ABC TV gave its own stats, believing that the SuperSonics have only a 21% chance of completing a three-peat.

And the TV station also made a championship probability prediction data for the Bulls, 38%, far ahead of the defending champion SuperSonics.

Such a prediction is the attitude of most media.

In other words, in the face of the Bulls' strong lineup, most media are not optimistic about the SuperSonics completing the three consecutive championships, and are even more optimistic about the Bulls winning the championship.

Magic Johnson said in an interview with the media: "Although supersonic has strengthened Drexler, the glider is no longer as strong as it used to be, and his efficiency has dropped significantly."

And Leitner's style of play is also very soft, he can never beat Mutombo in the low post, as a center, he can only be a battery on the outside, unable to provide high-quality low post and basket offense for the SuperSonics.

Everyone knows that the reason why the '94 Finals SuperSonics lost to the Bulls was because they didn't have a high-quality low post and under-the-basket offense, so they traded Sam Perkins.

But now, not only have they brought in Perkins, they've brought in another big 'Perkins', and I don't know what kind of team building idea this is, does the management think that Leitner and Perkins can beat Mutombo?

This kind of behavior is a kind of self-denial, they negate the idea of building the interior line in the first two seasons, but on the contrary, the first two seasons allowed the SuperSonics to win two championships.

And now they themselves have overturned their correct way of thinking and chose to go back to the wrong way of thinking in the past, and this is the most important reason why I am not optimistic about the supersonic defense. ”

On the 25th, the CCTV team rushed to Seattle.

or Zhang Li and Xu Jicheng, as well as three newcomers, Wang Dong, the assistant of statistics, as well as the cameraman Zhang Wu and the assistant Qi Bin.

On the 27th, the league held a press conference to announce the national live broadcasts of several major TV broadcasters.

Following last season, the SuperSonics continue to hold the top spot, and like last season, another 41 national live broadcasts, exactly half.

The Bulls are at 40, one more than last season.

The two teams remain the favourites in the league and are the favourites of TV broadcasters.

David Stern said at a press conference: "I don't think this season's regular season, the SuperSonics will have the ratings that were super hot at the start of last season.

But I'm also sure that the SuperSonics ratings will be very good, and the success of Iron Fist's World Champion defense will continue to attract a lot of attention, and some of them will choose to tune in to watch the SuperSonic.

I just hope that the attention of this part of the population is not all on the SuperSonics and the Iron Fist, the entire NBA deserves their attention. ”

It also won the league's first live broadcast in the United States, which means a huge exposure opportunity, and the team management, players, and sponsors are very happy.

In order to promote it, his sponsors hung his large-scale advertising photos in large and medium-sized cities all over the world, and countless TV stations broadcast his advertisements.

And in Seattle, no matter which street you go, you can see a large advertising photo of him.

On October 28, 96, it was the new season media day of the SuperSonics.

All the players arrived early in the morning, and the team invited a professional photographer to take promotional photos, which lasted for two hours before it ended, and it was almost 11 o'clock before entering the media session.

There are a lot of media coming, more than 60 percent of the overseas media are coming for the Iron Fist, and there are more than 30 domestic media reporters, a significant increase over last year, with a total of more than 200 media, plus photographers, there are more than 350 people, and the news hall that can accommodate several hundred people is crowded.

"Click, click, click......"

After Zhou Quan and the others came out, the shutter sound kept ringing, and the flash lights lit up.

When it came to the media question-and-answer session, the host first chose the local media Seattle Times, which is also a supersonic reporter.

The reporter asked: "Iron Fist, Mosaic has strengthened the No. 1 position, do you think the addition of All-Star point guard Tim Hardaway can make Mosaic our strongest opponent in the West?" ”

Zhou Quan smiled: "The Jazz and Mosaic should be our strongest opponents in the West in the new season, followed by the Lakers with big sharks, and as for the strongest opponents, it is most likely that Mosaic is indeed the most powerful opponent." ”

The reporter immediately asked: "So is it possible for Mosaic to prevent us from reaching the finals?" ”

Zhou Quan said: "The strength of Mosaic has definitely risen significantly, and the addition of Worm can provide the team with consistent scoring, organization and breakthrough ability.

Of course, if Mosaic faces us, I personally don't think it can't, I believe I can limit the worm, Mosaic's strength has not been strengthened enough to kill us. ”

The next reporter to ask a question was from the Seattle Post, who asked, "Iron Fist, the Bulls have strengthened Mutombo, do you think Mutombo is the final piece of the puzzle for the Bulls to storm the championship?" ”

Zhou Quan's attitude was more cautious, the smile on his face faded, and he said quite seriously: "At least that's what the Bulls think, the Bulls have been lacking a strong center for so many years, and Mutombo is the one they need the most."

Mutombo and I were in the same year, and he was a very strong guy, and I remember there was a series where he averaged over six blocks per game, and it was horrible basket protection. ”

"So do you think we can beat the bulls again?" The reporter asked again.

Zhou Quan said: "The management has made targeted reinforcements because of the reinforcement of the bull, but the specific situation depends on the actual combat effect.

But we are still full of confidence in the future, and Mutombo has weaknesses, and with his bulls, they also have their weaknesses.

Our own lineup is also good, with rebounding, defense, offense, organization, very average, almost no shortcomings.

If we insist on saying that there are shortcomings, then we don't have strong offensive ability in the low post and under the basket, which is our shortcoming.

But last season we had the same shortcomings, but we swept away the mosaic of the super interior of Big Dream and Barkley, which shows that we can deal with teams with strong interior lines, so our shortcomings are not so easy to grasp, and we have experience in this area. ”

The third question was asked by Zhang Lili, who asked happily: "Zhou Quan, I don't have time to practice basketball in the offseason, and now I haven't been back to training for a long time, so it's okay in the regular season, right?" ”

Zhou Quan said with a smile: "There is no big problem, but I still need a while to recover." ”

"Will it affect the regular season record?" Zhang Lili asked again.

'It's possible, but our only goal this season is to defend the title, and as long as it doesn't affect that goal, then it's no problem.' Zhou Quan said.

The fourth question was asked by the New York Times, and the moderator couldn't keep asking questions from the local media.

The reporter took the microphone and immediately asked: "Iron Fist King, your second World Champion defense should be next offseason, so will the opponent be Michael Tyson?" ”

In the media click-click photo, Zhou Quan was shaken by the flash and blinked, and then replied: "Let me explain first, this is a supersonic media day, not my personal press conference, so I will only answer this question that has nothing to do with supersonic and the NBA." Sorry, I'm not sure who I'm defending my title for the second time at the moment. ”

The third reporter to ask a question, a reporter from the Los Angeles Times, asked: "Iron Fist, do you think it will be more difficult for the SuperSonics to complete a treble than to defend the title last season?" ”

Zhou Quan nodded: "That's for sure, both the Bulls and Mosaic are stronger than last season." Even in the West, apart from Mosaic, the Jazz and Lakers will be stronger than last season, and we will face more resistance. ”

"At the moment, most media are not optimistic about the supersonic to defend their triple title, what do you think?" The reporter asked.

Zhou Quan pondered for a moment and said: "I understand the media's opinion, after all, the Bulls have strengthened the center position that they have been lacking.

But as I said earlier, our squad is not weak, otherwise we would not have been able to complete the two consecutive championships, so we are full of confidence in the future, we are still full of desire and pursuit of championships, and we are still full of fighting spirit.

If the Bulls are the biggest obstacle in our way to a third straight championship, then we have only one option, which is to knock it down, take it out, and then climb to the championship. ”

"Bang Bang Bang ......"

All the local media and some of the out-of-town media applauded.

This day is also the Bulls' media day, and the media hall at the Bulls' headquarters is also crowded with people at this time, although not as many as supersounds, but there are hundreds of people.

"Click, click, click......"

Jordan is standing in the middle, Pippen on the left, Mutombo on the right, the media is taking pictures, and it can be seen that he is in a very good mood because his face is full of smiles.

Entering the Q&A session, the first to ask was the Chicago Daily News, a local media outlet, who asked, "Michael, with Deacon Bombey Mutombo, do you think the chances of a championship this season are higher than last season?" ”

"We are very confident about the future." Without hesitation, Jordan immediately said with a smile.

"Do you think you can beat the hypersonics?" The reporter asked.

"Of course, the addition of Deacon Bay makes up for our biggest shortcoming, and we will be a supersonic nightmare." Jordan said.

The next reporter to ask a question was the Washington Post, who asked: "Michael, the SuperSonics brought in your teammate Leitner on the Dream Team and got Sam Perkins back, and the SuperSonics obviously want to play inside and pull out, do you think this configuration is targeted for the Bulls and Mutombo?" ”

The smile on Jordan's face narrowed a little, but he still smiled: "If the superSonic's interior line is pulled out, I believe our outside defense can lock them up." ”

Phil Jackson nodded, if Leitner wants to pull Mutombo out, the Bulls have Pippen, Jordan, and Ron Harper on the outside, the three major defenders, plus a strong rotation speed and defensive system, can solve this problem.

"Deacon Bey, I heard that the SuperSonics have also recruited you, why did you turn them down?" The next reporter to ask a question asked.

"Oh, they did contact my agent, but they didn't talk about it." Mutombo said.

"Is the contract unsatisfactory?" The reporter asked.

"They don't have room at all, I've heard that they have several major contract renewals, and their annual salaries are in the millions. If you want to sign me, you have to trade at least one main player and one or two major rotation players. Their management opted for a more balanced lineup and stopped contacting me. Mutopom said.

"Deacon Bay, do you think you can help the Bulls beat the SuperSonics and win the championship?" The next reporter to ask a question asked.

Mutombo hesitated for a moment and said, "I think it's okay, we should have that kind of strength." Michael, Scotty, they're all people to rely on, they're all superstars. ”

"Do you think the Bulls belong to the superstar huddle?" The reporter's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he immediately asked.

Mutombo immediately shook his head and said: "Scottie grew up with the Bulls, and I am a free man, the Bulls have offered me a contract that satisfies me, and I am also optimistic about the future of the Bulls, so this is not a huddle."

None of us forced our old team to trade us to the Bulls, that's huddle, we're not. ”

"Michael, now the Bulls have a real Big Three, do you admit it?" The next reporter asked.

Jordan certainly wouldn't object, and the objection would only mean that he didn't think Mutombo was a superstar, so he said: "You can say that, but we only agree with the Iron Triangle. ”

"Scotty, do you think you're the second or third leader of the team right now? In terms of annual salary and contract, Mutombo is more like a second-in-command. The next reporter to ask a question asked.

Pippen's face darkened a little, and he cursed in his heart that the reporter who asked the question came home to find another man lying on his bed.

Mutombo is an honest man, and when he saw Pippen's ugly face, he hurriedly said: "In the Bulls' locker room, Michael and Scotty are the leaders." ”

This sentence made Pippen's face suddenly better, and it was more pleasing to look at Mutombo.

It's just that the other Bulls players are slandering in their hearts, Mutombo can really speak, but when will the Bulls have two leaders, Jordan can make Pippen shut his mouth with a look.

On the morning of the 29th, Houston, Mosaic's Media Day.

"Hakim, are you happy with the lineup now?" A reporter from the Houston Chronicle asked.

"Our number two and number three positions should continue to strengthen, we still have space. With Clyde gone, we had a lot of space. Big Dream said immediately.

As far as he knew, the damned boss Alexander didn't want to use that middle-class regulation at all, and he didn't even want to fill the existing space, which made him very unhappy, and he wanted to save money everywhere, and said that it was to reserve space for the renewal of Barkley's contract.

"Then do you think the new season can beat the SuperSonics?" The reporter asked.

Big Dream said with some excitement: "I know they found Leitner, but it didn't work, it was a configuration against Mutombo."

If the SuperSonics want to use Leitner against us, Charles can knock him over with a single ass, and he did that when the Dream Team was training, Leitner was knocked on all fours. And Barkley can also follow him, it's useless for him to pull out, he is not as good as O'Neal with an arm.

And we now have a bug in the number one position, he's great, his speed is even faster than Iron Fist, his breakthrough is very fast, I don't believe Iron Fist can guard against him, his record against Iron Fist has always been good.

As long as the bugs aren't locked up, our offense can be played, our interior lineup is restrained by the SuperSonics, and we win this season. ”

"Charles, Hakim, Glider left you and chose to join the Hypersonics, who do you think of the three of you who has a chance to win the championship earlier?" The next reporter asked.

"Haha......"

Many reporters were happy when they heard this question.

(End of chapter)