no shortcuts in basketball

Chapter 197 The 2011~2012 regular season ends

James was really confused at this time.

Because he hadn't even recovered from the previous conflict, and then he was shot in the face by Xu Yong.

And the key is that Xu Yong fires quickly in a short period of time, giving you no chance to react at all.

Of course the point is, he really ejaculated all in.

It's like a science fiction movie.

But it's not James' fault, because with his explosive scoring ability, he simply can't do such a thing.

As for the games he has experienced, no opponent has ever done this in front of him.

Of course, this has not actually happened yet. In history, Kobe played against the Raptors in 2013. Yes, it was the Raptors, Kobe's royal background, who made three consecutive three-pointers at the last moment to drag the game into overtime, which became the highlight of Kobe's career. Another classic moment.

But now Xu Yong has brought that classic moment forward.

And you have to admit, player performance is about confidence and belief.

If you have the ability and firmly believe that you can do it, then it is a highly probable event that you will do it.

Of course, James was not the only one who was shocked at this time.

On the Heat bench, Spoelstra also opened his mouth.

Although Xu Yong performed well in the match last season, he did not have the ability to influence the situation.

Xu Yong's progress was so fast that he even doubted whether Xu Yong was training except for games.

But that is obviously unrealistic. The Heat's training intensity is also very high, so he knows very well that normal people would be scrapped by training like that.

On the Bulls bench, Anderson was also shocked.

Having never experienced back-to-back games between the Lakers and Thunder, this was the first time he saw Xu Yong's explosive scoring power.

This gave him a very firm idea, that is, he must follow Xu Yong.

Xu Yong's score gave the Bulls an immediate advantage in the game.

And in the time after the game, the Heat were stunned and failed to narrow the point difference.

On the one hand, after Xu Yongcong scored those three three-pointers, his aura throughout the game was extremely strong, and he could always stand up and curb the momentum when the Heat wanted to chase points;

But on the other hand, the Heat always felt that they lacked the desire to win after falling behind tonight. The score difference of more than ten points felt like dozens of points.

The on-site photographer also knows football, and the camera cuts to Wade on the bench from time to time.

Although Wade's statistics are higher this season, when it comes to his desire to win on the court, he has to be the highest among the Heat.

……

In the end, the Bulls defeated the Heat 101-90 on the road.

The confidence of the Miami fans at the scene suffered another heavy blow tonight.

What is more difficult for them to accept than the result of the game is the process of the game.

Of course, there is nothing you can do about it. When the boss of your team avoids his edge and Tian Ji is racing, it is very difficult for your team to play with intensity.

But thinking on the bright side, when Wade comes back in the playoffs, the game situation may not be the same as it is now.

One very interesting thing is that according to the statistics after the game, Xu Yong had 34 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks, the highest score in the game, and three three-pointers directly determined the situation of the game.

但是詹姆斯赛后一看，也有28分10板11助攻2抢断1盖帽的数据。

Another game that [the Heat lost to James] did not lose.

It is still difficult to predict what the final outcome of this MVP battle will be.

After the game, Xu Yong and Rose followed Thibodeau to the press conference.

In the first game back, Rose also had 24 points and 7 assists, and his performance was quite good.

"Derek, are you confused? When you come back you are no longer the team's first choice? I mean, the team's tactics no longer revolve around you." Not long after the press conference began, there was Miami the reporter asked Rose.

After losing this crucial battle, the local media was unhappy and clearly wanted to cause trouble.

The question he asked was also very provocative, especially the sentence he added later. It didn't even happen after Rose returned from injury.

And you can feel that he is somewhat unbalanced in his heart. After all, the Heat have been struggling for power in the past two seasons. Why don't you, the Bulls?
You must know that Rose is the youngest MVP and Xu Yong came from behind, so he should have been in a fierce battle.

"No, I won't be confused. We are a team, and winning is our first goal. We are all doing what we are good at to help the team win." Rose's answer was straightforward.

The Bulls won many games in the regular season last season thanks to Xu Yong's critical moments.

But because of the team's tactical system, his statistics were even better in the end, and he was the one who won the MVP.

That's MVP, the highest honor for a player.

Even if Xu Yong gets it, the title of youngest MVP will be Xu Yong's.

Second-year MVP, that will be an even more unprecedented achievement.

But in the end, when even Xu Yong's fans felt worthless for Xu Yong, Xu Yong did not express any dissatisfaction.

On the contrary, in the playoffs, when his performance had ups and downs, it was Xu Yong who took the initiative to make concessions to let him perform.

Even in the finals, it was Xu Yong who helped him get out of trouble.

Even after winning FMVP, he was the first to be mentioned.

He is a black man and does not value emotions as much as the Chinese do, but he is a human being first.

Who could be confused after all this?
Wade: We are different.

"Xu, let's talk about the conflict between Chris Anderson and LeBron? You were standing next to them at the time." Seeing that the reporter couldn't get the answer he wanted from Rose, the reporter then pointed the finger at Xu Yong.

And unlike asking Ross, the reporter obviously knew Xu Yong's ability to deal with reporters, so this was a trick to trick Xu Yong into jumping.

Xu Yong smiled after hearing this. He could see the reporter's fox tail.

"I think it is very irrational for a player to try to impact his opponent after being blocked," he said slowly.

Xu Yong's answer instantly confused the reporter. What he wanted to hear was Xu Yong's excuse for Anderson, so that he could write an article after the game and make use of the topic. But what did Xu Yong directly criticize James for?
"Fortunately, he was facing Chris and not James Johnson, otherwise I believe that punch would have hit the face." Xu Yong added after seeing the reporter's reaction.

The reporters looked sullen. Although Xu Yong did not mention him by name, it was clear that he was talking about James, their new king in Miami.

"Of course, I'm just joking." Fortunately, Xu Yong's next words relieved the tension, and his expression improved a lot.

But what he never expected was that Xu Yong's next sentence was so polarizing that he almost died on the spot.

"If it were James Johnson, I'm sure he would be very calm."

What does it mean to be anti-customer?

Xu Yong's response to reporters' questions this time can be described as a masterclass.

And the key thing is that Xu Yong showed an attitude. He had no intention of respecting James at all.

"But the referee called Chris a flagrant foul." The reporter emphasized.

Xu Yong smiled when he heard this. Originally, this penalty was hugely controversial, and it was like being criticized on social media after the game, but this reporter still mentioned it.

This is obviously another hole dug, and they want him to propose a penalty scale.

Xu Yong still did not fall into the trap, not because he was worried about being fined, but because he knew that nothing would change if he mentioned it.

His answer was the same as before, you ask your question and I say what I want to say.

"If Chris is fined additionally, I will pay the fee for him." Xu Yong said calmly.

The reporter was helpless now, Xu Yong didn't take any chances.

After the press conference was over, Xu Yong took a rest and took Butler to the training hall for extra practice as usual.

But after practicing for a while, he saw someone entering the training hall.

It's Anderson.

Xu Yong did not communicate with Anderson, but practiced on his own.

Because of tonight's game, he feels better about Anderson than before, but he still doesn't have a good impression.

But what he didn't expect was that Anderson came over to help him pick up the ball.

This scene made Butler next door stunned for a moment.

The intention of this proactive gesture is obvious.

If someone picks up the ball, the training speed can be accelerated, but Xu Yong didn't say anything.

Soon, in the middle of the training, Xu Yong was sitting on the sidelines to rest. After sitting down, Anderson took the initiative to help him open the mineral water bottle under the stool and handed it over.

As expected of someone who has played in the CBA for many years, he has learned a lot about the world.

He took the water bottle, took a sip and said, "You don't have to do this. You earned the fine for yourself."

This is Xu Yong's standard way of treating things rather than people.

Although I don't like the look of your tattoo, I am sure of what you did.

Of course, if Anderson doesn't feel like it, feels his pride is hurt or something, he doesn't have to do it.

Anderson obviously had no such idea. He smiled and said: "Besides Hu, you are the second Chinese player that I am convinced of."

"Hu Weidong?" Xu Yong asked. When Anderson nodded affirmatively, he put down the water bottle and became interested.

As someone who played in the CBA for many years in his previous life, he is still very interested in CBA celebrities, especially Hu Weidong.

Hu Weidong was the boss of the last men's basketball team. If not for Yao Ming's emergence, he would have been the leader of the men's basketball team.

Seeing Xu Yong's interest, Anderson immediately continued talking with a smile.

"You know the reputation of the CBA in the United States is not very good. We often say that whoever doesn't play well will be sent to China to play in the CBA. I was a little contemptuous at the time.

You know, I was very young, but the first time I entered the stadium I met Hu. "

Xu Yong was listening carefully.

"When I entered the gym, I was shouting, is there anyone in this gym who is better than me in the game? Then Hu, I clearly remember that he was sitting on the center line and resting. Maybe he had just finished practicing the return run. Something, I thought at the time.

He called me over, he didn't even get up, and he sat there and hit a super three. "

Xu Yong couldn't help laughing when he heard this.

He didn't know if there was any artistic processing involved in what Anderson was talking about, but he felt that it was most likely true. After all, Hu Weidong's nickname was Chinese Jordan.

Seeing Xu Yong smile, Anderson also laughed.

At this time, Xu Yong also knew the purpose of Anderson's visit, which was just to get close to him.

"Come on, stay in the team. If there is such a fine later, I can cover it for you." Xu Yong continued.

Anderson nodded vigorously upon hearing this.

Xu Yong patted him on the shoulder, then stood up and continued training. At this time, Anderson also joined in.

It was during this process that Xu Yong discovered that Anderson was also a very hard-working player.

This is also expected.

After all, you have to go from the CBA to the NBA, and you are still a rough guy at the age of 21. It is simply impossible without working hard.

Even from another perspective, Anderson is also a very durable player, which matches him and Butler.

Xu Yong's remarks at the press conference triggered heated discussions among many fans on social media.

Paying fines for teammates is still very positive. After all, if the fines were larger, the little money Anderson earned from doing part-time work with the Bulls would not be enough to pay.

Fortunately, the league did not impose additional fines for this penalty.

Although the additional fine for first-level malicious intent is not 100% certain, it is more because of the huge controversy caused by that penalty.

……

Time flies, and in a blink of an eye it is ten days later.

At this time the season has come to the last half month.

It was at this time that the Bulls announced that they had extended Anderson's contract until the end of the season.

In addition to his good performance against the Heat, Anderson's other highlight was the away game against the Knicks four days ago.

Because the Knicks did not get Chandler like they did in history, but used Camby as the starting center, they are much weaker in terms of strength.

But in the East, it is still a strong contender for the playoffs, and is fighting a playoff spot battle with the Digital Man and the Bucks.

Rose was injured in that game because of a sprained right ankle, so the game between the two sides was very intense.

That is to say, in the fierce game, the two sides clashed when Anthony was defending Xu Yong.

But before Xu Yong could take action, Anderson was already fighting with Anthony.

Humility is reserved for teammates. When facing opponents, Anderson is still the rebellious boy.

Although the two sides did not break out as serious a fight as before, this time the league imposed an additional suspension and fine on Anderson.

Within the ten-day short contract, Anderson had two consecutive conflicts with others. Although there were reasons for both incidents, the league will consider aggravating the punishment in terms of warnings.

Generally speaking, teams will cater to the league, and such players will basically be unemployed.

But the Bulls themselves have not benefited from any penalty this season, and they have been severely targeted by the league, so there is no reason to cater to them.

So after this wave of penalties, the Bulls reacted as follows:

First of all, Xu Yong paid the fine that he didn't help pay last time.

Secondly, after Anderson's ten-day contract expired, the Bulls renewed his contract until the end of the season.

Is there any problem with this operation?
completely fine.

But this obviously didn't follow Stern's wishes.

But in addition to not wanting to cater, the Bulls are indeed satisfied with Anderson.

Because since James Johnson was traded, they need to have such a "hitter" role.

Although Artest is also a ruthless character, he is a starting player after all. In comparison, Anderson is obviously more suitable.

Just this way, the Bulls will enter the playoffs with seven big men.

This quantity can already summon a divine dragon.

However, considering that O'Neal will not return until at least the second round of the playoffs, this configuration is not overflowing.

And although the current small forwards of the Bulls only have Artest and Battier, and the configuration is a bit thin, Xu Yong is very capable and often swings to the third position, so this is completely sufficient.

Anderson also worked hard. Although he didn't play much time, he tried his best every second he played, blocking shots, violent dunks, and flying to save the ball. His passion not only infected the fans at the United Center, but also infected his Bulls teammates. .

It can be said that although he joined the team not long ago, he quickly became the team's "team favorite".

With the return of Rose and Yao Ming, the Bulls also finished the season with an eight-game winning streak.

The 2011~2012 season, an atypical shortened season, a wonderful season with frequent injuries but plenty of highlights due to summer trades, finally came to an end.

At this time, the playoff rankings that the outside world is most concerned about have finally come to an end after a fierce battle for positions.

In the Western Conference, the Lakers worked hard in the second half and finally overtook the Thunder and reached the top of the Western Conference.

Their record is fixed at 53 wins and 13 losses.

In terms of statistics, Kobe had an MVP-level season, averaging 27.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.4 steals per game. He shot a career-high 47.2% from the field and 35% from three-point range.

It is no exaggeration to say that this is Kobe's best season since the 2007~2008 MVP season.

The addition of Paul made Kobe Bryant's game easier and achieved the highest efficiency of his career.

Paul also averaged 19.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 10.7 assists per game, a significant improvement compared to the past two seasons.

The Lakers' summer trade was undoubtedly very successful.

The Thunder finished second with a record of 51 wins and 15 losses.

Although they failed to maintain the first position in the end, the Thunder actually did not perform much worse than the Lakers.

杜兰特也在加索尔和哈登的辅助下，打出了生涯最高效的赛季。他场均能贡献28分8板3.5助攻1.3抢断1.2盖帽，投篮命中率高达50.6%，三分球命中率也有38.7%。

Kobe and Durant, even without James and Xu Yong, the competition between these two for MVP is already a fight between gods.

哈登也在自己的第一个首发赛季交出了21.8分4.9板5.2助攻1.6抢断的表现，49.1%的投篮命中率和39%的三分球命中率，同样也都是生涯新高。

The Mavericks are ranked third with a record of 45 wins and 21 losses.

Nowitzki's performance of 22.4 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game has declined slightly compared to last season.

However, Leonard's performance surprised the Dallas people. He played in 64 games, including 48 starts, averaging 9.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.5 steals per game, shooting 49.3% from the field and 38% from three-point range.

Without much possession of the ball, this is already the performance of a top 3D player.

And he averaged less than one turnover per game, which are excellent statistics for a rookie.

Although it is still too early to say that he is the most successful draft pick since Nowitzki was drafted, he was definitely underrated in the 2011 draft.

The Spurs are fourth with 42 wins.

Although there is no Leonard, the existence of Duncan and GDP still allows them to maintain their everlasting competitiveness.

The Grizzlies, Nuggets, Hornets, and Clippers ranked 5th to 8th.

So here’s the first-round matchup in the West:

The playoff derby between the Lakers and Clippers reappears after many years. Although there is a strength gap between the two teams, with Griffin, this series will be full of fun to watch;

The meeting between the Thunder and the Hornets was also full of gimmicks. Westbrook led the team to face his old club in the first season after being traded. It is hard to say that it was not fate;
There shouldn’t be much suspense about the results between the Mavericks and Nuggets. In contrast, fans are more looking forward to Leonard’s performance in the playoffs;
The encounter between the Spurs and the Grizzlies is also very interesting. Whether the Spurs, who were hacked last season, can complete their revenge this season is worthy of attention.

Next is the east side.

The Bulls' record ended up being the same as the Lakers', both 53 wins and 13 losses.

Yes, Xu Yong fulfilled his promise to Thibodeau. Although the Bulls suffered frequent injuries, he still led the team to first place in the Eastern Conference.

No, it's not just the first place in the Eastern Conference. Because of the relationship between the wins and losses of the Lakers, the Bulls' final record was even first in the league.

徐永打满了66场，场均得到28.3分6.5篮板4.9助攻2.4抢断1.4盖帽，48.8%的命中率，38.3%的三分球命中率。

Among them, his scoring average ranked first in the league, and incidentally also interrupted Durant's "three consecutive" scoring championship.

Statistically speaking, Xu Yong has grown by leaps and bounds this year, and he also scored 50+ points for the first time in his career, and 40+ points back to back.

All of this is directly linked to the Bulls' frequent injuries this season.

But it's not just injuries, because he averaged a terrifying 42.6 minutes per game this season.

This is the real Thibodeau, fuck him to death.

You must know that in the past ten years, only one player has played more minutes in a season than this, Iverson.

艾弗森在2001~2002赛季，以及2005~2006赛季，场均出场时间分别达到43.7分钟，以及43.1分钟。

Well, there is still room for improvement in Seo Yong's playing time.

Rose only played 39 games due to injuries, averaging 21 points, 3.4 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game, with a 43.5% shooting percentage and a 36.1% three-point shooting percentage. Except for the three-point shooting percentage, other statistics are more obvious than last season. of decline.

姚明同样也因为伤病只打了40场，不过他的表现和上赛季基本持平，场均18.2分8.9板3.3助攻2.1盖帽，投篮命中率56.8%。

The Heat ranked second with a record of 49 wins and 17 losses.

A very interesting thing is that after the Heat and Bulls met for the third time this season, the Heat's performance declined significantly.

Of course, this has something to do with Wade's absence. Wade ended up playing only 49 games this season.

数据方面，詹姆斯场均27.6分8.2篮板7.3助攻1.9抢断1.1盖帽，53.1%的命中率，以及36.1%的三分球命中率。

If you only look at the data, James only gives people two impressions: efficient and versatile.

So although the final record is weaker, James is still the favorite for MVP.

Of course, Wade was in a worse situation. Although he was not elected MVP last year, he still ranked seventh in the final vote.

This year, although his 49.7% shooting rate is almost the same as last season, his 22.1 points per game are the lowest since his rookie season, and his 4.8 rebounds are 1.6 fewer than last season, all of which come from backcourt rebounds. .

Even the average of 2.6 turnovers per game is the lowest since his rookie season. This does not mean that his turnover control has suddenly become better, but that he obviously has less possession of the ball.

Bosh's scoring also dropped to 18 points, and his rebounds were a little less than last season, and they were all in the backcourt.

Ranked third was the Pacers, who ended up with 40 wins.

Although David West did not go to the Pacers, Boozer's playing style and ability are not much different.

The Celtics are fourth with 39 wins.

The performance of the Big Three this season has fully verified the principle of "the centipede is dead but not stiff".

Rondo doesn't know if it's because he was used as a bargaining chip during the offseason, but he has produced the best statistics of his career this season, averaging 11.9 points, 11.7 assists and 2 steals per game.

In addition, the Celtics also had one big change. Because Kwame Brown suffered an injury during the season, Rivers chose to let Garnett play the fifth position and start with Brandon Bass.

This was originally a helpless move, but unexpectedly the effect turned out to be surprisingly good.

You must know that as Garnett gets older, his movement speed declines, and his defensive coverage also declines. It is difficult to help defend from one side of the half to the other as before.

But by playing the fifth position and assisting defense on both sides, the area for assisting defense is restored.

Moreover, he can open up space on the offensive end, and the Celtics' positional warfare style is obviously more layered than before.

Coupled with the growth of second-year guard Avery Bradley, the Celtics' combat effectiveness has been significantly improved compared to last season.

It's just that it's hard for old guys like them to avoid injuries in a season like this. Except for Kwame Brown, who didn't come back until the end of the season, Ray Allen also only played 46 games due to injury.

Therefore, although the Celtics are ranked fourth, they are still the second-largest team in the Eastern Conference after the Bulls and Heat.

The fifth to eighth teams are the Hawks, Magic, Number Man, and Knicks.

First-round matchups here in the East:
The Bulls faced the Knicks. The two teams had been rivals since the Jordan era. The conflict at the end of this season only continued the feud. When they met in the playoffs, they could be considered enemies;
Heat VS Digital Man. The digital man's team play style is limited by the low talent limit, but they are still something no one wants to encounter in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Heat are as lucky as last year's Bulls;
The Pacers and Magic should be the least suspenseful matchup in the Eastern Conference, because Howard still played injured after executing the player option, and ended up directly reimbursing himself for the season. The Pacers took a ready advantage.

The matchup between the Celtics and the Hawks will be suspenseful. Although the Hawks are weaker than the Celtics overall, they win because of their youth and impact.

……

The first-round matchup in the Eastern Conference is confirmed, against the Knicks without Chandler, which is a good result for the Bulls.

At least with last year's experience as a comparison, it will definitely be much easier than doing numbers.

However, one thing is different in history, that is, after listening to Xu Yong's advice, Jeremy Lin checked his knee in advance and took some targeted measures and treatment. It was not reimbursed for the season like in history.

Therefore, this wave can be regarded as a mistake. The change of direction made his first-round opponent a little stronger.

Of course, the Bulls are No. [-] in the Eastern Conference, and playing eighth in the Eastern Conference has a gap in strength. This change will not affect them too much.

But just before the playoffs started, the Bulls encountered another bad news.

Rose has pain in his right leg. Although no major problems have been found during examination, he is expected to miss about three games. 【Note 18】

Xu Yong was already very calm when he learned the news.

Speaking of which, Rose has encountered injuries even more frequently than Yao Ming this season, but the reality is this.

It's hard to persuade the damn ghost with good words, and the great mercy will not save him from death.

But thinking on the bright side, if he remembered correctly, Rose was seriously injured in the first round against the digital man. He was leading by a big score but was left on the court by Thibodeau. Now he doesn't play the digital man in the first round, and he doesn't play the digital man in the first three games. Fight, maybe Rose won't be seriously injured.

And even without Rose and Yao Ming able to play, the Bulls' overall strength is still very strong, and beating the Knicks is no problem.

But the Knicks don't seem to think so.

When the news of Rose's injury spread, not only New York fans, but also Anthony, one of the protagonists of the last conflict, was excited.

"The miracle of black eight has happened in the past two seasons, and this time it is our turn."

This confident statement was of course questioned by reporters. After all, the Bulls are the defending champions.

"Our strength is not in this position. Amare (Stahlmeyer), Marcus (Camby), including myself, have also suffered injuries, but now we are all healthy. We are seriously underestimated. We can Beat the Bulls."

Anthony's confidence comes from the Knicks' roster.

Jeremy Lin, Anthony, Staalmeyer, Camby, as well as Baron Davis, JR Smith, Iman Shumpert and so on.

On paper, the Knicks are a team that ranks in the top half of the Eastern Conference.

Anthony's remarks sparked heated discussions among fans on social media.

"Averaging 22.5 points per game and shooting a career-low 43.0% from the field. Yes, the poor condition can be attributed to injuries, but after a bad season, Anthony spoke as if he would suddenly break out in the playoffs. ” Comment from “KBforever”.

"Last season, Anthony shot an astonishing 37% from the field in the playoffs, and his team was swept by the Heat. The Heat were finally swept by the Bulls. Now he says he can beat the Bulls, so confident!"

"I would rather believe that the Clippers beat the Lakers than the Knicks have any chance. Xu defeated the Thunder without Rose and Yao. Unless Xu is injured, I can't think of the second way the Knicks win. Method."

……

This time the rhetoric on social media was almost one-sided.

In fact, Anthony's remarks were not only discussed on social media, but also discussed by many players in reality.

Because last year, the digital man who was considered to have a chance to black eight was finally swept cleanly by the Bulls.

The players' attitudes are not much different from those on social media, but one person's remarks are completely different from the mainstream voices.

That's right, it's Anthony's close friend, the middle child of the Banana Boat Brothers.

That's right, he's the second eldest. Among the four Banana Boat brothers, the eldest is Anthony, who has a gang background.

When the eldest brother is questioned, the second eldest brother must stand up and support him.

This is also in line with James' character.

"The fans are the audience's perspective. Only the words of the players are more authentic. I have played against the Knicks. They are a very difficult team to play against when they are healthy. Yes, the Bulls are the stronger team. But their lineup is not complete, and I think the Knicks have a great chance."

James's remarks are extremely smart.

Because he did not deny the strength of the Bulls. After all, the Heat were swept last season. To deny the Bulls is to deny himself.

He presented a new player perspective and addressed the fact that the Bulls' lineup was uneven.

This sounds reasonable at first glance, but just like the championships won by James in history, it cannot withstand scrutiny.

Because he neither talked about the Bulls' actual performance in Rose's absence nor the attitudes of other players, this was an information gap.

However, this wave killed two birds with one stone for him. It supported his brother and established his character, and allowed Anthony to try his best to consume the Bulls in the first round, and he was still Smart.

The Bulls did not respond verbally to Anthony and James' remarks.

Because if you respond verbally, they will lose.

However, Xu Yong's reaction to Anthony's arrogant attitude was simple.

Before the playoffs officially started, he approached Thibodeau in a training session and made a request.

"I'll guard Anthony."

Since Anthony likes to scream so much, just prevent him from shutting up.

You must know that Stoudemire can still play at this time, and Anthony is still a standard small forward, so he will not suffer at all against Xu Yong.

Thibodeau naturally had no reason to refuse such a request.

What?Does the team still need to rely on Xu Yong for offense?

Yao Ming can play, but the old Cambie and the half-disabled Stoudemire are really not enough for Yao Ming.

What's more, with Xu Yong's physical fitness, I don't need to do any multiple-choice questions when playing against a team like the Knicks. I want all of them on offense and defense.

In fact, not only Xu Yong, but also the members of the Bulls are also eager to try.

Because there is a high probability that the Celtics will be played in the semi-finals, and it will probably be a tough battle, so in the first round everyone is planning to hold back and let you win one or two games, as long as you pass smoothly.

But since Anthony is jumping like this, he won't stop and will beat him to death.

But just before the playoffs officially start, the Bulls have a little surprise.

The first batch of awards for this year's season, the Best Sixth Man Award, the Most Improved Award and the Best Coach Award will be announced before then.

Thibodeau was the best coach last year, so this year he definitely has no share with the Bulls. In the end, it was given to Lakers head coach Mike Brown. He defeated Heat head coach Spoelstra in the selection. .

Spoelstra was not elected. In addition to the fact that the Big Three lineup was too eye-catching, the more important thing was the record.

The Lakers finally overcame the Thunder, and Brown deserves this honor.

It is worth mentioning that this is also the second time in Brown's career that he has won this honor.

Well, the last time was when I was coaching James in the 08-09 season.

Sixth Man of the Year went to Philadelphia's Lou Williams.

And the Most Improved Award, yes, was given to Xu Yong.

Xu Yong averaged 23.4 points per game last season, which increased directly to 28.3 points this season, an increase of almost 5 points.

This is different from the kind of rookies or fringe players who are suddenly reused in the new season and whose statistics increase significantly. Xu Yong is himself the core, and then a [super evolution] occurs.

So although this award is generally not awarded to stars, Xu Yong really deserves it.

After this wave of small surprises, this year's playoffs also began.

On the first game day, the Bulls and Celtics in the top half of the Eastern Conference, and the Lakers and Spurs in the top half of the Western Conference will all play.

And because of the time difference, the east side will start first.

The Chicago United Center was packed with fans inside the arena, and fans gathered outside the arena as well.

Anthony may have instinctively overlooked a key point when he said this.

It is true that Anthony has a gang background, but he forgot that Chicago is a gang city.

When a gangster from New York arrives in Chicago, he must lie down like a dragon or a tiger.

So in this battle, if Anthony dares to do what he did in Madison before, the Knicks' bus may not be able to return to the hotel after the game.

During the pre-game warm-up, live cameras showed Anthony and the United Center was booed.

Obviously, Anthony will enjoy the SVIP treatment that belongs to Chicago fans during tonight's game.

Anthony didn't care.

Since he said that, he had already expected such a scene.

From his point of view, he boosted the morale of the team, which was worth it.

Of course, this was what he thought. Judging from the pressure building on the faces of the Knicks players, the situation seemed to be slightly different from what he thought.

But don't worry about such details. Even James supports him. There is no reason why he can't win the game in front of him.

Before the opening ceremony, an award ceremony was held on site, and Xu Yong received his little surprise, the trophy for the Most Improved Award.

Regarding this award, there is a legend among the people, that is, the curse of the [Most Improved Award], which means that the performance of those who win this award will soon deteriorate, or even disappear from the league.

The last person to test this theory was Aaron Brooks.

Xu Yong naturally does not believe in this kind of thing at all. This is clearly a survivor bias. More of the Most Improved Award winners have become All-Star level players.

Not to mention, Love last season is now the core of the Timberwolves.

Of course, he didn't pay much attention to the trophy. After the award ceremony, he threw it to Butler at the end of the bench for safekeeping.

Then, he also set a small goal for Butler: get one before the end of his rookie contract.

Butler was instantly motivated after hearing this. He can't work hard enough to win a championship, but he can definitely win this.

Immediately afterwards, there is the opening ceremony.

Visiting Knicks: Jeremy Lin, Landry Fields, Anthony, Stoudemire, Camby.

Then when the home team Bulls played, the cheers produced by the fans tonight directly shook the eardrums.

The Bulls' starters came on stage one after another.

Yao Ming, Hinrich, Gibson, Artest, and finally Xu Yong stood up and let the cheers reach its peak.

(End of this chapter)