NBA: Goat is actually me

Chapter 136 You are in trouble

On December 12, the Bulls will travel to play against the Pacers.

On the plane, the Bulls players were discussing the Lockerbie air crash. Although it had been a week since the crash, the shadow hanging over the entire United States had not yet dissipated. The crash claimed the lives of 259 passengers, including 189 Americans.

Not only the passengers on the plane, but also the residents of the town of Lockerbie were injured in the air crash. The wreckage and debris after the explosion of the plane claimed the lives of 11 local residents.

The scene was in a mess, the air was filled with the smell of gasoline, and internal organs and body parts were everywhere. The police on the scene could only use white bags to collect the body parts and internal organs on the ground, although these things were

A week after the tragedy, and one day ago, the Lockerbie Air Disaster Investigation Team announced the latest findings: Flight 103 was most likely destroyed by high-explosive plastic explosives placed in advance by terrorists. This high-explosive plastic explosive was a time bomb equipped with a double detonation device with electronic timing.

The results of the investigation shocked the world, meaning that the plane crash was not an accident but a terrorist attack.

Jordan lamented that this was definitely the worst terrorist attack in American history. Meng Jin smiled and said nothing beside him. It was obviously too early for him to say this.

During the game that night, the Pacers also had a plane crash, and Meng Jin activated the automatic interception system, turning the Bulls' restricted area into a no-fly zone.

Meng Jin contributed 8 blocks in the game, 5 chase-down blocks and 3 head-on blocks. The most exciting block occurred at 5:05 in the third quarter. Chuck Person made a steal. Facing Jordan who was blocking him, Chuck Person moved his right foot to the right and his left foot to the left, making a cool Meng Jin move.

Jordan's center of gravity was shaken, and he never expected that Chuck Person would also use such an unconventional step.

Just as Chuck Person jumped for a layup, Meng Jin dropped from the sky and grabbed the ball with both hands!
That’s right, it wasn’t a block or a shot, it was just directly taking the ball from the air.

Meng Jin said, what level are you at? Why are you using the same moves as me?

Meng Jin started immediately after landing and advanced to the edge of the penalty area. The Pacers' 224cm center Rick Schmitz was standing in the penalty area to defend. Meng Jin quickly took a step to the right, and then took a big step to the left!

Meng Jin used a low shot in this round. Rick Schmitz couldn't bend down and could only watch Meng Jin slip away from him.

Meng Jin has now used this step very flexibly and skillfully in actual combat. The essence of Meng Jin's advancement is not only in his footwork, but also in his ball control.

If he encounters a player who is shorter than him or the defensive player is very close to him, Meng Jin will raise the ball high above his head while taking a step and use a high handball to handle the situation.

When encountering a defensive player taller than himself, Meng Jin has to consider the situation. Sometimes he will choose to quickly pull the ball down, and sometimes he will pass the ball behind his back. The purpose is to play to his strengths and avoid his weaknesses, and quickly and safely pass the defensive player.

If the opponent blocks him quickly and he has no time to connect with the ball, Meng Jin will grab the ball with one hand or hug the ball in coordination with his footwork. In short, he will act according to the opponent's situation and adapt to the situation.

After dodging Rick Schmitz, Meng Jin raised one arm and slammed the ball into the basket!

The basket was shaking from Meng Jin's abuse.

After Meng Jin landed, he turned around and saw Chuck Person coming back to defend.

Chuck Person's expression was complicated, a little angry, a little embarrassed, and a little helpless.

In this round, Meng Jin gave him a forehand and backhand lesson.

However, Meng Jin's next words made his expression even more complicated.

"This kind of footwork is best followed by a dunk."

Meng Jin's well-intentioned reminder sounded more vicious to Chuck Person than the most vicious trash talk in the world.

Chuck Person's heart was roaring.

Nima!

Meng Jinbu connected with the dunk?
Do you think everyone is as perverted as you?

After three quarters, the Pacers gave up resistance. On the one hand, they were trailing by a large margin, and on the other hand, their psychological defenses were broken.

After defeating the Pacers, the Bulls flew to Los Angeles without stopping. Their next opponent is the defending champion Lakers.

The Lakers have a tight schedule and the intensity of the games is quite high. This is their fourth game in six days. After the Christmas game against the Jazz on the 25th, they will face the Suns, 76ers and Bulls in succession.

The Bulls did not play a Christmas game this year, so they will be much more relaxed at the end of the year. They only need to play three games from the 24th to the 30th.

In the 80s, there were usually two Christmas games, sometimes only one. This year, the game is between the Lakers and the Jazz. Both teams have stars. Last season, the two teams fought for seven games in the playoffs to decide the winner. The matchup between the two sides is also a topic of discussion.

The league also considered arranging the Bulls vs. Pistons this year. The matchup between these two teams is definitely more topical than the Lakers vs. Jazz, but after repeated consideration, the league decided not to arrange it this way.

After all, the Christmas game is warm, not bloody. Although the Chicago Bulls vs. Detroit Pistons is more topical, it is not suitable for the Christmas atmosphere.

This is good news for the entire Bulls team, after all, no one wants to work on such a happy family day.

Meng Jin spent last Christmas at Reggie Miller's house. He had a deep impression of that night. Meng Jin also played against Reggie's sister Cheryl that day.

This year's Christmas, Meng Jin spent it with Grant and several teammates including Jack Harry. Jack Harry was very knowledgeable. He arranged everything including food and drinks, and even invited a few Christmas girls. All Meng Jin had to do was go over and play.

Jack Harry is a smart guy. He can handle the relationship with Jordan, Meng Jin, Collins and Krause at the same time. He is unique in the Bulls. It can be said that Jack Harry can do everything except playing basketball.

On December 12, the Bulls visited the Great Western Forum.

The Los Angeles Lakers were the defending champions last season. Although the name is loud, anyone who knows basketball can see that this team is rapidly declining.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's average playing time this season has dropped by about 20 minutes, and his average points per game has also dropped to a career-low 10.1 points. Putting aside his superstar aura, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is now not even a qualified starter for a top team.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is 41 years old this year. He also knows that his physical functions are declining. He did not hold on to the ball in order to accumulate data. On the contrary, he took the initiative to make sacrifices for the team's record.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has reduced his shot attempts to 8 per game this season, and more of the time he is assisting his teammates.

Before the game started, Jabbar found Meng Jin again. Because of Bruce Lee, he had an inexplicable liking for the yellow race.

Meng Jin couldn't say that he liked Jabeur, but he just felt a sense of calmness when chatting with him.

Another Lakers core player, "Magic" Johnson, is completely different. No matter whether you are familiar with him or not, you can feel his fiery passion.

"Hey! My heart-stealing master!"

"Magic" Johnson came over with a smile and shook hands with Meng Jin.

"Come on, magician, read less gossip news." Meng Jin smiled and waved his hand. The nickname "Heart-stealing Young Master" was given by a certain gossip media. They didn't know where they got the news that Madonna was pregnant and gave Meng Jin 2000 million yuan for it.

"The Playboys" is a movie released on December 12 this year, starring Steve Martin and Michael Caine. It tells the story of two playboys who have been wandering in the "jianghu" for many years. Their target is lonely and wealthy single women, and they profit from deceiving their feelings.

"Tell me, are these rumors true?"

"Magic" Johnson asked gossipingly.

"This is all the result of my hard work." Meng Jin smiled.

"God! This is really true!" Johnson patted his forehead. "We spend money to pick up girls, but you make money picking up girls, and you're a big star! From today on, I'm your fan, for real."

"You spend money to pick up girls? Don't think I don't know, you always pick them up for free. Every time after a game, there is a group of fans waiting in line at the hotel entrance." "Magic" Johnson chuckled: "That's all in the past."

Meng Jin looked unconvinced: "You have become a good person now?"

"Magic" Johnson: "No, no, no, I'm not interested in those free call girls who come to my door. I like to take the initiative now. The people I'm dating now are doctors, lawyers, teachers and some white-collar workers."

Meng Jin suddenly realized that the "magician" was not turning good, but had lost interest in family and started looking for decent women.

"Of course, there are some Hollywood stars, but they are all small stars. I have never dated someone on Madonna's level."

"Magic"'s tone was full of envy. He had been in the NBA for ten years. He started out as a call girl, then became a decent housewife and then a small star. Meng Jin hooked up with a big star in the second year after he arrived.

From the perspective of picking up girls alone, "Magic" used to think that he was unique in the NBA, but he lost completely in front of Meng Jin. During the conversation, "Magic" Johnson discovered that Meng Jin had had relationships with more than one Hollywood actress, which made him admire Meng Jin even more. "Magic" Johnson grinned and complimented Meng Jin the whole time, and his smile could easily make people let down their guard.

After the game started, "Magic" immediately changed his face. He had a serious expression and was fully focused. He hit two consecutive jump shots and an open layup, which was uncharacteristically the case. Jordan personally led the defense of "Magic" Johnson, but "Magic" always managed to find good scoring opportunities using the cover of his teammates.

"Magic" Johnson is not an excellent one-on-one player, but he is good at understanding the game and he will score in his own way.

Not only did he score, "Magic" was also extremely aggressive on the defensive end tonight. At 7 minutes and 37 seconds into the first quarter, the Bulls counterattacked, and Jordan shook his hand and very covertly passed the ball between "Magic" Johnson and James Worthy. Meng Jin took the ball and started directly, and just as he was about to do an aerial operation, the "Magic" behind him pulled him down from the air!
Meng Jin and "Magic" Johnson fell to the ground at the same time. Meng Jin turned around and asked, "Magic, is it that serious?"

"I won't let you attack my basket so easily." "Magic" Johnson responded.

"Are you trying to cripple me with what you just did?" Meng Jin continued to ask.

"Even if that was my dad just now, I would pull him down from the air!"

"Magic" Johnson had a tough attitude, and it was hard for Meng Jin to imagine that this guy was joking with him with his big mouth just a few minutes ago. Although he always knew that "Magic" Johnson was a smiling tiger, this was the first time that Meng Jin felt so truly that "Magic" Johnson was smiling with a dagger hidden in his heart.

"Magic" Johnson was extremely aggressive tonight. He was fed up with the media's hype about the Bulls and the remarks that the Bulls' show-time was more flashy than the Lakers' show-time. Facing Meng Jin's title of "innovator" and "disruptor" in basketball, "Magic" Johnson was also very dissatisfied. Once upon a time, this title belonged to "Magic" Johnson. Back then, he was a 206cm tall man who debuted as a point guard. Everyone marveled that he changed the basketball world. Now this praise has shifted to Meng Jin.

Every top athlete has a top competitive spirit, and the smile is just a lie of "Magic" Johnson.

Meng Jin didn't want to argue with the "magician". He stared into his eyes and said, "Magician, you are in trouble tonight."

Standing on the free throw line, Meng Jin made both free throws without any adjustments.

Many players like to perform a ritual when they go to the free throw line, blowing kisses, touching faces, touching soles of shoes, and muttering to themselves. Meng Jin doesn't like this. It's not just a matter of preference, but also a matter of training efficiency. Usually the game is a continuation of the training habit. If he trains for one hour on free throws, Meng Jin estimates that he can practice more than 100 more shots than those players who perform rituals.

"Magic" Johnson made a tactical gesture with his left hand and controlled the ball across half court with his right hand. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar covered him in the high post. Jordan knew that "Magic" had a good touch tonight and he couldn't let him shoot easily, so he immediately squeezed through Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's cover.

"Magic" carefully protected the ball by moving sideways. Jordan's center of gravity was lower than his, and he was the steals leader last season. As a point guard, "Magic" Johnson understood that the most important thing was to be careful, because the rhythm of the entire team was in his hands, and he was the team's last line of defense. Once the ball was intercepted, the opponent would directly face an open space.

James Worthy went around the three-second zone to receive the ball, and Magic Johnson lobbed the ball in.

James Worthy, the Lakers' Finals MVP last season, received the ball and started the offense. After Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's decline, he took on the offensive burden of the team's interior, especially in positional warfare.

The Lakers' killer weapon is the run-and-gun strategy, just like the Bulls, but when the team's offense stagnates, it's James Worthy's time to play one-on-one.

James Worthy leaned against Meng Jin with his back and turned his head to observe his position. He was reading Meng Jin and Meng Jin was also reading him.

James Worthy didn't make any fake moves, but directly backed up the ball. Instead of going inside, he chose to walk to the top line and then turned over to hook the shot.

James Worthy wanted to play to his strengths and avoid his weaknesses. James Worthy is 206cm tall, half a head shorter than Meng Jin, and not as strong as him, so James Worthy's strategy was not to have too much physical contact with Meng Jin and to catch him off guard with sudden attacks.

Although Meng Jin did not block him in this round, he did give James Worthy enough interference.

After the basketball bounced out, four Bulls inside players competed for the ball, and Meng Jin and Grant grabbed it together.

"One of our own!"

After Grant shouted, Meng Jin did not compete for the second landing point, he chose to move forward.

Grant grabbed the rebound and passed it to Jordan, who pushed the ball across half court and made a diagonal pass to Meng Jin.

Because Meng Jin and Grant had just fought for the rebound, the Bulls' counterattack in this round was not fast. Four players on the Lakers returned to the defensive half, but did not get into position.

At this time, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was at the top of the arc, Magic Johnson was in the restricted area, Byron Scott was watching Jordan on the other side, and standing in the left elbow area was AC Green, who had practiced martial arts for many years.

Meng Jin immediately understood the game situation. He accelerated to AC Green, then suddenly collected the ball and turned down the line.

The Lakers players didn't react at all. No decent player would turn around just one step outside the free throw line!

Although the Lakers have a lot of defensive players, they are all concentrated on the upper line and cannot be replenished all at once.

Meng Jin took advantage of his long stride, turned around and went straight into the small penalty area, flew to the basket and scored two points.

Lakers commentator Chick Hearn lamented: "You can't ask the Lakers players to do more on this ball. They had four players retreat to the three-point line at the first time, but Meng still seized the opportunity."

Stu Lantz: "Absolute talent. If it wasn't for Meng, I would definitely think it was a traveling shot. No player can go directly to the basket from such a long distance."

The Lakers wanted to speed up the game, and "Magic" made a precise long pass to find AC Green.

The "magician" has a very broad field of vision. If he is given an open offensive environment, he can send the ball to any corner of the court in an instant.
It's just that AC Green didn't seize the opportunity and his mid-range jump shot missed.

Meng Jin retreated and grabbed the rebound and then moved forward. Three Lakers players returned to defense. Meng Jin was 1V3 in the frontcourt. He lowered his center of gravity and took a hesitation step. The nerves of the Lakers players at this moment were as tense as Meng Jin's quick steps. The three players involuntarily took two steps back.

Meng Jin suddenly jumped up from a small step before the free throw line and took a mid-range jump shot.

The next second, the basketball went through the net.

Lakers head coach Pat Riley on the sidelines clearly noticed the changes in Meng Jin. His dribbling is better than last season, he is more daring in his moves, and his mid-range shots are more decisive.

Meng Jin scored 4 points in a row, but the Lakers remained calm. They are a championship team and have many veterans in the team, so their mentality will not be easily unbalanced.

"Magic" Johnson launched an attack, AC Green moved to the high post to assist, James Worthy cut to receive the ball, and did not shoot the moment he took the second step, but passed the ball to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar under the basket. The Lakers used tacit cooperation to break through the Bulls' defense in this round, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar easily dunked with one hand under the basket to get two points.

Chick Hearn, the voice of the Lakers, was excited and explained the wonderful team cooperation of the Lakers in this round at a machine gun speed.

The Bulls quickly broke the ball from the baseline, and Jordan dribbled to the top of the arc and set a pick-and-roll with Meng Jin. When the Bulls entered a positional battle, the pick-and-roll between Meng Jin and Jordan was their most lethal weapon.

After the pick-and-roll, the Lakers chose to switch defense, and Jordan made a ground pass to Meng Jin who was making a forward run. It was a very simple cooperation.

After Meng Jin got the ball, he lowered his shoulders and directly knocked "Magic" Johnson away!
Meng Jin's force was so sudden that "Magic" Johnson took two steps back and sat down on the floor.

Meng Jin held the ball with one hand and easily dunked to end the battle.

Does scoring need to be so complicated?

(End of this chapter)