NBA: James wants to team up with me

After Curry was injured, the Bulls urgently put backup point guard Isaiah Thomas on the starting lineup.

Thomas, who is 1 meters tall and serves as a point guard, is not taken seriously in the league because of his short height. However, Wang Chong is very aware of his strength, so he selected him with a second-round pick and never thought of playing in the library. Even though Lee and Billups were both out for the season, they actually left important offensive firepower for the Bulls.

Thomas's scoring ability is really not bad. As a substitute player in the Kings' rookie season, he averaged 11.5 points and 4 assists per game. He successfully entered the starting position of the Kings before the middle of the season.

With his strength, it is certainly not enough to serve as the main offensive core. It will take at least three or four seasons for Thomas to fully grow into the strongest surface 175 before he can serve as the main attacker. However, for the Bulls who are seriously lacking in offensive firepower, However, it is already a timely help.

But at this time, the Bulls' starting lineup has become a combination of Thomas, Danny Green, Wang Chong, Garnett and Gasol, which is completely incomparable with the strength of the team at the beginning of the season.

On January 1, the Bulls defeated the Bucks 27:107 at home. Although the team won the game, it was obviously not easy to win. Against the Bucks, who were hovering on the edge of the playoffs, the point difference was once very tight. , it was entirely due to Wang Chong's continuous scoring in the final quarter that relied on his personal ability to stabilize the victory.

On January 1, the Bulls challenged the Miami Heat away from home. This was the first meeting between the Bulls and the Heat's Big Three in the new season. When the Heat's Big Three scored 29 points, 35 points and 24 points respectively, the Bulls lost to the Heat by 18. :93 defeat, bringing the number of losses to 97 in the regular season.

In this game, the Bulls' shortcomings of insufficient offensive firepower were fully exposed. Wang Chong scored 47 points, but all other players in the team were restricted. Except for Gasol, who scored 17 points in the penalty area, no one scored. Double figures.

As the season progressed, the advantages of the Heat's full-court pressing defensive tactics began to emerge. It was a shortened season, and the intensive schedule made the players physically exhausted. It was naturally difficult to face the Heat's strong pressing defense. response.

Under the Heat's fast-paced offense and defense, both Garnett and Gasol were exhausted, and it was difficult to take advantage of their height inside. Although Wang Chong could score points with the Heat's Big Three, he was still unable to use both fists.

At this time, Bulls fans began to miss Curry extremely.

The Heat's pressing defense is indeed very oppressive, but too much pressing defense will inevitably lead to defensive dislocations, especially with Wang Chong, the offensive core, helping to attract defensive firepower. In fact, in this game, the Bulls The team's outside players got a lot of opportunities for long-range three-pointers.

However, Thomas is not good at three-pointers, and Danny Green's future nickname is Tielin. The occasional three-pointer can be achieved, but it is a fool's errand to ask him to provide stable three-point firepower output.

If Curry is present in this game, no matter how sharp the Heat's defensive counterattack is, the Bulls can shoot through the Heat with just three-pointers.

How unwilling the Bulls fans are, how happy the Heat fans are.

Finally let them wait for this day! This game is not just an ordinary regular season game for them, it also proves that the Heat surpass the Bulls in terms of strength.

Although this is also because the Bulls lost two generals, Curry and Billups, one after another, and they are somewhat unable to win, but how can the Heat, who have already lost a red-eye, manage so much? Last season, the Heat, who thought they were sure of victory by forming the Big Three, were beaten by the Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals. They were beaten so hard that they lost all their temper. Now they finally have someone who can steal a championship Opportunity, if you don't seize the opportunity, you may never win the championship!

After defeating the Bulls, the Heat's record has reached 14 wins and 5 losses, which is not far behind the Bulls' 17 wins and 4 losses. Once the Bulls suffer a losing streak due to lineup problems, it will be extremely difficult. It is possible that the first position in the Eastern Conference will not be guaranteed.

Since Wang Chong joined the Bulls, the Bulls have always topped the Eastern Conference record list and even the league. This time, even if they lose two generals, they are not prepared to give up their first position in the Eastern Conference.

On January 1, the Bulls defeated the Wizards 30:98 in an away game, and then defeated the Philadelphia 88ers 99:98 in an away game. This was the Bulls' third consecutive away game. Not to mention other players, even Wang Chong felt it. Feeling of fatigue.

But it's not over yet, because the Bulls have had a terrible nine consecutive away games, starting with the away game against the Heat on January 1 and ending with the away game against the Celtics on February 29, a total of nine consecutive away games. Moreover, the opponents also include the top teams in the East such as the Heat, Knicks, and Celtics. This is a rhythm that will consume people alive.

Wang Chong finally figured it out. Even if Curry and Billups were not injured in the front, they would still be seriously injured by this wave of Death Nine.

On February 2, for the fourth consecutive away game, the Bulls went to New York to challenge the Knicks.

The Bulls chose to rest Garnett in this game. The 35-year-old Garnett could not withstand this kind of torment. Although in the original 11-12 shortened season, the Celtics' Garnett also resisted. After that, he averaged a 19+10 double-double per game in the playoffs, but Garnett, who won three consecutive championships with the Bulls, played many more games than he originally did with the Celtics.

The Celtics' Big Three have only made it to the Finals twice in three years. The Bulls' Garnett has won four championships in four years, and the game consumption is even greater.

And even Garnett, who was with the Celtics in the 11-12 season, only played 60 games in the regular season, and the 6 games he played less were basically rests.

With Garnett taking a rest, the Bulls' starting lineup has changed again, becoming a combination of Thomas, Danny Green, Jimmy Butler, Wang Chong and Gasol.

Butler has been pushed into the starting position. From the outside, it seems that the Bulls really have no one available.

But in fact, this is not the case. Butler's current level is indeed far behind, but after all, the Bulls have professional trainers who tailor-made training plans, and under the guidance and advice of Wang Chong, the training direction is completely in line with Butler's own With its technical characteristics, it will naturally get twice the result with half the effort as it grows.

At this time, he does not have the ability to attack independently on the offensive end, and he does not even have much mid-range shooting ability. He can only score by catching the ball after cutting into the penalty area without the ball. However, in terms of defensive ability, Butler has reached the level of Danny Green's level.

This is no exaggeration at all. Butler was good at defense in college. Of course, his defensive experience and skills cannot be compared with Green, who has been in the league for two seasons. However, Butler's athletic ability is that of Danny. Green can't even catch up with him.

As we all know, Butler is also a top defensive player on the front line in the same period. In terms of static talent, Butler has been completely outperformed by Kawhi Leonard and has been underestimated. However, there is one thing to say: Butler is not completely useless. His dynamic talent and athletic ability He is at the top level among rookies in the same period, and is stronger than Leonard in terms of speed, strength, jumping and explosive power. What is NBA defense? Nothing more than these, a player without dynamic talent may be able to become a top defensive player with acquired experience and hard work, but a player with good dynamic ability, even if he has no experience, as long as his defensive attitude is correct enough, he will be a top defensive player on the court. He will also become a very tough defensive player.

Butler belongs to this type of player. His childhood experience made Butler perseverant and never admit defeat on the court. This character also created his characteristics as a top defensive player.

Butler can be selected to the All-Defensive Team for several consecutive years in the future, and he also has Leonard, Draymond Green, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Paul George and other exaggerated forward defensive players at the forward position. Under such circumstances, it is enough to see the beginning of his defensive efforts.

I thought that in the absence of Garnett, the Bulls, which was almost in ruins, would never be able to match the Big Three of the New York Knicks, but the result of the game exceeded everyone's expectations.

When Butler was responsible for guarding Carmelo Anthony throughout the game, he actually caused the opponent to suffer a small loss. He made 26 of 10 shots from the field. Although he scored 26 points, his shooting percentage was only 38.5%.

What's even more incredible is the point guard position. As the Bulls' backup point guard, Thomas actually had a fight with Knicks All-Star point guard Derrick Rose on the court.

罗斯20投10中，罚球6中5，砍下25分8助攻，小托马斯则不甘示弱，24投9中，罚球8中8，砍下26分5助攻。

Although the Knicks' Rose no longer has the title of the youngest regular season MVP in NBA history, his strength has not been compromised at all. He averaged 25+ points per game last season, ranking among the best among point guards.

What the hell is Thomas? A little-known second-round rookie who is only 1 meters tall. Can a player of this height really play well in the NBA?
In fact, this is mainly due to the chaos of the Knicks' defensive system. Although the Knicks themselves are very aware of this, so they spent huge sums of money to introduce blue-collar center Tyson Chandler in the summer, but Thomas has never been afraid of such tall and bulky inside players. Center, on the contrary, after rushing into the penalty area, he likes to face such a center the most. The huge height difference allows Thomas to easily beat the whistle, and the opponent can't bend down to defend, right?

As for the power forward position, Wang Chong faced off against Stoudemire, and the situation was completely one-sided. Wang Chong easily scored 37 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists. Under Wang Chong's defense, the latter scored 12 points, 6 rebounds and 50 assists. He made 12 of 6 shots. Although he ensured a % shooting percentage, he only had points and rebounds.

As an All-Star power forward, such performance is quite surprising.

But Stoudemire himself was a little confused.

Even if Stoudemire's injury at the beginning of this season and the possession of the ball by two outside scorers, Ross and Anthony, caused the data to drop sharply to 18+8, it stands to reason that there is still a battle against Wang Chong. Strength is the right thing.

But when the two actually faced off on the court, Stoudemire was surprised to find that the situation was a little different from what he thought.

Not only is Wang Chong taller than him, his wingspan is longer than him, and his mobility is far better than him. Even in terms of confrontation ability, Stoudemire found that he did not have an advantage after the two came into physical contact.

"What is going on? When did Wang Chong's confrontation become so strong?"

Stoudemire was shocked by this, but in fact Stoudemire himself was not that kind of strong inside player. At his peak, Stoudemire was with the Suns. Although he often played as a center, he never played as a center. Fa is a standard striker who faces the basket, breaks through with the ball from the outside, and uses his mobility advantage to get past his opponent and enter the penalty area to score.

If he were like power forwards such as Duncan and Boozer, sitting in the penalty area and attacking with his back, he would not be able to withstand his opponent. After all, Stoudemire's weight is only about 110 kilograms, which is not much different from Wang Chong.

When he was not injured, Stoudemire could slightly suppress Wang Chong in terms of strength with his tendons, but the serious injury in the Suns had a great impact on Stoudemire's explosive power. Wang Chong specially strengthened his strength before this season, and his current strength value has reached 70. It is really not something he can easily control.

The result was that the Knicks, with all their members playing healthy, actually lost to the remnant Bulls at home, losing 102:105.

This battle also caused the Knicks to receive various severe criticisms from the outside media.

"They are both a combination of the Big Three. Compared to the Miami Heat, which has found a suitable tactical system and is getting better and better, the Big Three of the New York Knicks are still like a piece of loose sand. They rely entirely on individual ability to score points on the court, and rely entirely on Tyson Qian for defense. Dele, the tactical system is a mess.”

"Even if the Knicks can enter the playoffs with their super strong lineup, it will be difficult for them to go far in the long run. Whether they face the Bulls, the Heat or the Celtics, they will hardly have a chance to win."

"After this season, Rose's rookie contract will end. The Knicks will definitely use a maximum salary contract to keep this top point guard, but they already have Anthony and Stoudemire with an annual salary of 1900 million on the team. In addition, Tyson Chandler's annual salary for the 12-13 season will also reach 1360 million. Rose's starting salary for the new season will be at least 1600 million if he renews the maximum salary contract. By then, the Knicks' salary will be the highest in the league, and they will have to pay a huge amount every season. luxury tax penalty."

"After paying such a huge financial price, the Knicks will not be able to win the championship or even enter the Eastern Conference Finals. Will the team owner really be willing to accept it? Can the fans agree?"

While the Knicks were being criticized verbally for losing to the remnant Bulls, the Bulls on the other side were secretly growing, quietly starting another winning streak in consecutive away games.

After the Knicks, the Bulls' subsequent opponents are the Sacramento Kings, Brooklyn Nets, New Orleans Hornets, and Charlotte Bobcats.

Facing these chickens and dogs, the Bulls didn't miss any of them and won them all with heavy punches.

结果就是公牛输给热火之后，又斩获一波7连胜，死亡9连客中的8个客场拿下7胜1负战绩！
Now the whole league is dumbfounded. They can win 9 consecutive games despite losing 7 consecutive games. Are these the Bulls with a broken team? That's a bit too exaggerated, right?

But in fact, it is not surprising. Among the nine consecutive visitors, the more difficult opponents are the Heat, the Knicks and the Celtics at the end. The other teams are just cats and dogs. With Wang Chong's efforts, Winning is also a normal result. (End of chapter)