You are the pearl, Mo Mengchen

Chapter 351 Super Rookie
时间：1998年1月25日晚21：00。

Location: Boston, Massachusetts, USA, TD North Shore Garden Arena.

Background: Mo Mengchen played against Tim Duncan for the first time in their careers.

The Celtics, the biggest winner of the 1997 draft, a year and a half ago in the winter, Boston and Dallas exchanged the draft picks in the summer of 1996, in order to get Montrose (transferred to 4 teams in less than two years) Tramp), the Mavericks additionally gave the Celtics a first-round pick in 1997.

Two first-round picks, with a 36% probability of being the No. [-] pick, got Duncan and Chauncey Billups.

The cardinal and others made a big game with no face, and finally took advantage of Rick Pitino. After he won Duncan and Billups, he actively used his knowledge of college basketball to search for available talents. .

Pitino has the attributes of scouting college players. There are many excellent students in recent years. Tyrese Knight, the 7-foot ace center of the University of Connecticut, was selected by the Bulls with the 29th overall pick in the first round last year, and was waived half a year later. During O'Neal's injury, the Lakers signed with him, got some opportunities, and entered the All-Star Rookie Game.After O'Neal's comeback, the Lakers gathered insiders. Knight, who averaged 4.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, was not in the plan. Pitino generously threw a seven-year contract for him.

Pitino began a drastic operation.

Successive wins for Walter McCarty, Dante Jones, John Thomas
What these players have in common is that they are either the direct descendants of the University of Kentucky or the strong enemy of the University of Kentucky. Pitino’s last trade before the start of the game was to replace the short center Tony Masenberg, who was newly signed for 6 years and 760 million, with a 208-centimeter one. Roy Rogers.

Of course, this buddy has some kind of connection with Pitino again, that's right~ Roy Rogers was the 1996nd overall pick in the first round in 22, from the University of Alabama, and belongs to the same SEC division as the University of Kentucky.

In addition to Duncan and Billups, the Celtics have almost become Pitino's personal army.

He moved Kentucky to the NBA. ——"Boston Collection Post" so commented.

This game was also broadcast live across the United States, and TNT TV station was responsible for leading the live broadcast because they held the Celtics' broadcast contract.

Tonight, TNT sent veteran commentator Bob Neal and former NBA player Reggie Toyce.

Troyce was active in the 80s, was selected as an All-Star twice, and averaged 20+ points per game in four seasons. Even a player like him who has achieved good results in his career is like a shooting star in the NBA, except for old fans. I have an impression of him.

Now he is also a commentator for TNT TV station.

"Reggie, tonight's game can be said to be a long-awaited game, Tim Duncan, Chauncey Billups and Antoine Walker against Grant Hill and Dor.Mo, what do you think of this game?" Neal asked.

Troyce's style is no different from most commentators, boasting this and praising that.

But he showed more affection for Duncan tonight: "If I had to choose, I'd support Boston."

"They have Tim Duncan. Even if he is just a rookie, he also has the league's top five court influence. He is a rookie at the level of Larry Bird and Magic Johnson."

For a player who was active in the 80s, I am afraid there is no more exaggerated praise than this.

This is the first time between Mo Mengchen and Duncan.

This is Mo Mengchen's third year, this is Duncan's first year, and this is the end of February in 1998.

The wheel of fortune is turning at this moment.

Mo Mengchen knew Duncan quite well. Bird had praised him many times when he was a college student.

What kind of person is Bird?A genius like Kevin McHale is often complained by him.

But he gave Duncan an extremely high evaluation, and Mo Mengchen had to pay attention to Duncan.

Duncan's later career trajectory also verified Bird's words, this is indeed a phenomenal historical super giant.

Mo Mengchen and Duncan didn't say much else, they just shook hands and hugged, and let's use the game to talk about the rest.

On the contrary, Antoine Walker was extremely arrogant: "This year is the year of Boston. When we get along well, you can wait for me to die!"

Mo Mengchen and Hill walked back with a smile.

"If I were you, I'd punch his shit out." Mo Mengchen said.

"I'm not as violent as you," Hill said. "I just want him to shut up, and that's enough."

This is really a requirement that is not low at all.

After that, the Celtics' starters played.

Billups, Greg Miner, Antoine Walker, Duncan, Tyrese Knight.

This starter has strengths and weaknesses. No wonder they have been unable to improve with Duncan's record.

In order to implement his full-court pressing strategy in the NBA, Pitino has become obsessed, frantically searching for those defensive champions who can fit close to the whole court, not paying attention to the rationality of the lineup, and repeatedly letting Duncan accommodate this group of people.

At this time, the referee threw the ball into the sky.

Not surprisingly, Ratliff lost the jumper.

Billups tried to push a fast break, but basketball Bobby Dumars broke out of bounds.

Mo Mengchen on the sidelines complained: "Why don't we let Grant jump the ball with the opponent in the future, and we won't win anyway."

Dumas said: "Don't say that, Theo will be sad."

"Sad?" Mo Mengchen snorted, "If I were him, I would feel ashamed!"

No one can jump, and there is no one left. I really don't know what's wrong with it.

He is not a short center forward in his early two meters like Wallace. He has a long wingspan and a fast bullet speed. Otherwise, he would not have so many blocked shots, but he just can't win the jump ball. A vicious circle.

To give Knight better space around the rim, Duncan pulled beyond the free throw line.

He's almost at the three-point line.

The ensuing pass showed some whimsy from Billups as he slammed the ball against the backboard and the ball bounced back into Knight's hands.

But expecting Knight to overpower Ratliff in that position is wishful thinking.

Ratliff is not good at jumping the ball, but he is very good at blocking blocks. He jumped up and blocked Knight's shot forcefully.

Jackson grabbed the rebound and passed it to Hill.

Duncan wanted to stop it, but it was too late. Hill ran like a thunder that crossed the audience.

"The first ball in the garden tonight, a flying dunk from the Duke Devils!"

2 is better than 0
Duncan carried Barkley inside, and with his height, it should be very easy to push Barkley.

The result is not the case. Barkley's weight of 123 kilograms is not a display, and Duncan is not easy to exert force violently. It is not easy to get the ball under such an off-ball defense.

"Pass the ball, Chauncey!"

Pitino roared.

It is in this environment that it is difficult for Billups to reproduce his demeanor in college, choosing to hang the ball to Duncan, when he failed to firmly lock the position.

Duncan jumped up lightly, and his ball was knocked out by Barkley.

"This is the legendary super rookie?" Dumars looked dumbfounded.

Another counterattack from the Pistons.

Jackson's counterattack blew a whirlwind in Boston's frontcourt, a horseback archery jumper, hit cricket and scored.

4 is better than 0
Pollard slapped his legs when he saw Duncan being so good, and said, "I feel like I can prevent that super rookie to death!"

Why are people so impetuous now?Only two rounds.

Still playing Duncan.

This time Duncan switched to get the ball outside the paint area on the left, and Barkley defended cautiously. Although his footsteps are not fast, it is compared with the outside line, because when he was young, he always started attacking from the outside line, and it was often the outside line that defended him. , the footsteps are naturally inferior to them.

If compared with the inside line, his pace is very fast.

His barefoot height of less than two meters gives him an advantage in defense. As long as he is willing to defend seriously, he can indeed have good results.

Duncan's activation failed to get rid of Barkley, so he posted it, but No. 21 from Wake Forest University still did not retreat. Shake, get 2 points.

He played with ease, every shot.

"You can hardly feel a little bit of reluctance. His scoring is so natural." Toyes praised, "This is the supernova who made Bill Sharman give up the No. 21!"

Duncan wears No. 21, a player who has been retired by the Celtics. His previous owner was Bill Sharman, a veteran of the ancient Celtic dynasty.

When the Celtics selected Duncan, the star of the Celtics immediately expressed his willingness to give up No. 21.

"He needs to have a great successor, and TD is a good fit."

Sharman boasted indirectly, and Duncan accepted it with a smile after being humble.

Then, Houston cut out a jumper and missed.

Duncan easily grabbed the rebound and made a long pass to Billups.

Billups made an emergency stop in the frontcourt, Beverly slammed Bobby Jackson into the basket and scored easily.

"Beautiful long pass, this guy's consciousness is amazing!" This has become a special scene of blowing Duncan, and Toyce has completely entered the role.

The harder he blew, the more the fans liked him.

At this point, Dumars and Pollard looked embarrassed.

Mo Mengchen asked maliciously: "JD, what did you just say?"

"Just kidding, do you really think I'm such a superficial person? How can I judge a player with two rounds?" Dumars forcefully explained.

Yes, you are such a superficial person, otherwise, how could you use the second pick to pick such a waste as Milicic?

That was the second overall pick in 2003. You shouldn't have chosen such a cripple with your eyes closed, right?

Then, he looked at Di Pollard, "What did you say just now? What can you guard against?"

"Who the hell is lying? I swear to God, I never said anything!" Pollard stomped on the ground and swallowed back the words without shame.

(End of this chapter)