NBA: Start by torturing Jordan and add points to upgrade

This year's Knicks preseason is quite similar to last season. They will first play four warm-up games around New York against nearby opponents, then fly to Southeast Asia for two more preseason games, and then return to the United States. After resting for almost a week, the regular season will officially begin!
This year's preseason is not worth mentioning, it's all about old opponents and old faces.

But in the first game of this year's regular season, Stern, the old fox, started to get busy again!
The first regular season opponent he prepared for the Knicks was the Pistons, who eliminated the Knicks in the seventh game of the Eastern Conference Finals last year and narrowly defeated the Lakers 4:3 in the finals to win the championship!
The old rivals met again, and they also had to watch the Pistons raise the championship banner at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

This is definitely a huge stimulus for the Knicks, and it is also a great way for the league to attract fans to watch the opening game!
In order to get high ratings for this game, the league even broke the record by starting the opening game one day earlier than in all previous seasons on October 10! This day, there is only one game!
The debut of all other teams will have to wait until at least the next day.

Obviously, Stern wants to make the most of this reunion of old rivals and watching his opponent put on the ring and raise the flag with his own eyes!

So wily!

Quite shameless!
What Stern could never have imagined was that his strategy for ratings and topicality for the regular season opener would cause several teams to suffer tremendous pain in the following days.

As for the reason?

In the first preseason game, the Knicks faced their old country rival, the Nets, at home.

Less than an hour before the game started, when all the Knicks players arrived at the locker room and changed their clothes to warm up, Lin Tian blocked the door. He looked at his teammates and said, "Everyone has seen this year's schedule."

"You all know what happened in our opening game this year, right?"

"Tell me, guys, what do you think?"

"Kill them!" Stoudemire raised his hand and said simply and directly: "We must win! We must make their championship flag-raising ceremony full of regrets!"

"That's right! We must win! Let's kill him!"

"Let them know the consequences of eliminating us!"

"I'm going to challenge Big Ben one-on-one, and I promise to break his nose!" Amid the shouts of the players, the shout of the team's youngest brother Nate Robinson was quite outstanding.

"Win, we must win! There is no other way." Lin Tian decisively ignored Nate's jumping up and down, and looked at everyone else and said: "The key is, how do we win!"

"I think everyone remembers how we lost last season, right? You also remember how difficult that series was for us, how tiring it was, and how embarrassed we were by their defense!"

"Remember last season, we were completely suppressed by them and couldn't play to our strengths?"

"So this year, it's our turn! After this summer's training, we are much stronger than last year! We are more than one level stronger than last year! We are a team on another level completely!"

"Now, it is us who are in control of them. We are the ones who can pin them to the ground and beat them to death!"

"So, what I want to say is, in the opening game of the new season, we not only have to win, not only have to beat the Pistons, we have to knock them down! Beat them to their knees, beat them so hard that they can never stand up again! Only then will it be over!"

"Do you have the confidence to join me in getting revenge, and then suppress the Pistons from the first day of the season?"

"Have!"

"Do you have the confidence to make the Pistons afraid of us, to make them live in the shadow for the whole season, to make them worry about how badly they will be beaten if they meet us in the playoffs?"

"Have!"

“Very good!” Lin Tian, ​​who had just finished his first speech of the new season, looked fierce and determined: “Then, let’s start from today, from the first preseason game of the new season! Let the whole world know about our transformation and our differences!”

"I know a lot of people on our team have a good relationship with Jason and Vince! Yao Ming and I are also good friends. We are from the same country."

"But what I want to say is that this is not important! It is not important at all! Today, we will embarrass him! Today, we will beat them down first and let everyone see how terrifying we are!"

"As for why?"

"No reason! Bad luck to the Nets!"

“Bad luck to them!”

Accompanied by waves of roars, anger and crazy shouts, the Knicks players lined up, walked out of the locker room in a menacing manner, passed through the player tunnel, and then came to the crowded and packed Madison Garden!
The fans at the scene are also full of expectations for their team's performance in the new season!

The excited New Yorkers burst into huge cheers and applause the moment their home team arrived at the stadium.

The momentum, the noise, and the level of madness made this game not feel like a preseason game at all, but instead like a life-and-death battle in the playoffs!

The momentum before the game alone was enough to make Kidd and others on the opposing side stunned.

Although New Jersey and New York are separated by a river, and they even drive their own cars to the stadium, in New Jersey on the other side of the river, let alone preseason games, even in the playoffs, you can rarely see this level of fan feast.

Children born to a stepmother are never favored!
"Jason, you're going to be unlucky tonight! You'd better be prepared." When the players from both teams finished warming up and walked onto the court, Lin Tian kindly reminded Kidd: "If you believe me, play for 5 minutes tonight and then leave."

"Are you crazy? Are you going to kill us all with your fists?" Kidd snorted, not with disdain, but more with confusion.

It's just a preseason game, guys just have some fun, and if you're happy you can play again in the evening, why are you so murderous?
“When the game starts, you might even hope that I can just punch each of you. It won’t be shameful to get hit by me.” Lin Tian shrugged, indicating that this was all he had to say: “But if you stay on the field, that will be shameful!”

Kidd did not respond to Lin Tian's words, but began to think about how he and his teammates had offended these psychopaths to be targeted and bullied like this.

While everyone was puzzled, the referee blew the whistle to start the game!

Yao Ming and O'Neal jumped up at the same time to fight for the ball. Yao Ming, who had a clear height advantage, easily got the first wave of ball possession for the team. Then Kidd dribbled to the half court and gave the ball to Yao Ming who had just arrived. Yao Ming tested the defense and easily turned around and made a hook shot.

"Nothing special." Kidd was about to mutter, but found that he was talking too much.

Because the Knicks are already running!

After receiving the ball from the baseline, Lin Tian dribbled quickly to the frontcourt, and then after reaching the Nets' territory, he suddenly passed the ball to Anthony who was following up on the other side without looking at anyone. After getting the ball, Anthony jumped up directly and made a mid-range jump shot!

"Isn't it the same as last year?" After seeing the Knicks score, Kidd first controlled the ball steadily in his hands, and then chatted with Lin Tian leisurely.

The ball is in my hand, so I'm not afraid of your sudden attack.

"Jason, do you think everyone is like you, that everything can be done in 30 seconds? I really hope that you can still say the same thing in 5 minutes."

Kidd still didn't take Lin Tian's words to heart. This time, he passed the ball hand to hand with Carter. After the two men passed each other at the top of the arc, Carter received the ball and shot a three-pointer.

"Boom!"

After a muffled sound, Carter's three-pointer bounced out of the frame, and the rebound was grabbed by Lin Tian who had already recovered it. Then he turned around and flashed past Yao Ming, and started to attack again!
This time, Lin Tian found Stoudemire who was following behind him while moving, and passed the ball to him from behind. After receiving the ball, Stoudemire took advantage of the situation and slammed it down again!
"Isn't this the same old trick?" Kidd still didn't care. He had seen these moves by the Knicks last year. They were indeed powerful, and the Nets were indeed undefended, but how scary and crazy could you say they were?
That's not the case either.

But then, Kidd discovered something different.

For example, in the next round, his shot went wide. Yao Ming had originally been stuck in position, ready to grab a frontcourt rebound, but O'Neal pulled him from somewhere, preventing Yao Ming from jumping up immediately. Because of this delay, Yao Ming had already lost the best opportunity to grab the rebound.

Then Okur gently tapped behind Yao Ming and passed the rebound to the side, where Stoudemire rushed over and hugged him.

Kidd: "This guy, his little moves when boxing out, his skills and judgment on rebounds have improved, but it's not shocking."

Then Stoudemire passed the ball to Houston, who then passed it to Lin Tian. After Lin Tian made his way to the frontcourt, he chose to pass the ball to Anthony who was following him on the wing.

"I held on!" Kittles, who was defending Anthony, did not lose his position at all. As rivals in the same city, the two have played against each other more than ten times in the past two years from the preseason to the regular season. He knows Anthony too well!

It looks fancy, but once he gets into a defensive position and maintains defensive intensity, this guy doesn't have many options.

But before Kittles could be happy, Anthony suddenly turned half way around and shouldered Kittles. After pushing Kittles away, Anthony turned again and got to the basket in the blink of an eye. He shot the ball off the backboard and put the basketball into the basket. "Where are you? Mosquito can only bite people but not defend, right?"

"This guy knows how to use his body and his ability to connect with the ball has also improved. With his talent and skills, if it weren't for Lin, he would definitely be the face of a playoff team!" Kidd continued to comment in his mind.

In the next round of the Knicks, Yao Ming faced off against Stoudemire. Originally, a traditional giant center like Yao Ming was Stoudemire's nemesis. Last year, the Celtics' twin towers and the Pistons' double Wallace both made Stoudemire suffer greatly.

Including Yao Ming and Gasol of the Nets last season, they can completely restrain Stoudemire.

Isn’t it just rushing in?

But in the end, Stoudemire didn't hesitate to get the ball, he just threw it! After a crisp sound, the basketball went into the net.

His shooting now is much more stable than during the mini training camp in August!

"This guy can actually shoot?" Kidd was becoming more and more shocked.

But the shock that Stoudemire gave him was not limited to this. After teaching Yao Ming a lesson with a mid-range shot, this guy once again received the ball in the mid-range and actually raised the ball with both hands and made a fake move. After deceiving Yao Ming's center of gravity, he broke through directly and slammed it down to the basket!
"Even with the basketball, his aggressiveness and impact haven't declined at all." Kidd has begun to understand what will shock him!
Then less than a minute later, Houston received the basketball in transition, then he quickly dribbled between his legs to steady his body, and then shot directly against Carter!

"Shh!"

After another crisp sound, Kidd exclaimed in his heart again!

"This old man can actually play basketball!"

It's so scary.

As the saying goes, the layman sees the excitement, while the expert sees the details. It only took Kidd a few minutes to understand what shocked him.

The young players have all made significant progress, and the older veterans have recovered their health.

Lin Tian was right. Although this Knicks team is still the same team as last season and they are still using the same tactics as last season, they are definitely stronger than last season!

While everyone has made great progress, with Lin Tian as the mainstay, this Knicks team may be unstoppable in the new season!

In the first five minutes of the preseason opener, the Knicks scored a crazy 20 points, including 3-pointers, mid-range shots, and direct scoring under the basket or drawing fouls. Their offensive range covers the entire half court. They can attack in a variety of ways. The three-dimensionality of their offense is absolutely top-notch in the league!

No, Kidd pondered for a moment and felt that even the top players in the league had underestimated them.

It should be the best in the league's history!

A Knicks team that still doesn't defend, but is more aggressive, more three-dimensional, more invincible and without blind spots, I'm afraid it will really shock the entire league!
I’m so envious.

Kidd watched Lin Tian running around the court, constantly finding teammates in open positions and allowing his teammates to score continuously.

What top point guard wouldn't want to play in this kind of team and system?

It's just like a dream!
At the same time, Kidd also noticed that Lin Tian stood further inside when defending in this game. He didn't know whether it was because he was not good at shooting or because of the Knicks' new style of play.

But in short, Lin Tian, ​​who stands closer to the inside, can grab more rebounds, initiate more counterattacks and advance more often.

With Lin Tian's rebounding ability and sense, when he starts to focus his energy on rebounding, the Knicks' original weakness in rebounding will also improve significantly.

In addition, the Knicks' frontcourt trio have become stronger, more badass, and have more tricks. Even if the Knicks face the Celtics and Pistons this time, they will definitely not be badly beaten by the inside players of those two teams.

Again, envy.

44: 20!

In the first quarter, the Knicks beat the Nets by as much as 24 points. Their strong firepower, crazy running, and the crazy energy of the whole team really shocked Kidd.

But in the next game, Kidd was not shocked.

It's anger!
"Did I provoke you guys? You beat me to death in a preseason game? Do you have any shame?"

When Kidd said this, it was 5 minutes into the third quarter. At this moment, the score between the two sides was an exaggerated 98:57. Lin Tian just made a mid-range pull-up jump shot against Kidd, expanding the lead to 41 points.

"It seems a bit too much." Lin Tian felt a little embarrassed and scratched his head, but who asked him to beat the Nets to death before the game?

People, keep your word!

But, that's about it.

It's 40 points now. If the game continues like this, Kidd will really get angry.

So, Lin Tian took the initiative to call a timeout in the next round.

Old Nelson was also quite cooperative and used this timeout to replace all the main players.

No matter whether it is the preseason, regular season or finals, unless there is a deep hatred, it is time to call it a day.

The final result of the game was not important, but the fact that the Knicks defeated the top-notch Nets by 2 points in just over two quarters spread quickly.

However, at this time, not many people took the Knicks' bloodbath of the Nets seriously.

In the preseason, everyone plays for fun, they are in good shape while having fun, and then a few goals are scored, which widens the score, which is normal.

Especially since the Knicks were the best offensive team in the league last season, it would be quite logical for them to score so many goals in a preseason game, right?

But the calmness and composure of the entire league apparently only lasted for a few days, and then were replaced by cold sweat and worry at the speed of light.

The reason is simple: the Knicks are too scary!
In the second preseason game against the 76ers, the Knicks led the team, which almost made it into the top half last year, by 3 points before the end of the third quarter, and then called it a day.

Then the Knicks flew to Toronto and played a game against the Northern Worm Raptors, and won by 3 points in three quarters.

Then there is the Knicks’ strongest and final preseason opponent in North America this season.

The Celtics fought them for seven games last season and were just one step away from victory.

Then?

The Celtics' poor offensive line still couldn't score, but this time, they couldn't defend against the Knicks' offense!
In the first quarter, the Knicks beat the Celtics 39:19, and then in the second quarter, the Knicks beat the Celtics 40:18!

After the first half of the game, the Knicks completed the task ahead of schedule!
For the fourth consecutive preseason game, the team has led the opponent by 40 points!

This time, the entire alliance was finally shaken.

Even though the Celtics lost so badly, it was because of Pierce's absence. At the same time, after Rivers found that the Knicks were unstoppable tonight, he stopped letting the main players play from the second quarter!

This guy actually started to play badly! Anyway, if you win, you will win my third lineup, which doesn’t mean anything!

This response is definitely the pinnacle of Rivers' coaching career! (End of this chapter)