Basketball UFO

Chapter 25 Want to win
"SLAM" magazine also arranged an exclusive interview with Carter.

"This year's Nets are much better than last season. What has changed?"

Carter looked relaxed, "The team is on the right path, the management has been adjusting the team, Calipari is a great coach, he let us find the right way to win. I am also improving, I Will lead this team to be more solid.”

"The goal is to reach the playoffs?" The beautiful reporter Jamil turned her head sideways, pretending to be cute, showing her big white teeth and big white rabbit.

"Yes, making the playoffs is our goal. The team is working hard. Even if it is in the top eight now, it is still not solid. It is almost halfway through the season. What will happen in the future. Nobody knows."

"What is your goal for entering the NBA?"

"My short-term goal is to lead the team into the playoffs. Of course, my personal goal is to win a championship that belongs to me. This is the direction I am working hard."

Back then, Michael Jordan’s goal was to be in an All-Star. When he entered the All-Star for the first time, he wore a dog’s head gold chain, dressed coquettishly, proving that his fashion concept was rubbish, but he attached great importance to the All-Star journey of.

Kobe's goal was to be the best athlete he could be.LeBron James' goal is to become No.1 in history. When he was about to enter the NBA in high school, he set his ambition.

Jameel continued to ask Carter, "Your dunk has become a hot topic among fans. Will you participate in this year's All-Star Dunk Contest?"

"I don't plan to participate this year. It depends on the situation in the future." Carter smiled. "Actually, I'm not a general."

I'm not a dunk!
Jamil almost choked on this sentence.Fans first knew Carter because of dunks. If there were no explosive and coquettish dunks, Carter would be just a strong rookie, not a star.

But with the blessing of dunks, Carter immediately became a star.

Iverson's breakthrough has gradually become a signature; Carter's dunk is also a personal signature.

"Do you usually have any entertainment?" Jamil expanded the content of the interview to life.

Carter has several endorsements on his back. Adidas and Converse have paid 8500 million US dollars in endorsement fees.Currently, Playboy and CK are in talks, and it is estimated that there is also a million dollar endorsement fee.

Carter thought about it, and said that going out to the nightclub to have fun is definitely not appropriate, and we only go there occasionally, not in nightclubs every day.In addition, playing poker with girls with hot bodies seems to be hard to say, and their hobbies are more common than men's.

"It should be playing games. I will play some computer games after the competition."

Jamil laughed, not expecting this big boy to be so cute.I also like to play computer games. After the 80s, computers began to rise. After win95, computers began to enter the homes of ordinary people. They are still new products.

"What game are you playing? I heard recently that Red Alert is quite popular and many players like it."

"Yes, it's Red Alert 1, it should be the work of Westwood."

"Oh, it sounds interesting. I haven't been exposed to it yet. But you can give it a try and you can teach me some other time."

At the end of the interview, Jamil said softly to Carter, "Do you have a mobile phone number? I mean, a private number."

"No problem, contact me when you have time." Carter didn't want to have a bad relationship with the beautiful reporter with a bulging front and back. Who knows if she would report randomly.

It's all for a better life in the league. Carter is willing to bow his head, and the younger brother is willing to raise his head.

Soon, news spread that Carter would not participate in the dunk contest.

Many fans regretted, "This All-Star Weekend, if Carter doesn't participate in the slam dunk contest, then the slam dunk contest is really nothing to watch."

"No, five players have already signed up, and they also have beautiful dunks."

"No matter how beautiful it is, can it look better than Carter's dunk? Carter's dunk is the most beautiful and explosive dunk."

Kobe saw the players who had signed up for the slam dunk contest, and regretted that Carter did not sign up. "It's a pity that we can't meet him in the slam dunk contest."

After thinking about it, Kobe immediately signed up with the league and will also participate in the dunk contest.

"I will win the slam dunk contest, this is my first championship, and I will win countless championships." Kobe Bryant secretly vowed that he can't wait to succeed and want to prove himself.

Finally, when the second round of voting came to an end, all the players participating in the slam dunk contest also appeared.Mike Finley of the Mavericks, Bob Sura of the Cavaliers, Devin Hamm of the Nuggets and Chris Karl of the Timberwolves have already signed up.

As a rookie, Ray Allen of the Bucks also signed up, and he also wanted to prove himself.Milwaukee is high and cold, and there is no attention. Only by participating in such activities can newcomers be promoted.

Since then, the six-man lineup for the dunk contest has been formed.

All players who signed up for the three-point shooting contest also showed up, more players than signed up for the dunk contest.Sonics players Dale Ellis and Sam Perkins, Washington Bullets player Tim Legler, Pistons player Terry Mills, Hornets player Glenn Rice, one of the Jazz John Stockton, Raptors player Walter Williams, and Bulls player Steve Kerr, a total of 8 people participated.

Steve Kerr is participating in the competition for the 4th time, and he has participated in it for four consecutive years. He has not won the three-pointer championship in the previous 3 times.Lost to Mark Price, Glenn Rice and Tim Legler, who were also opponents in this match.

In addition, American media, retired players and ordinary people are selecting the 50 best NBA players in 50 years.This year happens to be the 50th anniversary of the founding of the NBA. Such votes also have certain representative significance.

It made this year's All-Star Game more inspiring and attracted a lot of attention.

The All-Star weekend game will not start until February 2th, and it is still in the voting period for All-Star players.

Throughout January, the Nets adjusted their tactics and continued to give opportunities to inside players.The record has risen steadily.

The main reason is that Carter still has good personal data. The team's record has exceeded 50%, ranking seventh in the Eastern Conference. However, the season is still long, and the playoffs may not be guaranteed.The Magic and Bullets behind can surpass at any time.

"The Nets have seen the problem of the inside line, and they hope to polish the inside line stronger through half a season." American media such as TNT and ESPN have paid attention to the changes in the Nets, "But judging from the record of the Nets, although The post players put up good numbers, but it's harder for them to win, and they need Carter to get crazy numbers to win."

"Carter has been crazy on the outside. He has won the Rookie of the Month again, but the Nets seem to be on the wrong path." Commentators are not optimistic about the Nets' game rhythm.

It's better to learn from the Bulls, the offense and defense are integrated on the outside, and weaker inside can also make up for it.

"Sean Bradley averaged a double-double, 12 points and 10 rebounds per game. He is very beautiful. For a player of his level, it is almost the limit. If the Nets want to go further, they must continue to strengthen the inside. At least find a better player. Strong interior scorer."

"Inside scorers are the treasures of every team. How can they be so easy to get. Trading is not easy. Is there anyone in the Nets who is suitable for trading?"

Of course, it is okay to find teams with internal problems. There are often conflicts between players, players and management.

The media is not optimistic about the inside line of the Nets.Even on the outside, Carter is still too young to prove himself.And generally rookies will hit the rookie wall. If other teams study their personal characteristics, they will struggle.

The first game in February, another national broadcast.

The Nets played against the Detroit Pistons at home.

The Pistons are currently 32 wins and 11 losses, ranking 6th in the East, and the Nets are 30 wins and 12 losses, ranking 7th in the East, so this game is a showdown between playoff teams.

Pistons coach Doug Collins was full of confidence before the game, "The Pistons will win, and we have found a way to limit Carter. He always plays with the ball facing the frame, and his back is mainly retreating, lacking confrontation. And when breaking through, I am used to breaking through to the right. With these characteristics, we will carry out targeted defense."

To directly expose Carter's weaknesses is not to make things easier for the Nets.As soon as this remark came out, other teams in the league would follow the Pistons' defensive approach, making Carter uncomfortable.

"My task is to defend Vince Carter, but more importantly, to lead the team to victory." Grant Hill also expressed his position.He didn't say much, he was smiling, gentlemanly.

Grant Hill is 203 tall and plays as a small forward, even a power forward.He is taller than Carter and has been famous for many years. The first generation of "Jordan's successor" has impeccable skills and image.

Facing the reporter's words, Carter shrugged, "Knowing and doing it are two different things. Who can say for sure about things in the game?"

No matter how upset I was, I couldn't say it directly.He hasn't won the honor yet, so if he pretends to be aggressive at this time, he will only become a laughing stock.

Calipari has also been troubled recently. While caring about the team's record, he has to give enough opportunities to the inside players to let them play good numbers.I don't know when the John Nash deal will be finalized.

"I believe in Vince, he will solve these problems." Calipari pretended to laugh at the reporter, and he was not ignorant of Carter's playing habits.

These all take time to solve. Carter is practicing more every day, and he is polishing his skills. It cannot be done in a day or two.However, he felt that after Carter's technique was refined, he could quickly solidify and use it on the court.

As long as you walk down the road, you will definitely see the dawn.

The game is about to start, and the Rutgers Athletic Center is crowded with gongs and drums, and nearly 2 fans enter the stadium.

Recently, the team's record has risen, and Carter's performance has been amazing. The team's occupancy rate has climbed to more than 90%. If there is a better record, the bosses will feel more comfortable.At least to reach the playoffs, the team can charge a few more tickets for the game, which is a benefit of several million dollars.

After Carter appeared, all the cheers reached their climax.

The Pistons players have been through battles for a long time and will not be affected, appearing very calm.For the Pistons, the starting five played.

Center Theo Tralliff, who is still a second-year rookie, averaged only 5.8 points and 3.4 rebounds per game, and he didn't play for a long time.Power forward Otis Thorpe, a veteran who has been in the league for nearly 12 years, averaged 13.1 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.

Precisely because the inside line is also weak, the Pistons have not been able to make a name for themselves in recent years.

The position of the small forward is the ace of the Pistons Grant Hill, averaging 21.4 points, 9 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game. His quasi-triple-double performance has attracted countless attention.

The shooting guard is Joe Dumas. After Isiah Thomas left the team, veteran Joe Dumas was tasked with leading the newcomers and averaged 14.7 points and 4 assists per game.The point guard is Lynch Hunter, who also averaged 14 points per game.

The backcourt is stronger than the frontcourt, similar to the configuration of the Nets.

For the Nets, the starting lineup has no choice but to change.

Center Sean Bradley, with a height of 229, is ridiculously tall.The starting power forward has always been Jason Williams, and Carter is at the small forward position. So far this season, he has averaged 27.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game, which is also extremely comprehensive.

The shooting guard is Kendall Gill. Because the tactical core has shifted to Carter, he only averaged 13.5 points per game this season and his performance is average.

The point guard is Sam Cassell. The aliens have performed well this season, averaging 19.1 points and 7.2 assists per game. They have already controlled the offensive and defensive rhythm of the Nets.Cassell is Carter's best helper in the Nets.

Relying on his height advantage, Sean Brad dialed the ball first and gave it to Cassell.

In the half-court offense, Carter touched the ball for the first time and faced Grant Hill outside the three-point line. He took a tentative step, and the opponent did not hesitate.

He took advantage of the situation and lobbed the ball to Bradley. Bradley quickly took a half-step and hit a small side hook before Tel Rive exerted his strength.

Scored the first successful goal for the team.

Looking back, Hill called a pick-and-roll, broke into the paint, moved around, and made a basket.

Hill didn't say anything, and returned to the half court to continue defending.He is not a player who likes to provoke opponents, and he lacks a bit of a flamboyant personality.

Hill faced Carter with his arms outstretched for wide coverage.

Carter also called a pick-and-roll this time, and Williams came out and followed Carter's rhythm.Carter dribbled the ball behind his back, turned around and bypassed Grant Hill, and handed it to Bradley on the inside. Bradley dunked with one arm after receiving the ball.

"The pick-and-roll is indeed easier, without exerting force." Carter smiled slightly, provoking Hill.

It's a pity that Hill, being a gentleman, ignored Carter's provocation and continued to play his ball.Hill also assisted his teammates this time, and both sides had good shooting percentages in the opening game.

The defensive intensity was not very high. Both sides played very smoothly in the first quarter. The score went up and down. It was very lively.

"Don't you feel uncomfortable if you don't talk when you play?" Carter communicated with Hill again, hoping to make him feel emotional.

Grant Hill smiled slightly, "My mission is to play ball, not to hit people."

The Pistons bad boy army only hits people, and Grant Hill's Pistons are good boys.

Joe Dumars couldn't stand it, and walked towards Carter at the end of the first quarter, "Vince, not everyone will be provoked. There are many kinds of players, and not everyone is talkative."

"You can see clearly." Carter responded with a smile.

Joe Dumars is a good character, and there is no malice in reminding Carter.

But Carter wanted to win and tried every means to win!

(End of this chapter)