After the press conference, Big Dream called Barkley to his room.

"Charles, after the season, are you going to stay and renew, or are you leaving?" Big Dream asked very bluntly.

"What about you? Your contract is also over. ”

Barkley glanced at Big Dream and asked rhetorically.

Da Meng didn't think about it at all, and said directly: "I'm leaving." What about you? ”

Barkley also said: "To be honest, Hakim, my body is not good anymore, and I can't bear it with 29 injuries this season. ”

"Brother, you don't want to retire, do you?" Big Dream said in surprise.

Barkley smiled wryly and said: "This is my 13th season, since the second season, I have been 20+10 performances, 20+10 for eleven consecutive seasons, this season is gone, I am struggling, I really don't want to hold on anymore." ”

"Do you really want to retire?"

Da Meng was stunned for a moment, and then persuaded: "Don't be like this, Charles, we don't have a crown in our hands, and it's too shameless to retire like this." ”

"You still want to go to the bulls?"

Barkley asked, looking at Big Dream.

Da Meng shook his head and said: "It's impossible, they have Mutombo, and it's impossible for me to get the basic salary." ”

Buck said in a mocking tone: "Anyway, you've already received an annual salary of 10 million this season, and it's no problem to get a year's final salary for the championship." And my highest annual salary is only $4.76 million, and I don't have any money, and I don't have a championship. ”

"Damn, you earn more from endorsements than I do, and you don't make less money." Big Dream scolded.

Barkley shook his head and said, "Okay, let's not talk about money. What the hell do you think, Hakim? Honestly, don't lie to me. ”

Da Meng sighed, shook his head and said, "I don't want to go to the bulls, they don't have room at all." Are you going to let them trade the newly brought in Mutombo? How is that possible. ”

"I can." Barkley suddenly laughed.

Da Meng was stunned and said in surprise: "You kid, do you really want to join Michael's thigh with a basic salary?" ”

Barkley said in disgust: "What hugging your thighs?" I'm going to play brother basketball. ”

"Damn, don't you hug your thighs yet?"

Da Meng cursed, and suddenly said, "If you go to the bull, I will go and join forces with the postman." ”

"What?"

Barkley was stunned.

Da Meng analyzed: "The postman made a fuss about trading last year, and Mr. Dawson is going to exchange you for his ......"

"What?"

Barkley's eyes widened, I sold tickets to the team with a low salary of millions, and you actually exchanged me for a postman, was my conscience eaten by a dog?

This time, he was even more determined to leave.

Da Meng continued: "The Jazz were swept by the supersonic in the second round last year, and this time they were swept by the supersonic in the second round, what else does the postman have to say?"

His current state should also be at the end of his peak, 34 years old, if he doesn't leave, he will be abandoned in Jazz, and he will be crushed to death by an iron fist. ”

At this point, he and Barkley looked at each other, and there was bad luck in their eyes.

Because the Jazz were swept again, and their strength is at most comparable to the Jazz, it is really possible to be swept by the supersonic in the Western Conference again.

Win, of course they thought about it, but how big the chances were, they knew in their hearts.

The postman was crushed to the west with an iron fist, and why shouldn't they?

Da Meng said: "If I go to a weak team in the East with him, and if I can accommodate our contract, I will definitely be able to directly upgrade to a championship-level team, then there is hope." ”

"How many contracts does the postman have?" Barkley asked.

"11 million for two years, the contract is not big, and the annual salary is about the same as yours." Big Dream said.

"You go to a team, you don't need the east, even in the west, you can beat the supersound. For example, the Trailblazers, they are not bad for money. Barkley said.

"Pioneers?" The big dream is really tempting.

"The Lakers can do it too." Barkley said again.

"Lakers?"

Big dreams are moving again.

……

"Carl, come to the Lakers, you and O'Neal join forces, absolutely invincible."

At this time, in Salt Lake City, Carl Malone welcomed Jerry West, the general manager of the Lakers, who came to visit, on his farm.

"What?"

As soon as he sat down, West's first words touched Carl Malone.

"What did you trade me for?" He couldn't help but ask.

"We're going to trade you for Eddie Jones, and if not, Van Exel." West said.

"So who is left on the Lakers' outside line? The outside line is an iron fist, which is more important than the inside lineup. Karl Malone calmed down.

'We're going to trade and we're going to develop our own defenders. Kobe Bryant is very talented, and he needs more playing time. ”

West has a lot of confidence in Kobe, which is why he used Eddie Jones as a bargaining chip, because he wanted to make room for Kobe.

The postman was silent for a moment, anyway, the Jazz must leave, and it would be good to go to the Lakers.

He would have liked to go to the Bulls, but the Bulls would certainly not have been able to get the right chips, otherwise he would have gone last year and would not have wasted another year in Houston.

"Carl, don't worry, as long as you go, the Lakers will be a championship-caliber team right away," West said.

And you look at the SuperSonics, how bad their injuries have this season, they're going to rebuild in the offseason, and next season we've got our chance. ”

"yes!"

Thinking of several veterans in their thirties on the supersonic team, Karl Malone was a little excited.

"Mr. West, do you think the supersonic will be able to win three consecutive championships this time?" He asked with rather mixed feelings.

The thought that he had never even played in the finals, and that Iron Fist had already won three championships, and that this time he had a better chance of completing the dynasty, his heart fluctuated and he lamented his lack of luck.

Jerry West's mood is actually more complicated than that of the postman, because now he regrets that when the first team in Iron Fist tried out was the Lakers, he regretted it and wanted to slap himself a few times.

Iron Fist was born in UCLA, and the Los Angeles people are recognized as half of the Angelenes, and the first trial team chose the Lakers, of course, he hoped that the Lakers would choose him, but unfortunately he was blind at the time, and he only thought that Iron Fist could fight, and his playing talent was average, so he didn't fancy him.

Later, Iron Fist was forced to leave the Pistons, the Lakers participated in the trade, and also found a relationship between Magic and Sky Hook, but Iron Fist went to the SuperSonics, in his opinion, I am afraid that there are also reasons for dissatisfaction with the Lakers.

Soon after, Jerry West happily left the farm.

He came directly to see the postman this time, instead of his agent, just to take the postman directly, and now he has achieved his goal.

As for the Jazz management, in the case of the postman's intention to leave, as long as his chips are right, there is still a great possibility of a trade.

……

On the 19th, the West Duel began.

For the Western Finals, the media is now generally optimistic about the supersonic promotion, because Mosaic's bench lineup is still very bad and bad.

During the regular season, some media were optimistic that Mosaic would be able to make it out of the West this season, but since entering the playoffs, the superSonics with a neat lineup, coupled with Zhou Quan's efficient state, and the powerful Jazz have been swept away, so there is no media optimistic about Mosaic.

Now the focus of the media discussion on the Western showdown is not who wins or loses, but whether the supersonic speed can sweep the mosaic like last year.

At eight o'clock, the substitutes came out to warm up, and at the same time, the two sides announced the starting lists.

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

Sonics: Leitner, Rodman, Schramf, Jose Hawkins, Zhou Quan

NBC broadcasts the series live across the United States, with James Worthy and John Moore narrating.

At this time, Moore said: "The starting lineup has not changed, and Mosaic still has to rely on the two veterans of Big Dream and Fliggy to fight to the top and help the substitute lineup fill the hole." ”

James Worthy nodded: "The two teams are opposite, Mosaic is the main force to fill the pit for the substitute, the burden of the main force is huge, and the supersonic bench lineup can even fill the pit for the main lineup and reduce the burden on the main team."

In the regular season, Rodman and Schramf were injured, but the bench team was on top, otherwise the SuperSonics would not have been able to play 67 wins, the second in the league. ”

Moore nodded: "It's okay for Tim Hardaway to beat others, but when it comes to Iron Fist, I don't think you can count on it." ”

James Worthy said: "In the four regular season games, Iron Fist faced the Bugs, averaging 30.5 points, 12.5 assists, 5.5 steals, 2.5 blocks, 2 turnovers and 2.5 fouls per game, shooting 52.1 percent from the field, while the Bugs had 13 points, 5.5 assists, 5.8 turnovers and 4.5 fouls, shooting 36.5 percent, the difference is too big. ”

"After the little worm is older, he has lost his speed advantage in front of Iron Fist." Moore said.

At this time, the players are in the tunnel, and the two starters meet.

"Hey, Big Dream, Fliggy, hello. By the way, your contract is coming to an end, are you really not going to come to Seattle? ”

After meeting, Zhou Quan greeted.

Big Dream is too lazy to pay attention to it, the supersonic doesn't even want Mutombo, how can there be room for him? It's absolutely impossible for him to get a low salary, he wants a championship, and he wants a big contract.

Barkley had a hard mouth when he was not in front of Zhou Quan, and he said that he would never come to the supersonics, but in front of Zhou Quan, he was a little hesitant and couldn't say anything if he refused, just like Zhou Quan's reaction when he publicly solicited during the game last season.

This actually represents his heart, although he doesn't want to hug Zhou Quan's thighs, he doesn't want to give up any chance to win the championship.

Of course, this does not mean that he will really come to the supersonic, because he really can't lose that face.

"Iron Fist, don't you want to sweep us." Da Meng stared at Zhou Quan at this time and said.

Zhou Quan smiled dumbly and said in surprise: "Big dream, you didn't even want to win us?" ”

"yes, did we really think about winning?"

Da Meng was stunned, and he and Barkley glanced at each other, and both of them were at a loss in their eyes.

Zhou Quan smiled and comforted: "Actually, it's not to blame you for not having the heart, it's because you have never won against me, you are used to losing to me, and in your heart, you already think that you can't win me." ”

"Damn it!"

Big Dream and Barkley gritted their teeth in anger.

"Haha......"

Zhou Quan and Rodman laughed, and Schramf and the other three also laughed implicitly.

At half past eight, the game began.

Jump ball, mosaic offense.

Tomjanovic arranged a pick-and-roll tactic for the back line to get the ball carrier away from Zhou Quan's defense.

He knew very well that even Jordan had to use this tactic to get rid of Zhou Quan, and the worm had to do this, this was the only way that could be used.

If Zhou Quan doesn't change his defense, then the worm must play the ball as soon as possible, and he must not hold the ball too much in front of Zhou Quan, it will be too dangerous.

The worm ran to catch the ball in the backcourt, then took the initiative to bypass Mario Elie, borrowed his teammate's body to get rid of Zhou Quan, and then accelerated to the frontcourt.

Zhou Quan bypassed Eli and accelerated to chase up, catching up near the halfway line, and blocking the worm when he was outside the three-point line on the right wing.

After a quick stop, the bug passed the ball to Mario Elie at the top of the arc in the middle.

Barkley came up from the low post on the right flank to ask for the ball, Eri passed the ball, and after receiving the ball, Leitner was behind and he started to play with his back.

Lightner's center of gravity was higher, and his tonnage power was smaller, so he couldn't die, and with some small movements, he didn't block Barkley's big ass.

Barkley arched a step outside the right midfield and then rolled over for a jumper that Leitner grabbed for a jumper.

"Bang!"

The basketball smashes the basket and rises.

Under the basket, Rodman competed with Big Dream for position, and in the end, Rodman was in a better position and grabbed this backcourt rebound.

"The defense is misplaced, Mosaic's rebounding is amazing, and George Carr definitely wants to rebound." Zhang said reasonably.

"Olajuwon and Barkley have both continued to decline a little bit from last year, but the rebounding is still very good. Big Dream is averaging 9.2 rebounds per game this season, and Barkley is even better, averaging 13.5 rebounds per game. Xu Ji became a Taoist.

Big Dream didn't grab the offensive rebound, and immediately defended on the spot, stopping Rodman's fast pass and also stifling the supersonic's fast break.

Zhou Quan ran down to catch the ball, and then immediately pushed at full speed.

As soon as he saw the big dream, he had to immediately run to the backcourt with all his might.

"Squeak!"

At the top of the arc, Zhou Quan stopped, and before the worm in front of him grabbed it, he completed the jump.

"Brush!"

There was a splash and a three-point shot.

"Pull-up jumpers? Hit! Zhou Quan shot and hit a three-point shot at the top of the arc! Xu Jicheng shouted excitedly.

"What a crisp shot!" Zhang Li praised.

Xu Jicheng said: "Zhou Quan strengthened his outside jumper in the first two rounds of the series, with a shooting rate of 62.5% in the first round and 56.2% in the second round. ”

"Of course, if the hand doesn't come back, he will definitely focus on breaking through and scoring, and he won't shoot outside." Zhang Li said with a smile.

On the court, when the offense and defense were switching, Zhou Quan and Hawkins forced a scramble in the backcourt, forcing Mosaic to speed up the advancement.

One of the most important things in George Carr's Western Conference strategy is to use the fast-paced offense and defense of the supersound beam to consume the physical energy of Big Dream and Barkley.

Mosaic's bench lineup is not good, the thickness of the lineup is too shallow, and this tactic will further target the weakness of this lineup.

This season's Bulls are very strong, the SuperSonics were killed by the Bulls at home and away, George Carr believes that the Western Conference finals should be ended as soon as possible, and the physical advantage can better deal with the Bulls in the Finals.

Under this tactic, in the 7th minute of the first quarter, Barkley first couldn't hold on and couldn't quickly return to defense.

The speed of the big dream's defense has also slowed down, and the supersonic has formed a situation of playing more and playing less in the front court.

"Brush!"

Zhou Quan played a fast break and assisted Hawkins to make a layup.

"At 11:17, just after half-quarter, the SuperSonics already have a six-point lead at home." Zhang said happily.

Xu Jicheng said: "Zhou Quan made 2 of 3 shots, all of which were outside jump shots, 2 of 2 free throws, and got 7 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 1 steal and 1 block.

Of his three assists, two were on the fast break and only one was on the breakaway in positional battles, and 13 of the SuperSonics' 17 points were directly related to him. ”

(End of chapter)