NBA Backer King: Chapter 594 You are just a grass now, and you still think of yourself as a treasure?

  Chapter 594 You are just a grass now, and you still regard yourself as a treasure?

  At 1 noon, the Timberwolves arrived in Phoenix. In response to the media's request for the ball, a press conference was held at the hotel at 3 pm.

   "Kevin, how confident are you that the Timberwolves will advance to the second round?" A reporter asked.

   Garnett hesitated, thinking and said: "We played four regular season games with the Suns and won one, which shows that we also have a chance in the playoffs.

  I hope we can perform well, and reaching the second round is the best result, and we will spare no effort for this. "

   "Will you face off against old K?" the reporter asked again.

   "He's a center and I'm a power forward."

Hearing the name Old K, Garnett was upset. He suffered the biggest loss in the regular season. Even in the game he won, he didn't perform well. If the Suns didn't play well in that game, he would Some teammates stood up, and they still lost.

   "That is to say, you will not take the initiative to seek a matchup with the old K? Do you think that you are not the opponent of the old K, or is it simply a wrong position?" The reporter asked.

   Garnett snorted coldly: "We are a game between teams, and individual duels are not that important."

  Although he tried his best to avoid talking about Lao Wang, the reporters didn't let him go. The questions they asked him were basically related to Lao Wang, which made him very unhappy.

   At 8 o'clock that night, TNT's New York branch broadcast an NBA program, hosted by Barkley, the guests were Dameng and Magic Johnson, as well as Payton and Vince Carter.

As the host, Barkley said after the show began: "Gentlemen, we actually don't have a core theme tonight, we can talk about any issue, we are just for the ratings, so who will start now? Does anyone have any hot topics? It’s okay if the topic has nothing to do with the NBA.”

   "Haha..." All of them laughed.

  After making a joke, Barkley didn't give anyone else a chance to speak. He looked at Carter with a smile and said, "Vince, I have a question..."

"Um?"

   Seeing Barkley's wicked smile, Carter suddenly felt a little uneasy.

Barkley said with a grin: "The four major shooting guards, Iverson's Philadelphia Digital Team, Kobe's Lakers, Tracy McGrady's Bulls, have all made it to the playoffs, only your Raptors have not, and you are also the worst in terms of personal data. One of them, the other three have entered the top ten of the MVP rankings, do you think you are the weakest of the four shooting guards?"

  Hearing Feizhu's question so straightforwardly, the others immediately looked at Carter to see how he would answer.

   "Sure enough, this fat man is not a good person!"

Carter smiled bitterly in his heart, and said hesitantly: "Actually, what I love is basketball. I really like this sport. What I care about is whether I can play and contribute to the team. The kind of desire to compete with them."

   "Okay, let's talk about the playoffs."

  Barkley accepted it as soon as he saw it, and immediately changed the subject, looked at Payton, and asked, "Gary, why do you think the Sonics traded you?"

When Gary Payton heard this, he felt very uncomfortable. This season is his 13th season with the Sonics. He can still play an All-Star average of 20+4+8 per game. Traded to the Bucks.

Of course, he has always been worried about being traded, saying: "The Akeley family took over the Supersonics in 2001. To be honest, they are good. Although they made a lot of promises that were not fulfilled, I like how they handle team affairs. style, and also like the way they communicate with our players, they treat the Sonics as a big family.

  However, after Schultz took over the Supersonics, everything changed. He regarded the Supersonics as a business, and the Supersonics were no longer a big family.

Of course, it's a business. Someone's been running a move to Oklahoma City. We've always known. Then he traded me. It was a mistake. Then he sold the team. He sold it. The Sonics have changed three owners in a few years, which is worse than the Suns back then..."

   Barkley reminded: "Gary, you haven't said why the Sonics traded you. It's because, do you want a big contract? We all know that your contract is coming to an end, and it will end after this season."

Payton shook his head and said angrily: "NO, I never asked the management for a big contract. I just said that I hope to get a contract extension during the offseason, and I didn't even ask for an early renewal. But , but, do you know how Schultz answered me?"

   Speaking of which, anyone can see the anger on his face, very strong anger.

   "Say it." Barkley nodded.

Payton said very angrily: "He said to me, I don't care about you anymore, you are nothing. Did you hear that, this is what my home team said to me for 13 seasons, I am nothing, and then he traded Took me, brought Ray Allen from the Bucks, a younger guy, he became the future of the Sonics, and I was thrown to the Bucks."

   "Will you renew the Bucks?" Barkley asked with concern.

   "..."

Payton glanced at Barkley, he knew that this fat man had no good intentions, so he would not be fooled, and said: "The season is not over yet, we will start the first round with the Nets tomorrow, this problem is still in the offseason Let's discuss it again."

   "Okay, Gary, let's talk about the first round between the Bucks and the Nets. Do you think the Bucks have a chance to make it to the second round?" Barkley said with a smile.

   "Of course there is a chance."

   Payton snorted coldly, if the Bucks had hoped to beat the Nets, he would have agreed to a contract extension with the Bucks.

In fact, he has decided that he will leave the Bucks during the offseason to find a strong team that can help him realize his dream. Anyway, his parent team traded him, and now his career is at the end of his career. This will be his only pursuit in the future. Target.

   Seeing that Payton stopped talking, Barkley shifted his target and looked at Magic Johnson with a smile.

"What do you want to know?"

   He is too familiar with Barkley, and Magic Johnson immediately raised his vigilance.

  Barkley said with a smile: "Irwin, the Lakers played against the Kings in the first round, and they don't have home court advantage. Do you think the Lakers have a chance to make it to the second round?"

  Magic Johnson breathed a sigh of relief, he was afraid that Barkley would ask some messy questions.

   After thinking for a while, he said: "The Lakers and the Kings have a total of four regular season games, with two wins and two losses. Of course we have a chance to reach the second round.

   Now O'Neal is in good health. He and Kobe joined forces. I think the probability of defeating the Kings is very high. We have sufficient confidence to advance to the second round. "

  Barkley took advantage of the opportunity to lead to the next question and asked, "Irwin, did the shark lose weight successfully?"

  Magic Johnson sighed and said: "The current tonnage is 155 kilograms, which has decreased by 7 kilograms. If he wants to win the old K, he needs to work harder."

   "So do you think the current O'Neill still has the strength to compete with the old K?" Barkley asked.

  Magic Johnson frowned and said: "As long as he can catch the ball at the basket, Old K can't do anything about him, he still has super dominance at the basket.

  But he is one year older than old K, and has more injuries than old K. I am afraid that his state will decline faster than old K in the future. If he cannot control his weight, his state will decline faster. "

   Barkley said: "In other words, O'Neal has actually come down from the peak?"

   "Should, it should be at the end of the peak." Magic Johnson said something vaguely, and stopped answering this question.

   But basically, everyone heard that O'Neal is declining from the peak.

   "Hakeem, do you think that old K guy is still at his peak?" Barkley changed his target again.

  Dameng shook his head and said: "From the perspective of personal statistics, the average points per game has declined, and the desire to attack on the field has declined. This is indeed a downward trend. But in terms of efficiency, he is still at his peak.

Old K's situation is a bit complicated. After his comeback, there is obviously a transformation. The low-post attack has decreased, his mobility has become stronger, and some mid-range shots have been added. However, the Suns now pay equal attention to positional warfare and small-ball tactics, and his tactical status has weakened. From this aspect of analysis, he is indeed declining from the peak. "

   "You have such a good relationship, don't you know his specific situation?" Peyton asked thoughtfully.

  Dameng and Barkley looked at each other and shook their heads at the same time.

  They often contacted old K, and of course they also talked about these issues. They are very familiar with old K's current situation and thoughts, but they can't talk about it here.

  Old K told them clearly that his state is still at its peak, and it is very hopeful that he can maintain the peak period for two or three years. He hopes to play a dynasty in the Suns and retire as long as he wins the dynasty.

  This idea is currently unknown to the outside world. Old K has not disclosed it to the media. The reason is, of course, that the league and the US media are targeting him now and do not want to get burned.

  If old K reveals this idea to the outside world, he will definitely become the target of public criticism immediately. I am afraid that it will be very difficult for the Suns to complete a small transaction.

  Payton is very disappointed. He also hopes to contact the Suns during the offseason to see if he can join the Suns and fight for a championship. Now he has to reconsider.

  The Trail Blazers, Lakers, and Suns are the teams he considers joining, and the Kings are not considered.

   It's not that the king is not strong, but that the king's style doesn't suit him.

  The Suns are actually not very suitable for him, because the Suns pay attention to defense and counterattack, and they have to participate in quick moves from the outside. He is old and can't run anymore.

  In contrast, the Lakers' style is more suitable for him, and there is currently a lack of point guards like him.

   Plus, the Blazers don't have a true point guard and lack someone like him.

  These two teams are mainly positional warfare, and he prefers the style of these two teams.

  He didn’t think about the Eastern Conference. From the Nets to the Pistons, they are not as strong as the Western Conference.

  After the show was over, after Dameng and the others left, Barkley and Dameng stopped Payton, saying that they wanted to treat guests for a drink, and the three found a nightclub and sat down.

   "Gary, now we can say, where are you planning to go next season?" Barkley asked.

  Payton shook his head and said, "Don't consider this issue now."

   "Come on, don't think about it now, and you won't have a chance to think about it in the future. The lineups of several strong teams are stable. If you don't get it done soon, even if you join them in the future, you can only play as a substitute." Barkley said.

  Payton hesitated and said: "I want to see if the Lakers and Trail Blazers have a chance. They both lack people at the first position."

   "Wouldn't it be over sooner?"

  Barkley analyzed: "If you are willing to join with a basic salary, there must be no problem. They definitely hope to get you. But why don't you consider the Suns?"

  Dameng nodded and said: "The Suns are the best consideration, Gary, old K has won six championships in nine years, if you choose to go to the Lakers and Trail Blazers, it might come to nothing!"

  Payton frowned and asked, "What is the current state of old K?"

  Dameng and Barkley looked at each other, and the latter said: "It should still be at the peak."

   "How long can it last?" Peyton asked.

   "Then who can say for sure? Where you are going, you can decide for yourself. You are old, and now you are just a piece of grass, and you still think of yourself as a treasure?" Dameng, who lost his temper, said angrily.

  Payton was so angry that he said angrily: "Who doesn't know that you and old K have a good relationship, so I just don't want to go to the Suns. Whoever adds me to the Trail Blazers or the Lakers can't kill the Suns?"

   "Let's go, Hakeem, let's go, this old **** will let him cry in the future." Buckley got up and left, and Dameng followed.

Annoyed and depressed, Payton drank a few glasses of stuffy wine by himself. When he was about to leave the nightclub, he was blocked by someone. It turned out that Buckley didn't pay the bill when he left. Is it your treat, and I pay the bill?

   "Old K, I just tied the gloves for you, but that old thing didn't agree. Dameng has a bad temper and messed things up. I think he did it on purpose."

  Buckley and Dameng returned to the hotel, quietly made a phone call to Lao Wang, and cheated on Dameng by the way.

   "Gary Payton? Where is he going next season?" Old Wang asked casually, not knowing about this.

   "It's either the Blazers or the Lakers," Barkley said.

   "Damn, this is very troublesome!"

   Lao Wang started to have a headache. If these two teams get gloves, their strength should have a very good improvement, and they will pose a great threat to the Suns.

Especially the Trail Blazers. Pippen is old and injured. In fact, he can't beat the Blazers. This time the Suns want to win the Trail Blazers. One is his own performance, and the other is Pippen. Peng, if he locks Duncan, he will have a chance to win the next round of the series.

  But if the Blazers get Payton, the current state of the glove can completely make up for Pippen's half-useful organizational function.

   But joining the Lakers, the threat is not as great as joining the Trail Blazers.

Kobe’s personality is too strong, and he wants too much possession of the ball. If Payton joins the Lakers, whether Kobe is willing to give up control of the ball is still a question. If Payton does not have the ball in his hands, he is not as good as an ordinary player. shooter.

  No. 19, the first round of the playoffs begins.

  The current rules have been changed. The first round used to be a five-game three-win system, but now it is a seven-game four-win system. The home and away games are 22111.

  West, Trail Blazers vs. Mosaics, Suns vs. Timberwolves.

  East, the Nets against the Bucks, the Pacers against the digital team.

   At eight o'clock, the Suns and the Timberwolves started the war.

  Pharaoh still focuses on restricting Garnett. It is no problem to beat the Timberwolves with the strength of the Suns, and he does not need to attack hard.

   Sure enough, two hours later, the Suns successfully defeated the Timberwolves and won their first victory in G1.

   Lao Wang scored 21 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 5 blocks in three quarters.

  In the other three games, the Blazers easily defeated Mosaic, the Nets also easily defeated the Bucks, and the Pacers lost to the digital team at home.

  The explosive Iverson scored 42 points and beat Reggie Miller.

  Old Wang called Dayao and asked about the situation.

  The Nets are obviously stronger than the Bucks. The main center of the Bucks, Irvin Johnson, is just a third-rate center. Yao has a great advantage in the interior. He only played 34 minutes and scored 24 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 blocks.

  The next day, the other four first-round games started.

  The Mavericks in the Western Conference were upset and lost to the old Jazz. The inside line was blown up by the mailman who was still strong. Nowitzki was elbowed by Karl Malone and had a nosebleed. He only played 24 minutes and scored 13 points.

  In addition, the Lakers and the Kings fought to overtime, and the Lakers finally defeated the Kings.

  In the East, the Pistons defeated the Bulls, and the Pelicans also defeated the Green Team.

   On the 21st, the Suns beat the Timberwolves again, won their second consecutive home game, and will go to the away game next.

  The Trail Blazers and Nets also won the G2 game, but the Philadelphia team that won the first game was defeated by the Pacers, and the two teams tied.

   On the 22nd, in the West, the Mavericks and Kings each pulled back a game, and tied with the Jazz and Lakers. In the East, the Pelicans lost twice to the Green Team, but the Bulls played a youth storm, defeated the Pistons, and also tied.

   On the 23rd, the Suns started a G3 game with the Timberwolves on the road.

The Timberwolves intended to take advantage of the home court to win back a game, but Lao Wang didn't give them this chance. He strengthened his personal offense in this game, whether it was center Rasu or Garnett defending him, or double-teaming in advance, None of them were defended, scoring 37 points, shooting 61.5% from the field, grabbing 18 rebounds and sending 7 assists, leading the team to three defeats to the Timberwolves.

  In the other three games, the Trail Blazers lost on the road and were pulled back by Mosaic. The same is true for the Eastern Nets. They lost on the road, but the Philadelphia Digital team returned home and defeated the Pacers again, gaining a big advantage.

  (end of this chapter)