NBA: Goat is actually me

Chapter 92 Meng Jin's Rule, Hug and Throw Cheryl
According to NBA data, this was the first time in recorded history that a Eurostep was scored.

Meng Jin was also called by later generations the first person to bring this footsteps into the NBA.

Many years later, when some future stars talked about this pace, the first person they thought of was Meng Jin.

Tracy McGrady: "I always thought that this step was created by Meng Jin, because I heard the commentator call this step Meng Jinbu when I was a child. In that era, if someone used this step on the street, there would definitely be shouts like 'Hey! This is Meng Jinbu!'"

Giannis Antetokounmpo: "When the coach told me that Meng Jinbu was originally called the Eurostep, I was shocked. It turns out that this step was invented by us Europeans? A step invented by a European was actually promoted by an Asian!"

Allen Iverson: "The first time I saw the Eurostep was when I was in elementary school, and it just blew my mind! I was like, holy shit, this guy is so hot! He's tall, he's athletic, and he can change directions before he gets to the layup! Do you know what that means? This guy is unguardable, totally unguardable, and totally cheating!"

Manu Ginobili: "I got a lot of inspiration from him. Meng Jinbu is just one of his many skill packages. For me, it is more like a survival skill. This step helps me get rid of defenders like O'Neal and Karl Malone. If I don't do this, I may get injured and my career in the NBA will not be so long."

Russell Westbrook: "My dad showed me videos of Meng when I was little, and even many years later, I always thought that Meng should connect and dunk because that's what MJ did every time."

……

……

Meng Jin's outburst in the second quarter was beyond Ramsey's expectations and was completely beyond his plan.

Ramsey had already arranged a defensive tactic against Meng Jin, but he just couldn't be stopped.

When defending Jordan, the opponent doesn't know whether he will shoot or break through.

When defending Meng Jin, the opponent knew he was going to break through, but they just couldn't defend him.

Meng Jin used his talent beyond his time to repeatedly ravage the Pacers' basket.

At the end of the first half, Chicago Bulls 61:50 Indiana Pacers.

After returning in the second half, Coach Ramsey began to carry out targeted defense against Meng Jin.

Ramsey continued to limit the Bulls point guard's passing, which was the first step to stop Meng Jin's counterattack.

If Meng Jin still received the ball, Ramsey asked the players to go straight to the ball, bump, pull, bounce and tug, no matter what method was used to make this big guy stop.

Ramsey has a very high IQ. Before becoming a coach, he had a master's degree in the 1940s. He has a strong learning ability and integrated the tactics of Chuck Daly and Rick Pitino in a short period of time.

In the third quarter, this tactic worked wonders, and Meng Jin only scored 4 points.

Most of the time he had a hard time catching the ball, and any fast break opportunities he had were ruined by fouls from the Pacers players.

The Pacers narrowed the gap to 3 points before the start of the fourth quarter.

In the final quarter, the two sides turned it into a defensive battle.

The Bulls only scored 16 points in this quarter, but the Pacers were even worse, being limited to only 17 points. Meng Jin and Jordan fought hard for this victory, and both of them spared no effort to sweep the inside and outside lines. Meng Jin felt that his physical strength dropped more sharply in this quarter than in the previous three quarters, and his physical strength tank was basically at the bottom by the last minute.

The Pacers had a chance to overtake the score in the last attack, but Fleming dribbled the ball and made a mistake under the strong pressure of Jordan.

John Long picked up the ball and shot from outside the three-point line, but was blocked by Meng Jin who came from the wing. After the basketball landed, both sides scrambled for it, and time ran out in the scramble between the two sides.

99 to 97, relying on Meng Jin and Jordan's final defense, the Chicago Bulls won an atypical victory.

孟进拿下全场最高的32分7篮板3助攻2盖帽1抢断。

乔丹全场22中7中，拿到19分6篮板6助攻。

Christmas Day is an unlucky day for Jordan. Last year he was defeated by Ewing in Christmas Day game, and this year he was defeated again.

What upset Jordan the most was that he lost the bet again tonight.

"How did you do it?" Jordan asked Meng Jin impatiently as soon as he entered the locker room.

"How did you do that?" Meng Jin asked back.

"How did you get the referee to not call you for traveling?"

Meng Jin stopped and looked at Jordan: "Because I didn't travel, there is still justice in this world."

Jordan shook his head in disdain: "Fuck, don't let me see the news in the newspaper tomorrow that you were arrested for bribery of the referee."

Meng Jin: "Michael, stop talking nonsense. Do you know what you are going to say to the reporters later?"

Jordan: "I'll admit defeat."

Meng Jin nodded: "Very good, by the way, tell them that I helped you win tonight and I saved you."

"Fuck you! Get away from me! There's no such thing in the bet!" Jordan gave Meng Jin the middle finger and quickly walked into the locker room.

Bulls locker room.

After the first few reporters finished asking questions, an ESPN reporter asked, "Meng used a very controversial step tonight. Michael, what do you think of this step?"

Jordan deadpanned, "Great move, definitely the coolest move I've ever seen."

At this time, Meng Jin suddenly walked out of the bathroom. The reporters turned around to look at him. Meng Jin smiled brightly and said, "Did you hear what Michael just said? Congratulations, you have the headline for tomorrow's front page."

Looking at Jordan's unhappy and hesitant expression, Grant on the side was so happy!

What is the ultimate enjoyment!

Grant and Meng Jin smiled at each other. There was no need to ask, this must be part of Jordan's prank plan!

Pacers coach Ramsey expressed his respect for the Bulls in the post-game press conference: "They fought until the last minute and were a respectable opponent. Our players also fought until the last minute. The children tried their best. Now all they have to do is take a bath and spend Christmas with their families."

"Coach, the Pacers fouled Meng very hard in this game. Is this also part of your tactical deployment?"

Ramsey said without hesitation: "Meng is an unconventional player. We must use some special means to deal with such players. We have to find a way to cut off his connection with the guards. We can't let him receive the basketball so easily, we can't let him start so easily, and we can't let him speed up easily. We must constantly confront him physically, consume his physical energy, and slow down his pace. Sometimes some fouls are necessary."

After the game, the media called Ramsey's method of defending Meng Jin the "Meng Jin Rule."

In the evening, Reggie Miller's parents were cooking turkey in the kitchen, while his sister Cheryl Miller and Meng Jin were chatting and laughing in the living room.
Meng Jin had several dunks tonight, and he also blocked John Long on the last shot without any regard for Reggie Miller's feelings in the corner.

"Wow, your hands are the biggest I've ever seen." Cheryl stretched out her palm and compared it with Meng Jin.

"I think you can touch the top of the backboard. When I watched your game on TV before, I thought you were very good at jumping. But when I saw it live, I realized that's not just jumping, that's flying." Cheryl said with a smile.

"I heard you can dunk too?" Meng Jin asked.

"Of course, in high school," Cheryl smiled.

"Incredible, a female dunker, this is the first time I've seen one." Meng Jin replied politely.

Listening to the two people constantly talking about the basketball court, Reggie Miller was a little impatient: "There is a basketball hoop in the yard, you two can go there and practice, don't keep talking about basketball in the living room!"

Reggie Miller was in a bad mood today. He only scored 5 points with 1 of 2 shots. How could he be in a good mood?
Reggie Miller is a person with a strong desire to perform. Every time there is a key game or a TV broadcast, he will get excited. Today's Christmas game is a key game + TV broadcast, and Reggie Miller started to get excited in the morning.

Good news, I'm excited. Bad news, I'm a little too excited.

After coming on the court, he missed his first four shots. Ramsey, who always supports Reggie Miller, saw that something was not right tonight and quickly replaced him.

If we let him continue to fight, the harmony of the team will probably be disrupted.

Reggie Miller only played 14 minutes in this game and had almost no presence.

Reggie Miller thought they would calm down after he yelled at them, but Cheryl directly invited Meng Jin: "Let's go to the backyard and play?"

Meng Jin decisively refused. He was very tired after playing the game and didn't want to play basketball after get off work.

Cheryl: "Just hit three balls, have some fun, it's quick."

Despite Cheryl's persistence, Meng Jin finally followed her to the backyard.

Reggie Miller saw that there was something interesting to watch, so he followed happily. He knew his sister very well. Cheryl's "playing around" was just talk. As long as she stepped onto the court, even if it was just her own backyard, she would give it her all.

Reggie Miller's mood instantly improved. Gossip can heal pain. He even took a bucket of popcorn out with him.

"Ladies first." Meng Jin passed the ball to Cheryl.

"No, the penalty kick determines the ball possession."

Cheryl's expression was serious, very serious.

Reggie Miller grabbed a handful of popcorn and stuffed it into his mouth. That was the look, that was the taste.

"Shh!"

Cheryl made the first attack with a free throw.

Meng Jin smiled and helped her wash the ball. At this moment, he didn't know what he would face next...

Cheryl started off with full intensity, first feinting, then passing the ball from the right.

The first goal was scored with a clean three-step layup.

Cheryl has strong athletic ability and can be ranked first among female basketball players of this era, but after all, there are differences in the body structure of men and women, and Meng Jin obviously let this shot go.

Cheryl could sense it, and she was very dissatisfied: "If you don't cheer up, then I will help you cheer up!"

In the next round, Cheryl stuck her butt out and went straight into back-to-back attack mode!
Meng Jin had no choice but to hold on!
Cheryl throws a left elbow as she turns around!
"boom!"

Reggie Miller, who was watching the game on the sidelines, frowned. At that moment, he recalled the fear of being dominated by his sister when he was a child.

After Cheryl elbowed Meng Jin away, she gently hooked him with her right hand and won another game.

Reggie Miller gloated on the side: "Hey! Meng, now you know what kind of environment I grew up in, right?"

Meng Jin rubbed his chest and said, "No way, Cheryl, are you serious?"

Cheryl: "You can't stand it?"

Meng Jin: "If the Pacers players had your intensity tonight, I think they would have to go down at halftime!"

"boom!"

In the next round, Meng Jin directly gave Cheryl a hot pot. Since Cheryl wanted to be serious, he would follow her wish.

The ball possession changed, Meng Jin broke through along with Cheryl, his first step was with his right foot facing right, the second step was with his left foot facing left, after dribbling past Cheryl, Meng Jin flicked the ball with his left hand and scored easily.

"This is cheating!" Cheryl complained.

"Did the referee whistle?" Meng Jin asked back.

Cheryl shook her head: "No."

“That’s a good shot.”

"OK."

Cheryl didn't say anything more and continued to fight.

Meng Jin did the same thing in the second goal. He planned to easily end the battle with three European steps, but Meng Jin obviously underestimated Cheryl's competitive spirit...

For the third ball, when Meng Jin hadn't taken the second step yet, Cheryl hugged Meng Jin directly!
Cheryl's strength was incredible, almost as strong as a man's, and she directly dragged Meng Jin into the lawn.

"Girls! Guys! The turkey is ready!"

As soon as Reggie Miller's parents walked into the yard, they were stunned by the scene before them.

Meng Jin was holding Cheryl in the bushes, while Reggie was eating popcorn and watching the show beside them.

Father Sol was stunned for a long time before he slowly spoke: "I thought you were playing basketball, but it turns out you were playing wrestling?"

……

……

On December 12, the Bulls lost to the Hawks 29-104 at home. Dominique Wilkins played mediocrely in this game, scoring only 107 points, while Doug Rivers broke out, scoring a triple-double of 26 points, 29 rebounds, 14 assists and 12 steals. The important thing is that he did not take up any shots, making 4 of 11 shots!
Jordan scored 39 points for the Bulls. Jordan would not allow himself to be in a slump for two consecutive games. He took 37 shots in this game!
That’s 25 more shots than Meng Jin, who ranked second in the team!
Jordan not only shot through the Nets but also shot through his teammates. He seemed to have returned to the state of the previous seasons, taking the ball and doing it by himself without caring about anything.

However, the main reason why the Bulls lost this game was not Rivers' outburst or Jordan's reckless shooting, but that they copied Ramsey's "Meng Jin Rule".

Although the Pacers lost the last game, everyone can see the effectiveness of their defense.

To some extent, Jordan's 37 crazy shots in this game were also related to this tactic. The "Meng Jin Rule" made the Bulls lose their rhythm and they struggled in positional warfare most of the time. Meng Jin's offensive ability in positional warfare was limited and the ball possession could only be given to Jordan. Lu Dan took 37 shots with tears in his eyes.

Before the game started, Meng Jin also allocated 2 potential points to [Physical Fitness]. These 2 potential points were rewards he received after successfully using the [Euro Step] on the court.

His current [Physical Fitness] attribute is 85 (86).

Meng Jin learned from the lesson of the previous game and planned to build up his physical strength quickly. However, if the air conditioning in the Chicago Stadium had not broken down for ten minutes during this game, Meng Jin felt that he might not have sweated at all.

Meng Jin couldn't catch the ball most of the time during the counterattack. When he finally caught the ball, the Atlanta Hawks immediately used rough means to stop him from moving forward.

Eagles coach Mike Fratello, nicknamed "Shorty," said Ramsey's tactics were really good, but now it's mine.

Not only Mike Fratello, but now coaches of all NBA teams have seen the feasibility of the "Meng Jin Rule".

After losing the game, Meng Jin was looking at a two-day-old copy of the Chicago Sun-Times in the locker room. The words "Meng Jin's Law" were printed in the most conspicuous position.

Meng Jin said that he was really grateful to these media...

(End of this chapter)