NBA Building Cardinals

Chapter 224 The Ranking Controversy Is Complicating and Confusing

The Bobcats' last game in February will be an away game against the Timberwolves.

After the first quarter of this game, the two teams played rather anxiously, but after the second half, the Timberwolves, who gradually found their hand, opened the score in one fell swoop under the leadership of the three-headed monster.

Even though the Bobcats arranged a few three-point shots under Liu Rui's several timeouts and successfully made them, they still failed to withstand the offensive firepower of the Timberwolves.

Especially the madman Sprewell, facing Ariza's defense, the madman had a convulsion to his heart's content in this game. After returning from the second half, he scored consecutive points from inside and outside.

Just based on the state of the game, Liu Rui didn't believe him if he covered his head and said he was Jordan.

It also led to the Bobcats' final game in February ending with:

102:111
Lost to the Western powerhouse Timberwolves by nine points.

While the five-game winning streak was terminated, it also brought the team's record to 25 wins and 25 losses.

Although the Bobcats lost the game, Liu Rui felt gratified that Wallace, who faced Wolf King Garnett in this game, showed his manly side.

In the case of being at a disadvantage in height and wingspan, Wallace played very tough in this game. On the offensive end, he frequently entered the penalty area, actively looking for physical confrontation with Garnett, so as to win free throw opportunities and create kills.

The defensive end also allowed Garnett, who has always been known for his versatility, to make as many as 6 turnovers in this game.

And in the third quarter, he sent a top-five-level tough block.

In just over three minutes into the third quarter, Wallace and Ariza chose to switch defenses because of the pick-and-roll, and Ariza played against Garnett.

Garnett received a pass from Cassell near the free throw line, dribbled past Ariza, and directly planned to dunk the basket with one hand.

But Wallace, who was defended from the flank, blocked it directly from the front with an eye-catching block.

The two had a strong physical confrontation in the air, and Wallace's hand was firmly pressed on the ball. The cap of this ball was very clean, and there was no suspicion of a thug.

Before the two of them lost their balance in the air, they still pressed their hands firmly on the basketball without any loosening.

After the block, the two fell to the ground at the same time in the air. Facing such a clean block, the referee did not blow the whistle to end the game.

So Okafor at the basket took the opportunity to pass a long pass directly to Kevin Martin in the frontcourt.

Facing Kassel's retreat, the latter directly hit two plus one.

This offense and defense also created the pinnacle of the Bobcats' game.

Losing this game is also because the Timberwolves have a really strong lineup this season, and they are still a strong team in the Western Conference so far.

But to Liu Rui's relief, the team's players broke out in this game with a strong desire to win.

Seeing that the team is getting closer to the playoffs, these young players also burst out with more desires. After all, who doesn't want to help the team create history and make themselves more famous.

In this game, facing Wolf King Garnett, Wallace played 33 minutes. He made 16 of 9 shots, 6 of 2 from beyond the three-point line, 9 of 6 free throws, and scored 26 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists.

On the defensive end, he also had 3 steals and 2 blocks.

He played his own momentum on both ends of the offense and defense, absolutely worthy of the title of Elvis King.

而与之对位的加内特，本场比赛出场了35分钟，14投8中，罚球6中4，拿下了20分12篮板7助攻2封盖的数据。

If it wasn't for the madman's convulsion-like performance in this game, and he scored 41 points, then it is really unknown who will win the game.

Facing a crazy night like a madman, Ariza, who defended against him, was also very helpless.

Several balls Ariza has completely defended in place, and even physically disturbed the madman a lot.

But in the face of all kinds of tricky angles, the madman can still throw the ball into the basket, which shows how overwhelming the game feels.

Facing such a defeat, Liu Rui accepted it calmly.

After all, when the players feel good, the bottom one in the league can even upset the top one in the league. This is definitely unexpected.

As the head coach, all Liu Rui can do is obey the destiny and do his best.

…………

In the blink of an eye, it has entered March, and after March, it means that the end of the NBA regular season is very close.

Since the trade deadline has arrived long before, the current championship lineups of each team are basically in place.

After all, there are very few changes in signing players who are bought out or cut off by other teams.

So far, the top eight teams in the Eastern Conference are:
Heat, Pistons, Wizards, Celtics, Pacers, 76ers, Bulls and Nets.

The Bobcats are currently ranked ninth in the Eastern Conference, tied with the Eastern Conference's tenth Cavaliers.

And the difference between the two teams and the eighth-ranked Nets is only one game, and the Bulls are two games away.

In terms of high probability, these four teams will eventually compete for the last two spots in the Eastern Conference.

The top eight teams in the Western Conference are:

Suns, Spurs, Mavericks (Lone Ranger), Sonics, Kings, Rockets, Nuggets and Grizzlies.

Among them, the Suns also regained the top spot in the Western Conference after the All-Star Game.

I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing. Anyway, for D'Antoni, it is a very sad thing.

Compared with the East, the competition in the West is very fierce, except for the Suns and Spurs who are currently in the top two.

All the remaining teams may disrupt this order in the next games. Even the Timberwolves, currently ranked ninth in the West, are only two games away from the Mavericks, who are ranked third in the West.

This has intensified the battle for rankings across the West.

That's why after Liu Rui was a guest in the West, he suffered such a big counterattack in the game.

After all, the season has come to this time, and the win or loss of every game may directly rewrite the final ranking.

In terms of players, so far, Iverson of the 76ers has temporarily ranked first in the league scoring list with an average of 30.1 points per game.

Currently ranked second is Kobe Bryant's 28.1 points. If there is no accident, the scoring champion this season will be produced between the two.

The rebounds and assists are Garnett's 13.5 times and Nash's 11.2 times, both of them currently rank first with an absolute lead.

Camby of the Nuggets temporarily leads the league in blocked shots with an average of 3 shots per game, followed by Duncan with an average of 2.6 shots per game.

There is still an old acquaintance on the steal list, and Iverson of the 76 team is temporarily leading with an average of 2.6 times per game.

The difference is that Larry Hughes, who is ranked second, is pressing closely with an average of 2.5 times per game.

So far this season, coupled with the trading operations of each team, has also made the league's structure more confusing.

Who can stand out in the end, I am afraid that no one can answer all this.

This time, it obviously included Liu Rui himself...

(End of this chapter)