Basketball UFO

Chapter 50 First Round Series
(This is a big chapter. I have too much work and my body has not fully recovered. I will continue tomorrow. Please support!)
"The playoffs are a stage for stars. I believe Michael Jordan will continue his dominance." TNT host Ernie Johnson faced the audience with confidence, "Although the Bulls have encountered difficulties, their strength is still outstanding. Heroes."

In the media's evaluation, the Bulls are the most favored and have the highest odds of winning.Then there is the Rockets in the Western Conference. As long as the combination of the three veterans does not encounter physical problems, they can still solve their opponents.

In terms of odds, the Heat, Knicks, and Jazz are all at the forefront.The Nets are at the end.

"The biggest problem with the Nets is that they are too young. Vince Carter is only a rookie, and the players on the team do not have enough playoff experience." Except for Cassell, others have almost never played in the playoffs.

Rasheed is only a second-year rookie. Williams has never played in the playoffs whether he was in the 76ers or the Nets... Kendall Gill is better. He has played a total of 12 playoff games in the Hornets and SuperSonics. Both were defeated by a score of 1:3, and they were also a member of the Losers League.

The others are lackluster. Even if they have played in the playoffs, they are players who appear in garbage time.

Carter is leading the team to strengthen training, and the personnel budget is about 70 US dollars per year. At the beginning, he bought a bunch of training and body monitoring equipment, which is really expensive.

If there is no financial support, there is really no way for players to organize a decent personal team.

"Vince, this playoffs, we must keep you healthy." Mark Collins, as the captain of the team, took the initiative to promise.

"There are no eyes on the court, and injuries are normal. But I will try my best to protect myself." He doesn't want to be stepped on, so he often lands on his non-powerful foot.

He shoots with his right hand, basically jumps with his left foot, and often moves in the air. It is common for him to land with his left and right feet, and he is more used to landing with his right foot first, just leaving the shooting location.

"Health is the biggest prerequisite. Without good health, no matter how talented you are, you won't be able to realize it." Dick specializes in offense and is confident in Carter's offensive ability with the ball. He has already planned to give Carter special training in the offseason.

They have watched all of Carter's game videos, in addition to NBA game videos, as well as college and even high school game videos, and found that Carter has undergone miraculous changes since graduating from high school. During Wake Forest University, he showed extraordinary performance. of maturity.

Usually quiet, he suddenly broke out in the NCAA Final Four and helped the team win the NCAA championship.What's even more frightening is that Carter preserved his strength during college and slowly released it after entering the NBA.

"Guys, follow me from now on, we will become the best team." Carter invited the team to have dinner together.

Eating is mainly about communication. As for what to eat, no one cares.Communicating through buffets is a habit of Waiguoren.

The Nets are also training in a targeted manner to increase the proportion of mid-range shots.

The Eagles are very strong inside, and the Nets must study.In fact, the Eagles are equally strong outside, Steve Smith has the strength of an All-Star, Mookie Blaylock is the league's steal leader, and Tyrone Corbin is strong, full-time defensive, and he will follow Carter crazily.

[The Hawks will enter the second round and meet the Bulls] ESPN clearly supports the Hawks.

[The Nets made the playoffs and rushed to No.5, which is already their limit. The Eagles will let the Nets go home to fish] Local newspapers in Atlanta are frantically campaigning.

Even the New York media is not optimistic about the Nets. [In any case, the Eagles are stronger and will definitely defeat the Nets if they perform normally. 】

[I hope Carter can perform well and win a game, otherwise the Nets will be swept]

The Hawks are very strong in the front and rear courts. Compared with the Nets players position by position, the Nets only have Carter as their strength. Kassel also has an advantage in experience, and the other positions are not as good as the Hawks.Especially on the bench, Robert Parker has no advantage.

"Guys, even if the outside world is not optimistic about us, we must do our best to let everyone see." Calipari encouraged his teammates to make them blind, "This is the team you are fighting for, and it will not be weaker than the Atlanta Hawks , we can totally beat them."

"You go ahead and fight, and I will take the responsibility." When Carter was lecturing, he said the most important sentence.

He is the boss of the team and takes the initiative to take responsibility for the team's performance.

"At the beginning of the season, no one believed that we would reach the playoffs. Now we are already a member of the playoffs. Now, no one believes that we can reach the second round. I believe that we will create history. Let all those who look down on the basketball team Everyone who uses the Internet will be slapped in the face." Carter's speech was very inflammatory, and the others were very excited to hear it, and their blood boiled.

"Vince, I will definitely knock Mutombo down." Rasheed opened his mouth and started firing.

Williams glanced at him in distaste. He didn't even dare to say that, Rasheed dared to say that.Massenberg had a sad look on his face, no way, these people have raised the tone so high, wouldn’t it mean that he would be ravaged during garbage time?

No matter what, if Carter wants to win the game, the Nets players will follow.Stocks have been rising recently, and it’s still time to make a fortune.

Seeing the account balance increase every day, the work motivation will come.

The crowd dispersed, and Cassell privately chattered to Carter, "It's not easy to deal with the Hawks. They are better than the Nets. Only with your super performance can you defeat the Hawks."

"As long as Dikembe Mutombo and Christian Laettner are restricted inside, I will find a way to win the game." Carter said not fast, thinking carefully about every word.

Seeing Kendall Gill walking over, Carter waved, "Kendall, the series is up to you!"

Kendall Gill came over and smiled, "I will guard Steve Smith, he is not the steal leader." Mookie Blaylock is the steal leader.

Kendall spoke and looked at Cassell, "Watch your hand with the ball. I haven't won a playoff series yet."

"Hey, don't worry, I have two championship rings." Cassel retorted, "Just don't embarrass me on the defensive end. I don't have time to help you defend."

Carter smiled and watched the two teammates fight each other. The atmosphere of the team is really good.Tell Kendall, "You can also compete for the steals title. I believe you will succeed next season."

"I will try my best, and I have experience in stealing." Kendall Gill moved his fingers, his middle finger and ring finger together, shaking up and down quickly, "This will make the opponent collapse."

"Gan, have you watched too many Japanese movies?" Cassel is a veteran, and he can see the meaning at a glance.

"If you win this series, I'll invite you to the Gold Club to enjoy it." Carter threw out the bait.

Players play football, except for money, they are just playing, they don't have so many ideals and beliefs, they are all bullshit, live a good life first, and then think about other things.Every great player begins to think about greatness only after he has no worries about food and clothing.

On April 4, the 24-1996 season NBA playoffs officially started.

The games between the Nets against the Eagles, the Bulls against the Magic, and the Lakers against the Trail Blazers will not start until the 25th.

Belonging to Carter's first playoff game, he took the Nets to Atlanta to challenge the Hawks away, but there was no victory.Under the miraculous performance of Mutombo and Laettner, the Hawks won the playoffs and got off to a good start.

Mutombo scored 26 points and 16 rebounds, including 5 offensive rebounds. He dominated the paint and blocked 3 shots.Laettner had 18 points and 9 rebounds, beating Jason Williams.

The Nets' interior players combined for only 26 points, which was the same as Mutombo's score.

"We almost overturned. Fortunately, the Nets failed to score at the last moment." Eagles coach Lenny Wilkens was terrified. "Carter was unstoppable. He led the Nets to almost win at our home court."

His teammates showed hip stretching, and Carter's performance in this game was particularly brave. He wanted to win a good start, but he didn't get what he wanted.

But the data exploded, scoring 37 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, but still failed to lead the team to a victory.

Mutombo was also nervous, "Vince Carter's performance was beyond imagination. If they hadn't failed to score inside at the last moment, we would have been defeated."

A little excited, but fortunately Rasheed made a mistake at the critical moment, otherwise the Eagles would not have won the home victory.

Eagles 99:98 Nets, 1 point difference, is the playoff victory.

Faced with the failure, Carter was very depressed, but in front of reporters, he still shouldered the responsibility of being the boss and looked determined.

"It's my responsibility for the team to lose. I could choose to shoot directly, but unfortunately I didn't do it. Because Rashid was too tired. He faced a super defensive player today. It was very difficult. I don't blame him. .”

The reporter also reminded Carter that he set a scoring record for a rookie in his first playoff game and was the first rookie player to create a triple-double.

He created a triple-double for the first time in the playoffs and set a new scoring record. This is Carter.The previous record was Chamberlain's 35 points, and Carter surpassed Chamberlain on this small record.The first triple-double in the playoffs, it is not known when it will be broken.

"Data has no value to me. I just want the team to win. Victory is the pursuit of the whole team. If I personally score 100 points, and then the team loses, I will not be happy. I would rather score 20 Points, team wins.”

Carter looked upright and only wanted victory, not data.

Calipari is not so depressed. He knows that the team can compete with the Hawks. Among this team, only Cassell has enough playoff experience, and no other players, especially Carter.

Losing is also a process of growth.

"We haven't lost the playoffs. The team will look for problems and solve them in the past two days." Calipari said slowly, "The Eagles are a strong team, and the interior defense is particularly good. It won't be easy, but we have the ambition to win."

Carter walked into the locker room, and everyone else left. Only Rasheed Wallace was left, motionless, like a zombie, and the wheezing sounds could be heard.

"Why don't you even turn on the lights?" Carter turned on the fluorescent lights in the locker room.

Rashid raised his head in a daze, his eyes were red, panting heavily, and looked at Carter with a sorry face, "Vince, I'm sorry. If I score the last goal, the team will win."

"And then? Make you a hero?" Carter asked with a smile, "It's just a game, and the responsibility for the outcome is mine. You have done your best."

"No, I can do better." Rashid was not convinced. His limit was not this, and he could go further.

"It's better not to talk about it, but to show it. Next season, you will see Jason Williams become a rebounding maniac and crazy on the defensive end. He is already working hard." In fact, it is not Jason Williams. Quietly train hard, but next season, Williams will be in the last year of his contract. If he doesn't work hard last season, he won't get a big contract at all.

The truth is sometimes that simple, even more dramatic.

"I will be better than him." Rashid pursed his lips. He planned to continue training on three-pointers. After a successful straight-arm shot, the risk of being blocked would be much smaller. "I want to win with you. Championship, want to beat Michael Jordan with you."

"Be clear, the team is no match for the Bulls now." Carter interrupted directly.

If I really convinced them, I would dare to say it every day.

The Nets lost, and many media directly climaxed, [Just say that the Nets are not good, the Eagles really won]

[There are still two games until the Nets are eliminated.Vince Carter's statistics are very good, but he takes away the performance of his teammates]

[The Nets are not as good as the Eagles, Carter is not as powerful as imagined]

As Carter became more and more famous, there were more and more suspects and more and more doubts.

Calipari threw away the newspaper, and the invisible pressure made him breathless.The number of gray hairs suddenly increased. When I was teaching at a university, I didn't get such a high level of attention and didn't get much media coverage. Now, everyone pays attention to every word and deed. I have to carry the pressure and move forward.

"I don't know if the players can handle the pressure. It's really annoying." Calipari is also worried about the team's state. He doesn't want to leave any regrets in his first playoff trip.

From the coach to the players, this is the first time. No wonder losing feels a little painful.

In the second game, the Nets changed their tactics. Rasheed pulled wildly outside and fired from the outside.Laettner had faster steps and took the initiative to defend outside the three-point line. Williams frantically fought against Mutombo, only fighting hand-to-hand but not scoring.

The middle position is empty, and it belongs to Carter and the others.

The Nets' mid-range shot was accurate, with Carter taking the lead and making a wild mid-range shot.

Carter scored 28 points, which was less than the previous game, but he had 13 assists, which was outrageous.Cassel had only 10 assists, but he also scored 18 points, and Kendall Gill had 24 points and also had 6 assists.

The three backcourt players, outside the Eagles penalty area and between the three-point line, kept passing the ball to each other, catching the ball and shooting, and they hit the target as soon as they shot.

The Nets beat the Eagles by 6 points.

The media was a little confused by the Nets' adjustments. They didn't expect that the Nets' mid-range shots from the backcourt were so accurate, and they didn't expect that they would really dare to shoot.

[The Nets' mid-range shots cannot continue a series, and the Hawks still have the advantage. 】

[The Nets adjusted faster in this game. Carter directly beat Tyrone Corbin. He couldn't catch up with Carter at all. 】

The Eagles ate Sap and lost a home game.

Lanny Wilkens said bitterly, "We will adjust in the next game. If the opposing team shoots more than 70% from mid-range, even the Bulls will not be able to stop such an opponent."

Ridiculous mid-range shooting percentage, no matter how you shoot.Tongbo can't defend him, and even if he does, the Nets have three points in the backcourt.

The three of them crossed and ran too fast, and they were able to control the ball and dribble, break through to find open positions, and they were really unstoppable.

"Rashid's involvement has allowed us to open up space." Calipari quickly encouraged Rashid after the game and fully affirmed him, "He is an inside player, obeys the team's tactical arrangements, and scores goals from the outside. abilities are rare."

These days, inside players who float on the outside will only be considered softies, and no one appreciates the space inside.

The sinner in the last game is a hero in this one.Even though he only scored 13 points, Rasheed shot from the outside, and the Eagles had to have someone to follow him inside. This is the tactical deterrence.

Williams also grabbed 10 rebounds through physical combat, mainly because the Nets missed too few shots, otherwise he could have grabbed more rebounds.

On the other side, the Bulls have won two consecutive games. "Penny" Hardaway and "Cobra" Grant are no match for the Bulls and were crushed.Poor Grant, he was still the main center for the Bulls' first three championships.

In the third game, the Eagles changed their tactics and strengthened the rotation of players. After Rashid went to the outside, the Eagles were defended by Steve Smith. Steve also has a height of 201 and has excellent jumping. Sid.

The inside players still have enough deterrence. Leitner stepped up his defense of the mid-range players and quickly curbed the Nets' momentum.

Carter was also injured by Mutombo in the fourth quarter, and he was sutured off the court, which delayed a little time.After reappearing, he was deliberately hit by the opponent again, and the whole person's state was affected.

The performance in the fourth quarter was mediocre, scoring only 7 points, scoring 27 points in the game, and the team also lost the game.

Williams can't wait to crush Tyrone Corbin to death, "This is intentional injury, I will find a chance to kill you."

"It is also a way to let the opponent off the field..." Jason Williams and Massenberg looked at each other, as if they had discovered a new world. More importantly, they found that Robert Pike was also excited, "My brain is all over the place." It’s burning.”

The CPU is about to burn out, and the capacity of the brain is not enough.

Robert Pike came closer, his voice trembling slightly, and he said excitedly, "Let's study how to behave ourselves and avoid being sent off. Maybe the three of us will become top defensive players."

"I hope Vince Carter's injury is not serious. I didn't elbow him on purpose. I have to apologize to him here." Mutombo apologized to Carter after the game. "There must be a collision on the court, but I don't want anyone to be injured. I I understand what it feels like to be injured, it’s so hard.”

Cassell has always been worried about the press conference he attended. If Carter hadn't been injured, the team would definitely have defeated the Hawks at home, which would have given them a big advantage.

Calipari regretfully announced, "Carter may miss the next game. He has a mild concussion. He is too important to the team and the Nets will not risk Carter's health."

The Nets lost another game, but only lost 4 points.

The Bulls on the other side have advanced 3:0 and are waiting for the result of the game between the Hawks and Nets.

Michael Jordan saw that Carter was injured, "If Vince can't play in the next game, the series will be over, and we will play against the Hawks. Hehe, the Hawks are actually easier to deal with than the Nets."

The news of Carter's injury immediately spread throughout the country, and countless fans became emotional.

(End of this chapter)