vncnus Chapter 375 A tiger fallen into the plains may not necessarily be bullied by dogs, but it will defin
Chapter 375 A tiger fallen into the plains may not necessarily be bullied by dogs, but it will defin
After the timeout, Brown indeed left the court and did not return to the game for the rest of the night.
The top scorer's debut has come to an end!
His stats tonight were an incredibly poor 0 points, 3 rebounds, 1 block, and 3 turnovers!
Let alone the number one draft pick, any rookie drafted at any point would have a disastrous debut if they put up these numbers.
As for the game between the Wizards and the Pacers, the Pacers led by as many as 20 points at the end of the first half. In the third quarter, Hamilton had a breakout performance, hitting several shots from mid-range and long range, which once narrowed the gap to 13 points.
But then, the Wizards' offense went cold.
Logically, this should be the time for the team leader, Jordan, who had a stellar first half with 15 points, to step up and take over the offensive firepower, leading the team to continue narrowing the score gap.
But Jordan clearly couldn't keep up at this point!
Christie's defense against him was no different than before, but his success rate plummeted.
After Jordan missed several shots after receiving the ball in the back of the basket, the point difference between the two sides once again exceeded 20 points!
Everyone could see that it wasn't that Christie's defense had improved, nor that the Pacers had implemented any specific defensive strategy.
Simply put, Jordan couldn't make his shots anymore. His stamina was clearly declining, and his movements were noticeably less smooth and fluid than before. Even his jumping height was significantly lower than in the first half.
Jordan's shooting percentage also plummeted from 7 of 14 in the first half to 8 of 20 at the end of the third quarter!
At this point, the score was 55:78!
The Pacers built a 23-point lead in just three quarters!
In the fourth quarter, in an effort to turn the tide, Jordan once again returned to the court early, hoping to change the score gap with a few shots.
Unfortunately, he clearly no longer has the ability to score anytime, anywhere, and to find his rhythm anytime, anywhere!
Although he made some shots and drew fouls to get to the free-throw line in the fourth quarter, his overall efficiency was still not very good.
在第四节打了6分钟之后，乔丹的命中率变成了24投10中，罚球6罚5中，拿到了25分5篮板2助攻的数据。
As for the Wizards, they are now down by 25 points!
These statistics might be considered decent for other players, but for Jordan, especially considering the stark difference between his performances in the first and second halves, Jordan tonight was absolutely subpar!
He failed to activate Brown, failed to take over the mantle from Hamilton who scored 20 points on 9-of-18 shooting tonight, and his own individual offense wasn't particularly good either.
In short, his comeback debut this time was far inferior to his comeback performance in 95!
And it was at this moment that someone finally began to realize something.
Jordan is already 38 years old!
Even the strongest person will eventually be defeated when faced with the formidable enemy of time!
80: 104!
Ultimately, the Pacers' season opener ended with a comfortable 24-point victory! They secured another winning start, giving their season a great beginning and providing a perfect ending to tonight's jubilant night as fans celebrated the re-raising of the championship banner!
Victory! The championship banner is raised! The championship ring is on your finger! Defeat Jordan!
With all these things combined, Indiana is sure to be sleepless tonight, and bars, nightclubs, and entertainment venues will be packed to capacity!
At the end of the game, Lin Tian, who scored 24 points, 12 assists, 7 rebounds and 3 steals tonight, was extremely relaxed and represented the team at the press conference.
After answering a series of routine questions, one of the reporters finally steered the conversation toward Jordan!
"Lin, tonight marks Michael's return to the court after two seasons. How does it feel to see your old buddy on the court again?"
"It was fantastic. I loved playing against him, and I loved beating him. I really enjoyed that feeling! I'm also really looking forward to facing the Wizards in the playoffs and beating Michael again."
"So what do you think of Michael's comeback?"
"From a fan's perspective, I'm very happy and really looking forward to his future performances! This is Michael Jordan!"
"But from a friend's perspective, I don't think his comeback is a good idea. I think he can easily score 20 or 25 points this season, but as I said before: he's Michael Jordan! People don't expect him to score 20 points every game and then the team loses."
"You mean, Michael isn't the same Michael anymore?"
"Of course, no one can beat time, and neither can Michael. Number 23 can return to the court at any time, but Michael Jordan will never come back."
"So how far do you think the Wizards can go this year? Can they make the playoffs?"
"Honestly, it will probably be difficult. What the Wizards lack and their current state are not something a 38-year-old McGrady can change, but I still look forward to meeting him in the playoffs."
"Kwame's performance tonight was not good, or rather, it was terrible! He was even DNP'd in the second half. We also heard that you once suggested that Michael choose your fellow countryman Yao Ming? Do you think Yao Ming is better than Kwame?"
"At least that's what I think," Lin Tian nodded. "I even think that Kwame's average stats wouldn't even reach half of Yao Ming's. Yao Ming is really amazing. We played side by side on the national team, and I know very well what he's capable of!"
At this point, Lin Tian thought for a moment and added, "The sky's the limit!"
"So, what's a suggestion for Michael? How can he lead the Wizards to the playoffs and play even better?"
"You asked me to give Michael advice," Lin Tian said, pointing to himself with a laugh. "Do you think Michael would burn your house down if he found out?"
After making a joke, Lin Tian continued, "If you ask other people, they definitely wouldn't dare to give Michael advice. They're all afraid. But you see, what a coincidence! I am indeed someone who is willing and has the courage to give Michael advice."
"My advice to him is to consider changing the timing of his playing time in order to make up for his current poor form and insufficient physical strength."
"For example, he played very well in the first half tonight, but in the second half, he kept missing shots and couldn't help the team win."
"But what if we change our approach? For example, instead of directly facing off against their key players, we could try to dominate their substitutes more often?"
"You mean Michael should be a substitute?" A group of reporters immediately became excited, as if they had discovered a new continent!
Lin is a really good person to get along with!
He really dared to say what he wanted to say; he actually put Jordan on the bench right from the start.
"I never said that! You were the ones who said it," Lin Tian said with a smile. "What I meant was, use another method!"
"For example, stagger your start! Play a fake starting lineup, play for 3 minutes and then rest, then come back on at the end of the first quarter or the beginning of the second quarter when the opponent brings in their rotation players, to lead the team for a while and pad their stats. What I mean is, to lead the team to catch up in the score!"
"Then play for another 3-4 minutes in the third quarter, then a little longer at the end of the third quarter and the beginning of the fourth quarter, and finally, in the last 5 minutes of the fourth quarter, we'll see how things go."
"If the score is close or you're leading by a large margin, then play for a while. If you're trailing by a large margin, then just give up. After all, Michael is getting old, and he has to face reality. He can't be as unpredictable and omnipotent as he used to be, which is perfectly normal!"
What did the reporters say after hearing Lin Tian's words?
就.
Very creative!
Moreover, these reporters felt that there was a high probability that this matter... really had potential!
Playing for 4 minutes at the start of the first quarter, then 7-8 minutes from the end of the first quarter to the beginning of the second quarter, then 4 minutes in the third quarter, then another 7-8 minutes from the beginning of the third quarter to the beginning of the fourth quarter, and finally 5 minutes in the last quarter of the fourth quarter, totaling 27-30 minutes of playing time!
Not only does it reduce Jordan's playing time, which is more conducive to his current performance, but more importantly, Jordan no longer has to face the opponent's full starting lineup or fight to the death with the opponent's absolute core.
Through this game, everyone can see that a fully fit Jordan, while not as invincible as before, is certainly at a top-tier level! His problem is his lack of stamina.
If we use Lin Tian's method, we might actually be able to maintain good efficiency while achieving some really impressive stats! Like 25 points per game?
Don't be surprised! Lin Tian is definitely a tactical genius!
But the problem is
Based on the reporters' understanding of Lin Tian, would this kid be so kind and selfless as to offer this tactic to help Jordan put up good numbers?
Of course not!
I, Lord Lin, have never had good intentions from beginning to end!
If Lin Tian hadn't brought up the issue of traveling during off-peak hours, and hadn't publicly discussed things like padding stats and bullying substitutes, Jordan might have just reluctantly accepted it once the Wizards' coach brought it up.
But now that Lin Tian has said it, even if you put a gun to Jordan's neck, this guy won't do it.
I have 6 NBA championships, 6 Finals MVPs, and many scoring titles and MVPs. This is widely recognized as the peak of NBA history. I have some shame!
Sure enough, when the reporter relayed these words to Jordan, Jordan slammed his fist on the table!
"Snapped!"
With a muffled thud, Jordan slammed his hand on the table, and the microphone in front of him was unfortunately knocked over and fell to the floor.
But at this moment, no one would care about a microphone; everyone's spirits were high!
Everyone looked at Jordan, wanting to see what he would say.
"Tell Lin, I'm old, not dead. I'm not disabled. I have all my limbs and am in good health. I've just not played for two years, so my body is a bit rusty. In 10 games at most, the invincible Michael Jordan will be back!"
"As for his suggestion to me? It's utterly ridiculous! Tell him he should save this trick for when he's 33! I think his peak will most likely end around 33, and then he'll need these underhanded tricks to help him!"
"That's it, my playing time pattern won't change, we'll keep playing and get back into form! We still have three more games against the Pacers this season! We'll see!"
Then, Jordan answered many questions about Kwame Brown. After all, the number one draft pick's debut was really terrible. He was eliminated by the team in the second half. It would not be an exaggeration to say that his debut was the worst among all number one draft picks.
In addition, since he was handpicked by Jordan, it's certainly something reporters should ask him a lot of questions about.
At this time, Jordan showed his full support for his younger brother, offering Brown many reasons to do so and encouraging him, emphasizing never giving up, without uttering a single complaint.
This is also Jordan's style. No matter how unhappy he is in private, in public, this guy will definitely support his teammates.
He will definitely shoulder the responsibilities he is entitled to!
Jordan's support relieved some of the pressure on Brown, allowing him to escape the center of public attention.
As for Master Lin, he was very happy.
He gained a wealth of experience while taking a shower.
Needless to say, Jordan must have gotten carried away as soon as he heard the advice the reporter relayed to him.
happy!
I love dealing with Boss Qiao; he's incredibly straightforward and honest!
Then?
Then Jordan and Brown were overwhelmed by even more criticism and pressure the next day.
This time, however, it has nothing to do with Lin Tian.
This time, it's Yao Ming and Pau Gasol's fault.
Or perhaps it's the fault of a member of the "League of Making Jordan Embarrass" (a group that makes Jordan look bad).
Jason Kidd!
This top point guard, who has never played with a top center before, showed in the Nets' first game of the new season that it's not that he can't play with a center, but that he just hasn't had the opportunity before!
In this game, although Kidd only scored 7 points on 3-of-10 shooting, it was still his signature offensive performance. However, he also delivered 21 assists and only had 2 turnovers!
Of his 21 assists, 4 were for Yao Ming and 3 were for Pau Gasol!
This brand-new twin towers in the paint are being fed so much by Kidd that they're practically burping!
大姚12投7中，罚球4罚3中拿下17分6篮板2盖帽，加索尔11投5中罚球3罚3中，拿下13分7篮板3助攻1盖帽！
These two high-draft picks from China and Spain delivered near-perfect performances in their first games!
Especially since, although their physical strength and power are not worth mentioning for the time being, their touch is exceptionally good, and their free throws are incredibly accurate.
Gasol made a jump shot from the high post near the free-throw line, while Yao Ming could just grab the ball near the baseline and shoot!
In addition, Gasol's playmaking and passing are superb. His handoffs with Kidd and his high-low post play with Yao Ming are impressive. Although Yao Ming's playmaking is not as good as Gasol's, he can still pass the ball, and his vision is also excellent!
With two big men who can shoot and pass, plus Kidd, a master at feeding the ball, the Nets' performance this season is definitely something to look forward to!
Another team in the East that surprised everyone in their debut was the Miami Heat, who underwent a major overhaul during the offseason.
Because Mourning suffered from severe kidney disease last season, he was not only almost unable to play, but his life was even threatened at one point!
At this point, most people would choose to retire, but Mourning didn't!
After a few games of trial play during his comeback last season, Mourning actively recovered and trained during the offseason, and finally made his official comeback this season!
他首秀的第一场就拿下16分9篮板2次盖帽的漂亮数据，虽然他的移动、得分能力、身体素质等方面都相比生病之前有了明显的下滑，并且显然，他再也不能成为那个20+10+4的顶级中锋。
But with his fighting spirit and love for basketball, as long as he's on the court, he's the guardian of Miami, and he can still contribute his remaining energy on the court!
Meanwhile, the Heat have undergone several trades in the past two years, with veterans such as Mashburn, Leonard, Mallley, and Hardaway leaving or retiring.
But thanks to Riley's skillful management, the team has maintained its core of Mourning and Payton both inside and outside this year. He also traded for players like Eddie Jones and Jim Jackson, who are both talented and well-known in the league.
Although the aging of Mourning and Payton makes it even more difficult for this Heat team to win the championship, as long as they make it to the playoffs, they will definitely be one of the toughest and most undesirable teams in the East!
In addition, the Magic team, which acquired four superstars during last season's offseason but the four have hardly ever played together, finally saw Hill return in the season opener!
In their first game of the regular season, they faced the 76ers, who had eliminated them in the Eastern Conference semifinals last year, and put on a spectacular performance, winning by a whopping 34 points, making them the team with the highest score on the first day of the game!
Fueled by the rage of revenge, the Magic showed no mercy to Iverson and the 76ers!
这场比赛，邓肯拿下22分13篮板，马龙17分8篮板，希尔19分6篮板7助攻，麦迪拿下全队最高的29分4篮板5助攻！
The four superstars combined for 87 points to secure their first victory, and the team's confidence and form reached their peak early on!
They are once again widely regarded as the Pacers' biggest rival in the East!
The Nets, Heat, Magic, and Pacers have all demonstrated formidable fighting power early on. From their rosters and overall strength to their competitive form, many believe that this year's Eastern Conference title will most likely belong to these teams!
Besides these teams, there are also the 76ers who made it to the Eastern Conference Finals last year, the Celtics who have been improving and rising all the way, the Hornets who acquired Mashburn, the Bucks led by the Three Musketeers, and of course, the Wizards led by Jordan!
These teams all have their own competitiveness, and this year's Eastern Conference is therefore called by many people the strongest year in the East since Jordan's retirement!
Meanwhile, in the Western Conference, the Lakers suffered bad news before even playing a game: Shaquille O'Neal, who has been very healthy for the past few years, has an injury to his toe and will need to rest for at least 2-3 weeks.
Fortunately, the team still has players like Kobe, Jermaine O'Neal, and Derek Fisher, so the Lakers' record won't plummet just because of O'Neal's absence.
In addition, the Mavericks and Kings in the West, both offensively-minded teams, are definitely not easy to deal with. Their strength is enough to make them a huge threat to the Lakers!
In addition, the Timberwolves, despite having a decent roster, have not made any breakthroughs; the Trail Blazers, with a group of league-leading stars, have seen their record decline year after year; and the SuperSonics, who have shown some improvement since acquiring Lewis. These teams are all worth looking forward to!
However, in addition to this, with David Robinson aging further and Richmond joining the Lakers on a minimum contract, the Spurs' record this season will inevitably continue to decline.
Perhaps this team should have started rebuilding after Duncan left, but they haven't opened the door to it just to save face for Robinson.
But now, everyone knows that perhaps the time has really come!
Another team that has done well in the past few years but is destined to perform poorly is the Suns.
The Suns had hoped that Marbury and Hardaway would form a new generation of "super backcourt" duo, but before the season even started, Hardaway's knee got into trouble again. Although he only needs to rest for half a month, his career is obviously over.
As for Marbury, within his first month in Phoenix, he was taken away by the police for two speeding offenses and one drunk driving offense.
The season hasn't even started yet, and two major problems are already surfacing. Perhaps only then will the Phoenix team regret their decision.
Why trade Kidd? Aside from his inability to shoot, there's really nothing else wrong with him!
Sorry for the first time!
In short, each team in the league is in its own situation. Some teams are getting better and better, while others are clearly starting to decline. In addition, many young teams have completed their restructuring and are ready to start making a run for success.
This season is destined to be incredibly exciting!
Of course, it's impossible to say for sure who the real powerhouse is, who will quickly hit a plateau and see their performance decline, or who will build up their strength and rise again in the second half of the season.
The game must be played one match at a time, and time must be passed slowly!
Throughout November, the Pacers performed reasonably well, achieving a record of 12 wins and 3 losses, temporarily ranking first in the Eastern Conference.
During this month, Carter, who was in his contract year, had a breakout performance, averaging 23.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game. Webber, on the other hand, still seemed to be struggling to find his rhythm, averaging only 17.3 points and 9.8 rebounds per game with a field goal percentage of just 45%.
Besides the team's two core players, Ben Wallace continues his path as a top-tier role player, averaging 3.3 points, 13.4 rebounds, and 4.1 blocks in his first month! His rebounds and blocks are both league-leading!
With players like Mourning, Mutombo, and others getting old, sick, or injured this season, there's a high probability that Ben Wallace will finally be able to win his first Defensive Player of the Year award!
In addition, Christie, who just took a pay cut to stay with the team, is averaging 9.3 points and 1.9 steals per game. Although his average points per game have dropped to the lowest in his Pacers career, his three-point shooting percentage has reached a career high of 45%!
Another player who hit a career low in November was Reggie Miller. Despite being in the same contract year, he seemed completely unconcerned about his contract, with his average points per game dropping to 9.2 and his three-point shooting percentage falling to only 34%.
Both of these statistics are new lows for Miller since his debut! This guy is truly at the end of his career.
For the team, some players' stats dropped to career lows, while others' stats reached new highs.
Besides Carter's career-high 23 points, reserve player Harrington replaced Miller as the team's leading scorer off the bench, averaging 11.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, and his three-point shooting percentage has also improved to 37%!
He and Carter formed a contract-year duo and became important members of the Pacers' offensive efforts this season!
In addition, the two rookies the team drafted this year, Tony Parker and Gilbert Arenas, have also shown very good competitive form. Although they have not had much screen time and their statistics are average, everyone can see that what they lack is just opportunities and time!
As for team leader Lin Tian, he continued his MVP-level performance, averaging 24.8 points, 12.1 assists, and 2.8 steals per game!
Although their average points per game have dropped significantly compared to last season and previous seasons, the Pacers clearly have plenty of strength!
Putting aside their current top ranking in the East, the Pacers have nothing to worry about, considering the veterans and the team's performance over the past two years!
It's simply not time to exert our strength yet.
But if we're talking about which team had the most exciting and entertaining games in the entire league during the first month of the season, it wasn't the Pacers or the Western Conference powerhouse Lakers, or even the Magic with their four superstars or the offensive powerhouses Mavericks and Kings.
The team that deserves the most attention and has the most exciting and entertaining games in the first month of this year is the Washington Wizards!
Of course, it wasn't that Jordan unleashed the level he had five years prior, dominating the field and leading his team on a crazy winning streak.
On the contrary, the Wizards' record was just so-so, with a 7-6 record in the first month, barely over 50% winning percentage. Jordan's stats were 23 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists. Although it was very impressive for a 38-year-old to achieve these stats, it was still just so-so.
The Wizards' games are exciting precisely because of their opponents!
Every opponent of the Wizards, when they faced them, or rather, when they faced Jordan, always put on an incredibly exciting and beautiful performance!
Against the 76ers, Iverson was dominant, racking up 45 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists to lead his team to victory over the Wizards.
Against the Heat, although Payton only scored 16 points and 7 assists on 7-of-20 shooting, he matched up against Jordan the whole game. The two constantly trash-talked each other, and in the middle of the third quarter, they both got carried away, pointing their fingers at each other and yelling, almost coming to blows!
Kobe Bryant exploded for 55 points against the Lakers, blowing the game away!
Against the Nets, Kidd scored only 12 points on 5-of-12 shooting, but he still dished out 15 assists!
Meanwhile, the Nets' second and fourth overall picks were really going all out against the Wizards' number one pick.
大姚17投11中，罚球6罚5中，爆砍27分13篮板3盖帽，其中出手、命中、得分、篮板全都是首月最高！
至于加索尔则15投10中，罚球4罚4中拿下24分9篮板5助攻2盖帽！
While the second and fourth overall picks were putting on such a stellar performance, the Wizards' Brown was also giving it his all to compete against them!
全场比赛10投5中，罚球2罚1中，同样也拿下了职业生涯最高的11分和10个篮板2次盖帽！
This was his first double-double of his career, and also the first time he scored in double digits.
Unfortunately, Yao Ming and Pau Gasol on the other side were simply too amazing. Every basket, block, and rebound they made felt like a slap in the face to Jordan.
In particular, after the Wizards suffered a crushing defeat in this game, Lin Tian even made a special phone call to Jordan.
"Michael, what did I tell you? Pick Yao Ming! You wouldn't listen! I even said if you don't pick Yao Ming, don't miss out on Gasol, but you still wouldn't listen. Don't say I'm being mean to you, you insisted on picking Kwame, so don't blame me!"
Lin Tian's call was met with a long busy tone from the other end, followed by a massive amount of experience being added to the database!
Happy!
Without Jordan, there weren't many generous people in the league willing to give Lin Tian experience points in various ways.
I must get closer to Jordan in the future!
Lin Tian, on the other hand, looked at the schedule with great interest.
The Wizards and Pacers will have to play three more games, and the Wizards and Nets will also have to play three more games.
Oh, and there's Chicago too! The Bulls have to play the Wizards four more times this season!
Tsk tsk tsk, although the Bulls' record this season is still terrible and not worth mentioning, they have this year's third overall pick and fifth overall pick!
Although Eddie Curry and Tyson Chandler are no match for Yao Ming and Pau Gasol in terms of immediate impact and career achievements, what if they were to bully Brown?
Chandler can stop Brown from peeing, Curry might just break two of Brown's ribs!
Anyway, all four of the top five big men could dominate Brown.
Hmm... I'll call Jordan then!
Beautiful!
Lin Tian's first month was relaxed and happy.
But there are some teams that he just can't be happy with.
For example, the sun.
The Suns, who had made the playoffs for several consecutive seasons, suffered a major setback at the beginning of this season!
Although Hardaway only missed the first two games of the season before returning, this time, his explosiveness, jumping ability, speed and other abilities have obviously left him forever. Although he can still play, his statistics and shooting percentage have hit career lows, while his turnovers have reached a new high!
What's even more painful is that Marbury and Hardaway had a conflict. Marbury didn't like being a pure finisher and didn't like Hardaway having the basketball in his hands for long periods of time.
Simply put, Marbury wanted to organize the offense himself, and he also wanted to take the shots!
After careful consideration, the team had no choice but to bench Hardaway to keep Marbury happy.
There's nothing they can do; Hardaway is practically finished. All they can do now is keep Marbury happy. Otherwise, if Marbury leaves too, the Suns will really have to rebuild completely!
After giving the ball to Marbury, he did put up impressive numbers of 22 points and 9 rebounds. However, the team only managed 5 wins in the first month, with a winning percentage of less than 40%.
The Suns' rebuilding and gamble have clearly failed!
Another team that is suffering immensely is the Orlando Magic.
The reason for their suffering is quite simple.
Hill is injured again!
He and Hardaway were like a perfect match.
The two players had more injuries than the other, and the injuries were more severe and serious than the other's!
Both of these "Jordan successors" suffered extremely serious injuries, the kind that could end their season with just a minor bump.
For example, after playing four good games at the beginning of the season, Hill suffered a serious ACL injury. After examination, the team doctor concluded that he would be out of action for at least 4-6 months!
Good news: If he's lucky, Hill could return towards the end of the regular season.
Bad news: Who knows if he can make a comeback.
The Magic have inexplicably reverted from a "Big Four" to a "Big Three" situation once again.
Fortunately, the Magic's three players are indeed strong. Even without Hill, they are still ranked second in the East, only one game behind the Pacers!
They could overtake the Pacers at any time and become the top team in the East!
Then, the Magic did not disappoint their fans.
In mid-December, they relied on McGrady's explosive performance and consecutive 35+ point games to achieve a long winning streak. However, the Pacers suffered injuries at this time, with Webber and Miller both absent due to injuries. This immediately created a huge gap in the team's firepower, and the team's record became unstable.
One side wins, the other loses.
Before Christmas, the Magic have successfully overtaken the Pacers to become the top team in the Eastern Conference!
Lin Tian and the others didn't care at all about this.
As a team that has won three championships in four years, they possess the pride and confidence befitting champions.
It's just that we're down by 1 or 2 games in the regular season.
That's bullshit!
Last year, we didn't have home-court advantage and even lost Game 5 against the Lakers. So what?
Didn't we also win two straight games at Staples Center, leaving the Lakers utterly defeated?
Under Lin Tian's leadership, the Pacers were very relaxed, or rather, the regular season had become an ordeal and a burden for them.
After winning countless honors and breaking numerous records, the Pacers players inevitably become somewhat complacent during the regular season.
Or rather, apart from Carter and Harrington, who are willing to fight tooth and nail for their new contracts, the rest of the team, including Lin Tian, haven't really gotten into game mode.
This is the complacency that easily arises after winning too many games, and it's a dilemma that every defending champion faces.
Neither Lin Tian, Bird, nor Carlisle took this situation seriously.
No rush! The season is still long, there's no need to get the team into peak form too early!
At the very least, unless the team experiences a precipitous losing streak, the Pacers will not make any major adjustments until the All-Star break!
And their relaxation lasted until Christmas!
Even in the Christmas Day game against the Lakers, the Pacers didn't show much spirit. Not only were Miller and Webber still absent, but Lin Tian also had a poor performance that night. Although he scored 24 points and 12 assists, he only made 9 of 23 shots and also committed 5 turnovers!
Led by Kobe and the two Shaqs, the Lakers defeated the Pacers by 21 points on the road! A resounding revenge victory!
This game greatly boosted the morale of the entire Lakers team, and they all believed that this year, it would definitely be their turn!
As for the Pacers, even though losing this game puts them two games behind the Magic in the standings, they are not in a hurry.
After such a humiliating home defeat, the team didn't even hold a meeting with the players to let them reflect on the problems. The team as a whole didn't seem to have any idea of solving the problems or changing the current situation!
The reason is very simple.
Second in the East, that's enough!
The Pacers are not in a hurry at all, and they don't care at all about staying in first place in the East!
At the same time, the more important issue is that Lin Tian, Carlisle, and Bird all know that a team that has been winning games and constantly striving for the championship should be exhausted by this point!
That kind of mental exhaustion and lethargy is something that no one can stop or avoid.
Tighten it up, of course, no problem!
A single meeting or a single speech can get the Pacers players back in form in no time!
But what's the point?
Why do that?
With two-thirds of the season remaining, even if the team tightens up now, they will definitely relax again in one or two months.
What should we do then?
Should we hold another meeting and tighten things up again?
So what should we do in the playoffs?
As the saying goes, "One effort is enough, but a second effort is weak and a third effort is exhausted." If the Pacers keep pushing their players to their limits and giving their all just for the sake of the regular season record, then the Pacers players will eventually tire out!
Rather than being willing but unable to perform in the playoffs, it would be better to let the players relax in the early part of the season and rest their nerves that have been under tension for the past few years.
When the playoffs are approaching or the team's record is truly problematic, then gather everyone together and have a proper discussion about the team's issues!
Then, with one burst of energy, we stormed into the playoffs and won the championship!
Good steel should be used on the blade!
The Pacers' veteran players understand this principle perfectly well!
Even when Bird and Carlisle were chatting, they had already made up their minds: as long as the team didn't fall out of the top four in the East, there was no need to wind up the players.
Just wait! The season is long!
So, by the end of December, the Pacers had a record of 21 wins and 8 losses, second in the Eastern Conference and fourth in the league!
Then, by the end of January, the Pacers had a record of 30 wins and 14 losses, still second in the Eastern Conference, but had fallen to fifth in the league.
Then, Lin Tian suddenly discovered something he hadn't paid much attention to before.
It's time for the All-Star Game!
Originally, Lin Tian remembered that this year's All-Star Game should have been the Rising Stars Challenge on February 9th, the individual competitions on the 10th, and the All-Star Game on the 11th!
But these three days happen to be the Chinese Lunar New Year!
Because the NBA is growing and its prospects are improving in the Chinese market, their promotional efforts are going very smoothly. As a result, the NBA has actually moved the All-Star Game to a week later, from February 16th to 18th!
As for the next few days, the league has scheduled several top-level matches that Chinese fans will be interested in every day, starting from New Year's Eve!
Teams that are very popular in China, such as the Lakers, Kings, 76ers, Magic, and Wizards, will all be playing and facing off against each other in the next few days.
What Chinese fans are most looking forward to is definitely the three consecutive Chinese derbies!
The Nets, Mavericks, and Pacers will face off in the next few days!
These three games are definitely more appealing than the All-Star Game!
As for the All-Star Game, the All-Star Weekend roster was actually announced in early February! (End of Chapter)