NBA: Goat is actually me

Chapter 132: Vengeance must be avenged
In the last game of November, the Bulls faced the Utah Jazz.

The previous few games were all fast-paced offense and defense, but tonight the speed suddenly slowed down and the Bulls were a little uncomfortable.

The Jazz have rich experience against fast-paced teams like the Bulls. They relied on this tactic to play against the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals last season until a Game 7.

At the end of the first quarter, the Bulls were trailing by 23 points at 25 to 2.

Stockton firmly controlled the rhythm of the Jazz. Jazz coach Frank Layden specifically emphasized that he wanted to turn the team into a turtle tonight. Although this metaphor was not quite appropriate, all the Jazz players understood what Frank Layden meant. They wanted to use a slow rhythm to make the Bulls players lose the feeling of running, especially Meng Jin and Jordan.

"Don't let that skinny guy John Stockton control the tempo on the court! We have to get the metronome back and speed up the pace of the game again!"

Bulls coach Collins shouted during the intermission.

"Coach, what are we going to do?" Michael Jordan asked.

Collins: "You guard him."

Jordan: "What about Griffith?"

"He can't kill us."

"OK, I'll follow your instructions, coach."

The Jazz during this period were not yet the team of Malone and Stockton, and above them was their big brother Darnell Griffith.

In his peak period, Darnell Griffith could get 22.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists. Although he never made the All-Star team, he was also an All-Star level player. Griffith was nicknamed "Slam Dunk Freak". Although his athletic ability has declined a lot compared to his career, he is still one of the best outside singles players in the league.

In this way, from the second quarter, Jordan's defensive target changed from Griffith to Stockton.

Jordan was the best defensive player last season. It is not easy for a shooting guard to win this award. Stockton did not lose his composure. He was very steady. After dribbling across half court, he turned his back to protect the ball, then switched to his left hand and lobbed the ball to Mark Eaton in the paint from outside the left three-point line.

Stockton had no offensive desire. He didn't want to break through or shoot. He just wanted to comfortably pass the ball to Malone or Mark Eaton. Such defenders made Jordan very uncomfortable. Jordan liked the kind of defenders who fought with him and liked to play one-on-one with him and score points. Only when they wanted to attack would they reveal their flaws.

Mark Eaton's shot was very deep and Cartwright was unable to defend it, so he had to resort to fouling.

This is the case with giants like Mark Eaton. If you want to defend him, you must let him receive the ball outside the paint area or double-team him in time. The Bulls did neither of these in this round.

Mark Eaton made one of two free throws, and the second one bounced out.

After Meng Jin grabbed the defensive rebound, he dribbled the ball directly to the frontcourt. At the top of the three-point arc, Stockton and Griffith retreated at the same time. The two had a tacit understanding and wanted to close the door for Meng Jin.

Meng Jin grabbed the ball with one hand, jumped gracefully, and leaped through the gap between the two people.

Before landing, Meng Jin passed the ball to Jordan on the sideline, and then continued to run towards the basket along the center line.

The Bulls played 2 against 1 in the frontcourt, with Michael Jordan and Meng Jin playing against Bob Hansen, a white shooter who was 198cm tall and had average physical fitness.

Bob Hansen suddenly didn't know who to defend. He always stayed between Jordan and Meng Jin. His idea was good. If Jordan broke through, he would have time to block him. If Jordan passed the ball, he could also steal the ball by standing between the two.

As a result, Jordan threw the ball into the air, and after Bob Hansen jumped, he found that the ball was out of his reach. His right hand was far away from the basketball, and what was even more terrifying was that the ball was still flying higher.

Bob Hansen didn't believe that anyone could reach this height. He twisted his neck in the air and looked behind him. Meng Jin dunked the ball into the basket with both hands, and it seemed that he still had some strength left.

Bob Hansen was completely convinced. He had seen players playing in the sky in his six years in the NBA, but Meng Jin was obviously different from these people. He was playing in space.

25:26.

Meng Jin and Jordan high-fived each other. They both hoped that the team could gain momentum through this ball and play their own fast-paced basketball.

The Jazz won't let them succeed so easily.

Stockton continued to set the pace as he crossed half court. Jordan led the defense throughout the game. He wanted to use high pressure to force Stockton to make a mistake, but Stockton remained steady and passed the ball to Darnell Griffith after crossing half court.

All Jazz players spread out, and Griffith singled out Paxson.

Paxson stuck to him, not giving Griffith any space to shoot.

Although Griffith is nicknamed "Slam Dunk Freak", shooting is his most powerful weapon on the offensive end. In the past few seasons, Griffith's three-point shooting percentage was above 33%, which is a very good shooting percentage in this era.

Griffith shook off a bit and then broke through Paxson, making a layup in the penalty area.

25:28.

This is what Jordan is worried about. If he defends Stockton, Griffith's space will become very large.

Meng Jin patted Paxson and signaled him to defend the white shooter Bob Hansen.

John Paxson did as he was told and said that he could brag about himself as a man who could defend from one to three in the future.

Jordan turned around and returned the favor to Griffith. He started from the top of the arc, dribbled past Griffith and made a high-post jump shot.

27:28.

After scoring, Jordan ran to Stockton without stopping and started to lead the defense throughout the court again.

No matter how stable Stockton was, he couldn't stand Jordan's abnormal defense. He made a mistake in this round. Jordan forced Stockton to the baseline and Cartwright came over to double-team him.

Stockton wanted to pass the ball to Bob Hansen on the outside, but his intention to pass was too obvious and the passing distance was too long. Meng Jin dived to knock the ball away, then leaned over and accelerated to run past Bob Hansen.

Bob Hansen wanted to turn around and chase him, but the speed contrast between the two was too cruel. Meng Jin ran all the way to the basket unimpeded and ended the battle with a tomahawk slam dunk. During the whole process, Meng Jin didn't feel that there was someone behind him.

29:28.

The Bulls completed the reversal, and Stockton was calm as water. He was not affected by the mistakes in the previous round. In the next round, he and Malone played a wonderful two-man cooperation, and Malone followed directly to face Cartwright.

The two men jumped at the same time. Cartwright had a longer wingspan, but Malone had the advantage in bounce and strength. After the two men confronted each other in the air, the referee's whistle sounded.

Cartwright was replaced by Collins, and he committed two fouls in less than two minutes of the second quarter.

Fortunately, the Bulls still have reserve strength at the center position this year, with Dave Korsin coming off the bench.

Dav Korsin was the main player of the Bulls last season, but he became a substitute this season. The change in status did not make his mentality bad. On the contrary, Dav Korsin played more relaxed this year. He knew that his strength was not enough to be the main center of the Bulls. He was scolded by fans last year, especially in the playoffs. During that time, he had to take sleeping pills to fall asleep, and he could only sleep three hours a day. After becoming a substitute for the team this year, his mental pressure has been significantly reduced, and even his insomnia has been cured.

Karl Malone began his performance at the free throw line.

Malone dribbled the ball a few times, then with a pious attitude, he placed it in front of the basketball with his eyes level, while silently chanting a "spell", and then looked at the basket while following up with an extremely standard free throw action, which included standing in front of the free throw line, bending his knees, holding the basketball, straightening his torso, aiming at the basket with his left hand, and pushing the ball with his right hand.

Meng Jin almost vomited after watching it. The feeling was similar to watching a movie without fast forwarding.

He shouted to Grant next to him: "I'd rather let him score two points than watch him do this ritual!"

Meng Jin's voice was very loud, and he was not sure whether Ma Long heard it, but he did not care.

After two free throws, the score came to 29 to 30. In the past few minutes, the two sides played very closely, with both sides taking the lead alternately.

In the next round, the Bulls were attacking in a positional battle. Meng Jin raised his hand to ask for the ball, and Bob Hansen kept fighting for position with him, making small movements all the time.

If you want to beat the Bulls, you can't just play at a slow pace, you have to fight a war of attrition with them.

This is what Jazz head coach Layden said in the pre-match meeting. This kind of consumption is constant physical contact, which consumes the Bulls players' physical strength and makes them upset.

Bob Hansen pinched Meng Jin's waist tightly and whispered, "Girl, I won't let you leave my control. Your ass is so hot."

Meng Jin turned around and glanced at him: "Who did you learn this trash talk from? It's disgusting."

Meng Jin has played in the NBA for more than a year and has seen all kinds of trash talk styles. Bob Hansen's is really unique.

He is the only one who can give Meng Jin goose bumps with his trash talk.

Meng Jin even felt that this guy's trash talk was his true thoughts, and he was resisting in his heart when the two had physical contact.

In that parallel universe, after retiring, McGrady once said that at least 5% of the NBA is homosexual, but these players usually do not admit it because in a competitive sport like basketball, coming out may lead to an unprecedented impact on their careers, and no one will joke about their jobs.

These GAY players are lurking in every team.

After Meng Jin received the ball at the elbow, Dav Korsin came up with his crotch covered to provide him with a screen.

Meng Jin passed the ball and avoided Bob Hansen. The Jazz switched defense, but not completely. Mark Eaton shrank to the edge of the penalty area.

Meng Jin tried to move him out, but Mark Eaton was unmoved. He knew that if he took one more step out, he would be badly played by Meng Jin.

Mark Eaton's approach is correct, but Meng Jin's mid-range shot is much better than last season, and he doesn't have to choose to attack the basket in every round.

"Shh!"

Meng Jin made a steady jump shot from one step inside the free throw line.

31:30.

Stockton continued to play pick-and-roll with Karl Malone. The best way to defend against this kind of pick-and-roll cooperation between the two was to double-team Stockton at the moment of the pick-and-roll so that he could not pass the ball in the first place.

Stockton was thin and only 185cm tall. With two people confronting him at the same time, it was difficult for him to pass the ball to Malone.

However, the Bulls at this time had no knowledge of Stockton, and Jordan also did not understand this small white point guard. After the pick-and-roll, Jordan actually chose to chase Stockton directly, which played into Stockton's hands, and he found Karl Malone with a precise shot.

Malone received the ball in a very comfortable position, at the edge of the paint area. After receiving the ball, Malone did not put it down, but took big steps and rushed towards the basket.

After receiving the ball, Malone jumped high. During this period, Malone's knees were still very healthy. He liked this high-altitude style of play, and he felt that it was in line with his image as a tough guy.

Meng Jin came over from the baseline, and Malone raised his hand to protect the ball when dunking.

"boom!"

The Salt Lake Palace was boiling with fans drooling and popcorn flying everywhere.

Just now, Karl Malone dunked over the new NBA slam dunk champion, Meng Jin, the man who plays basketball in the air.

Meng Jin covered his lips after landing. Karl Malone's ball protection hand was too dirty and hit Meng Jin's face at the moment of dunk.

The referee didn't blow the whistle, thinking it was a good ball.

Meng Jin did not complain, he probably knew the referee's standards tonight.

Karl Malone mercilessly taunted: "Why did you fall down before I even used my elbow?"

Obviously, Ma Long heard what Meng Jin said when he was shooting free throws, and this was his way of revenge.

Jordan came over and said, "Stand up and don't let them laugh at you."

Meng Jin swallowed the blood in his mouth and said, "Pass the ball to me next round."

Meng Jin's lip was broken, but fortunately there was nothing wrong with his teeth.

But Malone soon had problems with his teeth.

Jordan dribbled across half court and handed the ball to Meng Jin.

Meng Jin almost fell down the moment he received the ball, not because the ground was slippery, but because Stockton was too cunning.

He nudged Meng Jin with his knee, making him very uncomfortable.

Meng Jin's rhythm did not stop. He passed the ball immediately after getting it. Stockton was a little slow to react. He just saw Meng Jin stagger when he received the ball. He didn't expect him to break through directly without any adjustment.

Stockton, who came over to defend, was further passed by Meng.

Meng Jin was too fast. Karl Malone had just gotten into position when Meng Jin arrived in front of him.

Malone covered his crotch with his hands.

But he soon realized that he was wrong. He should have covered another part of his body because Meng Jin jumped too high and couldn't touch his crotch at all.

"BOOM!"

Meng Jin pushed Ma Long over and dunked the ball back!

33:32.

Ma Long took two steps back and fell to the ground, directly crashing into a baseline camera.

After the fall, teammates initially thought it was no big deal, as Malone was a strong man and wouldn't be in any trouble. But when they saw Malone took a long time to get up, they all felt something was wrong. Stockton was the first to go up to check, and he was shocked when he saw Malone's face and mouth covered in blood.

Meng Jin didn't use his body to knock Ma Long away just now, he used his knee.

The referee's whistle blew, not for Meng Jin, but for Ma Long's blocking foul.

The referee did not see Meng Jin's knee-jerk dunk, but Jazz coach Layden saw it clearly. He immediately went crazy and rushed to the referee to argue.

Layden was known for his bad temper. His most violent outburst was in 1985, when the referee ignored a very dangerous move by his opponent. So Layden suddenly got angry and started yelling at the referee. The referee expelled old Layden from the game without even thinking about it.

After leaving the court, the angry old Layden went to a nearby sandwich shop and bought a bottle of jam from the owner. He waited on the road that the referee had to take after the game and then poured the jam all over the referee...

(End of this chapter)