Chapter 843 842. The Loyal Garnett
106 to 91, the Hawks easily defeated the Jazz, and they didn't beat them too badly, which was considered to be a bit of mercy. When Jason Terry took the bench lineup to the court, the Hawks didn't defend at all, allowing the Jazz players to brush up their stats.
After playing against the Jazz, Liu Mang drove to the airport the next morning with two big boxes that made Iguodala want to cry.
A four-game road trip that was not difficult was about to begin.
The Timberwolves, Mavericks, Bulls, and Pacers, a four-game road trip, all of which were playoff teams. Originally, this schedule was the most difficult for the Hawks in December, and it was also specially arranged by the league that the Hawks would have a concentrated wave of strong enemies in mid-December. Except for the Bulls, the other three strong teams were all championship contenders predicted before the season, so that the Hawks could stimulate the fans who were exhausted at this stage in mid-December.
Who knew that there was no need for stimulation, and the Hawks made trouble at the beginning of the month, which attracted a lot of attention.
But what was even more unexpected was that the originally scheduled schedule that excited the fans turned into only one strong team, the Mavericks...
The Timberwolves collapsed, and the Pacers collapsed in the fight. Now it is found that in addition to the Mavericks, the most interesting game in the Hawks' six consecutive away games is the game against the Bulls...
The fans are not very interested in the Mavericks, but want to see how the Hawks will perform next time they meet the Bulls.
...
I came to Minneapolis, this broken place is too cold!
And the humidity is even worse than Atlanta, not far from the South Coast. This is the city of ten thousand lakes.
After entering winter in Minneapolis, even a coat can't stop the invasion of the cold wind...
When Liu Mang arrived at the hotel, he didn't want to leave the room. Anyway, he just rested for one night and the game would start tomorrow night.
The coaching staff did not arrange training. On the next day, the morning of the game against the Timberwolves, there was no training. After lunch, a team meeting was held. At 3:30 pm, we took a bus to the Target Center. During the warm-up, we practiced tactics. The preparation for the game against the Timberwolves was complete.
It’s not that the Hawks look down on the Timberwolves... Well, they just look down on them.
The mentality of a championship team is generally more relaxed. For example, the difference between the other players of the Hawks and McGrady, the other players follow Liu Mang’s temper, and the rookies have no say. Only McGrady has been silently cleaning up Liu Mang’s ass.
Using Rahim, Ratliff, and Barnes to trade back McGrady, in addition to having a superstar, it is very necessary for the Hawks to have another superstar who is hungry for victory and has never won a championship.
Of course, it doesn't mean that the Hawks have no desire to win the championship. On the contrary, Liu Mang, Prince, Rasheed Wallace, and Jason Terry are all players who are "addicted" to the championship after winning it once. Kwame Brown also wants to win the championship after becoming a main player, which is more desirable than the championship won as a substitute.
It's just that the Hawks players are very confident in their own strength and are increasingly looking down on their opponents.
This mentality is inevitable, with the legendary sense of playing the erhu with full blood and wandering around with low blood...
Like now, the Hawks have a record of 16 wins and 4 losses, ranking first in the East, second only to the Suns with 17 wins and 4 losses, and the Timberwolves are ranked tenth in the West with 8 wins and 12 losses...
Therefore, the Hawks coaching staff and management team, who are discussing the players to be traded with Liu Mang, are not only to strengthen the inside line, but also to strengthen the strength. The main thing is to have a player who is more eager for the championship, and preferably a prestigious player, to supervise this group of young people, just like Kevin Willis and Stockton last season.
Liu Mang thought about it for two days, and he really thought of a person...
At 6 pm, Liu Mang finished warming up before the game. The game was about to start at 6:30 pm. The Hawks players were waiting to enter the court when the previous live game was about to end.
The game against the Timberwolves was broadcast live across the United States, which was confirmed before the season, but whether the next game against the Timberwolves would be broadcast live was still to be determined. If the Timberwolves did not improve when they played against the Timberwolves next time, it was estimated that there would be no additional broadcast.
The Hawks' game would not start until the Rockets played against the Heat in the previous game, the battle for the top center in the East and West.
Coach Kruger was discussing with Mike Woodson which rookies or veterans to use as bargaining chips and who to trade for. This problem is the most headache for the Hawks coaching staff now.
The ones they want, they can't be traded without a big bleed, and the ones they can trade for, it doesn't make much difference whether to trade or not.
And who to trade for is also a problem.
Calderon and Korver are still in the growth stage, have no physical talent, and rely on their touch to make a living. Other teams don't like them, so the only rookies to use are Iguodala, Tony Allen, Ariza, Josh Smith, and Varejao.
But these five rookies are very talented, and the coaching staff is reluctant to let them go.
We have to make choices, and we really don't know how to make them.
So now we are trying to see which players can integrate into the team faster. Strong teams will not give potential players the opportunity to develop slowly, just like Jermaine O'Neal. The Trail Blazers can see his talent, but still don't give him any time to hone it. In the four-year rookie contract, he played less than 2,000 minutes in total, which is not as much as Allen Iverson played in one season in his rookie year.
Relatively speaking, Iguodala is the most satisfied with the Eagles coaching staff. Others are in the inspection period, so today the Eagles brought Tony Allen and Ariza, and Varejao also brought , Calderon and Korver went to play in the Development League.
Coach Kruger was discussing with Mike Woodson when he suddenly saw a hooligan approaching.
Coach Kruger quickly grabbed his tactical board. The game was about to start. What was this guy doing?
Coach Kruger asked: "Ace, the warm-up is over?"
Liu Mang watched Coach Kruger grab the tactical board so tightly. It was strange. Could it be that he had Parkinson's disease? Can't hold it firmly without squeezing?
Liu Mang realized that his thoughts were straying too far, so he regained his attention and said, "Coach, didn't you ask me to think about who to trade? I have thought of it!"
If you don't want a tactical board, that's fine. Coach Kruger saw the Timberwolves logo in this arena. Could it be that this kid... Coach Kruger said to Liu Mang: "Don't say you want to trade Garnett, do you want to use it?" Are you a bargaining chip? This is a good choice.”
Hey, hey, hey! I am your most lovely and obedient disciple! Are you willing to use your best apprentice as a bargaining chip?
Liu Mang felt panicked in his heart and said: "No, let's forget about partnering with that guy. We have Rashid, and I have a candidate. I don't know if I should talk about it..."
"Say something quickly!" Coach Kruger said impatiently. This kid has learned how to tell the truth!
Liu Mang felt that Coach Kruger disliked him more and more. He felt so sad. He couldn't help but smile when he saw Mike Woodson next to him. Liu Mang saw that Mike Woodson's hair was getting less and less: You deserve to be bald. !
After adjusting his sad mood, Liu Mang said: "That is a former superstar, and his strength is still there now. It will be no problem to be a substitute. He just came back a few days ago. He is in good condition and his defense is very tough. The champion is full of hunger and probably won’t care about playing time. He can play both power forward and center positions, and he also has a certain ability to independently attack inside..."
Liu Mang stated the characteristics of the candidate he had in mind, which were almost exactly the same as the characteristics of the person the coaching staff asked Liu Mang to find.
When Coach Kruger stated his request before, Liu Mang's mind was only about Duncan and Malone after the age of 39. Otherwise, who else could be so good and willing to play as a substitute, and still be full of desire for the championship.
The key player, Malone, is no longer willing to play. Malone works as a trainer for the team. If he could convince him to come back, he would have come back long ago. After the team learned about Malone's thoughts, they also respected Malone and forced him to come back. It was a disservice to Malone. of disrespect.
Liu Mang watched the news after warming up this afternoon, and a candidate suddenly came into his sight.
When Liu Mang mentioned the characteristics of that player, Coach Kruger's eyes lit up. Before Liu Mang finished speaking, Coach Kruger interrupted: "Ace, who are you talking about?"
Hey, hey, are you in such a hurry? Liu Mang felt that Coach Kruger had never been so enthusiastic towards him. It was really too much!
But the characteristic is that he said it. Liu Mang felt that this person would definitely make the team management and coaching staff worry a lot. Liu Mang hesitated and said: "Alonzo Mourning."
Yes, it's Mourning. Liu Mang saw the game report of the Raptors and Wizards game in the afternoon. In the second game after his comeback, Mourning scored 9 points and 7 rebounds in 21 minutes against the Wizards. 4 blocks. His performance is much higher than the 6 points and 6 rebounds in the last game. It can be described as very strong. Obviously, the last game was a process of re-adapting to the game. As a veteran, Mourning had an average performance in the first game. , adjusted quickly.
This guy can't be snatched away by the Heat!
We must get Mourning back before he takes the initiative to negotiate a buyout with the Raptors and join the Heat!
However, Mourning was basically reimbursed for two consecutive seasons. One season was due to kidney disease, and the other season was due to kidney transplant surgery. He has just come back. Otherwise, with Mourning's strength, even if he is 35 years old and only has a middle-class contract, he will still have a lot of money. If the team wants it, the Raptors can't give Mourning too many opportunities to perform. They also have to train Milicic and let Mourning play just to let other teams see Mourning's value and trade Mourning. go out.
But even if Mourning plays well in the two games after his comeback, other teams will still have doubts.
Just as Liu Mang thought, Coach Kruger calmed down when he heard the name.
It's exactly what Liu Mang said. If Mourning can regain his health, the 35-year-old Mourning really doesn't care about playing time and starting or not. Now his salary is cheap and he is only in the middle class. Maybe he can still reach an agreement with the Raptors. For the buyout, the Eagles only need to pay the compensated players and the cash for the buyout. As long as Mourning nods and agrees to join the Eagles after the buyout, everything is operable. Under the current rules, this is allowed.
But Mo Ning had a kidney transplant! This is undoubtedly a devastating blow to a professional athlete.
Moreover, everyone knows that Mourning wants to return to the Heat. If he spends money and player compensation to trade with the Raptors, the Raptors buy out Mourning, and Mourning regrets and does not come to the Hawks, then It would be a big loss.
Of course, the chance of Mourning not coming is not high. It seems that the Hawks are still more championship-worthy than the Heat.
Therefore, Coach Kruger is most worried about Mourning's physical condition. He and Mike Woodson looked at each other, and Mike Woodson also had the same concern.
"Ace, I need to discuss this with the boss and other coaches. Please pay attention to other candidates..." Coach Kruger did not continue to discuss this issue and asked Liu Mang to prepare for the game.
Liu Mang knew that after Mourning's kidney transplant, he was very healthy in the following 05-06 and 06-07 seasons. In the two years, he averaged at least 2.5 blocks per game with about 20 minutes of playing time. Before retiring, he was a powerful figure in the top five of the block list.
But how can the coaching staff believe this?
After all, it is a kidney transplant!
Anyway, the suggestion has been put forward. Liu Mang has no way to force the coaching staff and the boss to consider it. After all, it is not a rookie selection. Rookies are possible. As for kidney transplants, it is rare to experience such a serious illness and major surgery and still play in the NBA.
Although Ostertag had a similar operation, both of his kidneys were healthy, and he transplanted one kidney to his sister, not because of kidney problems. But even so, Ostertag, who was only 32 years old and less than 33 years old, retired after last season. He lost one kidney and his weight was really uncontrollable. Before he won the championship, he could still rely on perseverance. One summer after winning the championship, his weight soared to more than 150 kilograms.
Liu Mang thought about it and let it go. It was my fate...
At half past six, the Hawks' away game against the Timberwolves was about to begin.
The atmosphere at the Target Center was very depressing, similar to the atmosphere in the Timberwolves now.
Liu Mang wiped the magnesium powder and looked at the ability evaluation and data of the Timberwolves' players.
Kevin Garnett, ability evaluation 98 (peak), offense 90, defense 100, three-pointer 61, mid-range shot 89, layup 91, speed 85, strength 89, rebounding 99, passing 83...averaging 22 points, 14 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game.
Sam Cassell, ability rating 86, offense 88, defense 85...averaging 14.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists.
Latrell Sprewell, ability rating 85, offense 90, defense 73...averaging 15.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists.
Not much different from last season!
Garnett is at his peak, versatile to the extreme, a real power forward with a small forward style, and unstoppable defense, the best defensive player level, if it weren't for Artest last season, he should have won the best defensive player for the first time.
Alien and Madman are both the kind of old and strong, the two 35-year-old veterans are not much different from the 34-year-olds last season, both are very strong, both are first-class stars, and the data is also good.
The Timberwolves' lineup has hardly changed compared to last season, and there is also Szczerbiak with an ability rating of 81 who averages 15+3+2 as the sixth man, so the Timberwolves' strength should have improved!
Liu Mang sprinkled some magnesium powder, pulled out a wave of hatred and boos, and walked onto the court, waiting for the game to start.
The starting lineup of the Hawks is still Liu Mang, McGrady, Prince, Rasheed Wallace, and Kwame Brown.
The Timberwolves sent Cassell, Treyton Hassell, Sprewell, Garnett, and Olowokandi.
Kwame Brown and Garnett, two iconic high school inside players, came to the center circle for a jump ball. The referee selected the ball, saw that the players of both teams were in good position, blew the whistle to start the game, and threw the ball into the air.
"Oh!"
Liu Mang saw that Kwame Brown was very powerful today and won the jump ball over Garnett's head!
Liu Mang received the ball and immediately passed it to McGrady, running towards the frontcourt, thinking that Kwame Brown got more than 20 rebounds in the last game and only scored 9 points. He was really stimulated. In the future, he should pass fewer penalties to Kwame. It would be great if he could be so powerful every day.
Liu Mang rushed to the front court, thinking that he would encounter some obstacles, but he rushed directly to the opponent's basket. McGrady didn't even need to run to the bottom corner to attract defense. He received the ball and dribbled two steps to the basket. Liu Mang jumped high and received the ball in the air. When he jumped up, he saw that only Garnett was returning to defense. Liu Mang paused in the air and slammed the ball into the basket with his right hand.
The scene was immediately booed, and they were very unhappy with Liu Mang's provocative alley-oop.
Garnett rushed in and saw Liu Mang landing on the ground. He glared at him fiercely, but didn't say anything. He knew that he couldn't scold him. Fighting... forget it, Garnett went to pick up the ball.
After picking up the ball, he saw that Cassell and Sprewell were not active in returning to defense. Both of them reached out for the ball. Garnett didn't want to pass the ball!
Liu Mang turned his head and saw this scene when he returned to defense. He probably understood the problem on the Timberwolves side.
The scout report was not so precise. It said that there was a problem with the chemical reaction. In fact, wasn't it just a fight for the ball?
"Ding... Characteristics: Level 3 of blind loyalty is triggered, fighting for the team wholeheartedly, trying to trust teammates, from Kevin Garnett."
Blind loyalty has become level 3?
Liu Mang saw a very obvious difference. Garnett used to be described as fighting for the team wholeheartedly, but now it has become one-hearted. This difference is the difference between trying one's best and trying one's best!
Liu Mang then remembered that Garnett's totem buff-type talent skill Wolf Blood Boiling and his own defensive system Iron Blood Field were not triggered! So there was no enthusiasm for defense, and Garnett's presence did not make the players of the two teams on the court feel oppressed.
In other words, the Timberwolves are no longer the team that fought for the championship last season!
Seeing Cassell receiving the serve from Garnett, he ignored his teammates after advancing, and played one-on-one against Prince, and angrily sent a long two-pointer. Liu Mang immediately rushed down, rushed to the opponent's bottom corner, received the pass from McGrady, turned around and missed the three-pointer, but was tipped in by Rasheed Wallace to score two points. The Timberwolves' retreat speed was obviously not as fast as last season, and only Garnett was running at full speed.
Cassell's current style of play has become too independent, and the same is true for Sprewell. They have become mainly singles, and at most singles and points.
Liu Mang thought that these two people seemed to have left the Timberwolves after the end of this season due to contract issues.
No wonder the Timberwolves collapsed!
The efficiency of the two singles is actually very good most of the time, so the Timberwolves can still have some games, and as the season progresses, the Timberwolves are different from the Hawks. Their mid-season schedule is very easy, and it may not be a big problem to return to the ranks of the eighth contenders in the Western Conference playoffs, but at this stage, they play like this, which is a dish for the strong teams.
McHale seemed to have no idea what to do, so he forced Cassell, Sprewell, and Garnett to play one singles each for half a quarter and scored 10 points. Cassell faced Prince, Sprewell faced McGrady, and Garnett faced Rasheed Wallace, and their efficiency was very low. They relied on a fast pace and scored 10 points with 4 of 14 shots.
The Hawks scored 19 points with counterattacks and fast breaks!
Liu Mang scored 8 points in a single quarter and was replaced by Tony Allen.
Liu Mang sat on the bench and saw Garnett's gloomy expression on the opposite side. Apart from anything else, as a basketball player, he still admired Garnett's desire to win the game.
Liu Mang thought of Coach Kruger's previous joke... It's not impossible to get Garnett and wait for two more years for his loyal thoughts to collapse!
Mourning for the Heat, Garnett for the Celtics...
But Liu Mang now wants to say something to Sprewell, who is trying his best to get good data and a big contract: Brother, 7 million US dollars can also support a family.
Xiaofeng really just wants to make the plot more full... Because I see that basketball novels are basically a running account after more than a million words, and the same is true for the masters. I want to write better and really work hard.
Please recommend votes, there are so few today. The update may be very late tonight, maybe in the early morning, I have to go to the hospital. A friend's father has advanced lung cancer, so friends should smoke less.