I'm really strong in basketball

Chapter 116 The King of New York?

No one could have imagined that the Knicks, ranked No. 12 in the Eastern Conference by ESPN, would unexpectedly defeat the Timberwolves, which ranked second in the Western Conference last season.

You must know that the core lineup of the Timberwolves has not changed, and it is much healthier than last season.

Olowokandi and Szczerbiak, who were plagued by injuries last season, are much healthier this season.

On paper, the Timberwolves are even better than last year.

Moreover, the Knicks did not win by a small margin, but by a full 18 points. It was a big victory.

Outrageous!

Therefore, the victory or defeat in basketball has never been based solely on paper strength.

In fact, in another time and space, the Timberwolves have failed to reach the playoffs for three consecutive years starting from this season. This is also the biggest black spot in Garnett's career.

An important reason is that Sprewell and Cassel are old and their condition has declined rapidly.

Everyone knows that Garnett is not a star who is good at offense, but is better at defense.

Last season, when the Timberwolves encountered difficulties, Sprewell served as the hard solution, not Garnett.

This season, Sprewell has lost his hard-hitting ability. When the Timberwolves encounter scoring difficulties, no one can step forward.

Another big reason is that the Timberwolves, like everyone else, underestimated this Knicks team.

Hill who has been lying down for four years, Crawford who was abandoned by the Bulls, a bunch of young insiders, Big Dog and Hardaway at the end of their careers...

At first glance, the Knicks are just a bunch of old, weak, sick and young.

Who would have thought that Hill could become so powerful?

Just by putting Crawford on the bench, he can cover up his defensive shortcomings and maximize his offensive capabilities.

Seeing this game, Hill's old team, the Magic, almost burst into tears.

Co-author, you, Hill, only cheated on my Magic team, right?
With the Pistons, you shined.Come to Magic and just stay there for four years.After going to the Knicks, it was my second spring...

Who can stand such targeting?
Not to mention Pachulia, who was the top scorer, scored 10 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal in this game.

Can make mid-range shots, grab rebounds, coordinate, pick-and-roll...it's so cool!
At the press conference after the game, Nelson brought four players including Liu He, Hill, Crawford and Pachulia to attend.

A local reporter in New York asked excitedly: "Liu, we defeated the powerful Timberwolves in the first game. Can we have higher prospects for this season?"

Liu He shook his head: "I said before the game that this Timberwolves team is not strong. There is nothing to be happy about defeating them, and it does not mean that we are a strong team!"

Old Nelson was very satisfied. Liu He just acted crazy, but he was very clear inside.

After all, the Knicks have just been rebuilt, so don't have too high demands, otherwise it will put a lot of pressure on a large number of young players in the team and affect their condition.

Of course, Liu He's words had a different meaning to the reporters' ears...

Little Garnett is ridiculous. Defeating him is not easy, and it is not worth showing off at all.

They felt that Liu He was dissing Garnett.

After all, these two people have new hatreds and old hatreds, and they can be said to be mortal enemies.

Immediately, Liu He gave up the interview opportunity to Hill, Crawford and Pachulia.

The Knicks are Liu He's team, but Liu He also needs helpers, and Liu He doesn't mind giving more flashes to his teammates.

As for oneself, shining gold cannot cover it up.

……

2004 11 Month 6 Day.

The Knicks faced off against the Celtics.

Sitting on the home court, Liu He once again scored a game-high 36 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals.

Defeated Paul Pierce who scored 28 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists.

希尔高效砍下17分6篮板5助攻1抢断1盖帽。

White Chocolate steadily scored 14 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists and 1 steal.

Thomas had 12 points and 8 rebounds.

However, a group of young players such as Crawford and Pachulia did not perform very well and had great ups and downs. There is nothing that can be done about it.

In the end, the Knicks defeated the Celtics 104:98.

After the game, Pierce praised Liu He: "I have tried all my methods, but I still can't stop him from scoring. He is really too strong!"

Pierce gave him face, and Liu He naturally didn't mind the mutual compliments in business: "Paul is the strongest wing player I have ever seen. He has a hundred ways to put the ball into the basket. He is a true offensive master!"

Compared to the first game, the second game was much more harmonious.

……

2004 11 Month 9 Day.

The Knicks continue to sit at home and face another challenge from an Eastern Conference team.

Philadelphia 76ers.

As mentioned earlier, NHC rules liberate outside players, especially those who are good at breakthroughs.

Among them, Philadelphia team spirit Iverson is also one of the biggest beneficiaries.

In the three games that the 76ers have played, Iverson averaged 28.7 points and 6.7 assists per game, seeming to have returned to his invincible state in 2001.

But it's a pity that the 76ers' lineup is so bad that Iverson has no decent helpers.

In the end, the Knicks defeated the 118ers 105:76.

刘河砍下32分5篮板5助攻4抢断2盖帽的全能数据。

Iverson had 42 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals, but was unable to make a comeback.

With 5 minutes left in the last quarter, the 76ers gave up the game and replaced Iverson.

艾弗森坐在板凳席，看着对面18分7篮板4助攻的希尔，17分5篮板2助攻的克劳福德，15分7篮板的托马斯，10分6助攻的白巧克力……

In the new season, the 76ers have 1 win and 3 losses so far.

Iverson, who was alone and brave, suddenly felt lonely and helpless.

……

11 month 12 day.

The Knicks defeated the visiting Clippers in their fourth consecutive home game.

Liu He still scored a game-high 34 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.

So far, the Knicks have achieved four consecutive victories.

而刘河场均砍下36.2分6.8篮板3.5助攻2.8抢断0.8盖帽，位列得分榜第一。

At this moment, countless demanding New York fans had fallen at Liu He's feet and shouted "King".

Of course, New York fans are the most difficult to serve fans on the planet after all, and some are still questioning it.

"Our opponents at the beginning of the season are not strong, and four consecutive wins doesn't mean anything!"

Now, here's your chance.

Later, the Knicks will usher in a wave of four consecutive visitors, and the opponents are really strong.

On November 11, challenge the Pacers back-to-back.

On November 11, challenge the Spurs.

On November 11th, challenge the Rockets.

On November 11th, challenge the Mavericks in back-to-back games.

Seeing this schedule, Liu He fell silent.

The Pacers are the No. [-] team in the Eastern Conference and the top three Texas teams.

Four away games, two back-to-back.

Liu He's nickname is the devil, but Liu He really doesn't want to go to hell.

And this journey is worse than hell.

When receiving the Player of the Week trophy, Liu He couldn't help but ask Stern: "Mr. President, do you have a grudge against Dolan?"

Stern himself was embarrassed, and said with a sneer: "I didn't arrange this, it was my assistant Silva."

The joker on the side looked confused, but he could only nod his head and admit it.

After all, what the boss says is the truth.

……

On the 13th, the Knicks lost to Indiana.

78:91 was bloodbathed.

In order to show his friendliness to Liu He, Rick Carlisle specially arranged for "Beast" Ron Artest and "Martial Saint" Stephen Jackson to take turns taking care of Liu He and have close and friendly contact with Liu He.

After this care, Liu He, who had already played back-to-back games, did not disappoint Carlisle in the end. He only scored 19 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal.

Liu He himself didn't mind.

With the strength of the Pacers' flank defense, O'Neal Jr. on the inside, and back-to-back battles, Liu He really can't handle it at this stage.

But this allowed some anti-fans who questioned Liu He to seize the opportunity.

Especially Isiah Thomas.

"Seeing Liu He's performance, I thought New York had ushered in his new king. But the reality slapped me in the face.

The fact is that this is a master of scoring points against weak teams.It's a pity that once you encounter a strong team, your true colors will be revealed.

How can such a guy deserve to be the King of New York?So please stop calling him the King of New York! "

With Thomas's guidance, Liu He's anti-fans were instantly unified.

Speaking of Liu He’s anti-fans, there are too many.

Minnesota fans, Anthony, James, Wade fans, Detroit fans, Sacramento fans...

There are also some Los Angeles fans who cannot accept Liu He's departure, and some New York fans who have not recognized Liu He yet.

There is no way, the strong man is so lonely.

On November 11th, the Knicks came to Texas.

Duncan received his junior disciple warmly.

The two of them chatted while dismantling the car.

"Liu, have you heard? Wake Forest has produced another talented player."

"Chris Paul!"

"Yeah, I heard this guy is expected to be drafted in the top five. At least he's a lottery pick."

"Then we have no chance with the Knicks."

As we all know, there are no lottery picks for playoff teams.Lottery picks are for bad teams that can't make the playoffs.

Hahaha!
Duncan laughed, he liked Liu He's always confident look.

The voices of outsiders questioning Liu He were overwhelming, like mountain winds and waves.

But Liu He remained motionless and didn't care at all.

But Duncan was wrong. Liu He didn't care, but he cared very much.

It's just that Liu He has the confidence to slap those who doubt him in the face.

The next night, the four-day tour of Texas (also known as the four-day, three-tournament tour) finally officially started.

The Spurs lineup for the home game is:
Position [-]: Rasu Nesterovich.

Position [-]: Tim Duncan.

No. [-]: Bruce Bowen.

No. [-]: Manu Ginobili.

Position [-]: Tony Parker.

Popovich is still exploring the use of Ginobili. In the past two seasons, he has often tried to use Ginobili as the starter.

After all, as strong as Popovich is, it is not immediately obvious that Ginobili is more suitable for the sixth man position.

The Knicks here:

Position [-]: Zaza Pachulia.

Position [-]: Kurt Thomas.

Number three: Liu He.

No. [-]: Grant Hill.

Position [-]: Jason Williams.

The game is about to start, with players from both sides taking their positions at midfield.

Bowen has already entangled Liu He.

Regardless of Bowen's game, his defensive ability is unquestionable.

Liu He had a headache thinking that he would have to be in close contact with this piece of brown sugar for an entire game.

In an instant, Liu He began to miss Kobe.

If Kobe was here, the personal care from Bowen would definitely belong to Kobe.

In the last game, the personal protection of Beast and Martial Saint must also belong to Kobe.

Kobe: ...

This is when you can think of me!
But, if Liu He chose to be the boss, he would have to bear the biggest target from his opponent.

After all, not every team leader can let his opponent leave him open to defend his teammates.

James is unique in this ability.

After thinking about it, Liu He suddenly felt a little envious of James.

If the Spurs can also let themselves go, Liu He will dare to break the 100-point record of "Basketball Emperor" Chamberlain.

That’s just 34 three-pointers.

The boss of a team only swung the ball 34 times in a single game, which is quite reasonable.

Bao Wen stood aside, watching Liu He's eyes constantly changing, he was already guilty even more guilty.

After all, last season, Bowen had just enjoyed the love of the iron fist of socialism, and even thinking about it is still terrifying.

This is bullying.

When encountering someone like Carter, it was the first time, the second time, and the third time.

Bowen really didn't dare to meet Liu He.

Because Liu He beats people really hard!The last time Bowen lay in the hospital for a long time.

Moreover, Malone is still sitting on the Knicks bench.

That guy's iron elbow is no less than the iron fist of socialism.

Bowen also had to retreat three...hundred feet!
In fact, Bowen didn't know that there was a villain standing on the court of the Knicks who would be as good as him in the future...

Zaza, no!It's Zhazha Pachulia.

As long as Bowen dares to be a little careful, "mad scientist" Nelson won't mind enlightening Zaza in advance.

Game start.

The Spurs won on a jump ball.

Parker advanced to the frontcourt, suddenly accelerated, trying to hit the opportunity.

However, White Chocolate was really stable and stared at Parker, preventing Parker from succeeding.

The fast break failed, Parker could only stop the ball and hang it to Duncan in the low post.

Duncan confronts Duncan.

Oh no, it’s Kurt Thomas, the “low-end version of Duncan.”

Thomas is a very tough guy, very resistant.

Duncan tried twice but failed to get a chance, so he turned around and took advantage of the height difference to shoot over Thomas' head and score.

Bang, swish!

0: 2.

After all, it is a low-end version of Duncan.

If you really want to be able to restrain Duncan one-on-one, you have to get a high-end version.

But until Liu He traveled through time, there was no high-end version of Duncan in the NBA.

The Knicks attack.

Liu He held the ball on the wing, Bowen defended closely, and Duncan under the basket also took a step closer.

Obviously, the whole world now knows that the Knicks' top scorer is Liu He, and they will definitely defend Liu He in a targeted manner.

Liu He didn't force it and passed the ball directly to Hill.

Hill faces Ginobili.

As we all know, Ginobili has never been an excellent defender, not to mention that he is facing the much larger Hill.

Hill lowered his center of gravity and squeezed past Ginobili at the first start, fast and fierce.

And because Duncan was staring at Liu He on the other side, Hill's side was relatively empty.

Hill worked his way into the penalty area.

Nesterovic makes up the defense.

Hill passed the ball to Pachulia under the basket.

Pachulia caught the ball and put the ball in the basket.

Snapped!
Duncan returned to defense and directly rewarded Pachulia with a hot pot.

Popovich nodded with satisfaction: You can always trust Tim Duncan, as long as he doesn't laugh.

The Spurs tightened their defense and protected the rebound.

But at this moment, the low-profile version of Duncan jumped up high and dialed the basketball to the outside.

Liu He received the ball.

Bowen had shrunk to the paint area, and it was too late to pounce at this time.

Liu He adjusted calmly, squatting, lifting the ball, and taking off...

Swish!
3: 2.

(End of this chapter)