basketball purple front

Chapter 397

On January 2013, 1, US time, the Lakers ushered in their No.30 six games, away to challenge the Phoenix Suns.Back at the American Airlines Center arena, Nash’s cheers were the highest. The Suns’ mascot, the gorilla, also put on a sportswear from Nash’s time in the Suns, to show that the 40-year-old veteran has great support for Phoenix. 38 years of contribution.But respect is respect, cheers are cheers, and after the referee blew the whistle to start the game, everything returned to the true nature of competition.

The process of this game can be called treacherous, why do you say that?Because someone jumped out to "steal the show".

The Lakers' shooting percentage in the first quarter was good, reaching about 47%, but there was a big problem, that is, there were too many turnovers.10 turnovers in a single quarter directly caused the Suns to hit three or four quick counterattacks.So even if the Suns rank No. 15 in the West this season and only won 45 of the first 15 games, they still lead the Los Angeles Lakers by 4 points in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the shooting percentages of both sides began to decline, but due to Tang Qian's control of rebounds and Kobe's 75% shooting percentage, the Lakers still entered the second half with 19-15 and 41-41 at halftime.Steve Nash didn't know if his mood fluctuated too much in this game. He actually made only 5 of 1 three-pointers, and his assists and series seemed a little absent-minded.

In the third quarter, the Lakers almost played a wave, 32-22, with a full 10-point score difference, the two sides entered the final quarter.

Just when everyone thought that this was a winning goal, the "dark horse" appeared. He was No. 0 of the Suns, Michael Billis, and No. 14 Luis Scola.The two tandem and nearly dominated the fourth quarter.First of all, Scola made 3 of 3 shots and added 2 free throws. He scored 100 points with a 8% shooting rate. The Lakers Kobe just recovered a three-pointer. firepower.

Michael Billis made 6 of 5 shots and scored 10 points in a row at the last moment, helping Phoenix give the Lakers a fatal blow.

The Lakers also organized a counterattack, but this quarter of the game did not know what was the magic. All the Lakers players felt cold and their shots were misfired.He made 21 of 4 shots in a single quarter, with a hit rate of less than 20%. Among them, Tang Qian also contributed 3 pieces of refined iron production.On the opposite side, the shooting percentage was close to 70%, 13-29 in a single quarter, surpassing the Lakers in one fell swoop, and the reversal was successful.

86-92, the Los Angeles Lakers ended their three-game winning streak and lost to Phoenix by 6 points.

Immediately, a discussion was raging again.

The sports media, mainly ESPN, quickly showed their power and began to describe it on the official website:
The Lakers are still the Lakers!The three-game winning streak is just an illusion!

Losing to the bottom team in the Western Conference, this is the 7500 million lineup of the "Four Heavenly Kings"?

Hey man, let me tell you a secret!The entire team of the Phoenix Suns adds up to only 6084 million US dollars, which is not as good as the salary of 4 Lakers!

Please don't have any expectations for the Lakers anymore, Zijin will die this season!

After seeing these reports occupying the mainstream, the good mood that the Lakers had just established disintegrated in an instant, and the atmosphere on the training ground became dull again.They have already played 46 games, and there is not much time left for them. If they don't win a few more games, they can book fishing venues in advance.

And at this time, someone inside the Lakers jumped out and announced loudly:
I am very tired!I am very unhappy with the Lakers!I don't get the respect and respect I deserve!

Who is this guy?The answer is No. 12, Dwight Howard.

Seeing that the Lakers lost to the bottom team in the Western Conference, "Warcraft" couldn't wait to speak up. Within a few minutes, sharp reporters rushed to surround Dwight Howard.Seeing himself surrounded by reporters again, Howard seemed very proud, comfortable, and useful. He coughed deliberately, and then began to accept the interview.

In 2013, the Internet was already very developed, so it didn't take long for Howard's interview video to be published on the official websites of major sports media.

"Dwight, I heard you're unhappy with the Lakers, is that true?"

"Well, how should I put it, the Lakers are a great team, Los Angeles is a great city, but this year has changed too much, so many things are being adjusted and adjusted. The team needs to be adjusted, the head coach It needs to be adjusted, the teammates need to be adjusted, and I need to be adjusted, but I hope that I can be valued during the adjustment process, otherwise it will be the complete opposite of what I came to Los Angeles in the first place."

"May I ask that your playing time has been reduced recently. What is the reason? Is it really what coach Mike D'Antoni said, because of tactical needs?"

"Half and half, there are tactical needs and other factors in it, but it's not convenient for me to say more about it."

"Dwight, half of the season has passed, and the Lakers' record hasn't improved. Do you think you can still get playoff tickets this season?"

"Hasn't Bryant already said about this issue? He is the leader of the Lakers, and everything depends on him."

"Dwight, you only have one year left on your contract. Will you stay in Los Angeles or choose a free market to test the waters?"

"I haven't thought about this issue yet, but I don't rule out any possibility. It's too early to say."

……

Looking at these interviews and conversations, Mike D'Antoni's face is not good, Kobe's face is not good, and the Lakers management's face is not good.Don't look like Howard didn't say anything in the interview, but the more ambiguous, the worse it is.Because there is a particularity in the NBA, only if you are not firm, not sure, or unwilling, you will be ambiguous, otherwise you will directly pat your chest and express your opinion.

Ambiguity and ambiguity are the performance of Tai Chi.

The official answer is sometimes "a lot of attention".

And almost immediately, the three parties above all thought of one thing, that is, this interview, and these answers are definitely not accidental.Rather... it was already prepared.

Even these words, these words, were already written for Howard by someone, and he was just "according to the script".

Sure enough, not long after this video was released, the Lakers fan forum exploded.

All kinds of suspicions, all kinds of conjectures, and all kinds of dark thoughts emerge one after another, which makes people shocking and dazzled.

This is tantamount to adding fuel to the fire for the Lakers.

But in the face of the above three parties, Howard has long thought of a countermeasure, that is, ignore them and turn a blind eye.

Mike D'Antoni asked him to talk to him alone, but he just had an expression of indifference, and he didn't argue with the former, which made D'Antoni very angry.But what about D'Antoni?Can't you just yell?You can't fight with your hands, can you?There are still games to continue behind the team.So even if the former is upset, he can't do anything to Howard.

What about Kobe?A quarrel broke out with Howard directly in the locker room!But it doesn't seem to have any effect, "Warcraft" still has the expression and attitude of "what can you do to me".

Kobe's concerns are similar to those of Mike D'Antoni. The team still has more than 30 games left. If they completely fall out with Howard, then the most unlucky person is none other than the Los Angeles Lakers themselves.For the sake of the team and the promise he made in front of the media, no matter how angry Kobe was, he could only hold it back for the time being and could not burst out completely.

What about management?After seeing this video, Mitch Kupchak directly named Howard and went to the general manager's office, but Howard seemed to have expected it, and as soon as he walked in, he acted first and gave Mitch Kupchak a slap in the face, saying:

"Mr. Kupchak, don't forget that I am not a restricted player of the Lakers. After this season, I have the right to choose freely."

"So."

"I advise you not to force me."

Hearing this, Mitch Kupchak had prepared a stomach full of words, but instantly cleared them up, because he knew that Howard had caught his life.If it took so much energy and cost to sign Howard for just one season, it would be a failure and a joke.The Lakers are at a loss.

Old Bath will not let himself go easily.

No matter how "stupid" Bynum is, he is also the No. [-] center in the league. If Dwight Howard cannot be kept in the end, then the Lakers will lose both the No. [-] center and the No. [-] center. The second center, even directly became no good center to use.This kind of blow is absolutely unacceptable to Mitch Kupchak, who has always been pretentious.

So he chose to compromise, but this did not change the future for the Lakers, but instead fueled Dwight Howard's arrogance.

Howard instantly had a feeling that he "killed" the "Big Three" of the Lakers, and he was very proud and happy.

Dan Feigen is indeed one of the top brokers, and the method he came up with is really amazing!It seems that such a high commission every year is not in vain.But Howard probably didn't expect that in the future, it was this "gold medal agent" in his heart who tricked him severely, making him earn the nicknames of "ruthless and ungrateful" and "Huo Zhongzhong".

But that's something for later, so I won't say much for now.

On February 2, under heavy pressure, the Lakers came to Minnesota, where they will challenge the Timberwolves away.

For the Timberwolves this season, there is a lack of generals. Love only played 18 games and announced that he will be reimbursed for the season due to injuries.So this season, apart from the Suns, the Timberwolves are the 14th team in the West.And who is in front of it?It's the Los Angeles Lakers.

If this game is lost again, it will be no less than a disaster for the Lakers.

Because of the losing streak of the two worst teams in the West, what does this prove?This proves that the Lakers are worse than the worst team, and the Lakers are worse than the worst.

After the original pressure, Howard is ready to show his power in this game. After all, the Timberwolves Kevin Love is absent, and the thickness of the inside line is no longer worth mentioning.As long as you let go of the brush and get a 30+15 data, it's not a problem.

As for records and victories?What are you doing?Anyway, it's really not good, just pat your ass and leave!
Sinking with the Lakers ship is something only fools would do!

Howard thinks he is very smart, so Kobe's "boring pledge" seems to him to be purely full.

Because it's simply impossible, isn't it?
Since he couldn't do it at all, why did he make a fool of himself with him?

Indeed, without Kevin Love, the insider strength, the Timberwolves' lack of insiders became weaker. They could only send 203 cm Derek Williams and 32-year-old Kirilenko to top the pack.Derek Williams is only a 2-year-old rookie. Although his body is not bad and his wingspan is relatively good, his strength is at the low level among strikers, which is extremely inconsistent with his tonnage.In addition, this person's rebounding ability is terrible, the highest season is only about 5+, and the rest are 4+ fluctuating, so if Howard is matched, he will definitely be able to ravage and blow him up.What about Kirilenko?He was very strong when he was young. He blocked shots, rebounded, assisted and scored. He was proficient in everything.However, even when he was young, he was also known for his defensive ability. One-on-one defense, his effect was not outstanding. The main reason is that Kirilenko's weight is really unflattering, but 206MC is only 220 About a pound, which is almost the thickness of a forward paper man in the NBA.And now that he is older, his back injury has worsened, his defensive skills have long been inferior to before, and he averaged at least 3+ blocks per game at his peak, what about now?Exactly 1.0 times, only the passing line level is left.So it is impossible for him to defend "Warcraft".

If Love and Nikola Pekovic are not injured, Howard can still be restricted. After all, both of them are strong insiders. Love is 250+ pounds, and Pekovic is 290+ pounds, not to mention blocking It's the latter, and it's okay to make the latter extremely uncomfortable.But tonight, everything was like a "coincidence". Both of them sat on the bench due to injuries, in suits and leather shoes, and they were powerless.So God created good conditions for Howard to have a "perfect night".

Howard is also eager to try, ready to show his skills and kill the Quartet.

Before the game, Nash found Tang Qian and revealed in a low voice that his playing time tonight might not be too long, because there was another "order" from above, and Mike D'Antoni had no choice but to do so. I hope he Can understand one or two.Tang Qian never knew the reason?It's just that a player at the superstar level, but playing such a shady little trick makes him both angry and ridiculous in his heart.

However, he didn't mean to embarrass Mike D'Antoni, because D'Antoni is not a head coach at the level of "Zen Master", so some requirements and instructions from the management must be considered and obeyed by the latter.

He can understand this, but for what Howard did...

He decided to fight back.

Because Tang Qian can see that this guy's heart has gradually drifted away, not on the victory, not on the record, not on the team, but only on his own personal data.Is this going to use the Lakers as a springboard to add weight to his next season's big contract?What a good plan!

But I won't make you happy.

Tang Qian sat on the bench and thought to himself.

But no one thought that the opportunity came so quickly, because Howard somehow strained his groin during the warm-up.Immediately, he was supported, limped, and walked back to the team locker room.This change really exceeded Tang Qian's expectations, and it also exceeded the expectations of the Lakers management and the Lakers head coach.

There is no way, Mike D'Antoni can only assign Tang Qian to play again to replace Howard in the first scrum.

Before playing, Mike D'Antoni said apologetically: "I'm sorry, I can only count on you now. I hope you put the interests of the team first and let go of your personal burdens for now." Tang Qian nodded after hearing that. He replied: "Mr. D'Antoni, don't worry, I am not someone, and I will not put my personal emotions above the team."

Hearing what Tang Qian said, Mike D'Antoni was both moved and guilty. After a pause, he opened his mouth and said, "That's good, that's good. I know you've always been great, hot."

"Mr. D'Antoni, just watch, I will definitely play a wonderful game, and then shut up all those who doubt you! I promise!" After Tang Qian finished speaking, he took off his thermal training clothes, The striding meteor ran up the middle circle.

But he didn't know that this call made Mike D'Antoni completely numb.

Because D'Antoni remembered that last year, in New York, there seemed to be such a yellow-skinned young man who said similar things to himself.But last time, he didn't stand firm, so he finally let the young man go far away to Texas, and because of this incident, he offended the "big guys" of the Knicks, so he had to " Resign".

So this time...how should I choose?

Is it another choice?
firm?swing?Not firm?not support?How to choose?

Mike D'Antoni looked at the number 29 going away, and suddenly fell into deep thought.

PS: Don't think that Xiao Zi intentionally injured Warcraft. The fact is that Howard was really absent due to injury in this game, and it was still temporary.So, cheap Tang Qian~~~haha~~~
These few days Xiaozi will find time to explode, thank you for your support~ Otherwise, Xiaozi's conscience will be uneasy~~~
Let's work together~ everyone~~~
Please recommend for the 5k chapter~~~
(End of this chapter)