At this time, the staff brought a large stack of newspapers and distributed them to everyone.
"Today, ESPN announced the results of the selection of the four villains. Old K, where do you think you will rank?" Kevin Johnson joked with a smile while flipping through the newspaper.
Lao Wang said with confidence: "I'm not strong enough, so I probably won't be able to make it into the top five."
"I thought you were going to say you couldn't make the top ten," Kevin Johnson laughed.
"Haha..." Everyone present laughed.
A second later, Drexler shouted: "Here, I see, the four villains are..." At this point, he glanced at Lao Wang.
"Tell me, Clyde, is it the Kermit who blew people's heads off or the postman who elbowed countless people?" Old Wang said.
Drexler chuckled and said: "Congratulations, Old K, you are the leader of the four evil people."
"I x."
Lao Wang swore and said unconvinced: "There is no justice. For a moral model like me, ESPN's selection results are completely confusing black and white. I want to sue them."
"Ha ha……"
"Congratulations, old K."
"Old K, no one in this alliance dares to mess with you."
There was a lot of chatter, and everyone started making fun of him.
"Who are the other three guys?" Kevin Johnson asked with a smile.
Drexler looked at the newspaper and read: "John Stockton, Postman, Laimbeer."
"The postman is actually ranked third in the queue? Look, if there is no name here, I pronounce the character "王" backwards." Lao Wang shouted.
Not long after, some media contacted the publicity department and hoped to come for an interview, but they were rejected.
Later, a reporter contacted Lao Wang and wanted to conduct a telephone interview, but he also refused.
At night, United Center.
This game is broadcast live across the United States on the Bulls' ABC TV station. At the same time, because it is Friday and it is Saturday morning in China, CCTV also chooses to broadcast the game live in real time.
The game started at 8:30, and at 7 o'clock, the Bulls' bus entered the United Center. Jordan and his team came up from the underground parking lot and walked to the locker room.
Some reporters followed and asked some questions.
"Michael, you will be facing off against a glider tonight. Are you looking forward to this meeting?" a reporter asked.
Jordan shrugged his shoulders as he walked and said with disdain: "Don't make it sound like I'm looking forward to it. That would make people think that he and I are players of the same level, but in fact you all know that we are not."
"The Suns are heavily infected with the flu. Will you reduce your investment in the game because of it?" another reporter asked.
"Of course not. No matter who it is, we will go all out to defeat our opponents, completely destroy their dignity, and trample them under our feet. This is the greatest respect we give them." Jordan sneered.
The reporter's face twitched. The impression Jordan left on him at this moment was that he was really a tyrant, a bloodthirsty tyrant.
"Michael, do you have anything to say about the list of the four villains just announced? Do you think the selection results are fair?" a reporter asked.
Jordan nodded quickly and said: "I very much agree with this selection. ESPN deserves praise."
"Michael, the media was refused interviews with the Suns, and Mr. K also refused a telephone interview. What do you think is the reason?" the reporter asked.
"It's me and I refuse. The leader of the Four Evil Men and anyone who wants to show his face will refuse. Do they still think this is an honor?" Jordan said.
"Ha ha……"
Everyone laughed loudly.
These reporters interviewed the Bulls and then rushed to the visiting team's locker room to look for opportunities to conduct interviews.
However, the Suns players were all in the locker room and there was no open locker room, so they didn't find a chance.
At eight o'clock, both sides announced the starting lineup.
Suns: Wang Tiejun, AC Green, Drexler, Wesley Parsons, Kevin Johnson
Bulls: Clifford Robinson, Toni Kukoc, Pippen, Jordan, BJ Armstrong
"The Suns are so unlucky. They flew to Milwaukee, caught the flu, and lost five of them at once. There is basically no hope of winning this game." Su Qun shook his head.
Zhang Lijia smiled and said: "The Suns' current lineup is really strong, but it is a bit aging and does not meet the requirements for reconstruction."
Su Qun said: "Judging from the first thirteen games, Old K's scoring average has remained at 30 per game. None of the other four starters have scored 20, they are all 10. Even Drexler, who just joined, has suffered a decrease in the number of shots he has taken.
limit.
Director Zhang, is this intentionally controlled by the Suns coaching staff?"
Zhang Lili analyzed: "It must be intentional control. The Tiejun's performance is so good. This season is a superstar performance. The defensive end is also stronger than the previous two seasons. The player efficiency ranks first in the league. The Suns are further strengthening
His central position and role.
Danny Manning and Drexler, who came in this season, limited their shots to 10 to 13, and they were not given more shots."
Su Qun asked: "Then why don't the Suns seek to build a third core? Ordinarily Danny Manning and Drexler both have this ability?"
Zhang Lijia shook his head quickly and said: "The Suns abandoned Barkley and rebuilt the team for the Iron Army, so they must focus on him and highlight his core status.
This prominence is not something you can just talk about, but needs to be cultivated with actual actions, such as ball possession, shots, and tactical position.
The Suns actually had no determination to defend the title last season, and I don’t think they necessarily have the desire to win the championship this season. I can probably guess Mr. Colangelo’s thoughts after spending a few minutes.
Season to develop an iron army.
You see, the Suns are willing to give up defending their title to cultivate an iron army, so how can they be stingy in terms of shots, ball possession, and tactical position?
Another point is that both Danny Manning and Drexler can become another core, plus the original Kevin Johnson, these five starters, four cores, you fight yours and I will fight mine.
It would be a mess, and it would not be conducive to the unity of the locker room."
"I see."
Su Qun suddenly realized: "No wonder the Suns don't build a third core and control Danny Manning and Drexler's shots and ball rights. They are cultivating old K."
"Yes, that's right."
Lao Zhang nodded repeatedly, but changed the subject and said: "However, Tiejun's growth rate may have exceeded the expectations of the management and coaching staff, and he has begun to perform at a superstar level this season.
The team also traded Drexler and Danny Manning, which gave the Suns the strength to challenge the Bulls.
I dare say that this season’s Suns team is being pushed to compete for the championship, and they never thought they would be so strong before the season.”
"No one expected the Drexler deal," Su Qun said with a smile.
Lao Zhang smiled and said: "The addition of Glider is very important to the Suns. They have always been short of a good small forward, and this time it is filled."
"In that regard, how likely is it for the Suns to win the championship this season?" Su Qun asked.
Lao Zhang hesitated and said: "The lineups of the Jazz and Spurs are actually a little weaker, and the Suns will have no problem beating them.
In addition, Barkley has not returned yet, and his injury is a problem. Without him, the Mosaic team will certainly have no chance. If he can recover, the Mosaic team will still be a quite strong opponent.
But no matter what, the Suns this season are not the Suns last season, and the possibility of making it out of the Western Conference is very high."
At this point, he changed the topic again and said: "But I am afraid of accidents. For example, the flu this time caused the Suns to fall by five. How much strength will be lost? But this is actually not bad, and the recovery is very fast.
, but what if it is other injuries?
Danny Manning, a person who has ruptured the cruciate ligament in his left knee and has been seriously injured, has a very poor ability to resist injuries. You can't guarantee that he will not get injured.
Drexler, Kevin Johnson, and Dan Marley are all very young, and the probability of injuries is also high.
In short, the Suns' reconstruction has not actually been completed, and it is far from complete. This season they just happened to have this aging lineup, which will be enough in one or two seasons. The real reconstruction of the Suns still has to wait and see.
Can we get good young people in the 1996 draft?"
"What if we advance to the finals?" Zhang Lijia didn't talk about the finals, but Su Qun was very interested in this question and asked persistently.
Lao Zhang thought for a while and said: "Clifford Robinson, Toni Kukoc, Pippen, Jordan, BJ Armstrong, the Bulls are really strong now!
Clifford Robinson can also be said to be an All-Star. One All-Star and two superstars. This lineup can only be described as super powerful.
The key is, if you look at these five people, all of them can shoot three-pointers, all of them can pass the ball, all of them can play organization, all of them can break through, all of them can open up, their outside offense and defense are the best in the league, and their three-point ability is the best in the league.
His shooting ability is also the best in the league..."
Hearing this, Su Qun's expression changed a little, and he asked in a low voice: "Well, Director Zhang, with this analysis, Taiyang will have no chance?"
Lao Zhang said solemnly: "The Suns really want to meet the Bulls in the finals. The Bulls will use open-and-break tactics and at the same time strengthen perimeter defense, cut off the Suns' internal and external connections, and suppress the No. 1 position. How will the Suns play?
Kevin Johnson's condition is no longer good. He was suppressed by Jordan and Pippen. The Tiejun might not even get the ball inside. At the same time, on the defensive end, he was pulled to the three-point line and couldn't get back at all. He might not get any rebounds.
There is no way to guarantee it.
This Bulls lineup is not only very novel in tactics, it completely abandons the popular traditional center style of play, and it is also very specific to the Suns."
Su Qun looked a little pale and didn't want to ask anymore.
…
"We haven't seen each other for a year. Jordan and Old K won't fight off the court, right?" Bill Walton joked in the ABC live broadcast booth.
"No, the Bulls don't have thugs. By the way, Bill, do you think they are worthy of the four villains selection made by ESPN?" John Hanks asked.
"Haha, yes. But actually, I think we should select the top ten villains instead of the four villains." Bill Walton laughed.
At this time, the starting lineup was ready to go out and had already arrived in the player tunnel.
Jordan stood there, staring at the approaching Suns' five starters with a serious look on his face.
This should be the opponent he is most likely to meet in the finals this season, an opponent who destroyed the dynasty he established. He hates this team as much as the Bad Boys.
The Suns' inside line and offensive end are already stronger than the Bulls. The defensive end depends on the performance of tactics. As for the outside line, although the Bulls still have a great advantage on both offense and defense, the Suns' outside line can no longer be underestimated.
In his opinion, this Suns team has threatened his title defense.
But he believes that this Suns team can still be defeated. A team's offense is ultimately launched from the outside. Using the Bulls' most powerful outside defense ability to control the Suns' outside and cut off its internal and external connections can
Fight and win.
The aging of the Suns' number one position, Kevin Johnson, declining offensive and defensive capabilities, declining organizational skills, declining speed, and declining physical fitness are the Suns' biggest weaknesses.
"Mr. Jordan, what are you thinking about when you are staring at us?" Lao Wang approached and asked curiously.
Jordan glanced at Lao Wang and replied: "What do you think I am thinking? You probably can't think of it with your brain full of muscles and violence."
"Aren't you just trying to win over us?"
Lao Wang said disdainfully: "I tell you, it's impossible, your lineup is too rubbish."
"snort!"
Many of the Bulls snorted angrily.
Lao Wang took a look, and Clifford Robinson seemed to have an objection to his words. Well, this guy had beaten him with his long shot, so he was qualified to have an objection.
"How can a group of guys who lost all the finals in front of us have the right to mock us?" he said disdainfully.
"You?" Jordan was so angry that he almost vomited blood, but he couldn't refute this.
Lao Wang glared at Pippen again. You have never defeated me, so what qualifications do you have to have an opinion? He said: "Pi Lao Er, you lost to us in the finals, aren't you convinced? You have the guts to beat us once."
, are you qualified to object to my words."
"How come we haven't won..."
When Pippen said this, he suddenly reacted and swallowed back the word "you" after it.
It is true that they have never defeated the Suns in the finals. The last time they won was the Mosaics.
"Shut up, everyone!"
Jordan interrupted the argument between the two angrily and said: "Old K, why do you think you can beat us?"
Lao Wang glanced at the five Bulls in front of him and said disdainfully: "With an inside lineup like yours, how many rebounds can you grab if you are all playing outside?"
Jordan's expression changed and instantly solidified.
At this time, the visiting team came out, and Lao Wang took the lead. Earth-shattering boos immediately erupted from the United Center outside.
As one of the culprits who destroyed the Bulls dynasty, and as a guy who beat Jordan, he should be the most unpopular person here.
The buzzing boos were almost filling the arena.
At this time, Jordan inside was thinking about rebounding.
Last season, Clifford Robinson was introduced, coupled with Grant's inside combination. Although they played two regular season games with the Suns and won both, the Suns had an advantage in rebounding in those two games. The reason why the Bulls
The win was due, first, to the outside defense that suppressed the Suns' perimeter, second, to the fast break, and third, to the interior spacing tactics, which allowed the Bulls to maximize their breakthrough tactics and create a highly efficient offense at the basket.
But the intensity of the regular season was not enough, and the Suns failed to reach the finals, so in fact they did not play against the Suns in the playoffs last season, and they could not truly identify the difference in strength between the two teams.
This season, Grant is gone, but Toni Kukoc also plays outside, with a very similar style. He is not very strong in controlling rebounds, especially offensive rebounds.
At the same time, Lao K's rebounding ability this season has skyrocketed compared to last season.
When he thought of this, he felt that things were a bit serious.
At this time, the home team came out. After he came out, he went straight to the Zen Master and asked: "Phil, how much do you think our rebounding loss will be when we play against the Suns?"
Phil Jackson was startled, glanced at the Suns who were warming up, quickly calculated in his mind, and then said: "Danny Manning's rebounding ability is average, our outside rebounding ability is better than theirs, the Suns can only
Relying on Old K's rebounding advantage, Michael, we won't suffer much loss. In fact, if the tactics are right, we won't suffer much loss."
When Jordan thought about it, yes, Danny Manning's rebounding has always been his weakness, and he also played from the outside. He seemed to have been bluffed by that bastard Old K.
At half past eight, the game officially started.
Lao Wang and Clifford Robinson jumped the ball, and the Suns attacked.
Enter the frontcourt, go down from the free throw line, and force your way directly to the basket.
Kerry is 208 centimeters tall and weighs 111 kilograms. He has good running, jumping and footwork. His main position is actually a power forward, and his playing style is also outside. Strength is his weakness, so he does not use top defense, but wraps around the front.
Defense.
He is very experienced in dealing with Lao Wang. He used outside shooting to beat Lao Wang when he was with the Trail Blazers. He knows that his strength is very scary, so when defending in a entangled defense, he just keeps entangled with a pair of arms, pulling and pulling.
, but the body did not stick to it for fear of being injured.
This defensive method is indeed good. After the two men pushed back and forth, by the time Lao Wang reached the basket and pushed away the opponent to get the ball, the offensive three seconds was almost over. And under Jordan's pressing defense, Kevin Johnson also
He failed to pass the ball in, so he could only leave the paint area and failed to get to the basket for the first time.
At position 1, Jordan switches to guard Kevin Johnson.
The former was born in 1963 and is now almost 32 years old, and the latter was born in 1966 and is now almost 29 years old, which is exactly three years apart.
But the difference in physical talent and willpower puts the two people in completely different levels.
Jordan's condition is still at its peak, but Kevin Johnson, who is three years younger, has dropped a lot from last season.
Kevin Johnson used to be considered a superstar among point guards, a truly top point guard, but this season, he is no longer even at a first-rate level.
Under Jordan's pressing defense, Kevin Johnson, who was not as strong as his opponents, found it very difficult.
"Crack!"
Just when Wang was about to enter the basket again, Jordan stole Kevin Johnson, and the Bulls immediately counterattacked.
"Bang!"
Kevin Johnson, nicknamed Lightning, failed to catch up. Jordan used a flying dunk, turning the entire United Center into a boiling ocean.
Zhang Lijia looked serious at this time and said: "If the Bulls can maintain this high-intensity perimeter defense throughout the game, it will be very difficult for the Suns to beat the Bulls even if they have a complete lineup."
Su Qun shook his head and sighed: "The aging of Kevin Johnson has caused serious problems. No wonder the Suns entered into a rebuild after winning the championship. Colangelo took this problem into consideration. But the Suns have such a strong lineup this season.
, is it really impossible to beat the Bulls?"
Zhang Li thought for a while and said: "Jordan and Pippen's combination is at the top level in terms of offense, defense, and organizational skills. Their combination is even the number one perimeter combination in the history of the league. This is recognized by the league.
Kevin Johnson, who was at his peak in the past, could still compete with one or two, and at least he could pass the ball in. This also allowed the Suns to rely on their strong inside strength to defeat the Bulls in the 1992/93 season and win the championship.
But now, it’s really difficult. The No. 1 position, the engine on the offensive end, has failed here. No matter how strong the advantage of the inside line is, it can’t be used!
The place where the Bulls can suppress the Suns is not the perimeter offense, but the perimeter defense."