Chapter 94: Attacking the Pistons

Leaving November, the Warriors' good days are over, their schedule is still the same, but the quality of the opponents is different, and their road trip will start from this month, and there will be no shortage of back-to-back games, such as this time against the Spurs and Pistons.

The planes took off from San Antonio and flew straight to Detroit International Airport, where they will face off for the first time against the former Eastern powerhouse in Motor City.

Since the beginning of the 21st century, the Pistons have become a tough Eastern Conference powerhouse, and the reason for all this came from a trade: the Pistons traded Grant Hill, perhaps the most charismatic star in franchise history, to the Magic, and then acquired Ben Wallace as a coolie insider.

It was the arrival of Ben Wallace, a coolie insider, that completely made the Pistons popular, and with this iron-blooded tough guy sitting on the inside, Auburn Hills Palace became the most difficult court for the other 29 teams in the league to attack. Big Ben has made up a five-man Tigers with Billups, Hamilton, Prince and Rasheed Wallace to ensure the Pistons remain a strong contender for the league's top team.

Unfortunately, in 2006, Ben Wallace had a conflict with Pistons new coach Saunders and left the team that made him famous for the Chicago Bulls. No one expected that this was a lose-lose start, and the Pistons uniform team underestimated Big Ben's role for the team, and Big Ben also overestimated its ability to fight out of the Pistons system.

The loss of Big Ben reduced the Pistons last season, and although they signed Nazr Mohammed to fill the void left by Ben Wallace on the inside, they lost five of their first eight games since the start of the season, setting a record for their worst start in nearly a decade.

Although Billups and others were united in winning eight games in a row in the second half of November, around the New Year, when the Pistons were in trouble again in a hand-to-hand battle to storm the playoffs, Mohammed could not live up to the team's expectations.

The Pistons' uniform team moved quickly, signing one-time ace forward Chris Webb, who had just been cut by the Philadelphia 76ers, on Jan. 17. The deal was considered one of the best moves in the league last season, and Webber's signing helped both rejuvenate himself and improve the Pistons' performance.

Perhaps motivated again by playing for his hometown team, University of Michigan-educated Webb made up for the Pistons' much-needed rebounding ability, averaging six per game. 7 pcs. The Pistons finished strongly, going 28-11 in the last 39 games and having a best record in the Eastern Conference at 53-29.

In the playoffs, the Pistons continued to be hot, winning four games in a row and sweeping the Orlando Magic. In the second round against Ben Wallace and the Chicago Bulls, the Pistons showed no mercy, and Saunders, in revenge for Big Ben's defection, led the team to three consecutive wins to take a 3-0 lead, trying to sweep the opponent again to humiliate Big Ben.

However, their attempt to sweep their opponent in the second round in a row was unsuccessful, and the Bulls won the fourth game comfortably, 102-87. The Bulls then relied on Ben Gordon's 28 points to scorch the Pistons from the outside, 108-92 to win Game 5. In Game 6, the Pistons' defense responded and won 95-85 in Chicago.

Judging from the record, the Pistons still seem to be the invincible No. 1 team in the East, but when the Eastern Conference Finals begin, when the truly brutal knockout game begins, the Pistons can't bear it.

Facing the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Pistons got off to a strong start, winning two straight games at home with two identical scores, 79-76. However, after arriving in Cleveland, LeBron James began to take over the game, losing Ben Wallace, and the Pistons lost the only person who could clamp down on the little emperor, and the Cavaliers won two games in a row under the leadership of the little emperor to tie the score at 2-2. Returning to Auburn Hills Palace in Game 5, the Pistons and Cavaliers were neck and neck, playing two overtimes in a row, and LeBron became the star of the game, scoring the team's best 25 points to lead the Cavaliers to a 109-107 victory over the Pistons. James stepped up in Game 6, and the Cavaliers won 98-82, ending the hope of revenge between the Pistons and the San Antonio Spurs in the Finals.

The Pistons are still a hot team, but no one thinks they're a championship team anymore, even if they're still impressive this season.

This season has a special meaning for the Pistons because it is their 60th anniversary season, the Pistons were founded in 1941, but they joined the NBA in 1948 and are now about to enter 2008, and this season is the Pistons' team celebration.

So far, the Pistons have a strong record, finishing in second place in the Eastern Conference fifteen-team standings just behind the Greenshirts, the most watched team of the season, with an 11-4 record.

The outside world is not optimistic about the Warriors in this game, not because the latter is not strong enough, but because of the event arrangement, the Warriors have played back-to-back with two top teams in the league in a row, which is too intense, and it is impossible to win two games in a row, even the Celtics, who are now recognized as the number one strongest team in the league, cannot do it, and must give up one game to keep one.

Judging from the wonderful match between the Warriors and the Spurs, they did their best in the last game, so the problem is simple, and it is obvious that the old Nelson is ready to give up the game against the Pistons to concentrate on the Spurs, but the Warriors unfortunately lost.

Originally, Chamberlain thought that he was enough to be annoyed in San Antonio, but when the Pistons walked into the Auburn Hills Palace, he realized how gentle the Spurs fans were to him in the last game.

The reason for all this is clear to those present, naturally because of the Auburn Hills palace brawl that shocked the world basketball world a few years ago, Jackson is the protagonist of it, and it is precisely because of that war that he became famous at home and abroad, and gained the extraordinary nickname of martial saint in the Chinese basketball world.

Chamberlain thought that time would dilute all hatred, but after watching the Pistons fans today, he realized that hatred, like friendship, can last forever. In the same way, Jackson's dislike for this team is no worse than the fans' dislike for him, he grabbed Chamberlain before entering the stadium, gritted his teeth and said: "Z, for the sake of my brothers, I must do my best in today's game, I must clean up the damn Detroit hooligans, I must kill them!" ”

The fans were already screaming outside, and the sound penetrated the tunnel to surround the Warriors players, and Chamberlain frowned and asked loudly, "What did you say?" I can't hear clearly! ”

Jackson raised his fist and yelled, "I said I had to do my best in today's game, I had to clean up the damn Detroit hooligans, I had to kill them!" ”

"What the hell are you talking about? I can't hear clearly, louder! Chamberlain yelled in the same way.

Jackson glared at him like a mad cow and shouted, "I said I lent you $10,000, when will you pay me back?" ”

Chamberlain immediately became furious: "Shit, when did I borrow your money?" ”

Barnes, Harrington and the others laughed, and Jackson came up and pinched Chamberlain's neck, and the team's originally tense and depressing atmosphere became much more relaxed.

Maybe because of Jackson, the Pistons players didn't look at the Warriors players after they entered, according to the normal process, it should be the home team stars who came to greet the away team stars, although they are opponents on the court, and many people are friends off the court.

But now it seems that the Warriors and Pistons players are not only opponents on the court, but also enemies off the court. In addition to the Pistons, the same is true for the Warriors and Jazz.

The Pistons' main lineup is: center Antonio McDyce, power forward Rasheed Wallace, small forward Prince, playmaking guard Billups, and shooting guard Hamilton.

The Warriors' lineup has changed dramatically from before: center Chamberlain, power forward Harrington, small forward Barnes, playmaking guard Azubuuk, and shooting guard Jackson.

Seeing that old Nelson sent this lineup, Chamberlain grinned, what the fuck is the old man going to do, isn't this obviously trying to fight with the Pistons? Looking at these five people on the court, except for him, the four most thorny people of the Warriors are all on the court, so it's strange that they can't fight with the Pistons.

The old Nelson old god was like this, arranged a tactical and asked Chamberlain to enter the interior guard to pass the ball to Chamberlain, and then sorted out his suit and sat down to watch the game.

Now the elder Nelson can also follow the example of Zen master Phil Jackson, saying that having a superstar to direct the game is simple.

Chamberlain and McDyce jumped the ball and took advantage of their excellent bounce speed and bounce to take advantage of the opportunity and give the racket to Azubuuk.

In the face of Billups' defense, Azubuuk did not play tricks, dribbled the ball to the front court in a decent manner, and passed to Jackson.

Jackson didn't attack after holding the ball, but first glanced at Hamilton with a tigerish eye, and the masked man was unmoved, and glanced back at the martial saint expressionlessly, concentrating on going up to defend.

Jackson's choice in this regard is always to turn around and pout his ass and hit his back.

Hamilton hurriedly lowered his center of gravity, but a dark shadow descended, Chamberlain rushed out of the penalty area and raised the high post to block the Masked Man, Jackson saw that he had deceived his opponent, turned and stepped forward, and simply slapped the ball to the inside.

Prince let go of Barnes to defend Jackson, who saw him come up, shook his shoulder vigorously, and the ball in his left hand jumped on the floor to his right hand, still going inside with all his might. McDyes's face was gloomy and he hurriedly packed it from the side, and Jackson did not hesitate to pass the ball to Oxlade-Chamberlain, who had entered the box from the middle.

Prince and McDyston were in a hurry, let go of Jackson and went to intercept Chamberlain, who got the ball and drugged a shot to make a layup, attracting Prince and McDyce, and threw the ball directly behind him without looking.

Jackson vacated, received the ball and rushed to the basket in two big strides, jumping and dunking!