Chapter 127: Never Stopping at the Port of Denver
Why can't Black Eight? This is the Denver Post's sports columnist Lu Delin. The headline of Brown's column is a reference to the Los Angeles Clippers, who play against the Denver Nuggets four days later.
[If the regular season championship is the championship, then there will be no Black Eight Miracle, miracles come from hard work, and hard work comes from possibility, Denver has a rare interior height and intensity in the league, Kenyon will tell the Clippers what the perfect power forward is Maybe when they face Kenyon is unpredictable, they will regret their poor interior defense, and Nene who is out of injury is undoubtedly the best center in the league, Tyson Chandler's defense pays more attention to moving and assisting defense, especially in the face of power inside, Tyson Chandler's defense will immediately become overstretched, and Nene will not only play hard-hitting on the inside, but also flexible footsteps, his existence may be Tyson's nightmare, although Marcus is old, but on the inside of the Clippers, he can still contribute his defense and rebounding to the team, since ancient times, those who have won the interior have won the championship, even if it is said that even if the Bulls dynasty has Grant before and then Rodman. In addition, Cameron will tell Ron how slow his pace is, Cameron, who can contribute 28 points per game, will continue his scoring journey under the tight guard of the Clippers, Chauncey has never been a player who attracts the attention of fans 100%, but he will give you a fatal blow at critical moments, Chauncy is more aggressive on the offensive end this season, can Andre Miller and her young teammates still resist? I only see the strength of one person in any way, that is Lin Fei, I never deny his super personal strength, but he can't represent the whole team, Dallas in 2008 will be a role model for the Clippers, lac are you trembling? Ludlin's article undoubtedly put the idea of the Nuggets' Black Eight completely on the table.
"Cameron, what are your thoughts on the team's efforts to stage the Black Eight Miracle? Do you have the confidence to perform miracles? "A female reporter with a murder weapon squeezed in front of Anthony for an interview!
Anthony's eyes swept over the murder weapon of the great shore, and said with a smile: "Such a beautiful young lady, everyone wants to win, although our regular season record is only eighth, but this does not mean that we will raise our hands and surrender, if all are carried out according to the ranking, we can consider preparing the tools for ourselves to fish, this is not the case, our predecessors have done it and we hope that we can do it today, even if it is difficult, we will work hard for it, because we have a heart to work hard." ”
Anthony's words directly moved out of the incident in which the Clippers led by Mutombo staged a Jedi counterattack and staged the Black Eight to eliminate the superSonics, and further confirmed his thoughts to the media.
On the other hand, the "Los Angeles Times", as the guardian of Los Angeles sports, will naturally not sit idly by in the face of the "Denver Post" taking the lead, and in terms of circulation and influence, the "Denver Post" is far, far behind the "Los Angeles Times".
Black Eight? It's not dark yet! That's the headline of the Los Angeles Times, and Los Angeles Times columnist Mark Heisler gives a direct analysis of the Nuggets and the Clippers.
Coach Matchup: Mike. Dunleavy vs George. Karl: This is a game of the art and wisdom of the course conductor!
Mike Dunleavy has been in the coaching position for almost two decades, which is not a particularly long number, he has reached the finals and won the best coach once, he is good at tapping the potential of the team, the improvement this season is obvious, the on-the-spot command is praised by everyone, he is the best choice for the best coach of the season, the coaching style is balanced offensively and defensively, and the tactics are rich.
George Calbi Mike Dunlewido coached for six years, the team's winning percentage ranked twelfth in coaching history, the coaching style is offensive, he is a persistent offensive coach, he is a three-time best coach in the league, he is good at offense but not very good at controlling big-name players, and the battle with cancer in recent seasons has affected his coaching prestige, but his coaching spirit is undeniable, and his defensive work is not good.
Final Coach Position Rating: Mike Dunleavy = George Carr Leader Showdown: Lin Fei vs Carmelo Anthony This is a contest between two super scoring machines!
Lin Fei has brought incredible strength to the team since he came to the Clippers last season, and the pressure brought to the Los Angeles Lakers by the playoffs last season will be more fully reflected this season, his three-point and running position is equal to the existence of no solution, Denver wants to defend Lin will become extremely difficult, after two seasons of growth, Lin has become more and more mature, when the team needs him, he has been postponed, has a super big heart, the defense has become stable, and the individual has become all-round when maintaining efficient offensive pressure. The playoffs are inexperienced, and the defense will be severely tested in the playoffs.
Anthony, allow me to put him in the position of leader, this year is his fifth playoff trip, four times not past the first round can be a huge motivation for him, the offensive end is also an inexplicable existence, rich offensive means make it difficult for defenders to defend, also has a huge heart, a trustworthy guy in key moments, he needs to make more effort on the defensive end, sometimes he is too alone, easy to lack reason, he is more likely to be frustrated when he encounters a tough defense, but in the last few seconds, the heart will be extra strong. Artest will put Anthony to the test. The ability to distribute the ball is still being learned.
Core comprehensive evaluation: Lin Fei > Anthony The rest of the duels:
(1) The main combat power of the main lineup:
Andre Miller + Ron Artest + Tyson Chandler vs Chauncy Billups + Nene Hilario + Kenyon Martin is often the key to the team's victory, not the core leaders, but the main players, they play a key role!
Andre Miller Ron Artest in the Clippers' starting lineup is so obvious that I can't prepare to tell who is the second leader of the Clippers, Ron's offensive firepower was undoubtedly in Sacramento last season, and the scoring reduction has become even greater after coming to the Clippers in the new season, he needs to help the team solve the opponent's main offensive point, he used to be a dangerous factor for a grumpy team, maybe when his brain will be hot, this season like that Ron I don't seem to see, But that doesn't mean he's not the same Ron at all, he is still the most worrying defender in the league on the defensive end, although his feet are not flexible enough, but his strong body is his capital, and Carmelo Anthony's scoring ability will test Ron's defense.
If Lin is the offensive man of this team and the core of this team, then Andre Miller is the master of this team, he is like a helmsman to help the USS Los Angeles move forward, he is an underrated superstar, and the shortcomings of his long-range shooting ability will be magnified in the playoffs, but despite this, the Clippers need his organization. His offense will be the Clippers' biggest reliance besides Forest.
Tyson Chandler, the team's interior defensive core, his presence is not a simple rebounding or blocking data can be reflected, he is an indispensable presence of the team, although he is sometimes beaten into a sieve by a strong interior line, but Tyson is the kind of player who can make the team better, the Clippers' defensive efficiency ranks first in the league this season, although it is not his own credit, but the decline in the scoring rate given by the statistics is the best praise for him, and the Clippers' rebounding efficiency will increase sharply when he is there, The Brazilian will test him in the playoffs, and Tyson will prove it in his own way. On the offensive end, he's the most efficient scorer in the league, and he's always been the overlooked.
Chauncey Billups, I think the real leader of this team, but I'm here because he's low-key, but he's scary, he's got a big heart, he's got a lot of offensive prowess over the past two seasons, he's just as terrible defensively, even if he's never been named to the All-Defensive Team, he's going to be excited against Andre Miller, and his control of the team isn't something the assists stats show. His extensive playoff experience will be the Nuggets' biggest reliance.
Brazilian Nene, who got rid of injuries, is one of the best centers in the league, with outstanding physical fitness, he has flexible interior movement, but his hot temper is his fatal flaw and can even affect the victory of the whole team, his shooting ability is a little weak, the defense and rebounding statistics are not very good, height will be his biggest disadvantage, although he looks like six feet eleven inches, the actual height is clear to everyone, you must know that Tyson is seven feet one inch.
Kenyon Martin, once the bouncing champion has become the Denver people's interior support, fierce defense and rebounding is one of the sources of the team's victory, no young can fly but practice his excellent mid-range shooting, the offensive range has expanded from the three-second zone to one step inside the three-point line, his interior firepower will help the Brazilian Nene find more inside opportunities.
(2) Bench Matchup:
Wilson Chandler + J.R. Smith + Steve Novak + Mario Chalmers + Roy Hibbert vs Chris Anderson + Anthony Carter + Rina Screza This is almost a suspenseless comparison, the Los Angeles Clippers' strong bench strength has been proven in the regular season, young and impactful is the guarantee of victory for the Clippers, Wilson Chandler from the starter to the bench did not lose confidence because of this, he became the leader of the second team, If it weren't for the lack of bench appearances this season, he would have become the favorite for the best sixth man, J.R. Smith's biggest reliance on the Nuggets bench last season, came to Los Angeles and did not lose his passion because of the reduction in playing time, he is still the scary nerve knife, but this knife is getting sharper and sharper, averaging 2.5 three-point goals per game in the league's fourth, three-point shooting rate as high as 47.3%, Steve Novak This is a tall and large battery, he will make the Nuggets' bench defense more difficult, He found his home in Los Angeles, averaging 8.2 points per game in the regular season, including 6.3 points from three-point shooting, he delivered 172 three-pointers to the Clippers in 82 games, and his 55.7% three-point shooting rate was second only to Lin Fei, a frighteningly efficient shooter, I think all team general managers will close their mouths for once laughing at Nel Olshu for giving 4 years and 12 million, Mario and Roy are gems in the Clippers draft, and they are the main players of the Clippers.
For the Clippers, the lack of experience on the bench may be a big problem, and it remains to be seen whether the regular season boom will continue into the playoffs.
If the Clippers' bench is to be proven, then the Nuggets' bench will be more difficult, Anthony Carter is an indisputable fact, his pace will become slower against young Mario and Goran, Chris Anderson is still the best blocker and still weaves an inside no-fly zone for the Nuggets, but where is his offense? Do you expect his three-point shot to bring 100 percent shooting? Kreza is the Nuggets' biggest reliance on the bench, the Lithuanian can attack and defend, but his speed and movement make it difficult for him to defend, and the offensive end will be warmly welcomed by Wilson.
The competition of the second team often determines the ultimate fate of a team, and the Nuggets are obviously at a disadvantage, which will directly lead to a physical crisis for the main players on the court.
The Los Angeles Clippers won off the bench.
Finally, combined with various evaluations, the Los Angeles Clippers predicted a 4:2 Nuggets.
There is no doubt that the prediction of this column is reasonable and well-founded, and has been agreed by many people, in the voting choices of major media, the final record of the Clippers and Nuggets is 4:2 for 48.8%, 4:1 for the Clippers for 24.7%, as for 4:0 for 7.5%, while the Nuggets win 4:3 for 10.5%, 4:2 for 4.5%, 4:1 for 4.5%, Nuggets 4:0 to sweep the Clippers for 0.5%, from the perspective of fan surveys, the Nuggets are not favored.
The hot spots in the media are not limited to this round of matchups, each group of duels has attracted the attention and participation of countless people, and it seems that the whole world has spent a few days in a war of words.
The last training session before the race was media time, and Tyson Chandler had a lot more reporters in front of him than usual for lap after lap, because Nene who had come to Los Angeles the day before said, "I'm going to take advantage of their weaknesses and I'm going to do everything I can to show my toughness." ”
"Tyson, Hilario said he would show his toughness in front of you, how would you respond to him?"
'I need to do my own thing, I know what I'm here for, I know I'm here to defend. I'm going to protect the basket and get the rebound. I'm going to get extra shots for the team. As for his thoughts, I don't need to comment or want to judge, I just know that if we can play well on both ends of the floor, then the sky is the limit for us. ”
After saying that, Tyson Chandler pushed aside the crowd and walked into the bathroom, the expression on his face was obviously different from when he had just started playoff training, when the Clippers' three interior lines always had worries on their faces, and now they have a relaxed face.
In the hour before the first round of the playoffs, all the verbal battles seemed to have reached **, "Mr. Cameron, this will be your fifth playoff journey and your fifth playoff trip to the league, the first four times you said goodbye in the first round, this time you have made up your mind to fight for the first round, can I understand what you mean by this - this sentence means that you are confident enough to complete the black eight?" ESPN's beautiful reporter Erin Andrews was the first to put the microphone in front of Anthony.
Anthony seems to be a relatively kind person, although he was praised as the next generation of superstars when he first entered the league, but his surname off the court and on the court caused him to be thrown away by James more and more, although Anthony has been able to control his temper well this year, but at this time Andrews is undoubtedly poking his wound, which he will never allow, "Erin, there are always bad times, Tracy and Kevin have been in the first round more times in a row than me, they can break through why can't I?" ”
"Cameron, you mean there's Tracy and Kevin in front of you, so you're not worried that you're going to make it to the second round in seven years, are you? Does saying that upset Tracy and Kevin? Andrews pressed step by step, Anthony felt bad in his heart, it was obvious that he involved Maddie and Garnett, but the superficial kung fu still needed to be done, and replied with a smile: "No, no, what I mean is very simple, that is, as long as people work hard, there will be breakthroughs, and never giving up is the best!" ”
"Lin, do you think you'll win today's game?"
Lin Fei looked at the reporter in front of him and said with a smile: "Why not?" We're just fighting for the win, we're not going to let the fans come back with disappointment, I've got the best team-mates, I've got the best coach, I've got the best fans and I've got the best stadiums, so why shouldn't I win? ”
"Do you have any thoughts on Anthony's Black Eight rhetoric?"
"I don't want to comment because it's an impossible event." After Lin Fei finished speaking, he also pushed aside the reporters around him and walked into the bathroom.
When George Karl was about to walk into the visiting team's locker room, he was stopped by a group of reporters, "George, what do you think of the media's predictions, they analyzed it appropriately, is it really impossible for the Nuggets to achieve the Black Eight Miracle?" ”
"Predictions? There are stupid people who make predictions before every game, I don't know where they come from, I hate things that seem real but are ridiculous, and if the predictions work, I should be in the cold earth now, and you should be standing at my tombstone and praying instead of doing an interview. Lao Shuai is still passionate about fighting cancer, and even used his miracle of fighting cancer to fight back against the media's predictions.
"Charles, there is still half an hour left in the game, you have been fighting on the front line of the Nuggets and the Clippers in the last few days, supporting the Clippers without exception, and now that the game is about to start, are you not going to say something?" Mark Jackson asked with a smile.
"Damn, I don't like to make any pointless comments, you know what I mean, the Clippers will easily sail to their destination instead of staying in the port of Denver." Barkley was indignant.
"Mark, everyone knows that Charles only loves Lin!" The former Van Gundy showed his humorous side.
The first game of the 2008-2009 playoffs officially kicked off in the chatting on the commentary seat, and all the pre-game war of words will be tested in the most real way.
(To be continued)