Basketball trainer, I created a super giant

Chapter 244 Shouldn't we take the Knicks seriously?
The timer is reset to zero.

The Mavericks lost.

94:81.

Yao Ming scored 33 points and grabbed 9 rebounds, while Houston scored 21 points.

For the Mavericks, Nowitzki played 37 minutes and scored 27 points, giving it his all.

But scoring only 81 points was a huge failure for the Mavericks, an offensively-minded shooting team.

It's worth noting that they've averaged 104 points per game so far this season.

They scored 23 fewer points in this game.

Even so, Carlisle wasn't satisfied.

He prepared in advance, reducing the playing time of his two key players, in an effort to get them back to their best form in this game.

Initially, Carlisle's plan was to have Yao Ming play at least 45 minutes.

As a result, the game lasted 34 minutes.

In other words, Yao Ming hadn't even had his fill of playing before the Mavericks collapsed.

He wasn't satisfied, but the New York fans were overjoyed.

This is the Mavericks, number one in the West!

The Mavericks have already won, so how far behind are the Lakers?
There's also magic.

So far this season, the Magic have already defeated us twice. Will they face us again in the second half of the season?
A large group of fans rushed into the surrounding shops after the game ended.

Hey you, Kenyon Dulin, right? What's your number again?

Never mind, just buy whatever you see!

New Yorkers support their team in a simple and straightforward way, mainly by buying players.

As for the New York media, what they love most is watching their opponents make boastful claims before the game, and then being proven wrong afterward, so they can step in and deliver a powerful blow.

The only regret is that Nelson didn't say anything harsh before the game today.

But that doesn't stop New York reporters from getting right up close and personal with their reports.

For example, a reporter from the New York Daily News asked Don Nelson if the Mavericks' weak interior defense meant that bringing in LaFrentz last year was a mistake.

This question has already put old Nelson on the verge of exploding.

He then asked, "The Mavericks have such a good record this year, securing the top spot in the league. But with such a weak interior, how do they plan to deal with the Lakers, who have Shaq, in the playoffs?"
This question is like stabbing old Nelson in the heart.

The team's poor interior defense has become a major concern for Don Nelson.

And you, you're adding salt to my wounds.

"Does Yao think he can handle Shaq?" With that remark, old Nelson got up and left in anger.

His rebuttal certainly touched a nerve with the New York reporters in the audience.

While the New York media were blindly praising Yao Ming, there was one taboo they had never touched.

That is to compare Yao Ming and Shaquille O'Neal.

But since old Nelson brought it up today, the question has been presented to Carlisle exactly as it was.

Carlisle frowned.

His gaze swept across the group of reporters in the audience, and he quickly locked onto the reporter from the Los Angeles Times.

Whatever he said would reach Phil Jackson's ears immediately.

It feels good to make tough statements, but you have to be able to keep your word.

If you can't achieve it, getting slapped in the face is no pleasant experience.

But after thinking for a while, Carlisle chose to speak.

If the Knicks' goal is the championship, then Shaquille O'Neal, or rather the Lakers, is an unavoidable topic sooner or later.

Yao Ming's all-around ability and the emergence of role players gave Carlisle confidence.

"Of course!"

Carlisle nodded and then said, "Shaq is strong, that's for sure, but Yao is more well-rounded. Believe me, he's no worse than Shaq."

These words immediately drew applause from the group of New York reporters.

Once you've stood up straight, you have to have that kind of arrogance.

So what if it's O'Neal? He'll still go for it.

In the eyes of New York reporters, Yao Ming was no less than Shaquille O'Neal.

In the crowd, a reporter from the Los Angeles Times curled his lip in disdain.

He acknowledged that Yao Ming was very strong and that selecting him as the number one draft pick was well-deserved.

But isn't it too early to be comparing yourself to Shaq now, claiming you're no worse than him?

Last year, even though Brown was so strong, in the Finals he only managed to go head-to-head with O'Neal.

Before Carlisle's words even reached Phil Jackson's ears, they sparked considerable discussion online.

InsideHoops opened a poll to discuss who was stronger, Yao Ming or Shaquille O'Neal.

As the most popular basketball forum website in North America at present, Knicks fans used to not dare to show their faces.

The team's record was terrible, and thanks to Ryden's outlandish rebuilding plan, whenever they made a move, people would say, "Where's your Garnett? Where's your Jordan?"

But now they've turned their fortunes around, and New Yorkers' voices are ringing louder on the forums again.

Not only did a large number of Knicks fans vote, but a comprehensive analysis and comparison of Yao Ming and Shaquille O'Neal was also conducted.

The main arguments are as follows: Yao Ming may not look as big as O'Neal, but he still weighs 136 kilograms, making him the second heaviest center in the league after O'Neal.

With that kind of weight, he'd be a real handful for O'Neal.

In terms of technique, Yao Ming was far ahead of O'Neal.

If Shaq can do it, Yao Ming can do it too.

Yao Ming can do it, but can you, Shaq, do it?

Do you, Shaq, know how to shoot? Can you hit a three-pointer? Can you do a fadeaway jumper? Can you do a skyhook?

A large number of people have also started discussing the outcome of the Knicks vs. Lakers game on February 6th.

Even if Yao Ming is at his worst, he can still trade places with Shaquille O'Neal.

You guys have Kobe, but sorry, we've prepared a bunch of Jerry Sasser for Kobe.

So no matter how you calculate it, the Knicks are bound to win.

The Lakers have quite a few fans, one in the East and one in the West, making them arguably the two teams with the most fans and the highest level of attention in the league.

The two teams are arguing fiercely online.

Phil Jackson couldn't possibly be unaware of this level of attention. With Carlisle already making such a strong statement, Jackson couldn't afford to back down.

The following day, after the open practice, Jackson gave an interview to reporters.

He responded to the question in a humorous tone.

"Sometimes, I really feel sorry for Shaq. Every year there are some players who jump out and try to challenge him."

"and then?"

"After all these years, he is still the best center in the league, no, the best center in the world."

Jackson shrugged casually, his expression and tone clearly showing that he didn't take Yao Ming seriously.

This response thrilled and excited the reporter.

That's right, over the years, there have always been interior players who try to draw fouls on Shaq.

In the end, it was swallowed whole by the great white shark, leaving not a trace.

Jackson said that, but after seeing the reporters off, he immediately changed his expression.

He called his teaching assistants together to discuss a problem.

Jackson first wrote down the Lakers' next opponent on the whiteboard.

After defeating the Nets, they can catch their breath and rest for four days until the 29th, when they will start a two-game road trip.

First attack the sun, then attack the king.

“This game is very important for the Kings,” Jackson circled.

After all, this is a crucial battle that could determine the rankings of each region.

"After playing the Kings on the 31st, we have two games left before the 6th: the Jazz on the 1st and the Pacers on the 4th."

Jackson didn't take either of these opponents seriously.

"I have an idea."

Jackson sat down and looked at his assistant coaches, saying, "I think we should reduce Shaq and Kobe's playing time in the Jazz vs. Pacers game so they can rest more, get in shape, and face the Knicks."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the teaching assistants present all changed.

"Phil, why would you think that?" Kurt Lambis asked in surprise.

Shaquille O'Neal would definitely welcome a reduction in the playing time of his two key players, but what about Kobe?

If they win, it's fine, but if they lose, Kobe will definitely get angry.

The key question is, why do we do this?
Jackson tapped his fingers on the table and said quietly, "Rick is playing with something really new."

He sat up straight: "Didn't you guys notice that, in order to prepare for the game against the Mavericks, he reduced Yao and Alan's playing time two games earlier, and even made them substitutes?"

"He is adjusting the core players' condition for the crucial game."

This kind of play is rare, but Jackson wanted to try it out.

Kobe was alright, but it was Shaq who was always in pain or injured. When the schedule got tight, he would just pretend to be dead and coast along.

There's just no way to deal with him.

Lambis and the others understood.

But Jim Clemons asked, "Phil, the question is, why are we doing this?"

If you're playing against the Kings or the Spurs, doing this is understandable.

But this is the Knicks, the worst team in the Eastern Conference.

Is this deliberate targeting of them just to appease fans and the media, to compare who is better, O'Neal or Yao Ming?
It's not necessary.

The idea of ​​comparing Guan Yu to Qin Qiong is really quite boring in the eyes of these professional coaches.

Jackson shook his head and said, "No, no, no, we can't underestimate the Knicks."

"Let me ask you this: how many games have the Knicks won recently?"

"And they weren't all weak teams; they also beat the Spurs and the Mavericks. I watched the video of their game against the Mavericks the day before yesterday, and the Mavericks' loss was entirely justified."

Everyone looked at each other.

Indeed, after the Knicks changed head coaches, they inexplicably took off.

After defeating the Mavericks, the Knicks have won six straight games and are now very close to making the playoffs.

Jackson continued, "Most importantly, they are growing rapidly, and they have Tang Sen."

Jackson felt upset whenever he thought of Tang Sen.

If you want money, just say so.

Is it possible for New York to provide something that Los Angeles can't?
In the summer, Jackson laughed at Ryden for his wild ideas.

Now, watching the Knicks turn their fortunes around, Jackson can only feel regret.

If Tang Sen were to be hired, I would have to do the same thing.

They kept O'Neal and Kobe, and followed the Knicks' example by trading in a bunch of rookies.

Jackson dares to say that the Lakers won't have to worry about their roster for the next five years.

"With four months left in the season, the Knicks will only get stronger. In the East, apart from the Magic, I don't think any team will be their match."

piston?

That's all in the past.

Celtics?

The Knicks can dominate the Mavericks with their shooting prowess, the Celtics are nothing compared to them.

As for the Nets, Mutombo is getting old. The Nets died just like last year, and this year they will only suffer a worse fate against the Knicks, who have an even stronger interior.

"Even with the Magic, I think the Knicks could have the last laugh in a series."

"Tracy is strong, but compared to last year, the Magic's roster has been downgraded, and Doug's coaching ability is really not as good as Rick's."

The Magic have another fatal weakness: their head coach is incompetent.

Carlisle, on the other hand, has already shown the qualities of a tactical mastermind with the Knicks.

In one or two games, McGrady can have a breakout performance to help the Magic win, but Jackson believes the Knicks will have the last laugh in the entire series.

"So guys, barring any unforeseen circumstances, the Knicks might have a chance to make it out of the East."

"If they and we meet in the finals, do you think we should pay attention to the game on the 6th?"

The people present exchanged glances and fell silent.

Will the Knicks break out of the East?
is it possible.

(End of this chapter)