Chapter 918 917. Goal: 18 Consecutive Wins! (Monthly Vote Requested)

The Pacific Division is about to move towards "brilliance".

This season in the Pacific Division, the Kings are temporarily ranked sixth in the Western Conference, the Lakers are temporarily ranked ninth in the Western Conference, the Clippers are temporarily ranked tenth in the Western Conference, and the Warriors are temporarily ranked eleventh in the Western Conference. Together with the Suns, who are first in the Western Conference, they are thriving. look.

According to this momentum, the Clippers and Warriors are likely to enter the playoffs in the next two years. The Lakers will return to the playoffs next season after Kobe loses weight. The Suns will be the top team for many years to come. , the Kings completely fell out of the championship contenders after trading away Webber, but they still have the strength for the playoffs. It is possible that five teams in the same division and the same season will appear in the playoffs at the same time next season, but it is not certain.

On the morning of the 21st, after Liu Mang tortured Jimmy Butler, who was still a child, until he doubted his life, he left a sentence: "You are still far away..."

At noon, the team held a tactical meeting focusing on the Clippers, resting Prince and Rasheed Wallace. It was announced that Iguodala would be the starting small forward for tonight's game, and Josh Smith would be the starting big forward. Forward, two strong rookies went with McGgette to deal with Maggette.

Korver finished playing in the Development League game in Chicago the day before yesterday and flew directly from Chicago to Los Angeles yesterday. After the rest, Korver also returned to the 12-man roster, but this time he served as a substitute, McGrady and Iguoda Pull two strong players to deal with Maggette, the strongest perimeter player in the league today.

Four consecutive away games in five days require a good start, so McGrady stayed to deal with the Clippers to maintain the stability of strength as much as possible.

The Eagles' current record is 48 wins and 7 losses, and they are two wins away from reaching 50 wins for two consecutive seasons, so their fighting spirit is high now!

Especially Iguodala and Josh Smith, who are going to start, are very excited.

After training in the afternoon, Liu Mang was going to watch the game clips about the Suns. He didn’t have much time to prepare for the Suns, so he had a little time. After being kicked out of the Toyota Center training facility by Kobe Bryant yesterday, Liu Mang had already returned to the hotel. I started watching game clips of Nash playing a completely different style this season than in previous years.

Liu Mang came to the lounge, watched the game video and waited for the meal time before the afternoon warm-up training. At this time, a task that Liu Mang had been waiting for for a long time came!

"Ding...the second stage of King's Landing triggers the mission: the master triggers."

"Master: So far in NBA history, there have been at least 18 consecutive victories 7 times. The teams with 18 consecutive wins in these seven times have all won the championship of the season. Mission goal: The host needs to lead the team to win the championship this season. At least 18 consecutive wins. When the goal is completed, the second stage of the mission will be triggered. The mission reward: the winning streak is multiplied by 1,000 superstar points."

There is no penalty for failure, but the quest for the second phase of King's Landing cannot be triggered.

Liu Mang has been looking forward to this series of missions in King's Landing for a long time. The reward for the first phase of King's Landing missions before last season's finals was a high-level endurance fruit, which increased Liu Mang's endurance to 94. Now he needs to win against the Suns to get it again. An ordinary endurance fruit can reach 95 endurance.

Another branch of King's Landing is to defeat Duncan in the playoffs, that is, to defeat Duncan in the finals. However, the second phase of the mission has not been started yet. Liu Mang thought he would have to wait until the playoffs or even the finals to come back, but he didn't expect it at this time. coming.

However, it is actually a triggering task!

And it’s a ridiculously difficult task like winning 18 consecutive games!

Liu Mang kept hinting to calm down.

Just like the system's mission introduction, NBA history is currently in its 59th season, but there have been only seven 18-game winning streaks!

The last time was the Lakers in the 1999-00 season. The Lakers won 67 games that season and had a 19-game winning streak midway through the season.

If this mission doesn't come, it will be so cruel once it comes!

And it happens to be when the team begins to take a break. God knows whether they will encounter an explosive team. Moreover, they are currently in a difficult road trip of four games in five days, and the last away game is the Suns.

These troublesome things suddenly piled up!

Liu Mang pondered his thoughts and looked at the schedule first.

They have now won 11 consecutive games, which means they have to win at least 7 consecutive games.

The opponents for the four consecutive games are the Clippers, Warriors, Jazz, and Suns.

Then I will return to home to play the Mavericks on the 27th, and then play the Bucks and 76ers at home in the first two days of next month. Three consecutive home games. If you count, it is three back-to-back in 10 days!

It's so damn good, when this mission comes, there are still 7 wins left, 7 games, three back-to-back!

This is so painful!

Liu Mang calmed down and looked at these opponents. There were only three opponents that were difficult to beat, the Suns, Mavericks, and 76ers. The other four opponents were all powerful.

But the biggest problem is that the team is now starting to take a rest strategy.

Liu Mang wanted to trigger the King's Landing mission, but he couldn't delay the team's playoff plan.

He can ensure that his teammates are not injured, but he cannot guarantee their physical fitness. If by the playoffs, several core players have physical problems due to playing such a long game for two consecutive years, then health is useless!

In the fourth year of the three championships in four years, Yu Yuyong gave up the regular season and failed to win 60 games. Several All-Stars rested when they were injured or tired, and made every effort to prepare for the playoffs.

This season Liu Mang is not so obsessed with winning many games in the regular season, just because of these "experiences".

"The mission must be completed, and the team's plan cannot be broken!"

Liu Mang thought about it carefully and felt that it was time for him to take on more responsibilities!

…

At dinner time before the warm-up training, after Liu Mang finished eating the unpalatable nutritious meal that the team nutritionist sent to the lounge, he came to the coaching staff's lounge and wanted to talk to coach Kruger about something.

As a result, we took a detour inside the Staples Center and came to the lounge where the Clippers had arranged for the Eagles coaching staff, which was next to the interview hall. As soon as we opened the door, there was a smell of barbecue. …

At this point in time, the coaches did not expect that the players on the team would come back to disturb them. Shouldn't they all rest and wait for digestion before doing warm-up training to prepare for the evening game?

A group of people stared at Liu Mang, so embarrassed!

Among them was Coach Kruger, who Liu Mang was looking for, who was holding an iron pick still dripping with oil and biting into a piece of meat that hadn't yet been bitten off!

The two coffee tables in the lounge were filled with iron picks, dinner plates, drinks and other items.

"Damn! We are suffering over there, but you are eating barbecue here! Did you agree to eat the same thing as us?" Liu Mang pointed angrily at the coaching staff, a group of trainers of the team, and the people who were eating sesame oil. Jimmy Butler and others, who were all splashed on their bodies, shouted.

"Ace, you are mistaken. We have completed a job today and we are celebrating!" Stockton lied without drafting. He unconsciously picked up a napkin and wiped his hands repeatedly. Liu Mang See clearly.

"John, do you think I'll believe it?"

"Won't."

"Damn! This is too much!"

"Okay, okay, Ace, when your season is over, I'll treat you to barbecue!" Coach Kruger put the iron pick back on his plate and said perfunctorily.

Liu Mang felt like he was being treated like a three-year-old child.

Before Liu Mang could continue to complain, Coach Kruger asked: "Ace, there must be something wrong with you. Don't delay our meal. Tell us quickly."

They were also complained about interrupting their meal!

Liu Mang felt so tired, but the coaching staff and trainers were not athletes, so there was nothing wrong with them eating these, and they even hid the food secretly, which was considered "for the sake of" the players.

"Coach, come out and I'll tell you." Liu Mang swallowed his saliva and quickly turned around and walked out of the lounge. Coach Kruger looked at the two tables of food and followed him out, knowing that these things were too tempting.

When Liu Mang saw Coach Kruger coming out, he deliberately closed the door, as if he was doing something shameful. Moreover, with his skilled operating habits, he knew at a glance that this was not the first time he had done such a thing.

Coach Kruger took out a handkerchief and wiped his mouth, then asked: "Ace, you must have something important to do with me, right?"

Liu Mang didn't care about what happened just now, and said what he had been thinking about for a long time: "Coach, in order to play the next game between the Suns and the Mavericks, starting from tomorrow's back-to-back, let Tracy and Tayshaun Rest when you play the Warriors and Jazz, and start preparing for the games against the Suns and Mavericks in advance!”

"Giving up two games for those two games? And Rasheed and Kwame also need to rest." Coach Kruger asked strangely, whoever wins is not a win, although winning one game will make the Suns better if they meet in the finals. There are benefits when it comes to the Suns, but just try your best.

And in comparison, it is easier to win the first three weak teams. Four games in five days is no joke. This season, when all teams in the league have a schedule of four games in five days, the average winning rate in the four games is only 100. Thirty-three points, no team has won all four games.

"Even if Tracy, Tyshawn, Kwame, and Rasheed all take turns, and I play the Warriors and Jazz with a substitute, I am confident that I can win!" Liu Mang said confidently.

"Why?" Coach Kruger is still a little confused. There is no need to work hard for the regular season this season. The second regular season victory in history was just won last season. The players will no longer be worried about the regular season victory. The loss shook confidence in the playoffs.

Liu Mang stated the reason simply and directly: "I want to win 18 consecutive games!"

"watt?"

…

In Coach Kruger's view, even if Liu Mang leads the team by himself, with a group of pitchers and a few muscular men in the post, he will still have playoff potential.

It's just a team led from the outside. Although it has a chance to make the playoffs, if it breaks out against a weak team with a little strength, it won't even have a chance to stop it. The Eagles have only lost 7 games so far, although they have also been broken out. Teams are defeated, but rarely. Most of the time, teams that encounter an outbreak hold on and wait until the opponent's outbreak is over before defeating the opponent.

But, this is four battles in five days! In early January, Kobe led the team alone in four games in five days and lost all of them. They quickly fell from sixth in the Western Conference to eighth in the Western Conference, causing the Lakers to fall out of the top eight in the Western Conference in early February.

But it doesn't matter. Liu Mang has the physical strength to fight for a few games. Coach Kruger thinks it's still possible, but Liu Mang said he wants to win 18 consecutive games.

That’s the famous championship streak!

As strong as Jordan, he only completed 18 consecutive wins once in the 1995-96 season, and it happened to be only 18 consecutive wins.

Although the overall strength of the league was not as strong as it is now, the longest winning streak in the 1990s was only 18 consecutive wins.

There is such a thing as a winning streak. If you accidentally lose one game in the middle, it is no longer a winning streak.

But Liu Mang loves to do things so much. He will definitely do what he says he will do, and he has the kind of character that won't give up until he completes the task.

Coach Kruger couldn't persuade Liu Mang, so he had to agree.

But he didn't publicize it. He had to finish the game against the Clippers first.

…

At 7 o'clock in the evening, the first game of the Hawks' four games in five days began.

The Hawks sent out the starting lineup of Liu Mang, McGrady, Iguodala, Josh Smith, and Kwame Brown.

All steel muscle men! Liu Mang's confrontation is also very strong among point guards. This lineup was specially sent out to deal with the two muscle forwards of Maggette and Brand of the Clippers. Rasheed Wallace was scored 31 points by Brand in the last game against the Clippers. He was too unsuitable to deal with a short power forward like Brand with strong explosive power.

Although the two starters were rested, the lineup sent by the Hawks to restrain the Clippers was still very effective. Letting other people go, McGrady and Iguodala double-team Maggette who was holding the ball, or McGrady and Josh Smith double-team Brand who received the ball and played alone, all worked.

The key is that the Clippers have no point guard!

Originally, there was Livingston. Livingston played very well in the first half of the season. Although he had been injured since entering the NBA and played only 30 games in the first three months, his performance in his rookie year was excellent, averaging 7 points, 3 rebounds and 5 assists per game. He only played 27 minutes per game to achieve this data, which made the Clippers always suppress the Timberwolves, who ranked first in the Western Conference last season.

However, Livingston's body was too fragile. When he was training after returning from the All-Star Weekend, he had just recovered from an ankle injury, and then his calf muscle was torn, and the rest of the season was written off.

In fact, since the beginning of February, the Clippers have no point guard again, and the offense can only rely on stars to play alone.

After gaining experience from the last game against the Clippers, Coach Kruger used McGrady, Iguodala, Josh Smith, and Muhammad to double-team Maggette and Brand. Kwame Brown and Mourning were guarding the basket. The two Clippers' two singles masters were restricted on the defensive end. Sophomore Kaman, who had just started, could not hit either Kwame Brown or Mourning.

Relying on defense to restrict the Clippers, Liu Mang began to shoot crazily. Although he was not accurate in shooting under the defense of Maggette, the best outside player in the league, he got a lot of free throws.

In the third quarter, he made 11 of 26 shots and 1 of 9 three-pointers. His efficiency was a bit poor, but Liu Mang got 14 free throws, 12 of 14 free throws, and scored 35 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists. McGrady took advantage of Liu Mang being tightly guarded by the opponent to mobilize the offense of others and scored 15 points and 14 assists. The Hawks scored 105 points in the whole game and easily defeated the Clippers 105 to 91.

The Hawks won 12 consecutive games!

The game against the Clippers was originally considered the easiest by the Hawks because it was easy to target the opponent. Liu Mang, McGrady and Jason Terry on the bench were all there, and there was no shortage of firepower on the offensive end.

The offense was guaranteed and the defense could limit the opponent, so Coach Kruger was not worried about the first game.

The next morning, the Hawks took a 20-minute chartered flight to Oakland, and the difficulties came.

At the team meeting at noon, Coach Kruger announced the new rotation arrangement for the next two games. In order to play against the Suns on February 25, McGrady, Prince and Kwame Brown will take turns to rest in the next two games.

Coach Kruger's arrangement was for the game against the Suns, and the players could understand it. Being swept by a team in the regular season was also unacceptable to the Hawks players.

However, this arrangement is too much of a test for Liu Mang, because Coach Kruger arranged that after the game with the Warriors, Rasheed Wallace, Prince, McGrady, and Kwame Brown would go to Phoenix, Arizona, and wait for the Hawks to meet up in Phoenix after the game in Salt Lake City, and then go directly to play the Suns together.

At this time, the pressure is on Liu Mang. Can he lead the substitute lineup to win two games? Coach Kruger is not sure.

If they win all, Coach Kruger has nothing to say. If they lose even one game, he will have the opportunity to teach Liu Mang a lesson! Coach Kruger has been waiting for this opportunity for a long time.

Of course, Coach Kruger still hopes to win. The head coach with 18 consecutive wins... is also awesome!

But Liu Mang is not afraid. He is still looking forward to leading the team to play two games alone.

So far, Liu Mang's average score has almost been fixed at 36.7 points. The more games he plays, the harder it becomes to improve his average score. The Hawks have played 56 games, with 45 wins and 7 losses, which means that in the next game, he needs to score 5.6 more points than 36.7 points, that is, at least 43 points, for Liu Mang's average score to increase by 0.1 points.

So, Liu Mang is now ready to swing his long sword and start scoring!

He wants to win, improve his average score, and win 18 games in a row!

In addition, there is another goal that makes Liu Mang more motivated.

Three starters rested, and four starters rested in the next game. The first and second grade players are all excited! This means that they will have more opportunities to play!

Looking at the first and second grade teammates who are not strong enough but full of ambition, Liu Mang's fighting spirit is also burning.

Playing the Warriors! It is the beginning of his steps to dominate the NBA!

...

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