ask if you agree

Chapter 503 New record for start

At the beginning of the 01-02 season, many powerful players went hand in hand.

The young Bulls in the Eastern Conference are also on the rise. They lost only one game in seven games at the beginning of the season, ranking first in the Eastern Conference, beating the Bucks and 76ers.

The Bulls recruited in the summer, especially at the power forward position, hoarding a lot of titans.

The biggest signing was the acquisition of the original Bulls' iron-blooded veteran Oakley.

The arrival of Oakley changed the overall look of the Bulls, and the team began to have its own "hardness".

Oakley also explained this point in an interview.

"On the stage of the playoffs, talent alone is far from enough. You must show enough hardness, otherwise you will end up with an uncompetitive team."

The collocation of the small Big Three is becoming more and more proficient. One thing to pay attention to is the number of shots of Elton Brand.

At the beginning of this season, with the improvement of Dayao's internal and external offensive efficiency, the Bulls specially formulated some tactics for him, which inevitably required Brand to reduce some shots. Therefore, Brand, who averaged 20+10 per game in the previous two seasons, averaged only 18.2 points per game at the beginning of this season.

And inversely proportional to it is Yao Ming's scoring average soared, from 13.8 points per game in his rookie season to 20.5 points per game at the beginning of this season.

It has become the team's most important offensive method.

The two usually can jointly contribute 40 points in a game, and their strong offensive ability inside is amazing.

The strongest thing is that these two people can be both inside and out, which fully meets the requirements of the "Twin Towers" tactical system in the Spurs system.

Many teams in the East are very envious of the Bulls.

But the Bulls also have troubles of happiness. This season is the contract year of Elton Brand, and Elton Brand has already indicated through some channels that he wants to get a maximum salary contract.

It's not that the Bulls can't afford the maximum salary contract, but if Elton Brand is given the maximum salary, what will happen to Yao Ming's contract extension in the year after next?
According to the current development trend of Yao Ming, he will definitely have a maximum salary in the future.

Three maximum salaries, even if it is only a junior maximum salary, are enough for the team to drink a pot.

Even if you look at it from a long-term perspective, after a few years, the salaries of these three people will reach more than 1000 million, which will directly lock up the team's salary space.

Even if all players with a basic salary are signed, they will also pay a lot of luxury tax.

Avoiding the luxury tax and making the team competitive enough is what every owner wants to see.

This kind of happiness trouble has now become what the Bulls boss and general manager most want to solve.

The Warriors became the only undefeated team in the league.

The ferocity at the beginning of the season has already made everyone feel vigilant.

After experiencing a loss last season, the Warriors announced their attitude and ambition with just one beginning.

People are starting to turn their attention back to the overlord of the Bay Area.

Compared with last season, this season's Warriors team is more mature, and the team's lineup structure is more reasonable. The team combines the old, the middle and the young, the internal and external balance, and the strong players come out in large numbers.

And many players who are in the contract year also play extraordinarily hard.

Such as Artest, such as James Posey.

The competition between the two at the small forward position is already at a fever pitch.

Before that, Artest has been suppressing James Posey, but since the beginning of this season, James Posey's three-point shooting percentage has broken through more than [-]%, which is approaching the gap between him and Artest.

Artest is also full of crisis awareness.

Both of them knew that the best player to match Qin Fei was one who could both defend and hit open three-pointers. Whoever managed these two things well would gain a higher status in the coach's mind.

And only by getting more playing time, can you get more performance opportunities and improve your worth.

The summer will usher in a free market, and both Artest and James Posey have their own renewal goals.

To this end, the two fought hard and reached a new high in career efficiency.

With these two active young men, the Warriors' perimeter defense has been further improved.

So far this season, the perimeter players of other teams have only shot 38% of their shots against the Warriors. In addition, the inside players have just reached 4% of their shots, which is far lower than that of the Warriors. Losing has become an obvious thing.

The Warriors won Game [-] and Game [-].

On November 11, the Warriors defeated the visiting Raptors 14 to 117 at home and achieved eight consecutive victories.

The eight-game winning streak at the start is the best start to the NBA in recent seasons.

And the Warriors are only one game away from the best start in team history.

More than 40 years ago, the Warriors under Chamberlain had won a nine-game winning streak, which was the best start in the history of the Warriors.

Today, this record is expected to be broken by the Warriors.

He is just one game away from tying the record.

Two days later, the Warriors flew to Seattle.

Qin Fei returned to Seattle to challenge the Supersonics away.

This game is about the Warriors' best start in team history. If they can win against the Sonics, they will be able to tie the record.

Coincidentally, the game was held in Seattle.

Seattle may not have any special meaning for other Warriors players, but for Qin Fei, it has a very special emotion.

In Seattle, Qin Fei lived for about three years, completed the transformation of his rookie career, and also won his first championship.

It's a pity that the fate between him and the Supersonics has passed, and he failed to reach the end.

To this day, Seattle fans still cannot forgive the former general manager Wally Walker. He single-handedly created the myth of the Supersonics winning the championship, but he also personally dismantled the combination that was originally a dynasty and hope.

People have mixed reviews about him.

When I looked at the supersonic speed carefully, I found that things had changed.

This season, Payton has turned 34 years old, and there are two years left in the last big contract of his career. By the summer of 03, Payton will become a free agent.

Time flies too fast, it seems that the big contract was signed yesterday, but in the blink of an eye, the players are old.

Both Payton and the Sonics did not talk about the topic of early contract extension in a tacit understanding.

For Payton, now that he holds the championship and FMVP, he can accept the ending of retirement in the Supersonics, but what about the Supersonics?

The team must look forward, and competitiveness and market appeal must always be the same.

Therefore, the relationship between players and the team is very complicated and delicate. Sometimes, it seems to take the initiative to announce that they are leaving to pursue some dreams, but there are also many deep passive meanings behind it.

On November 11, the Sonics did a good job.

The Warriors were so angry that they established a 20-point lead in half the game, and the entire fourth quarter became garbage time.

Qin Fei returned to Seattle, and for the first time did not show his strongest strength in front of his old master.

The "mediocre" data of 24 points, 7 rebounds and 9 assists ended, and the game was easily won.

After this game, Qin Fei's scoring average dropped to 29.8 points per game, falling below the 30-point mark.

He is not the first player to fall below the 30-point mark. Currently, only Kobe, Iverson and Carter are still averaging more than 30 points per game.

And Carter happened to be stuck at the 30-point level, and then may fall below 30 points.

Sometimes this is the case, the data cannot fully reflect the individual's ability, the data can only serve as a reference.

Although Qin Fei's scoring average fell below 30 points per game, which was the first time in these two seasons, people didn't feel that Qin Fei's strength had declined.

After all, the matter of scoring is still related to the right to shoot. Even if it is a full-level number, if it only takes 10 shots per game, it will not be able to win the scoring championship. Even a player who has just reached the starting level and takes 30 shots per game.

The key depends on efficiency.

Data is a reflection of the ability of the court, but it definitely does not represent the ability of the court.

The Warriors beat the Sonics for their ninth win of the season.

With nine consecutive victories at the start, the Warriors tied the best record in team history.

It was a team win worth celebrating, and a team record.

As soon as the game was over, Qin Fei and his teammates clapped and hugged one by one, mainly relying on everyone's performance.

"If we win the next game, we will start with ten consecutive victories, the best record in team history!"

Qin Fei uttered loud slogans, not afraid of being heard.

The key point is that there is nothing to be low-key about. They are going to break the record now, and everyone can see it.

"What's the best start in NBA history?"

After Qin Fei shouted the slogan, he asked Billups next to him in a low voice.

Billups spread his hands: "I know!"

He really didn't care about it.

Billups has never been a player obsessed with records, so whether it is the best record in team history or the best record in history, he has not paid attention to it.

Qin Fei nodded in approval.

"Very good, Chauncey, I knew you were a player who only cared about winning the game!"

After Qin Fei finished speaking, Artest came over and replied, "It's a [-]-game winning streak. Just ten years ago, the Rockets started off with [-] consecutive victories, which became the best start in league history."

At first glance, Artest is not a good student with an excellent memory.

He was able to answer the question, presumably he had done his homework before.

Now that he has completed his answer, he looks very knowledgeable.

"That doesn't seem to be far away. Come on, Ron, it's up to you to win fifteen consecutive victories."

With a smile, Qin Fei arranged a task for him, which was assigned to him.

Artest had a question mark on his face, it's none of his business, he just came to answer Qin Fei's question.

The eyes of the league were completely attracted by the Warriors.

Qin Fei inexplicably won a player of the week. In terms of statistics, it is far worse than before.

But there is no way, the Warriors have won like this, no matter what aesthetics are tired or not, it must always meet the expectations of Bay Area fans.

At this point, the Warriors returned to Oakland.

This is a continuous battle, not the most difficult back-to-back, but within 24 hours, there will be a second game.

The Warriors will face the Eastern Bulls at home.

The Raptors have visited before.

Now, the old Raptors are back.

In an interview, McGrady, who has always been a low-key column, went against his usual style and directly shouted the slogan "End the Warriors", wanting to make a good start for the Bulls' western road trip.

The two teams are also a focus match, which will be broadcast live across the United States.

Before the game time came, the event was already heated up, and fans from the Bay Area flocked to the event, especially a large number of Chinese fans, representing a new consumer group point.

At night, the two teams showed up on time in the arena.

The Warriors will start the same five players, and the Bulls will start with Frey Hoiberg, Tracy McGrady, Mike Miller, Elton Brand, and Yao Ming.

The Bulls mainly wear red jerseys, while the Warriors wear white jerseys.

Bull red has become the home team color in the hearts of the majority of Chinese fans.

Wherever Yao Ming is, there are fans watching him, adoring him, and supporting him everywhere.

At the scene today, many people came here just for him.

Qin Fei clapped his hands and hugged him.

"How many away games do you play in the west?"

Qin Fei didn't know the Bulls' schedule, so he asked.

Yao Ming could say it without thinking: "There are seven away games in total, all of which are away games in the West. After the games are over, this month will probably be almost the same."

"Did you hit us first?"

Qin Fei felt that usually he would go to Los Angeles for a stroll first, finish playing those two teams, and then detour to San Francisco.

"Looking at the route, this is the arrangement, starting from California, going to Texas, and then returning to Chicago."

Yao Ming's geography is good, and the route is clear.

Qin Fei nodded, and the two exchanged simple greetings.

At this time, Maddie also came over.

McGrady and Qin Fei are also old acquaintances. Before McGrady entered the NBA, he practiced with Qin Fei all the time, including after playing in the NBA, and cooperated with Qin Fei in this regard.

The ball points between the two are also relatively similar. Many basketball commentators feel that the two of them belong to the same faction.

That is, "perfect first step" + "unreasonable pull-up jumper".

McGrady is one year younger than Qin Fei. He followed Qin Fei's suggestion and went to the Bulls.

He said with special emotion: "If it weren't for your reminder, I might be in the Magic now. If I were in the Magic, it would really be a disaster. Not only Duncan didn't get it, but even Grant Hill was injured."

McGrady is now very competitive and wants to win the championship, so he is afraid after thinking about it.

I'm afraid there will be some bad results.

Qin Fei spread his hands: "This kind of thing is uncertain. Maybe if you go to the Magic, Duncan will not go to the 76ers."

Qin Fei's original intention was that Duncan might stay with the Spurs.

But McGrady obviously misunderstood what Qin Fei meant, and he said with some embarrassment: "That's not true. I think I may be slightly less competitive than Allen."

This is a relatively humble expression, and he responded to Qin Fei's flattery in a tactful manner.

Qin Fei was dumbfounded, and blamed himself for not speaking clearly once.

Forget it, that's it, he doesn't want to explain anything
So Qin Fei smiled and said nothing, just like a child can be taught.

(End of this chapter)