novelhk Chapter 242: Plagiarism Achievement Completed! Street Dance Storm Unveiled
Chapter 242: Plagiarism Achievement Completed! Street Dance Storm Unveiled
Chapter 242: Plagiarism Achievement Completed! Street Dance Storm is Here!
After this crucial game, not only did Lin Tian regain his touch and return to his peak and most perfect form, but the entire Pacers team also found a great rhythm!
After defeating the Spurs, the Pacers went on to beat the Mavericks and Rockets in Texas, and then marched into the Northwest Division, where they swept aside the Nuggets, Jazz, SuperSonics and Timberwolves!
The Pacers were unstoppable on this grueling seven-game road trip in the Western Conference, securing a fierce seven-game winning streak!
This winning streak is incredibly impressive!
After all, besides the league-leading Spurs, there are also the Jazz, SuperSonics, Rockets, and Timberwolves, who are ranked fourth through seventh in the West!
The Pacers' road trip has seen them beat up a large portion of the Western Conference playoff-caliber teams! If this isn't impressive, then we really don't know what a truly valuable winning streak looks like!
同时，在这一7连胜之中，林天的状态终于是大幅度的回归，他场均能用47%+39%+88%的命中率拿到29.3分、10.0次助攻、7.1篮板3.1抢断的全面数据，并且连续两周拿到了联盟的周最佳球员！
另外，第一个月场均只有11分3篮板2助攻的卡特在这一波连胜之中是自信心大幅度提升，数据自然也是有了明显提升，他在这7场比赛之中每场能够拿下15+3+3的数据。
He has not only become the most reliable player off the bench for the Pacers, but his ranking has also risen rapidly in the predictions for the best sixth man!
Unfortunately, Lewis and Ellington haven't quite adapted to the NBA yet, and it's unlikely they'll make it into the Pacers' rotation this season.
After this long road trip, the Pacers can finally return to Indiana for a good rest. However, the Pacers only have two days to rest, and Lin Tian and Carter will not get any rest at all.
Because AND 1 staff have arrived!
It wasn't until Carter and I attended the AND 1 meeting together that Lin Tian realized that Carter had also signed with AND 1 at some point!
However, he clearly didn't receive the same treatment as Lin Tian. He didn't get his own signature shoes the moment he joined the brand. The shoes he's wearing now are Lin Tian's signature shoes.
"No, boss, I wear your shoes to games every day, didn't you notice?" Carter looked very aggrieved, as if he had shown his true feelings to the moon but the moon shone on a ditch.
"Who has the time to go look at men's sneakers?" Lin Tian rolled his eyes, then looked at Austin, the AND1 representative who was present today, and asked, "Who else is coming today?"
Lin Tian and Carter were at a temporary GG filming base set up by AND1. There were nearly a hundred staff members here, and it was very chaotic with people coming and going. However, it was clear that the studio was almost finished.
"There are a few more!" Austin was beaming, clearly having had a very good year. "But I really didn't expect that the two biggest names would arrive the earliest!"
"It's our home turf, so we've got nothing to do." Upon hearing that they still had to wait for someone, Lin Tian casually found a deck chair and lay down there, waiting for the staff to carry out various preparations.
Since Lin Tian joined AND1, the already rising AND1 has become even more unstoppable. Not only are their sneaker sales booming, but almost all kinds of merchandise are also selling like hotcakes, their market value has skyrocketed, and they have truly gone beyond the United States and into the world, especially Asia!
Although it still cannot compare with brands like Nike and Adidas in North America and Europe, its sales in Asia are beginning to rival those of established brands like Nike and Adidas.
If we don't consider the total sales volume and only look at the sales of individual sneakers, Lin Tian's signature sneakers have already topped the sneaker sales charts in many countries and regions!
Therefore, after analyzing their own business situation and the current brand environment, Austin and the other two agreed that if AND1 wanted to go further, there was only one way: expansion!
It's not just about expanding production lines and increasing product output; we also need to sign more players and expand the brand's influence! Lin Tian alone is simply not enough!
Of course, AND1's expansion is not a mindless and unplanned haphazard expansion. They are very careful in choosing their employees and will not choose those who do not fit the brand's image.
For example, Duncan. Unless he joins AND1 for free, Austin and the others probably won't spend a single penny on him!
Their target, of course, is those players with a flashy and stylish playing style that leans towards the street style!
As a result, AND1 has been actively recruiting players in recent years, signing many players who are a good fit for the brand image. And their targets are not only NBA players, but also well-known street stars!
In a short period of time, AND1 not only signed several well-known NBA players, but also almost monopolized the streetball market. Currently, the most popular and strongest streetball players in the United States are almost all players under AND1.
Judging from Austin's words, there are quite a few tough guys among the people who came to the scene today. They are unruly, arrogant, and quick to resort to violence. There might even be a few lunatics carrying guns, powder, or other contraband!
The thought of this actually made Lin Tian a little excited!
Ever since his rebirth, he has longed for the kind of plot found in traditional fantasy novels.
He pretends to be weak while actually being strong, and then slaps others in the face. He thinks he's so smart and provokes others, only to be knocked down by them with a few punches and kicks. Or he smiles quietly and doesn't say a word, but is mocked and ridiculed. In the end, he doesn't have to do anything but suddenly show off his power in front of everyone, radiating an aura of dominance that makes everyone tremble and want to kneel down and call him "father".
Tsk tsk tsk, which man wouldn't be captivated by and eagerly anticipate such a scene!
Hopefully, among the streetball players who came today, there are a few who are not clear-headed and don't understand their own strength and status, so they will take the initiative to provoke us!
Lin Tian had even planned it out: "I, Lin the Great, won't even take action myself! I'll let Carter do it first, beat the troll to a pulp in a one-on-one fight, and then Austin will step in and say, 'You dare offend our God of Wealth? Very well, you're fired! Take your money and get out of here!'"
I, Lord Lin, will lie here motionless, waiting for you to cry and apologize to me!
Beautiful!
Lin Tian was half-asleep when he suddenly heard Austin's voice: "Hey Jason, long time no see, you're here!"
coming!
Lin Tian opened his eyes, wanting to see which Jason it was, and then he saw an arrogant white player with tattoos all over his body, who looked like he was the best and everyone else was trash, walking over.
"Lin! Long time no see! Why haven't you been to Rucker Park for the past two years!" The person who came was Jason Williams, the seventh pick in this year's draft, a die-hard fan of Lin Tian, who claimed that he would rather play as a substitute for the rest of his life than not go to the Pacers and fight alongside Lin Tian!
He is also the Pacers' next opponent, the Kings' current starting point guard.
"How was your time in Sacramento?" Lin Tian stood up, hugged Williams, and was surprisingly a little disappointed.
Williams is arrogant and cocky, with a flamboyant and unrestrained playing style, but he definitely wouldn't challenge Lin Tian! Do you even know what a die-hard ironman fanboy is?
With this kid around, I'm afraid Carter won't even need to lift a finger; he can just shut down any streetball player who wants to cause trouble!
"It's fantastic! The coaches there give me a lot of freedom, and I'm really enjoying playing! I can unleash all my talent on the NBA court! It's like a dream come true!" Williams excitedly looked at Lin Tian and said, "If it weren't for you, I definitely wouldn't be where I am today!"
After exchanging a few polite words with Williams, Austin brought over another person, also an old acquaintance.
"Lin! Why haven't you been going to Rucker Park lately? The fans there have been waiting for you!" Nicknamed "King of New York Streetball," "Jumping Soul," and "Skip To My Lou," Rafer Alston was selected by the Bucks in the second round, 39th overall pick this year!
Although Alston was drafted by the Bucks this year, due to the NBA lockout, he was in urgent need of money and did not choose to wait for the Bucks' call. Instead, he joined the American continental league, abbreviated as CBA, to make a living playing basketball there.
That league was no match for the NBA in terms of scale, management, or strength, so when the team's star player, Alston, asked for leave to film GG, the team there naturally released him as soon as possible, without daring to say a word.
They were hoping that Alston's reputation as the "King of Streetball" would help them sell more tickets!
Well, okay, this guy is also a big fan of Lin Tian, after all, he was beaten into submission by him.
"I've been pretty busy lately, maybe we can go to the AND 1 MixTape tour together this summer?" Lin Tian smiled and gave Alston a high five, making casual small talk.
The so-called AND 1 MixTape Tour is a city tour organized by AND 1 to expand their market. Every year from June to September, they hold streetball games in more than 20 cities across the United States, attracting the nation's top streetball players as well as many NBA players who are passionate about streetball.
Allen Iverson, Steve Francis, Steve Marbury, Jamal Tinsley, Sebastian Telfair, and others have all participated in this league!
With the support of top streetball stars and NBA players, this competition, which has only been held for two years, has become the largest streetball tournament in the United States and is the dream and ultimate stage for every streetball player!
"That's fantastic!" Alston exclaimed excitedly. "I've always dreamed of playing alongside you again! I'm really looking forward to unleashing all our talent on the NBA court! It's like a dream come true! If it weren't for you, I definitely wouldn't be where I am today!"
These words sounded familiar to him!
When did Alston and Williams become so in sync?
But this time, even Williams might not need to lift a finger; Alston will be enough to teach all the streetball players who want to cause trouble a lesson.
"Streetball King"? Are you kidding me?
"Larry, you're too late, hurry up and go inside!" Austin's voice came again. Lin Tian squinted and saw a completely unfamiliar face.
But you can tell... it's the standard three-piece set of an African American: a big gold chain, a defiant face, and tattoos all over his body.
This guy is always someone who sees the ceiling and wants to cause trouble!
"Lin! I've always been your fan! Let me introduce myself, I'm Larry Williams, nicknamed 'The Bone Collector'!" When Larry Williams saw Lin Tian, he showed none of his usual arrogance on the streetball court. He wished he could offer all the bones he had collected to Lin Tian!
This guy looks to be only in his teens right now, and he's not very well-known in the streetball scene yet. But in a few years, he'll become a famous figure in the entire American streetball scene, and he'll be one of the four legends of American streetball, along with "The Professor," "Hot Sauce," and "Silk."
"If it weren't for you, I would never have been able to unleash my talent on the AND 1 MixTape tour! And I would never have achieved all this! It's like a dream!" Williams exclaimed excitedly, looking at Lin Tian. "If it weren't for you, I definitely wouldn't be where I am today!"
Yes, yes, yes, all three of you have the exact same lines.
Lin Tian had given up all expectations at this point. He felt that these streetball players were all really, really amazing!
It seems I won't have the chance to pull off a cool, silent smile and unleash my domineering aura in front of everyone today.
I wonder, now that Alston and the Bone Collector are here, will the other three of the four kings of streetball...?
Will come!
Because shortly after, Philip Chapuan, nicknamed "Hot Sauce," and Andre Poole, nicknamed "Silk," walked in together, and then their lines...
Just like the previous few people!
You inspired me! You gave us a chance!
If it weren't for you, we would be nothing!
Lin Tian was a little confused!
Am I, Lord Lin, really that great?
Besides comforting the hearts and bodies of young girls, how can I also comfort so many young and middle-aged men?
Austin answered Lin Tian's question.
The answer is quite simple—because of you, we have money. With money, we can hold competitions and turn these street guys into stars!
Of course they are grateful, and of course they know that without you, they would have to continue living in the slums, on the streets, with drugs, leafy greens, ice, gambling, guns, gangs... and that would have been their whole life.
And now, they're even getting their own signature sneakers!
If they shouldn't thank you, who should they thank?
Lin Tian's emergence, his contract with AND1, and the huge sales of his sneakers gave them opportunities and everything!
However, after the silk and hot sauce arrived, Austin also said that everyone who was supposed to come today had arrived.
The four kings of streetball never actually gathered together.
Lin Tian thought for a moment, and realized that the last "professor" seemed to be born in the mid-85s. He was probably practicing his basic skills hard on the basketball court in the neighborhood, hoping to become a star one day!
However, this roster is quite impressive! It includes a top NBA star, two top-ten lottery picks, a second-round pick waiting for his call, and several top streetball stars.
The guy that AND1 is going to film later is a gathering of elites!
"Everyone's here, let me explain what this game is about." Austin cleared his throat and said, "It's actually quite simple, it's just a game where everyone's wearing our shoes, and then..."
As Austin spoke, he took several pairs of sneakers out of the box.
One of them is the third generation of Lin Tian's signature shoe series, which has already been released and sold very well.
The other pairs are GG's main products this time, and also AND1's brand new sneakers this year! They will also be the common products for the other players besides Lin Tian before they have their own signature shoes.
"These shoes are called 'Wind and Thunder'! They're our latest products. Although each pair has slight differences, the overall design concept is the same!"
"With its reflective patent leather material, contrasting color scheme, and the street graffiti embellishments on the side, this shoe is destined to be a bestseller. It represents the most flamboyant, passionate, and avant-garde street culture!"
"After the release of these shoes, our sneaker sales will definitely reach new heights, and everyone's popularity and income will inevitably rise accordingly! These shoes are called Wind Thunder X, Wind Thunder Z, and Wind Thunder 1.0!"
"The technology and details they contain have been specially tuned based on your foot shape, playing style, height, weight and other parameters. You have all tried them before, so now you can put the shoes on and see how they feel."
As soon as Austin finished speaking, Carter and the others immediately stepped forward to take the shoes. They obviously already knew which pair of shoes they had, so there was no scrambling or fighting over them.
Carter took the X, Williams and Alston took the Z, and the other three streetball players took the 1.0 series.
The group put on their sneakers and eagerly tried out some stationary running, jumping, and stopping maneuvers to see if the shoes were truly suitable for them.
After all, although we had gone through many trials and discussions before, this was the first time we had actually worn them on our feet.
Although Lin Tian also took his third-generation combat boots, he simply put them on and didn't keep trying them on. After all, he had been wearing these shoes for a long time and was already very familiar with them.
However, the name of the sneakers, "Wind and Thunder," and the squeaking sound of the sneakers and wooden floorboards made by the people next to him running and jumping around reminded Lin Tian of a very classic GG.
Or, how about we copy one?
Just as Lin Tian was pondering, Austin smiled and said, "Well then, let's review the lines one last time, and then start filming, how about that?"
"I think we can try a different shooting method," Lin Tian suddenly said. "Austin, forgive me for being blunt, but your idea doesn't do justice to our sneakers. Your idea is just awful!"
"Um... but we finally managed to get together like this, and if we revise the script and come up with new ideas again, we probably won't have enough time!"
Austin was in a bit of a dilemma, but since it was Lin Tian who spoke, he couldn't directly refute him.
After all, he had already sent the script to everyone before filming. You didn't offer any feedback then, but now you're offering it on set? If anyone else had said that, Austin would have shut them up immediately!
But Lin Tian...
Try to coax him if you can; he's his own father!
"I have an idea, you can listen to it. If you don't like it, we can stick to what we're doing before." Lin Tian knew what Austin was thinking, and said with a smile, "This time, let's not have any lines, no plot, and no background music."
"Or rather, the background music is the sound of us playing basketball! This idea came to me when they were trying on basketball shoes! Our background music is the sound of shoes rubbing against the floor, the sound of dribbling, and the sound of the basketball swishing through the net as it hits the hoop!"
"As for the content of GG, it's that each of us will show off our dribbling skills separately, show off our best skills, and then do some combination skills, such as alley-oops, brilliant passes, and double teamwork skills."
"At most, add some breathing sounds, nothing else. The color scheme can be overall dark black and white, with only the sneakers and basketball in color. This will perfectly showcase our sneakers!"
"Finally, when it comes to editing and post-production, it's up to you guys. Make the sounds of the basketball and sneakers more rhythmic, more like a dance track, so that it looks like we're dancing instead of playing basketball! The rhythm can also go from slow to fast, making it more and more addictive the more you listen to it, something like that, do you understand?"
"I think it's cool!" Carter was the first to speak. "But I'm not as good at dribbling as you guys, so can I dunk?"
"Then I'll pass you the ball! I can start with some fancy dribbling, and then use Lin's elbow to pass you the ball for an alley-oop!" Williams got excited too!
"Dribbling is my specialty!" Alston laughed. "I could dribble a different ball every day!"
"Can I show off my newly created special move, 'Wind and Fire Meteor'?" Hot Sauce asked, her face full of anticipation!
"We have a really cool method for practicing ball control in pairs, I think it's super awesome!" Bone Collector and Silk nodded in support.
When Austin saw that these players had rejected his script without even thinking and were all very interested in Lin Tian's ideas, he, as one of the brand's three bosses, had never been treated like a collective rebellion.
Austin immediately clapped his hands, calling over the director, post-production team, cinematographer, and others standing nearby: "Just do it according to Lin's idea! You're the experts on pacing and stuff, you handle that!"
Well, as a boss, Austin's choice was to immediately connect with his employees and reach a consensus!
As long as Lin Tian is happy, what's wrong with changing the text?
completely fine!
The director and staff on the other side discussed it and all felt that the idea had potential!
So everyone quickly hit it off in less than 5 minutes and started filming GG!
However, unlike Austin, who was still somewhat uneasy and worried that the effect might not be good, Lin Tian was full of confidence in this GG!
He blatantly copied Nike's classic GG logo, which became a global sensation three years later and is still being watched repeatedly 20 years later!
Street Dance Storm!
This GG (Girl's Basketball) is definitely the gateway to street basketball for countless people. The cool dribbling, the crisp background sound, the smooth rhythm, and the black and white color scheme will immediately ignite a desire in anyone who loves playing basketball to rush to the basketball court and play!
Yes, of course I also want to imitate the signature moves of those star players in the movie!
Lin Tian was showing off his dribbling skills while listening to the praise from several directors and staff members of AND1, who called him a genius and said they would sign his name under GG.
After copying this GG that was almost certain to become a global sensation, Lin Tian also conveniently achieved another essential accomplishment for a reborn individual.
"Plagiarist" achievement achieved!
However, although Lin Tian's explanation was simple and the ideas he provided didn't sound difficult, this guy still spent almost the entire day filming.
After all, Lin Tian didn't understand the more detailed aspects. He was only responsible for proposing ideas, and the rest had to be refined, tested, and thought out by the production team.
So, after everyone had left behind an unknown amount of footage, the production team was finally satisfied around midnight, and, confident that there would be no more problems, waved their hands and said that everyone could disband!
After filming for over ten hours, Lin Tian and the others were exhausted. They had originally planned to find a place to have some fun, but now they had lost interest. Lin Tian, in particular, felt that filming was much more tiring than playing ball, and he would never do this kind of thing again.
too tired!
The day after filming GG, the Pacers faced the Sacramento Kings, who were at the bottom of the Western Conference, at home!
The Kings could have had a breakout season!
During the offseason, they acquired Webber and Divac, drafted Williams, and Peja Stojakovic, the sharpshooter they drafted in 96, joined the team. Even the head coach became Rick Adelman. The Princeton system, which swept the world and was incredibly popular, was already taking shape.
The problem is that nothing else has changed for them this year except that their star player, Chris Webber, didn't join the team. Instead, he went to Cleveland to form a "human bomb" duo.
Therefore, without an absolute core player and the foundation of the roster, the Kings have not made much progress in their record this year, even though they have started playing Princeton offense.
They are still waiting anxiously for the perfect power forward for them!
So this matchup against the Kings didn't cause much of a stir, and the Pacers easily defeated the Kings, extending their winning streak to eight games!
Then, in another back-to-back game, they faced the Wizards at home, whose record had plummeted to 12th in the Eastern Conference.
But in this seemingly sure game, the Pacers suffered an unexpected defeat, losing to the Wizards and ending their winning streak at eight games!
Fortunately, they quickly adjusted the team's form and then went on a winning streak. By March 31, the Pacers had won 12 games and lost only two that month!
This 12-2 record also brought the Pacers' overall record to 26-8, successfully overtaking the Knicks in terms of record!
In addition, when April 1st arrived, the Pacers received another great gift.
Vince Carter had a breakout month, averaging 15.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game, and won the Rookie of the Month award for March!
These days, the Rookie of the Month award is chosen by both the East and West, a unique achievement in the entire league! There are no objective reasons such as the East being stronger than the West, nor is there any claim that the weaker division is more likely to win!
Absolutely top-notch quality!
He's definitely the league's number one rookie this month!
With this month's Rookie of the Month award, Carter has successfully overtaken the Celtics' Paul Pierce in the rookie rankings, taking the top spot!
Besides Carter becoming the top rookie, Lin Tian, who averaged 28.1 points, 10.3 assists, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.9 steals per game this month with a 46%, 39%, and 83% field goal percentage, and led his team to the best record in the league during the same period, successfully won the Player of the Month award!
Similarly, it's the only one of its kind in the entire league!
In addition, Lin Tian has averaged 26.7 points per game so far this season, and thanks to his advantage in the number of games played and total points, he has successfully surpassed Allen Iverson, who also averages 26.7 points per game, and is now ranked second on the scoring list!
Lin Tian is currently trailing Michael Jordan, who is in first place and averages 28.2 points per game, by 1.5 points!
With about 15 games left in the regular season, if Lin Tian scores about 25 more points than Jordan in the remaining games, he can overtake Jordan and become the scoring champion this season!
In addition, Lin Tian currently ranks second in the assist rankings with an average of 10.3 assists per game, only 0.3 assists behind Jason Kidd in first place! Although his average of 2.4 steals per game only ranks third in the league, Kendall Gill, who ranks first, only has 2.7 steals per game!
In other words, if Lin Tian maintains his high level of performance in the last month of the season, he could potentially become the season's leading scorer, stealer, and assist provider!
If Lin Tian can win all three titles in one season, then there will be absolutely no doubt that he will be the MVP this year!
In particular, Lin Tian has successfully overtaken Jordan by winning the Player of the Month award and has once again topped the MVP rankings, becoming the most likely and most promising person to win the MVP this season!
What Lin Tian needs to do next is maintain it!
Maintain the winning record, and maintain the data!
In the blink of an eye, the two-month regular season has come to an end. This exceptionally short regular season is now down to just one month and a few days.
And the trade deadline has passed quietly. Although this season is very short, there have actually been quite a few high-profile trades during the season!
For example, the Lakers are getting better and better because Kobe is playing better and better, and because he and Eddie Jones are both more suitable for playing the shooting guard position, the effect of having both of them on the court at the same time is not good. The Lakers must make a choice between the two at this time!
Then, the Lakers didn't hesitate to choose the younger Kobe, who had a higher ceiling!
This is a result that requires almost no thought!
The question that needs to be considered is: who can the Lakers acquire by trading Jones?
Ultimately, after rounds of negotiations, the Lakers traded Eddie Jones to Charlotte in exchange for Glen Rice, a former All-NBA Second Team member and three-point champion who once single-handedly led his team to the second round of the playoffs!
This trade is definitely an upgrade for the Lakers' roster! Compared to the previous Kobe and Jones, who were bigger, had better shooting, and were more compatible in style, many people consider them to be the best 2-3 position combination in the league today!
At the same time, the Lakers also fired their head coach Harris and appointed former assistant coach Kurt Rambis.
But everyone also knows that Rambis is just an interim manager!
The Lakers will definitely do a good job of selecting coaches this summer!
Because of the exposure of Jeanie Buss and Phil Jackson's relationship, many people think that Jackson, the five-time champion head coach, will return to coach the Lakers after a year of rest!
Furthermore, Marbury, unable to bear the harsh weather in Minnesota and disapproving of the team's hesitant approach in offering Garnett a super contract but then renewing his own, angrily requested a trade!
Although the Knicks were unable to acquire Marbury due to salary cap issues, thanks to Falk's efforts, Marbury was able to come to the New York suburbs: the New Jersey Nets!
In Lin Tian's memory, this trade was the last highlight of Falk's career as an agent. After that, Falk would quickly fade from the mainstream view of the league and eventually disappear.
However, this time, because Jordan is still in the league, Falk's departure from the league may be postponed for a few more years.
But that's all. Once Jordan officially retires, the NBA owners and management, who have long been fed up with Falk, will definitely kick this lawless guy out.
Apart from these two high-profile trades, other teams in the league haven't made any major moves, mostly making minor adjustments.
After all, the season is already incredibly short, with only 5 days of training camp. Teams lack internal cohesion, and the league is already in chaos. Unless a team is already in deep turmoil, falling apart, or the benefits are too great to refuse, no team wants to make any big trades during this chaotic season.
Maintaining stability and waiting for next season is the core idea of most teams right now!
It is also worth mentioning that, due to the shortened season, many players indulged themselves too much during the offseason, resulting in a significant decline in their form and physical condition, which was followed by a large-scale outbreak of injuries!
This season, all teams have been plagued by injuries to varying degrees, with top players in the league such as Penny Hardaway, Grant Hill, and Shaquille O'Neal all suffering some kind of injury.
The worst off are definitely the Cavaliers and the SuperSonics.
The SuperSonics' Vin Baker was one of the league's top centers last season, averaging 19+8 points in 82 games and leading the team in scoring.
This season, Vin Baker gained more than 20 kilograms, and his average stats dropped to only 13 points and 6 rebounds per game. He also twisted his knee in a game at the end of March, ending his season!
With his season over, the SuperSonics' season can practically be declared over early!
For supersonic speedsters, the only thing that might lessen their suffering is the opportunity to gloat!
The asset they used to trade for Vin Baker was Kemp. This season, Kemp's weight also increased to an absurd level, and his average stats dropped to 15 points and 7 rebounds. In addition, he only played 2 more games than Baker before he was also sidelined for the season!
As for the last of the three fallen fat brothers, Webber only averaged 16 points and 6 rebounds per game this season. Moreover, he only played 33 games before his season was over due to an ankle injury!
Three key big men have all suffered season-ending injuries due to a decline in performance caused by obesity!
The SuperSonics and the Cavaliers are definitely the two most unfortunate teams this season.
For each team, April means they will begin their final sprint toward their goals for the season!
Because the season was too short, the rankings between the East and West conferences were not actually that far apart!
For example, the Pacers, who are first in the East, are only two games ahead of the fourth-place Hawks and five games ahead of the eighth-place Milwaukee Bucks! If they accidentally lose a few more games, it's very possible that they could drop from first to eighth!
Therefore, in the last month of the season, any team that is determined to make a splash in the playoffs will definitely have its players give their all to play well in this final month of games!
In addition, the league's experts had already predicted that the early season games would be somewhat bad and the players' performances would likely be poor. Therefore, when scheduling the games, they arranged many exciting and highly anticipated games for April!
This way, fans can enjoy many incredibly exciting clashes between top teams as the playoffs approach! And because of the unique nature of this season, even towards the end of the season, these top-level matches will basically be all-out, no-holds-barred battles!
This matchup arrangement effectively generates buzz and attention before the playoffs, making fans more hopeful and excited for the upcoming playoffs!
For example, the Pacers' first game in April will be at home against the New York Knicks, who they just overtook and are now second in the Eastern Conference!
This game is definitely one of the two most anticipated regular season games of the season!
Yes, the other game is in mid-April, at Madison Square Garden, where the Pacers will play the Knicks on the road!
It's still these two teams.
There's nothing we can do about it. After all, everyone knows why Jordan went to the Knicks this season and what his biggest goal was.
Defeat the Pacers, defeat Lin Tian, and avenge last season's defeat!
After all, in last season's Eastern Conference Finals, the Bulls and the Pacers fought a bloody seven-game series that was absolutely spectacular!
Many fans have even called this Eastern Conference Finals series the best in NBA history!
Last season's Eastern Conference semifinals saw the Pacers sweep the Knicks. Although the score looked like 4-0, everyone knew that Ewing's injury was too severe in this round, which led to the Knicks losing the game with almost no resistance.
But in Game 4, when Ewing recovered from his injury, the Knicks weren't much worse than the Pacers!
What if the Knicks added Jordan to their roster this season?
When the team and individuals who gave the Pacers the most trouble in last year's playoffs team up, can they stop the Pacers from defending their title this season?
(End of this chapter)