Chapter 511 Big dream: He is the most perfect basketball player
Olajuwon's technical characteristics determine that the Rockets are a team that relies more on outside shooting.
In recent seasons, the Rockets have been the team with the highest number of three-pointers attempted and made in the league. In the 1994-95 season, they averaged 21.4 attempts per game, making them the only team in the league that attempted more than 20 three-pointers.
In the 1995-96 season, which is now this season, the Rockets' average number of three-point attempts per game in the regular season increased to 24.9.
It's just that this season, the Rockets are no longer the team that takes the most three-pointers in the league.
The Warriors averaged 30.9 three-pointers per game during the regular season, far ahead of all teams in the league.
This is not surprising to everyone. After all, if nothing else, Wang Feng alone shoots 11.8 three-pointers per game, almost turning three-pointers into a regular weapon.
This is one of the main reasons why Wang Feng was able to downplay his average of 38.7 points per game.
His shooting percentage from beyond the three-point line can reach an astonishing 47.5%, and his three-point scoring alone is as high as 16.8 points. Coupled with his scoring within two-pointers and averaging about 8 free throws per game, he averages 38.7 points per game.
Even with a little effort, averaging 40 points per game is not impossible.
The reason why the Rockets lost miserably to the Warriors in the game was actually because of three-pointers.
In this game, the Warriors' three-point shooting percentage from the outside was quite good. Needless to say, Wang Feng was as stable as ever. The Warriors' other outside shooters, such as Mullin and Blaylock, also maintained a stable three-point shooting percentage above 40%.
On the Rockets' side, Olajuwon, who was double-teamed, successfully created many open shots for his teammates, but no one took advantage of them.
Drexler made 1 of 5 three-pointers, Cassel made 1 of 4, Kenny Smith made 0 of 1, and Sam Mack made 1 of 5.
The Rockets made 8 of 30 three-point shots in the entire game, with a shooting percentage of only 26.6%. Compared to the opponent's overall three-point shooting percentage of 39%, what are they waiting for if they don't lose this game?
Of course, the lack of accurate three-pointers by the Rockets' generals is not entirely a problem of their own touch. The Warriors' perimeter defensive ability is equally critical.
Even though the Warriors are leading the league in points allowed per game this season, that is due to the extra rounds of quick transitions between offense and defense. In fact, the Warriors' defense is not bad, with two All-Defensive team players, Wang Feng and Blaylock, on the outside.
Garnett is sitting in the post, and he is extremely mobile in the paint. Even as a first-year rookie, Garnett's defensive effectiveness is as good as that of peak Green.
The Warriors may not be able to do anything to defend themselves against heavy attacks by heavy centers in the interior, but they are quite capable against teams dominated by outside players.
This was also Wang Feng's plan when he chose the lineup layout at the beginning.
In the past two years, the Warriors' biggest opponent has been the Bulls, and the main player is Jordan. Pippen's Bulls are definitely a perimeter team. As for Rodman... apart from rebounding and defense, he can be completely ignored on the offensive end.
The Warriors' defensive system will appear relatively weak on the defensive end when facing teams with super centers like the Magic and Spurs. However, if it is facing a team like the Bulls with core outside players, then the defensive strength will be absolute.
Not worse than any team in the league!
As for the Rockets... of course they also have a super center, there is no doubt about that.
Warriors fans, who won a big victory in the first game, were not happy for a few days before they were slapped in the face in the G2 game on May 6.
After realizing that passing shots to teammates on the outside was useless, Olajuwon decisively changed his style of play in this game and attacked the basket himself.
The effect of this move is outstanding.
As mentioned before, Olajuwon is not good at breaking double teams, but compared to strong inside centers such as O'Neal and David Robinson, in fact, his ability in this area can definitely be ranked among the top five in the league today.
Facing the double-teams of Garnett and Sekali, Olajuwon struck hard in the second game. He made 13 of 25 shots from the field, 6 of 8 free throws, and scored 32 points, 16 rebounds, 4 assists, and 7 blocks.
Completely dominating the basket, beating Garnett and Sekali out of sight.
Relying on Olajuwon's strong dominance at the basket, the Rockets successfully won the game at the Warriors' home court with a score of 107:101.
Wang Feng performed quite well in the game, with 31 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, a triple-double.
In this game, Wang Feng did not use his full strength, but was waiting and watching. He was observing the Rockets' possible comeback points.
As the game ended, he was completely sure that this Rockets team was no match for the Warriors.
It's not that the Warriors are so strong that they don't even look down on favorite teams like the Rockets, but for this playoffs, the Rockets are really weak.
Drexler is in poor condition due to injuries, and the rest of the Rockets players are suffering from injuries. Only Olajuwon is struggling to support him, and his own condition cannot be said to be that good. Compared with the previous two seasons,
It has also dropped significantly compared to the previous one.
There was no way, after all, Olajuwon was also injured and only played 72 games during the regular season. In the first round, he also met David Robinson's Spurs, and the fierce battle was very tiring.
In Wang Feng's memory, the Rockets in the original time and space, after eliminating the Lakers in the first round, met the SuperSonics at the top of the Western Conference in the second round, and were then swept out by the SuperSonics 4-0.
In 4 games, Olajuwon was completely suppressed by Kemp, averaging only 18.3 points, 9.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game, while shooting 47.5% from the field.
Although it seems a little bit unwinnable, this is the playoffs, which is always accompanied by injuries and luck.
Just like when Jordan and the Bulls won their first championship, they were said to have completed a change of times against the Lakers, who were at their peak. However, the Lakers at that time were full of injuries and were not at their peak.
The future Warriors' first championship was also won against the Cavaliers' Seven Jedi.
Injuries are also part of the game, and it cannot be said that a victory won because of an opponent's injury is not considered a victory.
…
The Rockets successfully won a game on the road and returned to Houston with a score of 1:1. This made Rockets fans breathe a sigh of relief. It seems that the newly rebuilt Warriors team is still slightly inferior in combat effectiveness.
One chip.
Next, the Rockets only need to play steadily, win both home games and gain match points, then the Western Conference Finals will be secure.
But ideals are plump, and reality is often skinny.
Rockets fans never expected that at their home court, the Warriors would win two games in a row, directly changing the score from 1:1 to 3:1!
What the hell is this?
Many people were confused, especially when they saw Wang Feng who scored 41 points and 46 points in the two games, their confused expressions became even more obvious!
Where did this guy come from? Isn't this too exaggerated?
The Rockets' perimeter defense was completely useless in front of Wang Feng, allowing him to break through and score with ease.
Especially when the game between the two teams is at its most intense, other players are basically unable to score. The Rockets can only rely on Olajuwon to score hard deep under the basket, and the Warriors only have Wang Feng.
People can score.
But Olajuwon is obviously more than one level behind Wang Feng in terms of scoring ability and explosive power.
Whenever Olajuwon worked hard at the basket, using his dream steps to shake off defensive players or relying on his physical advantage to attack the frame and score, Wang Feng's understated three-point shot from outside the three-point line was enough.
Can score easily.
The energy and physical effort put into the offense by both sides are not at the same level at all.
It's not like the Rockets didn't think about curbing Wang Feng's long-range three-point shot, but when Wang Feng used a trick to bypass the pick-and-roll and quickly shoot a three-pointer, they were helpless.
Garnett's footsteps are extremely fast, and the pick-and-roll area and quality are very good. It is difficult for ordinary players to get around the pick-and-roll quickly. However, the inside players who are opposite Garnett are far less flexible than Garnett. They want to cover up quickly.
It's also too late to go up.
It is said that one move can be used all over the world and hit a snake within seven inches. Since the effect is very good and the Rockets cannot guard against it, Wang Feng will definitely use it all the time.
Then he shot 41 points in one game and 46 points in another.
This is the limitation of the star ceiling.
Olajuwon is definitely the league's top superstar, and he can also be ranked high in the history of centers.
However, as a center, Olajuwon's offensive ability and lethality are still slightly inferior to O'Neal at his peak, and there is no way to compare with Jordan in the same period.
Olajuwon couldn't even compete with Jordan, so naturally he couldn't compete with Wang Feng, who could suppress Jordan.
Of course, the main reason why the Rockets lost so completely was because Drexler, the team's second-in-command, was in poor condition.
After all, this was a top star who was originally known as the East Flyer and the West Glider. At his peak, he was regarded as a being who could keep pace with Jordan.
Drexler's poor condition due to injuries directly caused the Rockets to withdraw from the ranks of strong teams competing for the championship. Olajuwon was unable to support himself alone, which resulted in the current situation.
There is no way, who prevents Olajuwon from being able to do 1v5 like Wang Feng?
Back at home, the Warriors did not give the Rockets a chance to make a comeback. They won the game neatly with 112:106, setting the total score at 4:1. To everyone's surprise, they easily eliminated the Rockets and advanced to the Western Conference Finals.
.
That the Warriors could defeat the Rockets so easily was beyond anyone's expectation. After all, the Rockets had just crossed the Spurs' mountain, and their combat effectiveness was obvious to all.
It can only be said that the restraint in style and the superposition of fatigue and injuries really affect combat effectiveness.
In this series, Wang Feng and Olajuwon, two stars of their respective teams, are naturally the absolute focus of attention.
Facing the Warriors' relatively "weak" inside line, Olajuwon struck hard, averaging 31 points, 13 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 4 blocks in 5 games, and his performance was impeccable.
However, Wang Feng's performance was even more explosive, especially in the Rockets' two away games with 40+ points, which directly raised his average points in 5 games to 39.2 points, 11.6 rebounds and 10.4 assists!
"I originally thought that there was only one Michael Jordan in the world, but obviously I was wrong. Wang Feng is the second Michael... No, he may be better than Michael. Not only does he have an almost unbeatable scoring ability on the offensive end, but he is also the second Michael Jordan.
He also has the league's top level in organizing and connecting teammates and protecting rebounds."
This is what Da Meng, who was eliminated from the competition, said to the media reporters at the post-match press conference after the game.
"We can't find Wang Feng's weaknesses at all. He doesn't seem to have any technical shortcomings. He is an accurate three-pointer and mid-range shot. He has a super-fast first step that few can match. He is not inferior to the speed and inside line of a defender.
The player's physique, his jumping ability that is as good as Jordan's... Perhaps, this is the template of the most perfect basketball player."
Obviously, the evaluation given by Olajuwon was not low, and he almost praised Wang Feng to the sky.
Anyone who hears this will find it ridiculous.
Can a player be truly invincible on the court? Without any weaknesses?
But anyone who has watched the Warriors play, really has to admit that Wang Feng is indeed unstoppable on the court. There is only one way to beat the Warriors, and that is to outperform Wang Feng in terms of teammates.
The Warriors' lineup is indeed not that strong. Aside from first-year rookie Garnett, who is still in the growth stage, the other players are very limited in strength and will only get weaker as they age.
This is also the biggest problem and flaw of the Warriors currently. Wang Feng is facing the same situation as Jordan in his early years.
…
The Warriors eliminated the Rockets and successfully advanced to the Western Conference Finals, while the showdown on the other side of the Western Conference was in full swing.
The SuperSonics and Jazz, if Wang Feng hadn't emerged from nowhere, these two teams should have been the strongest teams in the Western Conference and would have competed on the pinnacle stage of the Western Conference Finals.
But the emergence of Wang Feng caused the SuperSonics and Jazz to meet in the conference semifinals ahead of schedule.
The change of stage did not reduce the strength of the two teams. The two sides were fighting to the death. After 4 games, the two teams were tied at 2:2. It was hard to say who would win in the end, even as a time traveler who had the foresight.
Wang Feng is also difficult to judge.
After all, the SuperSonics and Jazz originally fought for seven games in space and time, and the game was still full of suspense in the last minute. The Jazz just came up short and lost to the opponent 90:86.
But no matter which team wins and reaches the Western Conference Finals, it will become Wang Feng and the Warriors' strongest opponent in the Western Conference.
Compared with the inextricable battle in the West, the two sets of games in the East are much easier.
The Bulls defeated the Knicks 4:1, and the Magic also defeated the Hawks 4:1. Both teams entered the Eastern Conference Finals ahead of schedule and have begun preparations for the Eastern Conference Finals.
The defending champion Knicks lost to the Bulls without any surprises.
The gap in strength between the two teams is really too big. Although Ewing averaged 23.4 points, 11.2 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game in 5 games, facing Jordan, who averaged 36 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game, it was obviously worse.
many.
The defending champions were eliminated, which fully demonstrated the failure of their management last summer.
Ewing's sky-high contract of US$18.72 million has completely had a negative effect on the team. For this reason, letting Wang Feng go will be the worst decision in the history of the Knicks management.
But the Knicks can still be saved. At least in the eyes of New York fans, they still have hope of a comeback.
At the end of this season, Ewing's salary will change from US$18.72 million to US$3 million. This was the condition proposed by the Knicks when they renewed Ewing's contract. They want to use this year to fully pursue the Bulls' contract expiration.
Jordan, form the invincible combination of Jordan + Ewing!