Basketball trainer, I created a super giant

Chapter 318 Let's get used to it, we can still win.

Kobe drove to the basket, stopped in the low post, bounced the ball off the ground, and sent it inside.

After receiving the ball, O'Neal did what he always did: instantly turned around and used his elbow to clear the way.

When a 175-kilogram lump of flesh moves, the impact is unstoppable. In an instant, the muscles collide, and Yao Ming takes a step back, but he doesn't completely lose his position.

To defend against O'Neal, there's no way to avoid any physical contact and simply float around.

If you can't stop the first blow, you're doomed from here on out.

This is also the main reason why those tall centers in the league can easily get multi-million dollar contracts just by building up their muscles.

The paper was truly in high demand, benefiting from the era of Shaquille O'Neal.

When dealing with ordinary centers, O'Neal's approach was to go all out and throw a bunch of flesh at the opponent's face.

But O'Neal had a trick up his sleeve to deal with a top center like Yao Ming.

After the physical contact, his body was not affected in any way. He then turned around to create space and made a small hook attack.

Shaquille O'Neal mastered the art of the hook shot near the basket.

Yao Ming stepped forward and leaped into the air, attempting to block the shot.

But it didn't work.

With that turn, O'Neal had already created space.

With a height of 2.16 meters and a terrifying wingspan of 2.31 meters, Shaquille O'Neal's hook shot is also very difficult to defend, given enough space.

It goes in.

O'Neal ran off arrogantly, rolled up his jersey sleeve, and showed off his Lu Bu tattoo on his shoulder to the New York fans in the stands.

See that? Lü Bu, invincible under heaven!
Inside the TNT studio.

Barkley said very quickly: "Yao was knocked away, Shaq followed with a hook shot, and it went in, no surprises."

"Look at that impact and that coordination. Who dares to say that Shaq only knows how to play with his body? He has skills."

Smith looked at Barkley with a surprised expression.

When did you become a fan of Shaq, or do you have to take what you're saying the opposite of what you're telling yourself?

The point is, there's nothing wrong with that statement; O'Neal really is skilled.

However, it was simply hidden beneath his terrifying 175 kilograms of fat.

Sure enough, Barkley immediately changed his tune: "Shaq has already scored his 7th point in the first quarter, and he's very efficient, going 3-for-6. But the Lakers are still down by 7 points."

"Why?"

Barkley looked at the camera with a puzzled expression and exclaimed, "Shaq has been playing so well. He scored 7 points in 8 minutes, almost 1 point per minute."

"Before the game, Shaq told reporters he was going to score 50 points, and he is keeping his promise. And it's not just his offense, he also has strong defense, holding Yao to just 5 points."

"This is Yao Ming, a terrifying guy who averaged 40 points per game in the Eastern Conference Finals. Just look at how strong Shaq's defense is."

The Lakers' statement that they were still down by 7 points made Smith on the other side realize something.

Sure enough, the chubby kid in front of me was using the same old tricks: praising me first and then putting me down.

He was quick-witted and interjected at the opportune moment, retorting, "But Charles, don't forget, Yao also got 4 assists."

Barkley's eyes lit up, thinking to himself that he was indeed an old friend, someone who knew him inside and out.

He exclaimed in disbelief, "What? Yao got four assists in one quarter?"

"My God, isn't he a center? How did he become a point guard?"

"Four assists in one quarter, damn it, is he going to get another triple-double?"

"Kenny, the Lakers are in big trouble. I think Phil has to find a way to stop Yao from getting assists. Four assists is eight points. Fuck, I know why the Lakers are down by seven points."

Jackson actually came up with a solution.

He called a pause.

Trailing by 7 points before the first quarter is even over is not a good sign.

Ernie Johnson said, "Although Shaq scored 7 points, Yao helped the team more. The Knicks' offense was more rational, unlike the Lakers, who only relied on star players' isolation plays."

With four minutes remaining in the first quarter, the score was 25-18.

A score of 18 points is not high in a normal game, but it is certainly not low either.

The Knicks scored another 25 points, seemingly close to 30, but their tally remained consistent.

"Star player one-on-one?"

Barkley scoffed and said, "Ernie, are you referring to a 0-for-3 one-on-one?"

They didn't name names, but we know who it is.

Payton.

Under Billups' defense, Payton was completely out of form, going 0-for-3.

His offensive efforts failed, and as a point guard, he also failed to demonstrate his playmaking abilities.

The Lakers are just mindlessly playing isolation plays; what's the point of having a team?

As for defense, Billups' 2-for-3 shooting and 5 points is the best proof of that.

Smith chuckled inwardly, then said, "Charles, are you a Knicks supporter?"

"Of course!"

Barkley nodded, then countered, "Should I support the Lakers, support them for what, like those people who supported me going to the Rockets in '96?"

The highest level of self-deprecation is clearly self-mockery.

When Barkley gets angry, he even criticizes himself, talking about how in 96 he went to the Rockets to team up with Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler to win a championship.

As a result, they were completely outmatched by the Jazz in the Western Conference Finals.

"How great was Karl back then, and how great is he now?"

Barkley sneered through his nostrils.

Those Jazz teams dominated the Rockets and Lakers during those seasons, and could even go toe-to-toe with the peak Bulls.

The Utah Twins were renowned throughout the league.

"Think back to 98."

Barkley tapped the table.

In 98, the Lakers embarked on a revenge mission, only to be soundly defeated by the Jazz, losing 4-0.

That year, Karl Malone's name resounded throughout the league, Shaquille O'Neal was still struggling to carry the team in the paint, and Kobe Bryant was still sitting on the Lakers' bench in a daze.

Perhaps they fantasize about dominating the game like Karl Malone in the future.

Now.

When Barkley saw Karl Malone running in and out, setting screens for Kobe, he felt a sense of loss and uncertainty.

Smith clearly understood, and couldn't help but think to himself, "Damn championship."

For this championship, countless stories of heroes growing old have unfolded.

He suddenly remembered something and said, "Charles, do you remember where the Jazz won in the 98 Western Conference Finals?"

Barkley, who was also a mind reader of Smith's thoughts, immediately said, "You mean Karl's assists?" In that series, O'Neal was at his peak, averaging 31.8 points per game.

Malone averaged 30 points per game, performing no worse than O'Neal, while also dishing out 4.5 assists per game.

Just like Yao Ming today, whose offense is as unstoppable as Shaquille O'Neal's, he also has the same passing and assisting abilities.

That’s not all.

In that series, the Jazz had a balanced attack from everyone. Apart from Hornacek, everyone else had a shooting percentage of over 40%, with nine of them having a shooting percentage of over 9%.

Just like the Knicks right now, everyone has offensive capabilities, and everyone is quite efficient.

Barkley scoffed, "If that's the case, then the Knicks would sweep the Lakers. And unfortunately, that Bulls team is no longer in the league."

Anyway, Barkley has a lot of complaints about the Lakers now.

I was already shameless back then.

And what happened? The Lakers were even more shameless, fielding four All-Stars. What were they thinking?

It has to be the Knicks, who have built their skills step by step.

Thinking of this, Barkley said, "Kenny, I have a strong feeling that the Knicks will win next year's championship in an unbeatable manner."

"Just like that bull team back then!"

In his first full season back, Jordan led the Bulls to a historic 72 wins, once again propelling the dynasty to its peak.

Barkley believes that the Knicks now have that ability.

Equally unstoppable, equally unparalleled in the league, with a powerful offensive capability that can outpace the second-place team by more than ten points.

There are two players named "Jordan" in the lineup.

In addition, there is a super center, a top-class wing like Pippen, and a group of fierce substitutes.

It was even more terrifying than the Bull of yesteryear.

With this roster, the Knicks have the potential to maintain it for another two to three years.

A new, potentially despairing, three-dynasty regime is about to emerge.

Barkley shuddered; he felt this was really possible.

"That man is terrifying."

Barkley made a remark that seemed to come out of nowhere.

The rise of the Magic, the rise of the Knicks—all of these are inseparable from one person behind the scenes.

The scene of the game.

The Lakers players gathered together, and Jackson first praised O'Neal, saying he played very well.

7 points is quite a lot.

Try your best to fulfill your promise of 50 points.

"Don't rush, be patient."

Jackson calmly reassured everyone, saying, "We're only down by 7 points. The game is far from over. Once we get used to the Knicks' defensive intensity and find our own rhythm, we can still win."

In Jackson's view, the Lakers' deficit in the first quarter was not a tactical issue.

The Lakers of the past had no tactics left, let alone the Lakers of today with four All-Stars.

Just like the Knicks, the star players go it alone and play some simple combinations.

The opposing team also lacked tactics, so the Lakers didn't lose because of their tactics.

The Lakers lost because they didn't immediately adapt to the Knicks' defensive intensity.

The opposing defense is very strong, covering everything from the inside out.

Even top stars would need time to adapt to this level of defensive intensity.

Jackson believes that once they adapt, the Lakers will gradually regain their form.

Just like Kobe.

Wade defended him very well from the start, and he missed his first three shots.

But gradually, as Kobe adapted to Wade's defensive intensity, he slowly made a comeback.

Now, with 2 out of 5 shots, you've earned 5 points.

Jackson felt that things were getting better.

Give the Lakers time to adapt gradually; it's not too late for them to step up their game later in the season.

The pause ends.

Payton finally got going, using Malone's screen to pull up for a jump shot and make it.

However, Billups immediately responded with a jump shot after a screen.

Jackson on the sidelines didn't seem to care.

Facing the formidable Knicks all of a sudden, there's always an adjustment period.

Jackson is now more concerned with the big picture, the macro level.

For example, when the Knicks rotate their players.

This might give us an idea of ​​Carlisle's attitude towards the entire match.

After 10 minutes, Carlisle was indeed substituted.

They substituted all the forwards.

They played Chandler, Swift, and Prince.

This is how it's normally rotated.

Jackson glanced at Carlisle across from him and thought to himself, "He's quite confident."

I know you substitutes are good, but can you really be the same as the starters?

With Chandler, O'Neal would absolutely crush him.

Just as he was thinking this, O'Neal took a step back, pushed Chandler aside, and scored with a powerful layup.

Chandler was pushed aside and there was nothing he could do.

He excels at defense, but he still can't match O'Neal.

However, the Knicks surged forward the next moment, and Wade made an exaggerated, almost ground-hugging breakthrough, only to be pulled back abruptly.

Even Kobe couldn't keep up with that kind of change of direction.

Draw a bow and shoot an arrow.

Wade leaped up, remembering Tang Sen's advice, his body like a drawn bow, and released a long two-pointer.

Go in again.

Wade also scored 8 points, and his performance was even better than Kobe's.

Jackson's gaze became more serious. He silently comforted himself, "It's okay, I'll get used to it. Once I'm in form, I can win."

(End of this chapter)