

Van Gundy said angrily, "How did he get five championships if he can't shoot to death?"

"Overall defense, how many players do you think the Bulls scored in double figures? Rodman, Hubble, Langley, why don't you let them shoot?"

"..." Using the data as an example, Van Gundy couldn't refute it.

The data given by the scout is clearly written. Only three Bulls averaged double figures in scoring last season, except for Jordan and Pippen, and the other is Kukoc.Pippen did not play this year and three people were in double figures. Lang Li averaged 12.2 points per game.

Yang Rui said sternly: "The whole world knows that the Bulls now have a super-scoring point for Jordan. If he can drive the team with his passing, he will average less than 5 assists per game this year?"

Van Gundy was silent for a while, but was persuaded by Yang Rui. He realized that he was on the cusp of a bullshit.

Let Jordan score a high score in Madison Square Garden, even if he wins, the limelight will be taken away by the opponent; on the contrary, if Jordan is a blacksmith and let others score, if the Bulls win... It seems that there is no such possibility at all.

The reason why Jordan is considered the strongest is because he is the key to winning, not the stats.As the saying goes, catch the thief first and catch the king, Yang Rui's method not only guards against Jordan, but also damages the morale of the bulls.

Players from both sides played, and the "Voice of the New York Knicks" Marv Albert and his partner Marty Glickman commented on the scene.

When introducing the lineup, Albert was optimistic about the Knicks. "Johnson's comeback, the Knicks have greatly increased their strength, and Ewing had a rest before, and his state has remained very good."

Glickman mentioned Yang Rui. "The Knicks reused young assistant coaches, and everyone thought it was too risky in the summer. After the preseason, many experts believed that the younger Van Gundy and the younger Jerry Young could not lead the team to play well, and now they prove everyone. All wrong. The Knicks are perfectly capable of threatening the Bulls' dominance."

Albert smiled: "Ewing's performance is very brave, not only accurate shooting, but also a lot of assists. He may win the first regular season MVP of his career."

Glickman said: "The Bulls have no super scorer except for Jordan. The second scoring point is Kukoc, who will be the starting small forward this season. After Harper joined the Bulls, he transformed into a pure defensive player, and his attacking ability is not as good as before. Langley and Rodman are both blue-collar workers, and if the Bulls want to beat the Knicks today, it mainly depends on Jordan's performance."

The Knicks started with five players: Ward, Houston, Bowen, Johnson, and Ewing.

Bulls five: Hubble, Jordan, Kukoc, Rodman, Langley.

Ewing won the jump ball, the Knicks took the lead, and the perimeter formation opened.

Ewing gave Houston a no-ball screen from the side, helping him get rid of Jordan, Houston received the ball, and Lang Li defended it.

When the two sides competed on the court, the Bulls had already seen the Knicks' off-ball screening, and they had to switch defenses quickly.Houston took the ball for a meal, changed direction and passed Langley on the right, and made an emergency stop in a high position.

Jordan chased the defense from the side, Houston didn't shoot, jumped up and passed the ball lightly to Ewing who was cutting on the left side, "Gorilla" strode into the basket, attracting Rodman to make up defense and not shoot, The ball was distributed to the right 60 degrees of Johnson's hands.

Johnson didn't waste the opportunity, hit an open three-pointer, 3-0.

Once Rodman retreats to the basket, he has to rely on Kukoc and Langley to defend the weak side. Langley's speed is impossible to rotate in place.

When the first team has Jordan and Pippen, it is impossible to sign a super center, so the Bulls will start with Langley.He can't run or jump at all, and his only role on the defensive end is to act as a meat shield.

The Bulls attacked, and the formation also opened up. Hubble dribbled the ball to the middle Kukoc and ran to the bottom corner. Kukoc passed Jordan on the right and prepared for a heads-up. The main defender was Bowen.

Bowen is excited. This is the second time he has been in charge of defending Jordan. He failed to defend, but he is very happy to be able to match. This is the trust given by the coaching staff.

Jordan couldn't get past Bowen in one step with the ball, so he took it to 45 degrees and leaned back. Ward double-teamed, scooped the ball down three lanes, and emptied Hubble.

Jordan has been in the league for many years, and his game intelligence is extraordinary. He instantly thought of what might happen after passing the ball. He pulled the ball to avoid steals, turned around in the middle and made a fallback jumper. .

He had a good first-ball feel, and his posture was never boring. 3 to 2.

Yang Rui couldn't help but want to applaud from the sidelines. At the age of 35, there is only Jordan in the league.

PS
(End of this chapter)