After leaving Philadelphia, the SuperSonics defeated the Nets at No. 11 and back-to-back losses to the Bucks at No. 12 to achieve an 18-6 record, still second in the West.

At around four o'clock in the afternoon of the 13th, the team returned to Seattle and arrived at the same time as the Mosaic team.

There is a lot of attention in this game, because in the eyes of many media, the Mosaic with a better record is stronger than the supersonics, and the win or loss of this game will confirm this view.

At the request of the media, the Mosaic team held a press conference at the hotel.

"Coach Tomjanovic, so far, the Mosaics have an 18-3 record, first in the West, second in the league, second only to the 20-2 Bulls, 1.5 more wins than the SuperSonics, so for tomorrow night's game, are you confident of beating the SuperSonics?" A reporter from the New York Times asked.

Tomjanovic smiled: "We have a more reasonable squad than in the previous three seasons, and I believe that this season we will have a good record against the SuperSonics." ”

The next question was asked by a Seattle Times reporter, who asked: "Coach Tomjanovic, Mosaic was eliminated by the SuperSonics three times in the Western Conference finals in the past three seasons, and was swept last season, is it because of the extra bug Hardaway, you are so confident?" You must know that Jordan can't guard against Iron Fist. ”

Tim Hardaway's face was a little ugly, he looked at Zhou Quan from the time he got the first Skechers signed sneaker contract, but until today, even Iverson, Kobe Bryant and other rookies have got tens of millions of dollars in sneaker contracts, and he still has not received a signed sneaker contract.

Tomjanovic glanced at Tim Hardaway and said, "Thiem is a very good point guard, he completes the most important piece of our championship puzzle, and I believe he can play admirably against Tekken." ”

"Mr. Hardaway, you've been shooting just 42 percent from the field since '94/95, and you're shooting just 41 percent this season, do you think you can compete with the Iron Fist King?" The reporter immediately turned around and asked.

Hearing this, Tomjanovich couldn't help but clench his fists.

This is exactly what he is worried about, the attack efficiency of the bug is not high enough, and it can even be said that it is very low. Once you face the defense of Iron Fist, there is a high probability that the efficiency will be lower.

He was worried about this, and the big dream and Barkley next to him were also worried about this.

But among the point guards in the league, the bugs are already very good, and the management can't find a better point guard on the three-time All-Star bench.

Tim Hardaway said coldly: "I am against him, at least I haven't suffered a big loss. ”

"Because that's when you've only played against him in the regular season, you've never played against him in the playoffs, he's just playing around in the regular season." The reporter said with a smile.

"Damn journalists!"

Tim Hardaway scolded secretly and said coldly: "Then I hope he can play in the playoffs tomorrow night, and I will never lose to him." ”

"Haha......"

A bunch of local reporters below laughed.

Hearing the laughter that mocked him, Hardaway became a little annoyed, but fortunately, the host confiscated the reporter's microphone and controlled the scene.

"Big Dream, are you still disappointed that you weren't traded to the Bulls?" The next question was asked by a reporter from the Los Angeles Times, who asked a question that made Big Dream very unhappy.

"I proposed the trade because I wanted to put some pressure on management, and I wanted management to strengthen it, and I didn't really want to leave Houston, as I've said a long time ago." Olajuwon said unhappily.

"Do you think Mosaic really has a chance to cross the supersonic mountain this season?" The reporter asked again.

"Of course."

Thinking of being eliminated by the SuperSonics in the Western Final for three consecutive years, it was his nightmare, and the big dream suppressed some of the confusion in his heart and said firmly.

"Charles, you've been off for eight of the first 21 games, can you stay fit for the rest of the fixtures?" The next reporter asked.

"I want to stay healthy."

The body is dying, and Barkley, who has too many injuries, is a little helpless.

"Do you still have expectations for a championship?" The reporter asked again.

Barkley perked up and said with some excitement: "Of course, I hope to reach the Finals this season, we are second in the West now, and we will stick to it." ”

"Do you think Bug can beat the Iron Fist King?" The reporter asked again.

"Iron Fist may have some advantage, but he definitely can't lock our organizational function like he used to, and our advantage on the inside is going to destroy the supersonics, so we have no problem." Barkley said firmly.

14, Seattle Center Coliseum.

At eight o'clock, the two sides announced their starting lineups.

Mosaics: Olajuwon, Barkley, Sammak, Mario Ely, Tim Hardaway

SuperSonics: Kristen Leitner, Rodman, Schramf, Jose Hawkins, Zhou Quan

The game was broadcast live nationwide on ABC television and was narrated by Lewis Williams and Bill Wharton.

At the beginning of the live broadcast, Bill Wharton made an opening remark first, and then went straight to the point, saying: "Now the media is generally optimistic about the Bulls winning the championship, not about the supersonic defense of the title, and even in the West, the media is more optimistic about mosaics than supersounds." Lewis, what do you think? ”

Williams said: "From the analysis of the lineup, the Bulls are indeed stronger than the supersonics, the outside defense is the first in the league, and the interior has more Mutombo, the defensive gate, the Bulls are currently the team that concedes the least points in the league, averaging only 88.5 points per game, while the supersonic is 91.9 points, the Bulls' defense is too strong."

Although the SuperSonics have a few All-Stars, they are all All-Star substitutes except for Tekken, Glider and veteran Cummings.

And the glider is already old, playing as a substitute in supersonic, and there is no all-star strength at the moment. As for Cummings, he's really a veteran.

In fact, in my opinion, except for Rodman, several of the SuperSonics' All-Star benches are just ordinary main player standards, not real All-Stars.

They are just very useful, there are no obvious shortcomings at both ends of the offensive and defensive ends, coupled with the leadership of the leader Iron Fist King, the strength has been bonus, so that this team has won two consecutive championships. ”

"You're also more optimistic about the bulls?" Bill Wharton asked.

Williams nodded: "The Bulls' defense is too strong. ”

Bill Wharton also nodded: "I'm also worried that the SuperSonics will suffer if they meet the Bulls in the Finals, the Bulls' defense is indeed too strong."

If there is still a chance, it can only be an explosive play by Iron Fist on both offensive and defensive ends in a row, and defeat the Bulls by himself. ”

Williams added: "In the West, Mosaic is currently in first place, but I prefer the SuperSonics and Jazz. ”

"Oh, you think the Jazz is better than Mosaic, too?" Bill Wharton said with some surprise.

Williams nodded: "Don't underestimate the Jazz, the Jazz did struggle under the hands of Iron Fist and seemed to be vulnerable, but that was Iron Fist too restrained Stockton, in fact, this team is very mature, very strong, and fully capable of fighting Mosaic."

Mosaic don't look at the big dream and flying pig, and the worm has been strengthened, but Barkley is old and injured, the worm's offensive efficiency is too low, and the bench lineup is not very good, and now it is supported by the big dream alone, in fact, I don't think this team can touch the strong team. ”

Bill Walton nodded: "Big Dream's shooting rate this season is 51%, which is about the same as last season, but the scoring, rebounding, and defensive performance have declined.

However, I think Big Dream is staying strong, and like Iron Fist this season, his goal is to make the playoffs, and he won't be too strong in the regular season. ”

Williams laughed: "That's for sure, Big Dream has always been better in the playoffs than in the regular season, and that's different from Barkley. ”

"Haha......" Bill Wharton laughed.

Williams added: "The goal of the superSonics this season is to win three consecutive championships, and no one wants to see them succeed, so whoever touches the supersonic now will play with all their strength and want to step on the supersonics."

SuperSonics and Iron Fist are right, accumulating strength in the regular season and going all out in the playoffs is more conducive to hitting a three-peat.

It's just that the media doesn't seem to see this, and they still think that Iron Fist is a distraction from boxing, which makes it impossible to practice in the offseason, which ultimately affects their own form and affects the team's record. ”

Bill Wharton laughed: "So far, Tekken is averaging 28.5 points per game and shooting 50.3 percent from the field, which is down from last season, but slightly up from last month. Jordan, on the other hand, scored 29.8 points and shot 48.6 percent from the field, both down from last season. ”

Williams laughed: "I'm curious to know now that Iron Fist doesn't plan to compete for MVP this season, but I don't know if he has any ideas for the title of defending scoring champion." ”

"The gap is not too big, and Tekken has a good chance." Bill Wharton said.

In the tunnel of the players, the two teams met at the starters.

"The new Big Three, haha!" Zhou Quan smiled teasingly.

"Aren't you also half an All-Star team?" Barkley sneered.

Zhou Quan looked left and right at a few teammates and smiled: "I very much hope that every one of my teammates can be selected as an All-Star." ”

He then said to Tim Hardaway: "Bug, you said you wanted me to play at playoff level, sorry, I really can't. ”

"What do you mean?"

Tim Hardaway asked angrily and puzzled, not knowing why.

Zhou Quan laughed again, but did not answer the question.

Rodman next to him said with a grin: "I'll answer Iron Fist, he thinks you are not qualified for him to play at his full strength." ”

"Poof!"

Schramf laughed.

"Bastard!"

Hearing this, Tim Hadaway was so angry that he was about to vomit blood, and his fierce eyes swept back and forth over Zhou Quan and Rodman's faces.

The visitors started the game, and the glider took the initiative to come up and greet Big Dream, who also sent a hug to Big Dream.

"Hakim, Charles, hopefully our desire to win the title will come true." The glider said sincerely.

"So do we." The two of them nodded.

At half past eight, the game officially began.

Jump ball, mosaic offense.

Behind the middle line, Xiao Worm holds the ball, and in the face of Zhou Quan's defense, he immediately opens his best change of direction breakthrough.

With the ball in his right hand, he quickly takes a step to the left with his left foot, then changes hands under his crotch and makes a breakthrough from the left side.

At this time, the average defender will be shaken to the left by him, and then he can change hands again and break through from the right side.

But is Zhou Quan an average defender? Of course not, Zhou Quan is not only not, but arguably one of the strongest defenders in the history of the league.

And when he first entered the alliance, he suffered a little loss from Xiao Worm, so he has studied a lot of Xiao Worm and knows very well the breakthrough technology that Xiao Worm is best at.

This season, the Bugs have performed well, and although their shooting percentage has dropped further, their average points per game have increased to 20 points, which is higher than Barkley's and the second scoring point of the Mosaic team.

He shot 34.4 percent from three-point range and averaged 2.5 of 7.3 shots per game, compared to 4.7 three-pointers per game last season.

Obviously, this season's Bugs have reduced their breakouts and increased their three-point shots, which is one of the reasons why the Bugs' shooting percentage has declined.

The reason for the increase of three points is that the age has reached 30 years old, the physical fitness is declining, and the breakthrough ability is not as strong as before, and the second is the injury reason.

Zhou Quan has analyzed small insects, so he knows all about them.

When the bug made the move to break through from the left side, his right foot immediately moved a small step to the right.

The next moment, Xiao Worm saw that Zhou Quan was shaken, and immediately changed hands to dribble, changing direction and starting to break through from the right side.

But just as he changed direction, Zhou Quan's right foot, which was moving to the right, had already moved one step sideways from behind his left foot, and then his left foot moved another step to the left, blocking in front of him.

"Bang!"

The next moment, he hit Zhou Quan's body headfirst, and at 79 kilograms, he couldn't stand at all, and under the rebound, he sat on the floor with his butt, and the ball was out of control.

"Oh!"

The audience burst into cheers.

"The Iron Fist King breaks the ball! He's getting down soon......"

Henem Chrisman, the on-site commentator, shouted excitedly.

On the field, Zhou Quan picked up the ball on the floor and killed it in the front court.

"Bang!"

A powerful slash detonated the central gymnasium.

Bill Wharton laughed: "Iron Fist gained weight for boxing, that's what he admitted, but I don't seem to see the tonnage increase bothering him, he's still so fast, he's still jumping so high, he's still so agile." ”

Williams laughed, "That's talent. Just like the big shark O'Neill, he weighs almost 140 kilograms, and he can still run and jump. ”

Bill Wharton laughed: "The big shark has gained weight, we can still see that he is not as fast and able to jump as before, and the defensive area is further confined to the penalty area, and he can't defend it."

But Iron Fist, I really don't see any dip in his athleticism. Lewis, can you see that? ”

Williams shrugged, "I can't see it either." ”

In the fourth minute of the first quarter, after Zhou Quan made a second steal and scored on a counterattack, at 4:10, the SuperSonics had a six-point lead, and Tomjanovic called the first timeout.

(End of chapter)