one-handed ball

Chapter 191 The Upset Playoffs
For Timberwolves fans, the 08-09 season was obviously a happy season. The team introduced "Finals MVP" Chauncey Billups and selected Kevin Love from the University of California, Los Angeles. The super small forward Zheng Ke, who had an outstanding performance last season, the team's record has been soaring all the way. In the words of the fans: "The young players of the Timberwolves used their outstanding performance to shake off those who looked down on the Timberwolves before the start of the season. , a big loud ear scraper."

This is why fans love this Timberwolves team.

Now that the playoffs are about to start, the league’s long-prepared playoff promotional videos have begun to be broadcast on major TV stations in a cycle. Sixteen strong playoff teams are fighting each other. The wonderful performances of the season are all on the screen, and the fans are happily talking about the teams in the playoffs. Many lottery companies have made odds, guessing the outcome of the teams in the playoffs .

The Timberwolves have home court advantage in the playoffs.

Before the start of the game, the two teams didn’t have that kind of atmosphere filled with gunpowder. The respective star players Roy and Zheng Ke are not the kind of people who like to fight with each other. Faced with questions from the media, everyone conservatively said that they will do their best and will work hard. The official formula of "Enter the Dragon and the Tiger" made the original game of "Enter the Dragon and the Tiger" become a bit low-key.

On the evening of April [-], the Bulls and Celtics in the Eastern Conference took the lead in starting the playoffs.

In Boston's North Shore Garden, the young Bulls challenged last season's championship Celtics. Before the game, no one was optimistic about the Bulls. Three quarters can handle the inexperienced Bulls.

However, the process of the game surprised countless experts. The champion Lang Ross was possessed by the leader, and he was not afraid of facing the Celtics. He made 19 of 11 shots and scored 36 points and 11 assists. A rookie contributed 36 points in his playoff debut.

The Bulls insisted on the strategy of defensive counterattack from the very beginning. Facing the Celtics, they used tireless running to put Celtics defensive pressure on the defensive end. From the beginning of the game, the Bulls had the upper hand until the first After three quarters, the Celtics caught up with the score, and the two teams drew in 48 minutes.In overtime, Rose made six fouls and left the field, but unfortunately, the other players of the Bulls kept the fruits of victory, and they defeated the defending champion.

Throughout the whole game, Rose's miraculous performance may be the main reason for the Bulls' victory, but Garnett's absence and Ray Allen's unsatisfactory touch may be more important reasons.

Anyway, the Bulls still won, narrowly winning by 2 points, a good sign for the young team.

When the news reached the Target Center, Zheng Ke and the others were still doing warm-up exercises in the arena before the start of the game. Today, the players are rarely joking, leg presses, leg presses, and running.

"Zheng, the Bulls won!" Whitman walked into the training hall with the blue tactical board he hadn't changed for a long time.

"You actually won?"

Zheng Ke has been reborn for two years, and many major events in later generations have long been forgotten. Therefore, according to his own analysis, it is definitely a surprise for him that the Bulls can win.

"Yes, Derrick Rose scored 36 points and 11 assists, narrowly beating the Celtics by two points in overtime." Whitman and Zheng Ke told the specific news of the game.

"There is no suspense about the best rookie!" Zheng Ke said helplessly. He turned his head and looked at Love who was still doing push-ups seriously, feeling very sorry in his heart.

"Hey~" Whitman also heaved a long sigh. As his disciple, if Love can get the best rookie, then he will also have a bright face.

Zheng Ke dribbled the ball skillfully behind his back, and asked Whitman: "How is the game between the Pistons and the Cavaliers?"

"The Cavaliers led the Pistons by 12 points at halftime. The Pistons' offense was blocked and the defense was weak. If there is no change in the second half, the outcome will lose suspense after the third quarter." Whitman analyzed to Zheng Ke.

"Hey," Zheng Ke sneered: "How can the Pistons change? They even sent Chauncey away, and even Allen (Iverson) was abandoned. Can they win the Cavaliers? Who will organize it? Who will break through?"

Whitman stopped talking. He felt that Zheng Ke's idea was problematic. From his point of view as a coach, if a player had a conflict with him, he would definitely put the player in the sidelines.It's true that Iverson is a superstar, but the head coach is not a nanny. After all, coaches like Mike Brown are in the minority.

The warm-up training of the players continued in the arena, and the atmosphere of the coming battle was quietly spreading. Among the Timberwolves players, there were only a few players with playoff experience, and many major players, including Zheng Ke and Love, did not. Playoff experience, this is one of the reasons why the Timberwolves were not optimistic before the game.

But in Zheng Ke's view, this is all nonsense.Does Batum have experience, does Roy have experience, does Aldridge have experience?In terms of playoff experience, the two teams are just about equal, not to mention that the Timberwolves have a veteran with Finals experience like Billups, which theoretically has an advantage.

"Good morning, audience friends. Welcome to the 08-09 season NBA playoffs. This game is between the Minnesota Timberwolves, the fourth in the West, and the Portland Trail Blazers, the fifth in the West. The game is at the home of the Timberwolves Center. Today’s match will be explained by Director Zhang and I.” At 10:30 a.m. BJ time, the court broadcast the match on time.

"The previous three games are over. The Bulls defeated the Celtics, the Cavaliers defeated the Pistons, and the Jazz defeated the Spurs. Director Zhang, the Bulls and the Jazz are the No.7 victories in each district. The opponents, their strength should be inferior to their opponents, but they won again, can you analyze the reason?"

"Yes." Zhang Weiping took over the conversation naturally, and said, "The Bulls are seventh in the Western Conference, and the Jazz are also seventh in the Western Conference, but neither team is weak. The Bulls' victory over the Celtics today is due to luck." The lack of ingredients, first of all, the Celtics are not a full-strength lineup, Garnett is not on, and secondly, Ray Allen feels bad. Ray Allen only hit 12 of 1 shots in the game, including 6 three-pointers. 0, this has kept the Celtics' offense in the quagmire, and it is also the reason for the Bulls' narrow victory. So for the Jazz, they played with momentum. On the home court of the Spurs, the Jazz's pick-and-roll combination played well Since then, Boozer's 27 points and 13 rebounds are not inferior to Duncan, and they played a beautiful sniper battle."

"So for the Timberwolves or the Trail Blazers, which team do you prefer to win?"

"Timberwolves." Zhang Weiping said without hesitation, jokingly, now the Timberwolves are becoming the favorite team of countless Chinese fans, even if they follow the trend, he should say so, not to mention that he thought so in the first place.

Zhang Weiping said: "The Timberwolves have more obvious advantages. Although the Trail Blazers have many outstanding small forwards, such as Batum, Fernandez, and Ryan Gosman, they are all rookies. With zero experience, it may be difficult for them to restrain Zheng Ke."

While the two were talking, the appearance ceremony of the Timberwolves had ended, and all ten starters of the two teams stood on the field. As far as the eye could see, the center of the target was a vast expanse of white space.

Today is a big day for Minnesota. The Timberwolves returned to the playoffs stage after 5 years. Countless fans who love the Timberwolves came to the Target Center, turning the entire Target Center into a sea of ​​joy.There are even many fans without tickets, who can only feel the atmosphere of the game in the streets, squares and bars outside the Target Center.

Declan's bar was overcrowded today, and countless fans wearing Timberwolves blue jerseys were talking about the Timberwolves loudly here.Declan has released rewards. If the Timberwolves can win the game today, then every fan present will get a big sip of dark beer.

Zheng Ke stood on the ground with his hips akimbo. He felt the huge noise on the scene. The ocean of white jerseys was magnificent. Those were all the fans who came to cheer for them!

Zheng Ke felt that every cell in his body was trembling, and he couldn't wait to play.

This is an important game, so the league sent Joe Crawford.The NBA's golden whistle came to the Target Center today. Facing two teams that are almost all playoff rookies, he has taken on a lot of pressure.

The main centers of the two sides stood in the middle circle, Anderson and Joel Przybilla, the two faced each other, and each could see the flame in the opponent's eyes.

Crawford looked at his watch, he looked at the technical table, where the technical staff made an ok gesture, he looked at the other two assistant referees, they also made a ready gesture, so he pointed to both sides After the player signals for a kick-off.He blew the whistle in his mouth and threw the ball into the sky with one hand.

"drink!"

Anderson and Pulzbila shouted at the same time, like two monsters loaded with springs, they leaped into the air together, stretched out their superhuman arms, and strenuously went towards the basketball point in the air.
(End of this chapter)