basketball hero

Chapter 281 Starting position and playing time

Even if Ying Xiong showed off his might and stole the limelight in the just-concluded All-Star Rookie Challenge, he couldn't give him more chances to win in the team.On this point, he is actually very clear.For most NBA teams, a player scoring a lot in a rookie game with a lax defense doesn't mean much.

Ying Xiong knew very well, so what if he won the rookie game MVP?His status in the team still cannot be compared with Jennings.Even if their own strength is stronger than the opponent, but the team doesn't think so, they will not change the plan made at the beginning of the season.

On February 2, the Bucks sat at home and ushered in a challenge from the Houston Rockets.The two teams had played against each other in Houston before, and the Bucks lost in overtime.This game is the first game of the two teams after the All-Star Game, so naturally they all want to win, so as to increase their chances of competing for tickets to the playoffs.

In this game, Ying Xiong started the game as usual, but his tactical status was still absent, the same as before the All-Star Game.He doesn't think too much about the fact that the team doesn't pay much attention to it.Compared with last season, at any rate, there is still a chance to start, which is already an improvement.

The Bucks eventually lost to the Rockets in double figures at home, and failed to usher in a good start after the All-Star break.Ying Xiong didn't get many opportunities in the game, and his performance was not bad, but it couldn't change the result of the game.

Before the Bucks lost to the Rockets at home, they made a deal with the Bulls.The content of the transaction is that power forward Hakeem Warik, who just joined the team this summer, and the Bulls' John Salmons swap clubs.

John Salmons is an excellent defensive and comprehensive swingman who can also play the No. 1 position.

Ying Xiong has heard about Salmons for a long time. He knew the player as early as when the opponent was still in the Philadelphia 76ers.In exchange for Salmons, it is basically determined that it will be difficult for Michael Reid to come back this season.What's more, the Bucks are determined to fight the small lineup to the end.

For Xiong, having a swingman with comprehensive skills will definitely affect his playing time, but he is not afraid of competition, he likes competition, and he thinks that he is no worse than any forward and defensive player in the team.I may have many technical flaws, but what I lack the most is an opportunity that truly belongs to me.

On the day of the game against the Rockets, the Bucks packaged rookie shooting guard Meeks and insider Francisco Elson and traded with the Philadelphia 76ers for guard Roy Ivey and center Brezek.

In Ying Xiong's view, this deal has little effect on the overall structure of the team, and the two marginal players on the bench in the team are exchanged for a third point guard and a backup center.For the Bucks, with the successive arrival of Stackhouse and Salmons, rookie Meeks has almost no chance to play. Instead of keeping him in the team and not being able to play, it is better to take advantage of the high transaction value Time to reinforce the lineup.As a European insider, Brezek is a pure No. 3 position and can be used as Bogut's insurance. After all, the team's No. 5 center is not the kind of inside player who rarely misses.

On February 2, the Bucks challenged the Pistons away.This game is the first time Bucks new aid John Salmons played on behalf of the team.Ying Xiong is still starting the game, and the team is still playing a "one big and four small" lineup.

In this game, the newcomer Salmons performed well and contributed to the team's away victory.Together with Stackhouse, who joined the team before, he added a lot of offensive firepower to the team's bench.

On February 2, the Bucks played against the Bobcats back-to-back at home.Yingxiong still started the game, but last time the time was reduced to only 21 minutes.He wondered, because he hadn't behaved badly.The newly joined Salmons played more than 11 minutes.

Ying Xiong guessed that maybe the team wanted to make a "fake starter" because only his own playing time had been significantly reduced in the starter.Of course, it is also possible that the team wants to suppress him. After all, he is not in the team's long-term plan, so naturally he will not allow himself to occupy so much playing time.

But for Ying Xiong, no matter which possibility it is, it is not good for him.It was hard to get the starting position and playing time. Although the tactical status is still not there, playing time means a lot.If the team cuts his playing time in this way when he is already good enough within his ability, it will completely force him to leave the team next season.

In theory, Ying Xiong still has a two-year contract (the home team implements the team option). The Bucks will definitely not refuse to implement the team option, otherwise it means making him a completely free agent. This has nothing to do with letting him go. different.If the team option is implemented, they will definitely seek a trade in order to get a satisfactory return.

For the Bucks, as long as he is still in the Bucks, he has no reason to play negatively.Let me play for a few minutes, and I will play for a few minutes seriously.Playing negatively is not my style and it goes against my professional ethics.

On February 2, the Bucks challenged the Knicks away.In this game, Ying Xiong lost his starting position, and his replacement was Salmons, who joined the team.

As one of the parties, Ying Xiong was not overly surprised, because he was mentally prepared.He had already guessed that the team would reuse Salmons, but he didn't expect that he would not even let him do the "fake starting" and let himself go to the bench directly.

In this game, the Bucks defeated their opponents away and ushered in a 3-game winning streak.Ying Xiong only played 10 minutes, and his playing time continued to decline.After the game, many media reporters questioned the Bucks' arrangement.Many local basketball experts and reporters in Milwaukee even wrote articles expressing dissatisfaction with the team's arrangement.From their point of view, Ying Xiong, who just won the Rookie Challenge, performed very well, and he has no injuries, so why cut his playing time drastically for no reason?

The Bucks did not give a positive explanation, but said that this is the team's overall consideration based on the present and the future, not for a certain player.Since the team is in a winning streak, dissatisfied people can't say anything more.After all, in competitive sports, results are the most convincing.

In the last three games in February, the Bucks played against the Hornets, Pacers and Heat.In these 2 games, Salmons served as the starter, and the team won all 3 games.

As a result, the argument that "Ying Xiong is better for the team as a substitute" is flooding the Internet and basketball media circles.Since the Bucks are in an excellent competitive state with 6 consecutive victories, at this time, no one can refute the correctness of this argument.Moreover, Salmons' performance is indeed relatively good, perfectly displaying his experience and skills, and contributing a lot to the team's winning streak.

(End of this chapter)