Chapter 30

On the 30th, as the last game to be played on the opening day of the 14/15 season, the Lakers hosted the Bulls at the Staples Center.

This summer, the Bulls signed former Grizzlies general, Rudy Gay, as a free agent, determined to break out of the East and决战“紫禁”之巅 (fight for the championship).

Looking at their roster, the Bulls certainly had a good chance.

Because after returning from his major injury, Derrick Rose, who had learned to slow down, would form a top-tier backcourt duo with James Harden, as long as he could avoid another major repair.

In addition, if the league hadn't been so eager to promote Kawhi Leonard last season, Su Feng felt that Joakim Noah should have won the Defensive Player of the Year award.

After all, leaving aside the other factors, the Bulls were definitely one of the best defensive teams in the league last season.

Before the game, the Lakers held a grand championship banner raising ceremony at Staples Center.

As the Lakers' seventeenth championship banner was raised to the Staples Center's rafters, the entire arena erupted in deafening cheers.

At center court, the players who had won the championship with the Lakers last season each took to the stage to receive their championship rings.

Notably, when it was Su Feng's turn to receive his eleventh championship ring, the big screen simultaneously displayed Bill Russell's name.

On TNT, Charles Barkley, seeing this scene, laughed and said, "Now, Su and Bill have the same number of championship rings, eleven!"

On the Bulls' bench, Derrick Rose and the others were envious of the sight of Su Feng's hands covered in rings, with one extra in his hand.

As the saying goes, a full man does not know the hungry man's plight.

In front of the television, when they noticed Su Feng casually tossing his eleven championship rings into his luggage bag, who knew how many "uncrowned kings" wanted to sneak in and steal one from him?

On the court, after the ceremony ended and warm-ups were completed, the big screen showed the starting lineups for both teams tonight.

Bulls: Noah, Deng, Gay, Harden, Rose.

Lakers: Gasol, Jokic, Su Feng, Kobe, Rondo.

On the sidelines, on the Bulls' bench, watching the Lakers' starting lineup tonight...

Tom Thibodeau, who had originally been very satisfied with the Bulls' new season roster, was stunned.

Just wondering...

In today's league, are there any teams like the Lakers, who dare to put last season's Western Conference All-Star starter, Khris Middleton, on the bench?

This season, Su Feng knew that with three "Sprinters" already in the Lakers' starting lineup, it would be difficult for Middleton to have room to showcase his talents.

So in the regular season, the best solution for the Lakers was to have Middleton lead the bench unit.

After the preseason, Su Feng immediately found Middleton, preparing to give the kid a heads-up.

But this time, before Su Feng could speak...

Middleton quickly answered, "I don't mind starting or coming off the bench.

Because as the third option on this Lakers team, I don't mind sacrificing some stats for the team." (Gasol, Rondo: ?)

Middleton knew that he was selected as an All-Star starter last season entirely because of Su Feng and Kobe.

Therefore, even if "Mi God" was already someone with "idol baggage," he would not dare to act presumptuously in front of Su Feng.

In addition, because the Lakers were a team with a tradition of treating their own drafted perimeter stars well...

Middleton had always firmly believed that "the Lakers' future must be mine."

At center court, Noah and Gasol were responsible for the tip-off to start the game.

Amid the cheers of the fans, Gasol did not disappoint the nearly 20,000 Lakers fans in attendance.

The Bulls attacked first, with Rose responsible for dribbling the ball across half court.

Because he wasn't sure what to expect from Nikola Jokic, who was making his starting debut, Rose decided to hand the ball to Harden, letting him use his "sticky eighteen holds" to challenge the Lakers' interior defense formed by two big men.

On the wing, after receiving the ball, Harden drove along the left side against Kobe's defense.

After entering the Lakers' territory, seeing Jokic coming to help defend, Harden subconsciously leaned his body against Jokic, and then, with a flick of the ball, let out a scream.

Oh, it hurts so much, referee, blow the whistle!

In the paint, looking at Harden, who was softer than a Slavic girl, Jokic was dumbfounded.

But clearly, Harden, who had missed the Bulls' preseason because he represented Team USA at the World Cup, had not yet understood the referees' determination in making calls after undergoing a new round of training this season.

On the court, while indicating that there was no foul on the play, the referee immediately issued a technical foul to Harden, who dared to open his hands and complain.

Harden: "......"

To encourage defense, the NBA held a special meeting for all referees before the start of the regular season this year.

At the meeting, the NBA's new president, Mark, clearly stated that in the new season, in addition to eliminating flopping, referees should actively encourage physical contact.

In fact, for most of the NBA's top explosive scorers, in this era without the hand-check rule, their space on the court was far greater than in the 90s.

Plus, with the changing times, 21st century shooters were not only shooting more accurately, but also shooting from further away.

Therefore, Mark was well aware that if the NBA continued to encourage offense in this situation, allowing offensive players to do whatever they wanted, the intensity of competition in all NBA games would turn into an All-Star Game in three years at the earliest, and five years at the latest.

For a commercial league like the NBA, offense could certainly attract fans.

But...

In Mark's view, it also depended on what kind of defensive intensity the dazzling offense was produced under.

Back then, the Raptors' style of play was so popular...

Wasn't it because they could always soar freely in the sky under the opponent's high-intensity defense?

Without a doubt.

Contact would become the theme of the NBA's new season.

At Staples Center, after Su Feng made the free throw for Harden's technical foul, the Lakers still had possession.

In the Bulls' half, Marc Gasol, who wanted to move up to the high post to run the triangle offense with Su Feng and Kobe, had to turn his head and run to the left corner after noticing that Jokic had already occupied the high post.

I, Marc, must be strong!

In Gasol's view, he didn't believe that a young fat man of only 19 years old could really replace his role in such a complex system as the triangle offense!

Just wait!

As long as you can't fulfill the role of the triangle offense's pivot...

Then what should be mine, will be mine sooner or later!

On the court, the Lakers' first offensive play, after passing the ball to Su Feng via a handoff, Jokic immediately dove into the low post.

As a result, Gasol, who thought that Kobe would be furious after Jokic stole his low post position, was immediately dumbfounded!

Because how could he have imagined that the Lakers' first triangle of the game would actually be designed for this 19-year-old fat man?

No!

I, Marc Gasol, have been undefeated all over the world... (Yao Ming, Pau Gasol: ?)

I've never received such tactical importance from Su Feng and Kobe...

How can you enjoy such privileges when your career has just begun?

On TNT, Shaquille O'Neal was also dumbfounded.

Because if he was a naturally gifted fat man with great power who looked intimidating just by his appearance back then...

Then what did this fat man, who looked loose and didn't look like a professional basketball player at all, rely on to have Su Feng and Kobe play support for him?

So, that's why it's often said that there is no harm without comparison in this world?

In fact, Su Feng and Kobe chose to support Jokic first in this game not because they liked Jokic so much.

It was just because, as "team-oriented leaders," Su Feng and Kobe had discovered the natural mismatch created by the Bulls playing small ball tonight.

You had to know that Su Feng was famous for not being greedy on the court.

And Kobe?

He was the Pennsylvania Magic Johnson that everyone in the league wanted to work with.

Therefore, go, Nikola!

"Duang"!

"Duang"!

"Duang"!

In the low post, Luol Deng, who was a full 30 kilograms lighter than Jokic, was desperate.

Because this time, even if he used all his strength...

He couldn't stop Jokic.

Fortunately, Noah arrived in time to form a double-team on Jokic with Deng.

However, before Noah could open his blood basin mouth to bite Jokic...

On the other side, Su Feng, who had cut in from the middle, had already sent the ball into the basket.

Noah, Deng: "......"

Huh?

How did this guy pass the ball to Su Feng?

"How is it, do you feel like your 'Magic' title has been threatened?" On the court, while demonstrating Nikola's behind-the-back pass to Kobe during the transition, Su Feng said to Kobe.

Hearing this, after pondering for a while, Kobe said, "Looking at it this way, this kid seems to be much stronger than Mark!"

Next to them, the psychological shadow area of Marc Gasol, who happened to pass by Su Feng and Kobe, was temporarily set aside.

Back on the court, the Bulls attacked.

Harden broke into the paint again.

However, this time, after the referee did not blow his whistle, Harden did not dare to complain.

Under the basket, Gasol backed down, preparing to use the rebound sent by his old friend Harden to win back Su Feng's love.

But, who would have thought that Jokic would actually take the lead and happily pick up the rebound in his arms!

Gasol: "......"

Kid, don't blame me for not reminding you!

The last person who dared to grab the 후场 (backcourt) rebound of Su Feng in a game now has grass that's at least five feet tall on his grave!

"Good job, Nikola! Keep it up!" On the court, patting Jokic's elastic back, Su Feng smiled.

Gasol: "......"

On ESPN, Ben Wallace, who was invited as a guest commentator for this opening game, laughed in his heart: 'Mark, Mark...

You still think you understand Su Feng!

Don't you know that when Su Feng decides to cultivate someone, everything that person does is right?'

As a commentator with a God's-eye view, Ben Wallace was well aware...

That Su Feng clearly wanted to build Jokic's confidence tonight.

On the court, the Lakers attacked.

Jokic moved up to the high post to run the triangle offense with Su Feng and Kobe.

Because Jokic's solid post footwork had created the stereotype for Deng that this guy was better at attacking in the low post...

Therefore, after Jokic passed the ball to Su Feng, Deng went to help Gay double-team Su Feng without thinking.

Then...

As Su Feng slammed the ball back to Jokic...

A scene that Deng never expected appeared in front of him.

That was...

This damn fat man was actually a shooter!

Players who have played 2K games should all know.

Although many inside players have good three-point ratings in 2K games, because these inside players' shooting actions are either too slow or too strange, you can usually only hit green a few times when there is absolutely no defender around.

And the reason why 2K designs it this way, in addition to the game not being able to fully replicate reality and only being able to simulate reality in this way, is also related to the fact that most inside players cannot develop a smooth jump shot like outside players due to various factors such as agility and flexibility brought about by excessive height in reality.

But Jokic's shot...

Can definitely make many outside players feel ashamed.

Because other than the height of the jump, Jokic's shot is absolutely standard.

Swish——!

0 to 5.

In front of the TV, after Jokic made his first career basket for the Lakers, the people of Jokic's hometown, Sombor, instantly ushered in a carnival like it was the New Year.

Like the previous Serbian talented inside player, Darko Milicic, who had worked with Su Feng and had a tragic fate...

Jokic also grew up in the midst of gunfire as a child.

Therefore, under Jokic's seemingly happy face, there is also a heart as hard as steel.

On the court, the game continued. Watching the Bulls slowly launch their attacks after waiting for the Lakers to fully set up their defense each time, Su Feng really wanted to rush to the sidelines and kick Thibodeau.

Because with Rose and Harden's speed in transition, even if Harden couldn't enjoy last season's flopping benefits, as long as the Bulls resolutely pushed the transition, how could the Lakers have built a 20-point lead by the end of the first quarter tonight?

This Bulls team was definitely not weak.

It's just that it was okay to have Thibodeau lead a team composed of ordinary players, but if you let him coach a team full of stars with distinct characteristics, his system was obviously a bit unable to handle it.

At Staples Center, after the first quarter, the score on the court was 18 to 38.

On the sidelines, before the start of the second quarter, watching the high-spirited Khris Middleton, Su Feng turned his head and talked to Kobe about what they should eat later.

Damn.

But when you are strong to a certain extent, the team management must respect you.

Because Russell Westbrook could not be traded...

And the Sonics wanted to change the status quo...

Therefore, Brandon Roy was naturally put on the shelves by the Sonics' management.

To be honest, when Su Feng learned that the Sonics were preparing to trade Roy...

Su Feng really felt that Kevin Durant, who clearly had the capital to challenge the top five in history in his memory, but could make himself out of the top fifty in history, was not being "blacked" for no reason.

Saying goodbye to November, entering December.

In early December, the Lakers, whose schedule was gradually loosening up, won consecutive victories.

But by mid-December...

The Lakers had contracted their bad habit of not feeling comfortable without screwing around.

After accidentally losing to the Nuggets and Jazz, two teams with high-altitude home court advantages, the Lakers were already three games behind the Warriors, who were ranked first, before Christmas.

Kobe, who had always been a victory-obsessed player, could not be satisfied with the Lakers' current situation.

But Su Feng believed that the Lakers' performance this season had greatly exceeded his expectations.

The former was dissatisfied because the Lakers had lost too many games before Christmas...

While the latter felt proud because he saw the Lakers' potential that far exceeded other teams.

Su Feng knew that even if the Lakers changed five players in one go this summer, the Lakers would not be able to change the situation that the team was already used to playing the regular season like an All-Star Game before the end of the 14/15 season.

Only after the end of this season, when the Lakers used Gasol and Green to exchange for another wave of the future for the Lakers in accordance with the gentlemen's agreement with the two, could the Lakers complete the complete rebuilding before his and Kobe's retirement.

Therefore, during the regular season, Su Feng was not afraid that these teammates would not screw around.

He was only afraid that they would not even have the heart to screw around.

According to the schedule, the Lakers would welcome the Christmas match with the Warriors at home on the 25th.

And for this upcoming, hateful "overtime match"...

Kobe, who originally planned to remind his teammates as a "team leader" in the last training class before the arrival of the Christmas Eve holiday, also discovered...

That these bastards, where did they need him to mobilize them?

Damn the Warriors!

Damn LeBron James and Stephen Curry!

Damn Yao Ming and Jeff Van Gundy!

In short...

Take life lightly, fight if you don't agree!

……

ps: The long-awaited ten-thousand-word chapter is here! Isn't it long!