Countercurrent and become a superstar

Chapter 126 The 03-04 season, the playoffs are coming!
2004 All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles!
As a first-year rookie with an annual salary of 58 yuan, Tan Yang is still just a walk-on. He is just a formality.

After all, in the Rookie Challenge, it is common sense that the second graders are wreaking havoc on the first graders.

Although the rookie who debuted in 03 has great talent and potential, he still can't match the real immediate combat ability of his sophomore year.

The second common sense is that you will know the result as soon as you open and close your eyes. If you ask, the Eastern All-Star team cannot beat the Western All-Star team.
The Western Conference has O'Neal, Duncan, Garnett, Yao Ming, Nowitzki...

That's it, it's because Chris Webber was injured and couldn't be elected. Otherwise, if the Yao Shark combination plus the four forwards, the Eastern Conference only has the crooked talents of Ben and O'Neal, how can you take over?
……

February 2, FedEx Arena.

The score is 98 to 109! !
The Mavericks lost again.

As a shooting team, that's the style.

The game is very demanding on the players' shooting status.

By the way, after the All-Star Weekend, there will always be some stars who are in poor condition, have no intention of playing, and then lose the game.

The Grizzlies obviously won't have that problem.

The problem is that there are no All-Stars in their lineup.

They have nearly a week to prepare for the game, wait for work, and quickly enter the game state...

于是，沃克11中3，纳什11中4，芬利13中5，覃洋11中4，贾米森11投5……

Nowitzki wasn't much better, shooting 19 of 9 from the field.

This is the state of shooting. There are still three good students there and they look like student cadres. It is not surprising that they lose the game.

After losing this game, the Mavericks' record reached 43 wins and 10 losses, and they continued to be at the top of the list, but their dream of breaking the best regular season win record has been shattered...

Next, there are 5 games on the February schedule.

The Mavericks continued to show their invincible edge in the regular season, defeating the Cavaliers, Rockets, Clippers, Spurs and Trail Blazers one after another, extending their winning streak to 5 games.

The Mavericks lost, but instead expanded their lead with a record of 45 wins and 10 losses.

After the All-Star break, the Kings, Timberwolves and Pacers all lost two games, while the Mavericks only lost one.

It's just a pity that the Mavericks did not become the most beautiful player in the league.

The most handsome boy is undoubtedly the Pistons who has assembled the top five players.

What the Pistons couldn't get on the court, they got on the negotiating table. It has to be said that Larry Brown's methods are something.

To get "Roaring Sky Dien", the Pistons only paid center Serke Buraka, guard Bob Sura and a 2004 first-round draft pick in a three-way deal.

Rebraka debuted in the 94th round and is already 32 years old. He averaged 3 points and 2.3 rebounds per game, which is just a make-up.

Bob Sura was the 95th pick in 17. With Billups and Hamilton in the Pistons' lineup, this guy was just a walk-on, averaging 3.8 points and 1.7 assists per game, and he was already 31 years old.

Coupled with a small year in the draft, he is destined to be a first-round pick around 20th.

All I can say is that the Pistons' "North Carolina-based" behind-the-scenes operations are simply too nice.

Rasheed Wallace is a top power forward who can compete with the so-called "four major shooting guards". The Pistons did not even ship out the "parallel second place" Milicic. The biggest flaw in the team has been strengthened. The Pistons instantly took off and became a championship-level team.

Of course, because of Billups and Hamilton's increased budget, their reputations at this time are not as good as those of Kobe Bryant in 07.

Therefore, this trade did not shock the league as much as Gasol joining the Lakers in 07, but it still made the Pistons the most beautiful team.

Other teams basically have no major trading operations, just minor repairs, and no major transactions that affect the championship pattern have occurred.

Especially the Western Conference teams, the main championship teams, focus on exploring the potential of internal players.

……

Entering the March schedule, the Mavericks, a Texas team not loved by the league, still have a "devil schedule."

Good Guys will play 15 games, including 11 away games and only 4 home games.

Among them, there will be three consecutive away games, back-to-back, and even back-to-back away games, there will also be three schedules...

If they encounter a slight blow, the Mavericks have unstable attributes after all and will fall out of the top spot, which will not be surprising.

Especially at the beginning of March, they encountered a "little devil" schedule.

Will touch the SuperSonics, Timberwolves, Rockets, Spurs, Suns and Kings...

A trip to the West, and then a trip to the East. Obviously, the elite teams traveling in the West are the most difficult to beat, and there is also the first three-game back-to-back appetizer schedule in front of the Mavericks.

On March 3, American Airlines Center Ball.

The Mavericks sat at home and defeated the SuperSonics with a score of 107 to 98, winning 6 consecutive games.

In terms of strength, compared to the shooting battle, the Sonics are still a younger brother.

However, on March 3, the Mavericks challenged the Timberwolves away from home and were slaughtered by the Timberwolves with a score of 3-97.

沃利斯泽比亚伤愈复出，贡献7投4中，三分1中1，罚球2中1，10分2篮板的平平无奇表现。

And this is not the main reason why the Mavericks lost.

The real loser is that Nowitzki was defeated in the direct regular season MVP battle with Garnett, and he was crushed on both offense and defense.

加内特杀疯了，15投11中，三分2中2，罚球4中4，狂轰28分19篮板4助攻的进攻火力外，还在防守上，防得诺维茨基13投5中，三分3中0，靠罚球5中5，这才进账15分4助攻3篮板。

One is "hard" and the other is "soft". The difference is too obvious.

From the beginning of the first quarter, Nowitzki was blown away.

Under Garnett's dominant performance of 13 points and 7 rebounds in a single quarter, the game was wasted.

The Mavericks surrendered after three quarters.

After all, with their lead, there is still room for losing.

There is no need to fight so hard. Nowitzki wants to fight and compete for MVP, but he really can't beat Garnett.

Then, on the 5th, the Mavericks were also defeated by the Spurs, with a score of 100 to 113.

The Mavericks lost by 13 points.

All I can say is that Nowitzki is a coward who is not easy to lead! !
Whether it's Garnett or Duncan, at most they just hope that they can defeat each other's opponents, and more often, they only want to be defeated on both offense and defense.

If the star player is exposed, the game will be difficult to play.

Especially the teams that are competing for the championship.

The Mavericks have lost two straight games.

Finally, on the 7th, Toyota Center Arena.

The Mavericks turned away and defeated the Rockets with a score of 108-104 and a 4-point advantage, ending their two-game losing streak.

It’s basically a foot out of the “devil schedule” that started in March.

Immediately afterwards, the Mavericks easily defeated the poor Suns.

However, they met the Kings on the road, with a score of 102-102, and the Mavericks suffered a 20-point defeat.

The question is, Chris Webber is back.

Sure enough, the real soul center of the Princeton system returns to play on the court, which is completely different from the fake center substitute.

In this campaign, Weber made 15 of 8 shots, no three-pointers or free throws, and only scored an mediocre 16 points. However, he sent 6 assists and 8 rebounds, a near-triple-double performance, and still showed a good competitive state. of.

And this is not the point. The point is, with Weber's containment and ammunition delivery, the Kings' three perimeter musketeers are able to activate their offense, and their efficiency is unparalleled!
Not to mention, Brad Miller returned to the bench and showed terrifying combat effectiveness.

He made 10 of 8 shots and 5 of 5 free throws. While scoring 21 points, he also grabbed 16 rebounds and sent out 3 assists. He played equally efficiently and well.

In addition, Brad Miller can not only replace Webber's position, but also fill the position of Divac, who has insufficient physical fuel tank.

With Webb's return, all the holes of the Kings were filled, immediately showing the terrifying offensive firepower that is one of the best in the league.

The exhausted Mavericks couldn't really fight.

The so-called "four major shooting guards", Nowitzki's strength is really unworthy at this time, and he basically can't beat the other three! !

If there is no counterattack and redemption in 2011, Nowitzki will live in their shadow for more than years.

Finally, Nowitzki was patient and waited until the spring came.

There were 6 games played in the March schedule. The Mavericks lost 3 tough games and won 3 soft games. They played a - style and bullied the weak and feared the strong.

In the subsequent two games of the Western Conference trip, they did not face the strong teams in the Western Conference, but the two bad teams of the Suns and Clippers. It is not surprising that they won.

Next up is the trip to the east.

Hawks, Celtics, Nets, Pacers, 76ers, Heat, Cavaliers, Magic...

After hurriedly losing two games to the Pacers and Heat, the Mavericks ended their trip to the Eastern Conference and ended March's devilish schedule with six wins against weak teams.

After playing 15 games, the Mavericks were in full condition and had a well-adjusted lineup. They only achieved a very mediocre record of 10 wins and 5 losses.

Miraculously, the Mavericks lost without exception when they encountered strong teams that had a little bit of a foothold in the semifinals.

Well, no.

The only win was against the Nets.

Of course, in that game, Kidd was absent due to injury. Under such circumstances, the Mavericks continued the game in suspense until the fourth quarter and only won by 3 points. It was a real failure.

All I can say is that it’s not that we are too soft, but that the schedule arranged by the NBA management is too damn unscientific.

There are 15 away games in 11 games, including three consecutive away games and three back-to-back games. No one can stand it!

Anyway, this is the rhythm that will kill the Dallas Mavericks! !
After the "devil" schedule in March, the Mavericks' record became 3 wins and 59 losses.

Miraculously, their lead continued to expand.

The question is about the Kings and Timberwolves. The schedule in March is not easy. Although the stars are back and the lineup is complete, re-adjustment of the lineup is also a big problem. Both teams have lost 3 games.

Calculating this way, although the Mavericks lost in direct confrontations, they won 2 games.

The Pacers only lost 4 games, so this team's record climbed to second place with a record of 55 wins and 20 losses.

Kings third, Timberwolves fourth…

……

In the April schedule, the Mavericks still have 4 games to play in their regular season schedule.

Leading the Pacers by 4 and a half games, theoretically, they only need to win 4 of them to ensure their No. position in Tianjin.

In these 8 games, the only one that can really play is the Kings.

April 4st, April Fool's Day.

American Airlines Center.

The Mavericks were at home and had an "undefended" confrontation with the Kings from the first quarter.

The one who defends loses without defense.

In the end, the basket was identified and it was the Mavericks' own. The score was 127 to 117. The Mavericks had the last laugh with a 10-point advantage.

After this campaign, there is no team that can truly threaten the Mavericks.

Next, the Mavericks won a wave of 4 consecutive victories, completely killing the suspense at the top of the list.

Then, in back-to-back games, the Mavericks started playing "healthy basketball."

After 8 games, they started with 4 consecutive wins. In the following 4 games, the Mavericks played a 2-2 performance, winning 6 wins and 2 losses. They ended April with a record of 4 wins and 03 losses, which was also the first time in the 04/ regular season. All fixtures.

65 wins and 17 losses! !

The Mavericks got the top spot in the regular season as they wished.

The Pacers scored 61 losses and 21 losses, and still could only settle for second place.

The Timberwolves had a undefeated record in April, finishing third in the league with a record of 4 wins and 58 losses.

The fourth place is the Spurs with a record of 57 wins and 25 losses, the Lakers are ranked fifth with a record of 56 wins and 26 losses, and then the sixth place is the Kings with a record of 55 wins and 27 losses. Although the Pistons traded for the "Roaring God", The five tigers have been gathered together, but it is a pity that the previous record is too far behind, ranking seventh with only 54 losses and 28 losses, and the Grizzlies ranked eighth with 50 wins...

The pattern of the West being strong and the East being weak is clear at a glance. In the regular season, among the top eight players in the league, the West accounts for six and the East only has two. This is because the Trail Blazers in the West deceived Rasheed Hua, who can match the strength of the "four big forwards". Laishi, otherwise, um, it would also be 62 cents.

It can only be said that the Western Theater of Operations can only get involved to this extent.

After all, the opponents in the same division that the Eastern Conference encountered were not strong enough.

Far away.

In the 03/04 season, the regular season has come to an end, and the footsteps of the playoffs are here.

Next, the playoff Western Conference lineup will be released soon, as follows.

Mavericks vs. Nuggets.

Lakers vs. Rockets.

Timberwolves vs. Grizzlies.

Spurs vs. Kings.

The Spurs were very unjust against the Kings, even though their regular season record was higher than that of the Lakers.

However, after losing the minor league matchup in the Southwest Division, they were overwhelmed by the Mavericks and the Lakers. In the Western Division, they were only ranked fourth in the Western Conference. Naturally, they had to compete for the championship. of the Kings.

Same thing over there in the east.

The Pistons had 54 wins and 28 losses, and the Nets had 47 wins and 35 losses.

As a result, the second place in the Eastern Conference is the Nets. If these two teams reach the semifinals, the Nets will have home court advantage.

The final game of the regular season is April 4th. Next, the league will have a 14-day truce. Then, on the 2th, the playoffs will resume.

For the 03-04 season, the Dallas Mavericks' 12-man playoff roster has also been released.

Centers: Sean Bradley, Mamado Ndiaye.

Power forward: Dirk Nowitzki, Antawn Jamison, Nick Fortson.

Small forward: Antoine Walker, Josh Howard.

Shooting Guards: Michael Finley, Marquis Daniels.

Point guards: Steve Nash, Tan Yang, Tony Delk.

……

(End of this chapter)