As the saying goes, the friendship between gentlemen is as light as water, so Liu Mang and Billups can be regarded as the friendship between gentlemen.

They admire each other. Liu Mang admires Billups for being steady, low-key and explosive after accumulating enough foundation. Billups appreciates Liu Mang for being sharp and not afraid of anyone from the beginning.

People always appreciate the things they don't have, the emotions and characteristics they don't have.

But it is precisely because of these differences that even if I admire each other very much, because there are not many people I can chat with, and they are not as complementary as Kobe and Gasol, I still appreciate them, but just like the friendship between gentlemen,

As plain as water.

Liu Mang and Billups had a meal together and talked about Chinese food and some scenic spots in China. Billups planned to travel to Asia in the summer.

Then we didn’t talk too much. Liu Mang was already very familiar with the private interactions of NBA players, especially the private interactions of NBA players in the early 2000s when there was a strong sense of personal heroism. He rarely talked in private.

Regarding things related to the NBA, even if it is an appointment to train together, it is just training. Group hugs are not yet popular. At most, those in their thirties who want to hug each other will have such an idea.

After dinner, those who go back to the hotel go back to the hotel, and those who go home go home.

Liu Mang has been in Atlanta for almost three years, and he never expected that there is a really good Sichuan-Hunan restaurant on Baifu Avenue. Not only is the decoration very Chinese in the Ming and Qing Dynasty, but the taste is also quite suitable for Liu Mang, an orthodox Chinese.

He wants to bring some girls at home with him when he has time.

…

…

Fans are the cutest, especially team fans. Their love for a beloved team is the most heart-warming.

Although Liu Mang is not the best player on the team, even in the team analysis given by Sports Illustrated at the end of the season, Liu Mang could only be ranked fourth in the Hawks, ranking behind Raheem, Ratliff, and Jason Te

After that, of course, this is also the case. Ratliff is the favorite for the best defensive player, Rahim is also very popular for entering the second team of the All-NBA team, and Jason Terry has much better strength and statistics than Liu Mang.

Ranking fourth is natural.

But in the Atlanta fan survey, Liu Mang is undoubtedly the most popular local athlete, even surpassing Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Spurrier!

Liu Mang's character, counterattack in his rookie season, and his appearance and looks like a "hibiscus out of water" in the NBA and NFL have made him very popular in the United States, and he has firmly established himself as the king of popularity in Atlanta.

.

Generally speaking, rookies are easier to attract fans because they represent the future. Just like Embiid and James, who became the darlings of local fans in their rookie years and even have high popularity in the United States and the world, if a rookie plays well,

Often the same statistics or slightly worse statistics are more popular among fans than the better performance of players who have played for several years and then exploded.

There is no need to elaborate on Liu Mang's popularity in Atlanta. Therefore, when Garnett, a guy who expressed his dislike for Liu Mang in an interview after arriving in Atlanta yesterday, stepped into the competition venue of Phillips Arena,

The scene was filled with boos!

A certain No. 8 player in the Western Conference who won the first Western Conference Player of the Month for the first time in his career after playing for six years was originally the most hated guy by Atlanta fans, but now he has become Garnett!

Garnett publicly stated in an interview yesterday: Liu Mang is just a lucky rookie. The last loss to the Hawks was just because of the rookie's despicable methods. This time he will make Liu Mang look good.

Although a certain No. 8 player targeted Liu Mang, he didn't say much harshly.

Garnett really talks a lot!

But Garnett is so arrogant!

Hearing the boos from the fans at the scene, he put his hands behind his ears to listen! The boos from the fans at the scene became even louder.

The referee has a big head.

The Eagles' games are inherently difficult to brag about. There is a popular rookie who wants to cause trouble all day long. Now the big-mouthed troll who loves to make trouble in the West is here. The two big trolls and the king of trouble come together.

I have to be careful when calling today. The main thing is to control myself and not give in to technical fouls.

Seeing Garnett's arrogance, the Eagles share the same hatred!

Of course you can only abuse your own rookie! When will it be your turn to be arrogant with a guy who can't even win a few games in the playoffs!

The main stars of the two teams have a grudge, and the atmosphere in both teams will be very hostile.

Although Liu Mang considers himself an open-minded person, he is also unhappy with Garnett's "unprovoked" provocation. He believes that he has not offended Garnett.

This guy must be looking for trouble on purpose!

Fuck him!

"Sharif, I'll leave that guy who only knows how to shoot jumpers to you!" Liu Mang said to Rahim.

Rahim is very tough, but after hearing Liu's words, he also thought, "What does it mean to be a guy who can only shoot jumpers? This guy seems to be able to do anything with the ball, break through, cut to the basket, and post up..."

…

The antagonistic atmosphere between the two teams has been established since the last time they met.

The game was about to start, and no one from the two teams came forward to say hello to their opponents. The atmosphere was very different from the future hello, me, hello, everyone, and everyone was happily playing basketball together. The smell of gunpowder quickly filled the Phillips Arena!

Before the game, officials and the media had done a lot of publicity for this game, and the commentators on the live TV broadcast were also exaggerating the confrontational atmosphere of this game to increase the excitement of the game.

The game was about to start. Liu Mang looked at the changed lineup today. The coaching staff specially made tactical changes for the Timberwolves.

Dean Grove, Jason Terry, Chris Crawford, Raheem, Ratliff appear!

Muhammad was placed on the bench and played with the second team. Muhammad had no complaints. He was able to get to where he is today by strictly following the coach's arrangements and working hard.

The Timberwolves fielded a lineup of Billups, Anthony Peeler, Szczerbiak, Garnett, and Joe Smith.

Former Cavaliers All-Star point guard Terrell Brandon couldn't stand the torment of injuries after the All-Star break. After persisting for most of the season, he once again chose to undergo season-ending surgery.

This is Brandon's last appearance in the NBA. The 6-year, 54 million contract he signed with the Timberwolves that year does not include the remaining 2 years of about 23 million for this season. The Timberwolves will have to pay him salary in the next two years.

However, this gave Billups a chance to stabilize the team. After the All-Star Weekend, Billups averaged 14 points, 3 rebounds and 5 assists per game. Although he and Garnett did not call each other, his playing time has stabilized and his statistics have improved.

Small improvement.

"Sharif, go up and kill that weak jumper!" Liu Mang said loudly towards Rahim who came on the court.

Rahim really wanted to run over and grab Liu Mang's neck and tell him to stop yelling. Damn, that soft-ass jumper guy... isn't he so easy to deal with that iron-blooded wolf king!

I wipe it!

Rahim's face was filled with murderous intent when he saw Garnett!

But Rahim and Liu Mang have been together for a long time, and Liu Mang’s advantages have not been learned... It is indeed a bit difficult to find, but he has a rough personality and he has learned this!

Why are you staring at the uncle? Aren’t you just a few months older than the uncle?

Raheem glared back at Garnett decisively!

Judging from his body shape, Garnett is a bit slimmer. Garnett is only 110 kilograms at 2 meters tall, and Raheem is 108 kilograms at 2 meters 06. Although Rahim is also slender, he is not as tall as James who is 2 meters 03.

More than 120 kilograms is incomparable, but standing with Garnett, Garnett really deserves it!

Just as Liu Mang shouted, today Rahim was placed at the power forward position by Coach Kruger to directly confront Garnett!

In terms of size and physical fitness, Raheem is the best candidate for the Hawks to defend Garnett.

Liu Mang's voice made the originally disharmonious atmosphere between the two teams tense. The alliance would be very happy, and the game would be fierce. Both teams are roaring teams and don't fight much, so the game is bound to be fierce.

It looks good, but the referee really wants to send Liu Mang out with two technical fouls... Isn't it exciting enough?

Coach Kruger was very calm. Over time, he found that this rookie had no problem provoking his opponents. Most of the time, his side had the advantage, because except for the occasional Los Angeles-like head, this rookie was very calm at other times and looked stupid.

He squirts on everyone he meets without having sex, but he doesn't actually have a hot head.

Even the fight was an accident. Who knew that the opponent would bend over and try to counterattack, and then he would be elbowed and start a fight.

The tense atmosphere between the two teams made the fans at the scene extremely fanatical. The temperature in Atlanta began to rise. It is almost April, and now the temperature is almost 20 degrees. In the United States, it is called Fahrenheit, 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit.

In the meantime, some hairy fans came to the scene to watch the game with their bare arms tied with a long scarf with a gangster Chinese logo or the Eagles team logo, and they were roaring loudly to vent their anger.

Amid the cheers and boos of the fans, the game began!

jump ball!

Ratliff and Garnett stood in the middle of the court and jumped the ball.

Joe Smith doesn't care about his face anymore. He failed to get the 100 million yuan contract he promised back then. Now he has a two-year 10 million contract, and he doesn't care about his face or not.

But on Ratliff's side, Rahim still gave him face to let him jump the ball. Otherwise, Rahim is the best jump ball in the Eagles. His jumping speed is not inferior to Garnett's, and he even has a jump ball.

Be better.

Ratliff is usually fine when he loses the jump ball, it's a normal operation, but seeing Garnett's face that is darker than his own and extremely proud, really makes all the opponents angry!

We are all rookies in 1995, why are you so awesome!

Joe Smith, Garnett, and Ratliff were all outstanding rookies in 1995.

Ratliff racked his brains to think of a way, and suddenly an idea flashed...

The referee blew the whistle to start the game and threw the ball into the air...

When Garnett was getting ready and waiting for the ball to reach its highest point, he jumped up and took the ball away. A loud roar came: "Kevin, you weakling, have you washed your face after you dug the fields? Your face is so dark?"

"Field digger" is a rubbish term used by American athletes to ridicule athletes in Minneapolis. Farming is a widely praised profession in the United States, so it is not considered a curse.

Minneapolis is a major grain-producing state in the United States. There are countless lakes here, so it has abundant freshwater resources and a good ecological environment. It also has a lot of silt land, which means the soil is extremely fertile, but machinery cannot be used in the silt land.

Excavation with equipment can only be done manually, so there are particularly many black people in Minnesota.

Garnett was stunned for a moment when he heard this. He paused for a few tenths of a second. He quickly reacted and jumped up, but the ball had already been taken away by Ratliff!

"Hiss..." Garnett let out a Los Angeles-style exclamation.

Ratliff, the thick-browed, big-eyed, honest-faced man, actually talked trash while playing the ball!

This was completely beyond Garnett's expectations.

Garnett did not argue with the referee. Since the referee did not blow the whistle, there could be no change. Garnett retreated quickly.

Garnett is so angry!

It's unforgivable that his opponent trash-talked him first! In Garnett's life rules, he always trash-talks others, okay?

And the most important thing is, Garnett looked at Ratliff's big black face, you are not as black as you! You are like a mud digger!
Chapter completed!