NBA, Yao Ming is back!

Chapter 114 They... they're turning a basketball game into a football game!

Larry Brown seems to be in a really good mood lately.

The preseason games are just ordinary training exercises.

But the training effect was perhaps a little too good.

We'll trade Stackhouse when the time comes.

Perhaps it is possible————

Add some more high-performing blue-collar workers.

By then, Philadelphia will practically be a working-class bloc.

I am the leader of the working class.

Larry Che Guevara Brown!

The following preseason games were similar, as the starters were not used much, and when they were, they were just there for the substitutes and for practicing tactics.

Therefore, preseason data is not included in individual total statistics.

Having weathered the storms of the Magic and Grizzlies, the Philadelphia 76ers' preseason journey continues with two more matches against the Milwaukee Bucks and the Toronto Raptors.

Having learned from the previous few games where they dominated the paint, the whole team has figured out the rhythm of the game.

Iverson went all out, practicing his shot-splitting technique against the rim throughout the game against the Bucks, easily scoring 20 points on just 26 attempts.

He then simply packed his bags and asked to leave. After all, it was just a worthless preseason game; there was no need to work himself to death. Relaxed basketball was the way to go.

Iverson can only rest and recuperate during the preseason; once the regular season begins, especially the playoffs...

Unless his leg is broken.

Otherwise, they would absolutely not let him rest.

With Iverson gone, the court instantly became the exclusive hunting ground for Yao Ming and Ben Wallace.

This formidable duo of inside players, a pair of shrewd and persistent, are back in action, their teamwork getting better and better.

Yao Ming anchored himself in the paint, becoming an immovable giant barrier, while Ben Wallace transformed into a mad dog sweeper scurrying across the court, their stillness and movement complementing each other perfectly.

With a defensive partner like Ben Wallace in the paint, things are much better.

So what if we run into the Jazz again?

I have a lieutenant's little alarm clock!

Let's see who dares to cause trouble!

If the opponent dares to send their inside players close to attack the basket, they will all be relentlessly swarmed and attacked by the two of them.

That level of defense, without exaggeration, is even more torturous than having a female secretary in your office.

The rotation players on the court, when they wanted to establish position in the low post, were blocked; when they wanted to break through the paint, they were intercepted by Ben Wallace; even the simplest open mid-range shot was disrupted by Yao Ming's absurd height and wingspan.

A dilemma from beginning to end!

I truly understand what it means to be utterly helpless and desperate, even playing ball on QQ is a nightmare.

Of all the unlucky ones, the one who suffered the most was definitely Raptors backup center Oliver Miller.

To be fair, Miller wasn't a major bust, just a minor one. His performance dipped after switching teams last season, but thankfully his shooting percentage remained consistently above 50%. He was good at finishing at the rim, boxing out for rebounds, and everything else, making him a perfectly adequate rotation player off the bench.

He also wanted to take this opportunity to rebuild his social standing.

They take the preseason games more seriously, and only those who want to earn a contract will play them.

Who could have predicted that the biggest nightmare of his life would unfold in this seemingly ordinary preseason game?

It arrived silently.

Facing the ultimate defensive combination of Yao Ming and Ben Wallace.

Miller was so badly defended that he questioned his existence.

His once-familiar footwork under the basket has become completely ineffective. He can never get comfortable positions to receive the ball, and every effort he makes to shoot is either ruthlessly blocked or misses completely under high-intensity pressure.

Throughout the entire game, Miller took twelve shots and only made one.

That translates to a hit rate as low as 8%.

How outrageous is this data? It's no exaggeration to say that even if your Uncle Wang's nephew threw the ball blindfolded, his shooting percentage might be higher than that of this professional center.

And it doesn't matter who he chooses to fight.

The hit rate is just not high.

Yao Ming and Ben Wallace looked like they were ready to be picked at will.

It's about whether you can harvest it or not.

That's your own problem.

Miller, who was being repeatedly rubbed and pressed to the ground, was on the verge of a complete mental breakdown.

He stood blankly on the court, his mind a complete blank. In a daze, he even had a strange feeling: had he traveled back in time and returned to his rookie days when he first joined the Phoenix Suns?

He was still that clueless, helpless rookie who kept hitting walls in the league's paint and couldn't beat anyone.

After this match...

Putting aside everything else.

He's close to a big contract.

It's definitely taken another small step further away.

Who would have thought that after all the hard training during the summer vacation, and finally getting into the swing of things, I would be brought back to reality by two young men?

Moreover, it's the kind of feeling where you're beaten back to your original form, but you still have to fight.

They don't even let you breathe.

As the final whistle blew, the scoreboard numbers dazzled the Toronto home fans.

The Toronto Raptors fought hard throughout the game, giving it their all, and the final score was 55 points.

This is the second team recently to be held to under 60 points by the 76ers. Larry Brown couldn't help but rub his hair as he watched; he couldn't help it, his head felt too good.

The combined defense of these two players was much better than I had imagined.

Even if this is just the preseason, the regular season may be significantly impacted.

That's already very strong.

It works quite well.

The 76ers' basketball hoop.

His two favorite generals stood there.

You are not as brave as Fengxian.

Don't even think about going out without losing a single piece of clothing.

Honestly, Larry Brown's offensive strategies aren't that great, and his defensive strategies are...

It's truly torturous.

He can be considered a golden-bodied Arhat.

The Finals were a grueling competition that Popovich and I put together back then.

This prompted the league to change all the rules.

Its power is evident.

Yao Ming believes that this defensive system would be virtually unstoppable in the preseason.

Because he and Ben Wallace were in their first and second year, respectively. Ben Wallace was still an undrafted player—so it's normal for him to be a little more serious.

Those players who suffered a setback can't really say anything.

Why are you angry with a newbie and a failed contestant?

Don't the starting players care about their reputation?

Interestingly, Iverson spent the entire game practicing his missed shots, and the team completely tanked on offense. The whole team only scored a little over sixty points, which wasn't very impressive, and by other teams' standards, it would be considered quite poor.

Larry Brown watched the entire game with a wide grin that stretched from ear to ear, his face beaming with satisfaction.

That's it!

That's it!!

This is the art of basketball!

Others pursue high scores and flashy stats, but this dad's basketball philosophy is simple and brutal: whether I can score or not, whether the game is exciting or not, is not important; what matters is that I can make you look worse than me.

That's very important.

Moreover, there's no such thing as a defensive three-second rule these days, and the league's overall style leans towards a retro, physical style, making low-scoring games the norm. In Larry Brown's eyes, the most perfect and top-tier tactical system is one that can lock down the opponent with ultimate defense and secure a steady victory.

But it is precisely because of this extremely grueling style of play that the 76ers suddenly began to be criticized by many teams across the league.

It even became the focus of criticism from fans and the media.

Especially fans of the teams that played against each other in the preseason.

They were all full of resentment!

It's just a meaningless preseason game, isn't it?

There's no need for this suffocating, iron-fisted defense; it's like locking down the rhythm of the game's offense and defense.

Do we not want the contract anymore?

The fans were also unhappy, thinking, "Did we pay money to watch a battle of missed shots?"

error.

You're absolutely right.

This question persists until the 04 Finals; you really paid money just to watch the epic battle of missed shots.

If you lose, I lose.

Scoring a goal has become a low-probability event.

As these coaches have become increasingly adept at manipulating defensive systems, offensive players have become increasingly ineffective. In the end, the statistics for both sides are extremely poor; star players can't pad their stats, and role players can't find their form, resulting in a purely thankless task.

The coach was thrilled.

Neither the players nor the fans felt much pleasure.

No wonder that after the 04 Finals, they completely abolished hand-tested defense.

Completely giving way to the attack.

After the game, even Bucks' star center Hill couldn't help but openly break down in defense.

As a well-established and highly skilled blue-collar star center in the league, when has Hill ever suffered such injustice?

Throughout the game, Yao Ming and Ben Wallace took turns targeting him.

His drives were blocked, he was outmaneuvered in the low post, his shots were contested, and he only made one of ten attempts.

Their offense completely shut down.

Before the game, the Bucks were secretly planning that with their All-Star Hill on the court, they could definitely break through Philadelphia's interior defense. However, reality dealt Hill a harsh blow, leaving the All-Star feeling utterly miserable under the basket.

Hill is physically imposing, and his low-post back-to-the-basket game is one of his signature skills. When facing ordinary big men, he can usually create space for them to shoot after a few touches. He is considered one of the top players in the Eastern Conference.

Back-to-the-basket move? Do you think you're Shaquille O'Neal?

And even if you can move me.

Not to mention I have a lieutenant general; I'm ready to fight at any time.

Hill, I didn't expect Yao Ming to have such a solid foundation.

What do East Asians eat to grow their lower body?

Is this a human calf?

Compared to myself, my calves are even thinner and smoother than those of a supermodel.

As he tried to turn around, he looked up and was met by the towering Yao Ming, with the muscular Ben Wallace swaying beside him. The two of them standing in the paint instantly turned the three-second zone into an impenetrable octagon.

A direct attack wouldn't work, so Hill immediately tried to turn and slip away. But he'd only turned halfway when Ben Wallace was right there, like he'd been tracked down, blocking all his escape routes. Wallace was even gesturing and waving his hands around the basketball, making it clear: Trying to run? You're not getting away!

Have you locked up with my strong man yet?

No, you can't go out!

With a high wall blocking his way in front and strong men surrounding him from the side, Hill stood rooted to the spot with the ball, unable to attack or pass. He was frozen on the court, his posture as awkward as a Barbie doll.

Left with no other choice, he could only close his eyes and hastily make a move. Yao Ming raised his long arm, his massive figure covering most of the rim, creating an overwhelming sense of pressure.

Hill's composure immediately crumbled, and his shot went completely awry, the ball slamming against the front of the rim and bouncing far away.

"Boss, is this what you call an All-Star center? He doesn't seem that strong at all."

Ben was always very direct, and people with big pectoral muscles speak with great force, so his words inevitably reached Hill's ears as he was about to check out and go home.

But he didn't expect that just as he was about to walk back to his own half of the court, that tall Asian man uttered the game-winning phrase: "Shh! Don't shout that, he's a former All-Star."

"Now that I'm older, my virility has faded."

"Why are you pinching it?" Da Ben asked curiously.

"Because men tend to turn 60 after 25, which is roughly the same as being old, we should treat the elderly better."

Ben was startled.

He is a person from 74.

Let's do the math.

Does that mean I'll be 25 soon?

Then—am I only a few years away from home?

A wave of fear washed over me.

Suddenly, a feeling swept over Da Ben's mind.

Yeah, and then he angrily blocked Hill's shot.

It was some consolation.

During the interview, Hill looked frustrated and couldn't help but complain and vent his dissatisfaction: "You call this playing basketball?"

This is clearly playing football!

Do you think I, an All-Star player, have any dignity if I make 1 of 10 shots in the preseason?

This fiery interview statement immediately drew everyone's attention.

Many players and reporters on the court were amused, and the atmosphere became unusually tense for a moment. Everyone was waiting to see how the 76ers would respond to the All-Star's complaint.

Just as everyone was discussing this, Yao Ming, who always had high emotional intelligence and was well-versed in human relationships, slowly stepped forward and casually uttered a "wise saying" that would be passed down through the ages.

That is incorrect.

"In my opinion, being able to turn a basketball court into a football field and a basketball score into a football score is the key to winning."

shock!

Stunned!

The soul is singing!

Brown only felt after hearing those words.

A word to awaken the dreamer.

Because this statement, without bias, accurately hits the core of Larry Brown's lifelong coaching belief: "Finally, someone understands me."

She understands me better than Robinson does.

It turns out that the people who truly understand me are in the East.

At that moment, Larry Brown felt a strong sense of regret for not having met him sooner.

Previously, he only valued Yao Ming's defensive talent, but now he regards this young man from the East as a treasure bestowed upon him by God.

I want to train you to be the number one defensive core.

What is Ai Tiantian?

That's the core of the attack.

Anyone can come.

I'm talking about the sacred and pure core of defense.

Brown was filled with mixed emotions, and a domineering comment even popped into his mind:

I have a sign of a female general!

It can protect against heaven, earth, sun, and moon!

He originally thought he was coming to take over the mess that the 76ers had made.

With no one else available, the only thing we can do is give Allen Iverson, who clearly doesn't know how to defend, some pointers.

But unexpectedly.

They actually sent Yao Ming.

They sent in another mushroom-headed undrafted player whose true value was unclear to everyone.

look.

I always said that even when people get old, their hearts shouldn't grow old.

So God gave me money again—no, did He hit me?

They are there.

All that I have learned in my life.

Finally, I have a chance to play in the NBA.

It's time to show my skills.

I want to prove that I'm in the NBA.

He could also become a famous coach.

I need to improve too! PS: Here are two long chapters, nearly 10,000 words each. Then, depending on everyone's support, I'll add extra chapters for every 100 monthly votes and 100 average daily subscriptions!

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