At this time, McCloskey stared at Zhou Quan and asked, "Iron Fist, do you have the confidence to be like Isaiah?" ”

Zhou Quan took a deep breath and nodded firmly: "I won't copy him, but I definitely believe that I can do my best." ”

"Copy? Best? ”

McCloskey muttered and nodded.

Chuck Daly and Joe Dumas were a little skeptical, they believed that Zhou Quan had potential, but to do his best, that is, to be stronger than Isaiah, how could that be?

And Thomas's eyes flashed with a trace of disdain, he can reconcile with Zhou Quan, he can give up his core identity and give up the main position, but this is all out of helplessness, so that he now admits that Zhou Quan will be stronger than him, and it is absolutely impossible.

This is his pride, whether it is Larry Bird or Magic Johnson, or the flying Jordan, they have all wailed and retreated under his men, this qualification makes him never easily admit that anyone is stronger than him, let alone a rookie who is nothing now.

McCloskey then said: "Zhou, from today onwards, your playing time will be adjusted to 35 minutes, you are a rookie, you are likely to run into the rookie wall, we have to prepare for this." ”

“OK。”

Zhou Quan nodded.

Fitness is one reason, the second reason is that Thomas is back, he can play 35 minutes, which is already good, and apart from him, Joe Dumas and the others will definitely have to get some time out as well.

McCloskey added: "Also, I want you to keep your shots averaging 15 per game. ”

"Fifteen times?"

Zhou Quan was in good spirits.

Since last season, Joe Dumas has been the Pistons' No. 1 scoring point, averaging 16.2 shots per game, Thomas is 13.9, this season Joe Dumas is still 16.2 times, Thomas is on the bench, shots should not increase, and may decrease, and now he has 15 shots, and will become the second most shots by the Pistons.

This is also a kind of pressure, if his offensive efficiency is too low, so many shots, it means that the team's overall offensive efficiency will be seriously affected.

Seeing Zhou Quan's expression calmed down, McCloskey smiled and said: "Zhou, don't put pressure on yourself, I just said, at least take out two seasons to cultivate Ling, you can rest assured." ”

"Okay."

Zhou Quan nodded firmly.

The attitude of the Pistons management is worth his stay, and it is also worth his full effort to fight for the Pistons.

Chuck Daley added: "In terms of record, it's better to make the playoffs, and without playoff grind, it's not really grinding, and no one will go all out against you in the regular season." ”

Everyone nodded, and so did Zhou Quan.

His debut was against Jordan and he played well against Jordan, but did Jordan really try his best to defend him? Not necessarily.

McCloskey concluded: "In the latest rookie list, you're third behind Larry Johnson and Mutombo, both of whom are averaging double-doubles per game, and I want you to stay third in your rookie season and try to get on the rookie first team." ”

"I see." He nodded.

At half past seven, the two sides announced their starting lineups.

Pistons: John Cely, Dennis Rodman, Orlando Ulrich, Joe Dumas, Zhou Quan.

Knicks: Ewing, Charles Oakley, McDaniel, Gerard Wilkins, Mark Jackson

The game was broadcast live across the United States on ABC television.

Commentator Rantis Opp said with a regretful expression: "It's really a shame and a shame that the smiling assassin is back on the bench and not temporarily. This is the end of a generation of superstars.

In fact, he is not old, he still has a lot of quality, and he can be the main point guard on any team. ”

Partner Lewis Williams nodded: "The Pistons rebuilt early, it's not sure if it's good or bad now, although Iron Fist's performance is good, he is not the kind of young man who is full of talent, his future is not certain in my opinion, I think the Pistons management is too optimistic about him, and rebuilding early is not the right decision." ”

"But the return of the Smiling Assassins will greatly flesh out the bench and will give the Pistons the strength to make the playoffs again," Op said. ”

"The Knicks had a good record of 8-5 and a 61.5 percent win rate, ranking fifth in the East," Williams said. The Bulls are at the top of the league with a 12-2 record. The Pistons are currently 6-9 with a win rate of only 40%, and if the Pistons want to finish in the top eight, even if the Smiling Assassin returns, it will still be very difficult. ”

Op analyzed: "The current eighth place in the East is the Heat, with a win rate of 47%, and now the East is strong and the West is weak, and it is indeed difficult for the Pistons to enter the playoffs."

In particular, letting Thomas withdraw from the main lineup, although it can increase the strength of the substitute lineup, the strength of the main lineup has not been restored, and Thomas cannot play his full strength in the bench lineup. ”

At eight o'clock, the game officially began.

Zhou Quan once again played against big-ass point guard Mark Jackson.

From the beginning, he frequently switched to the low post on the left wing and singled Jackson.

After he tasted the benefits of low singles, he reduced the number of bursts.

His breakthrough speed is average, and he can easily be caught when he breaks in, and although he can pass some good balls inside, most of the time, the effect is not very good, and it is better to play singles at both ends of the low post.

But today Pat Riley was not polite, and from the beginning asked the nearby players to wrap up Zhou Quan in the low singles.

With four minutes left in the first quarter, the Pistons trailed by four points at 22:26, and then the Pistons took the lead in the substitution round.

Zhou Quan was replaced by the Smiling Assassin.

In the first eight minutes, he made 1 of 3 shots and 2 of 2 free throws, and got 4 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, 1 block and 1 foul.

On the ABC commentary bench, Williams analyzed: "Iron Fist has a total of eight singles with the ball, three on the outside, five in the low post, half of them are playing by themselves, the individual offensive efficiency is not good, half of the passes, the assist rate is okay, the eight balls are successfully held four times, and the team's offensive efficiency is barely okay overall." The Knicks played really well today and the Pistons were good. ”

"Iron Fist was caught five of his eight holds, one of the five was fouled, the remaining four were passes, and none of them were shots in the bag," Op analyzed.

This data shows that he does not have the courage to shoot in the bag, and it also shows that his current offensive ability with the ball is not good, and he does not have the confidence to shoot in the bag.

Once again, I don't support the decision to put the Smiling Assassins on the bench, and Iron Fist can't actually support the Pistons right now.

The Pistons were able to make it to the Eastern Conference finals last season, and if they keep this lineup, I think it will be difficult to make the playoffs this season. ”