Chapter 653: Hard Bones!
"It's a spear and shield fight!"
Charlotte, Time Warner Online Arena.
The Sacramento Kings' away game against the Charlotte Bobcats is about to begin.
"We saw that Michael Jordan, the owner of the Bobcats, was watching from the sidelines. The pressure on Michael should be quite high recently, after all, for the first time since he retired, there is finally a player who hopes to challenge his super myth and impact the status of the first person in history. With Michael's triumphant character, there will definitely be feelings in my heart! β
This game did not get the opportunity to be broadcast live in the United States, and the live commentator is also the local Charlotte commentary, which is supposed to be slightly towards the Bobcats, which is also the tradition of local commentators at the NBA home court.
However, due to the fact that the Bobcats have not played any amazing records for many years, and their performance is quite mediocre, the local commentary does not have much bias, and they actually make fun of the team owner when the game has not yet started. It can be seen that the local fans and media are already quite dissatisfied with the Bobcats.
However, there is a silver lining for the Bobcats this season, and the winning percentage will exceed 50 percent so far, even a little higher than the winning percentage of the Kings.
Considering the difference in star rating between the two teams, and the expectations before the start of the season, it was not easy for the Bobcats to play like this.
Now that Chen Mu is impacting Jordan's position as the first person in history, and the Bobcats are once again impacting the playoffs at a critical moment, Michael Jordan, as the owner of the team, must have some psychological pressure.
And the reason why the Bobcats played well this season is because of two people.
"Kemba Walker, and Al Jefferson!"
As the commentator speaks, players from both sides enter the stadium and the game is about to begin.
"So far this season, we've averaged just 96.9 points per game for the Bobcats, and our shooting percentage is miserable. But we did two things pretty well, the first being the control of turnovers and fouls, which averaged just 11.6 and 18.2 per game, respectively, both of which were the best in the league. Arguably, we're already the best team in the league when it comes to controlling the unforced conceding of games. β
The commentator continued: "The second is our defense, and under our overall strategy of slowing down the tempo, playing positional battles, and suppressing opponents' counterattacks, we are only conceding 97.1 points per game, which ranks fourth in the league. It's only a little higher than the Bulls, Grizzlies, and 76ers, and defensively, we're also in the first echelon. β
On the field, players from both sides are shaking hands and hugging each other, and the referee is already checking the ball for the game at the end. On the big screen in the center, the Bobcats' stats were presented. If you have a good fan to take a closer look, you will find that this team, which has no first-line stars, has actually played a very good season with the method of all the soldiers.
And the reason for being able to do this is precisely the two people mentioned in the explanation just now.
Kemba Walker, who averaged 17.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game this season, averaged 2.3 turnovers per game as the team's main control. You know, he's an offensive point guard, and it's amazing to be able to do that. β
On the field, Kemba Walker was hugging Wei Shao, and then Wei Shao didn't seem to know what kind of trash he said in his ear, and he ran away with a smile, and several Bobcat players on the side were not very happy, and their faces were gloomy.
"Hehe, it's okay."
However, the party Kemba Walker not only did not get angry, but reached out to stop his teammates who were about to come forward to spray back, and looked at Wei Shao's back with a smile, and he couldn't see any unhappiness on his face.
This kind of calm and spicy, among the new generation of point guards in the league, I am afraid that only Mike Conley has a fight. Although he has been playing for the Bobcats so far in his career, Kemba Walker's exposure has never been high. But as long as you pay attention to his game, it is not difficult to find that he is extremely old in playing, and he is very slippery in all kinds of mid-range shots, and he is not at all top.
The reason that restricts him from going further is also very simple, as a point guard who focuses on his own attack, his impact and shooting rate are really not outstanding, and his hand feels fluctuates greatly. Defensively, Kemba Walker can only be regarded as mediocre but not lost, without much bright spots.
"As a team like ours that is still looking for a way forward, it's a blessing to have a point guard like Kemba Walker in control of the tempo."
The narrator also gave a thumbs up to Kemba Walker's mature handling, turned his eyes to the other big man, and continued: "And on the other hand, Al Jefferson, since his rise to prominence in the Green Shirts, has been known for his low-post mass killers. BUT BECAUSE OF HIS MEDIOCRE RUNNING AND JUMPING ABILITY, HE IS NOT A TALL BODY SIZE, AND HIS DEFENSE HAS ALWAYS BEEN CRITICIZED. β
On the other side, the big man Al Jefferson was slowly walking towards the center circle, arranging his pants while exchanging various glances with McGee opposite.
"You scumbag, you can't grab the ball!" McGee squirted.
"Well, I really can't grab it." Al Jefferson didn't fall for the fire at all, just nodded indifferently and followed, and then discussed the details of the run with his teammates, without taking McGee in his eyes at all.
"You @#Β₯%&......!!"
McGee was angry, and an old farmer's face was about to wrinkle into pecans.
"Hahahahaha! Someone was taunted, Javier!! I told you, your trick is useless to the old players, hahahaha!! The rest of the Kings players went out of their way to laugh at McGee, causing the Bobcats players to look sideways.
It's a weird team atmosphere.
Jefferson and Walker looked at each other, shrugged at each other, and didn't say much.
"This season, before I knew it, Al Jefferson had another 20+10 highlight season." The commentator continued: "Averaging 21.8 points and 10.8 rebounds per game so far, shooting more than 50 percent from the field, and flying under various baskets, he is the brightest star of every game night at Charlotte's home court. β
And what few have noticed is that this season, Al Jefferson has played the best defensive performance of his career. In terms of defensive efficiency, it reached 100 and tied for 14th in the league. Mind you, it's not the 14th on the inside, it's the 14th out of all players in the league! β
Really...... fake??
When many fans heard this, they were a little confused and didn't dare to believe the commentator's statement.
Al Jefferson?
The proverbial defensive colander?
Split can completely blow up the papier-mΓ’chΓ© man??
14th in the league in defensive efficiency?!!
"Not only that, but in terms of defensive S, that is, defensive victory contribution value, Algerferson is currently ranked seventh in the league! You heard it right, seventh out of all players in the league! The commentator was a little excited: "The players before him are all defensive giants like Noah, Jordan Jr., and Hibbert!" β
Therefore, we can fully say that Aljefferson is now a first-line defensive stalwart in the league, enough to become the defensive backbone of a team. Coupled with the fact that we also have human helicopters in our team, such as Henderson, Gary Neil, Pippen McGee Jr., Biyombo and other defensive giants, the defense of the Bobcats this season is definitely the top level in the league! β
This is also the secret why Bobcats can use such a mediocre lineup to play a win rate of more than 50%.
And in this game, the Bobcats will face the test of the Kings' league's No. 1 firepower.
Whether the spear is sharper or the shield is stronger, everything is about to be presented in front of everyone's eyes.
As for how to deal with the Kings' endless firepower, the Bobcats, of course, also made a special arrangement.
"Beep!"
The referee blows the whistle and the game begins!
"The race is on! Jump Ball ...... Kings Ball Possession!! β
"Offense, offense!!"
McGee jumped up, and when he was about to touch the ceiling, Jefferson on the opposite side almost stood in place and didn't move, but just symbolically stretched out his hand, saw the height McGee was at, and muttered "It's so high", and then turned around and went directly to defense.
What the hell is this!
"Damn, I'm bored!" McGee didn't like this kind of energetic opponent the most, and felt like he was smashing his fist on the cotton, and he had nowhere to vent his strength, so he cursed secretly.
"Be careful, this guy has a great sense of location." Gu Yu passed by McGee's side and reminded him, but looking at McGee's expression, he obviously didn't listen to anything.
"Here we go! The Kings attack for the first time! Wei Shao and his cousin fell on the strong and weak sides respectively, and the ball was ready to pass to ...... Well?? The Bobcats' defense is quite distinctive! β
Eh.
Accompanied by the commentator's commentary, Gu Yu raised his eyes and looked, good guy, what he was looking at was not Gerard Henderson, the starting scoring guard of the Bobcats and the helicopter who could jump to the moon with a casual effort, but a long-handed monster.
"McDonald's ......?"
In front of Gu Yu's eyes, McKegie, who was almost born for defense, stretched out his hands and could circle the earth twice, and his mobility and running and jumping abilities were the best choice, which was quite difficult to get rid of.
"you! My name is KFC! Ah......h McGee!! McGee was also dazed by Gu Yu.
McKegie's own offense is really enough, so most of his physical fitness is put on the defensive end, and following Gu Yu is not relaxed for a second, annoying.
At the same time, on the other side, Wei Shao noticed that Gu Yu was stuck by McGee, and his mind was hot, so he simply kicked the accelerator and killed the inside line.
"Rush in!!"
Just when Wei Shao's tomahawk was pulled, he was ready to make a violent buckle to boost his morale.
In front of him, a stocky figure appeared.
Al Jefferson, who doesn't jump or roar, doesn't even see the slightest meaning to be blocked, that is, he holds the frame high with both hands, and his position is staggering.
"Damn ......", "When! β
Wei Shao hit the iron, McGee had already sprinted in stride from the side, jumped up and aimed at the basketball to pick up the rebound.
ββ¦β¦ Syllable! β
Jefferson didn't move like a mountain, a solid turn and stuck position, his feet off the ground and his hands stretched out, and the rebound was won steadily.
This......
The Kings players were stunned, and the whole Bobcats didn't leave the ground for even a second, and the ball was already defended by them......
"Whooshββ!!!"
When Jefferson teleported out and Kemba Walker disappeared from everyone's eyes, Gu Yu agreed with one thing from the bottom of his heart:
This team is definitely a tough ......!
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All-Star LeBron and Curry, why don't you broadcast the selection process live?!!
Which side do you think is stronger?