So I am the god of basketball?

After the media release, major media outlets also successively rated the lineups of each team in the new season.

Before the start of each season, there will always be a situation where "the championship before the start of the new season, and the first round of the playoffs after the start of the new season" will happen.

What's more, before the start of each year, the player's team is always considered by his fans to be "the emperor", but by the end of the game, it slowly becomes a "pot-sharing meeting." But no matter how the "pot" is divided, it cannot be divided on his head...

This is a very magical thing.

He was obviously the boss of the team after winning and took all the honors. But once they lose, the whole team will be as if there is no such person, and everyone will keep silent about him. In the end, even when he was dunked, few commentators dared to say it, and they all turned a blind eye, for fear that this fact would be harsh and make his fans unhappy.

This is the abnormal "rice circle culture" twenty-five years later...

Twenty-five years ago, fans did not have such great energy, and the media were more daring to speak out.

However, the Bulls, who have lost Scottie Pippen, are still the favorites to win the championship in the new season because of the name Michael Jordan.

ESPN ranks them fifth in the league, TNT ranks them fourth in the league, and other teams' evaluations of the Bulls basically range from 4 to 2. Very few fall out of the top 6.

When a team lacks a "second in charge" and the biggest addition in the summer is just a rookie, this is not an easy matter. But Jordan's ability to fight hard in the past makes all this reasonable, just like ESPN's evaluation:
"Michael Jordan proved one thing in the first seven years of his career. He needed Scottie Pippen, but everyone must admit that the current Bulls team is very much like the Bulls team 11 years ago. They have A guy who could be Scottie Pippen, and Michael is surrounded by Derrick Harper, Dennis Rodman, including Sixth Man of the Year Kukoc, this is not a true rebuilding Bulls team. Maybe this team is like a barrel that lacks a long board, but as long as the barrel is tilted and the short board becomes longer, the Bulls can still meet the expectations of most Chicagoans... Everything depends on Tracy McGrady!"

ESPN's evaluation has a lot to do with Michael Jordan's generous praise of McGrady at the Bulls press conference. When asked what he thought of McGrady, he said this: "This is definitely a great one. Young man, he has unlimited possibilities!”

When Meng Lang saw Jordan commenting on McGrady like this, he couldn't help but observe a moment of silence for less than three seconds for the future Kwame Brown.

But looking at Jordan's completely different attitude from his later days with the Wizards, Meng Lang could roughly guess the reason. It must be that McGrady showed Jordan something extremely "good". Jordan gained confidence in him, and naturally his attitude changed.

Remember, Jordan's brutality was directed only at players who, in his view, had to shoulder certain responsibilities but didn't rise to those heights.

Just like Kwame Brown.

As the "number one pick", he is the person Jordan chooses to assist him.

Playing a "parallel import" performance, expecting Jordan to give him a good look?

But Jordan was different about Pippen at the beginning.

Never say that Jordan's status is different in the two situations.

Jordan, who had just come back, wanted to win the championship, and it was true that he was anxious.

But similarly, when Pippen joined the Bulls, it was also when Jordan was struggling to pursue his first championship ring.

It's just because Pippen has qualities that make Jordan feel at ease...

The same situation is happening now. Jordan may not give Tracy McGrady a good look, but there is one thing:
Tracy McGrady's life is definitely more comfortable than Kwame Brown's!
Jordan's recognition has also made McGrady the most watched rookie in the new season.

Everyone is looking forward to his first career NBA game.

"Bleachers" believes: "This just makes him the high school rookie with the most burdens in NBA history!"

Before McGrady, neither Kobe nor Kevin Garnett had any responsibility to bear.

Of course, the Timberwolves want to rely on Garnett to complete the "Minnesota Renaissance", but their weakness has lasted for so many years. Even if it is two or three seasons later, or even if Kevin Garnett is a "parallel import", there will be no one care.

Not to mention Kobe, he represents the future of the Lakers, especially after Meng Lang came to the Lakers, this became even clearer.

McGrady is different. Since he was traded by the Bulls, he has been labeled as the "Second Generation Pippen". His goal is to grow rapidly and become another trustworthy "Scottie Pippen" next to Jordan. Peng"!
This is undoubtedly a kind of pressure for a high school student.

However, judging from McGrady's original choice to leave the Raptors and join the Magic, he can still bear this pressure.

He wants to be a better player, and his only question is:
The belief in winning is not strong enough!

Of course, this point happened to Jordan, and there is a high probability that it will not affect the first few years of his career.

As for following Jordan in the past few years, whether he can be subtly infected by Jordan's spirit is unknown.

Jordan's remarks about Tracy McGrady quickly spread to Toronto. When Scottie Pippen heard the reporter say, "Do you think Tracy is the next Scottie Pippen?" his expression flashed. After a trace of unwillingness.

For him, Michael Jordan's words undoubtedly hurt him.

He has just left for a summer, has this guy forgotten all about his past contributions to the Bulls and the things he assisted him in doing?
Ok!

This was a city that was extremely cold-blooded towards him. He should have known:

Krause was unwilling to renew his contract with a high salary, and Phil Jackson did not believe in his ability to make the last shot. After losing the Finals, the entire Chicago thought that he was holding back Michael Jordan...

After going through these things in his mind, Scottie Pippen let out a long sigh. It doesn't matter how angry he is. He came to Toronto these days. In addition to being a little unaccustomed to being abroad, the whole city is very angry. His popularity is still very high.

After all, he is also a member of "Dream One" and the core player of the Bulls' first "three consecutive championships". When faced with doubts from others, he can calmly hold out four fingers. These are his confidence. , which is why he is so popular in Toronto.

Because of this novelty, he almost didn't think about Jordan and Chicago during this period.

Faced with Jordan's remarks, Pippen realized that as a new life began, he had to avoid dwelling on these issues.

He is well aware of the urine nature of these reporters. If he keeps answering these questions, he will probably face the same questions again and again in the new season. His answer is: "Tracy is very good, but before me, the Bulls The team also has some good wings, but none of them have grown to my level. Playing next to Michael, you need to not only realize your talent, but you also need to know how to adapt..."

He thought he was sacrificed.

只是很多媒体，并不认账，原因也很简单，90~91赛季斯科蒂-皮蓬的场均数据为17.8分7.3篮板6.2助攻2.4抢断1.1盖帽。

Such data, especially for an outside player, will definitely not be possible if he does not have the ball in his hands!

When a perimeter player can control the ball, the sacrifices he needs to make are often not big.

This can be seen from Russell and Rivers later...

Both of these are ball-holding players. They need to have the ball in their hands, find rhythm, and feel in order to play better and better. But because they still have LeBron James, the No. 4 player who absorbs the ball, standing next to them.

So much so that in a game, they often have one point that is sacrificed. This also makes it difficult for these two people to perform well at the same time in a game.

Either Russell has diarrhea, or Rivers has diarrhea...

Pippen didn't have this problem with Jordan. If he really wanted to sacrifice, it would probably be a sacrifice in terms of the number of shots he took.

But no matter who is asked to choose Pippen or Jordan to complete the shot, I am afraid they will choose the latter without hesitation!
However, these remarks also made many media aware of Pippen's dissatisfaction with the Bulls.

Of course, ever since Krause traded him, Pippen and the Bulls were destined to have an account to settle in the new season.

Also receiving widespread attention was the Philadelphia 76ers' media day.

Tim Duncan's entry into the league caused half of the teams to fail.

But in the summer, his limelight was completely stolen by Tracy McGrady.

Even these days, the outside world's expectations for Tracy McGrady are increasing day by day.

However, when photos of Tim Duncan and Allen Iverson standing together in front of media cameras leaked, they still gained a lot of traffic as expected. At the same time, Tim Duncan also has a mysterious coat on his body.

Allen Iverson said bluntly: "This is the most incredible big man I have ever seen. I believe everyone will understand why he is the undisputed number one pick!"

Stan Van Gundy, the new head coach who was just signed by the Philadelphia 76ers in the summer and the "mainstay" of Pat Riley's coaching team, was full of praise for Tim Duncan after he took office: "This big man will dominate this league in the future! "

Facing the crowd of cameras, Tim Duncan showed off his "big basic skills" without fear. Under the interference of the trainer, he used various basket skills to easily put the ball into the basket.

It feels like strolling in a garden, so that his movements are not fancy and appear to be orderly, but it makes people feel extra solid.

The only problem is...

"Can you smile?" A reporter tried to ask Tim Duncan.

What he got was an expressionless shake from Tim Duncan.

Ok……

From the media open day until now, this guy has never smiled!

This is a "facial paralysis"!
While the outside world is occupying major sections due to the successive media open days of other teams, the Lakers' starting lineup for the new season, which ended early, has also been officially determined:
Meng Lang returns to the third position!

Eddie Jones at No. 1, Kobe at No. 2, Charles Barkley at No. 4, and Divac at No. 5.

After practicing this lineup for about half a month, Chuck Daly finalized this new starting lineup with great satisfaction.

Then comes more detailed rotation adjustment.

Since Kobe Bryant was promoted to the starting lineup and the "Human Movie Essence" also retired, there was no one on the Lakers' bench who could stand up.

Therefore, Chuck Daly is very meticulous about the Lakers' rotation adjustments.

The first is the use of Kobe.

He was determined to let Kobe play only about 6 minutes, then take a rest, and then let him lead the rotation of the bench.

This also prevents his and Eddie Jones' roles from canceling out too much.

To be honest, Eddie Jones plus Kobe's back line, plus Meng Lang's forward line, are definitely a bit luxurious.

Not to mention, there is Barkley in the fourth position who can also score goals with the ball.

Let’s put it this way!

If you put the 2024 Nuggets' "Starting Five" in front of the Lakers' starting lineup, then except for the fifth position, they will definitely be crushed in every sense. The 2024 Nuggets can help the "goat" shave his head for two consecutive years.

This shows how luxurious the Lakers' lineup is.

Therefore, as long as Chuck Daly makes a more detailed rotation, he can definitely rely on these people to fill the problem of no one on the bench.

Chuck Daly's initial idea was to replace Divac after Kobe left the game.

Take the big book and "small fish", increase the speed, and focus on the two front points.

And with Divac's cooperation, Kobe can also better lead the Lakers' bench rotation...

In short, the Lakers' regular season lineup in the new season will not be too large, and Chuck Daly will probably maintain a rotation of about 8 people. In doing so, injuries become a risk. The good news is that after Johnson and Wilkins left, the average age of the Lakers' main lineup has dropped a lot.

Ben is only 23 years old, Kobe is 20 years old, Eddie Jones is 25 years old, Meng Lang is 25 years old, Divac is 29 years old, and Barkley is now 35 years old...

Chuck Daly just needs to be a little more careful with Barkley.

This is not something difficult for the experienced Chuck Daly to do.

In one month, the preseason came quietly. Before the start of the new season's preseason, Kobe, who had not had a bullfight with Meng Lang for a long time, launched a challenge to Meng Lang. Seeing how confident he looked, Meng Lang didn't refuse. Players like Kobe are the kind of naughty kids who "do not play for three days and then go to the house to reveal their tiles." You have to keep making him aware of his own gap so that he can focus on everything. Put it into the improvement of personal abilities.

"Then come on!"

Kobe's progress in the summer is still good. From his first move, Meng Lang can feel that there is indeed some pressure. Meng Lang, who felt that he could not move sideways in time to complete the block, simply retreated.

Kobe, on the other hand, made a "pull-up jumper" and threw the ball.

ball……

"Shh!"

In! (End of chapter)