So I am the god of basketball?

For the Bulls, finishing fourth in the Eastern Conference again is not a good outcome.

Because McGrady has entered the second season of his career and Pippen has entered the second season with the Bulls, the Bulls have become one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.

However, the Bulls are still ranked fourth in the Eastern Conference this season.

To make matters worse, Jordan was plagued by injuries.

He was originally an iron man, but his age, coupled with the disruption of the lockout, caused his body to have problems that even veterans cannot avoid during the intensive "back-to-back" games:

Old injuries recurred.

Jordan's form has been up and down this season, and his final statistics are only 25.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game. Believe it or not, this is his worst season since entering the NBA, except for the season he was reimbursed by injury.

In his rookie season, Jordan averaged 28.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 2.4 steals per game.

Shooting percentage 51.4%!

It is said that Tim Duncan entered the league at the highest level, but in fact, Michael Jordan is no worse than him.

The maturity level is fully reached.

At this moment, Jordan probably also understands what it means that "when people get old, their muscles and bones are no longer their strength."

But what’s even worse is that:
McGrady's progress is a bit slow!

皮蓬第一个赛季场均7.9分3.8篮板2.1助攻1.2抢断，到了第二个赛季他的场均数据就变成了14.4分6.1篮板3.5助攻1.9抢断，几乎所有的数据都有大幅度的上涨，得分跟篮板更是快要接近一倍的成长了。

McGrady's final statistics in the first season were much better than Pippen's, but in the second season, he averaged only 14.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3 assists and 1.4 steals per game, which was almost the same as Pippen, and the increase was minimal.

The three-year outlook for a rookie means that a rookie has the potential to achieve qualitative change at any point in the first three years.

but……

With Michael Jordan's aging in front of him, Pippen's progress was so slow that Bulls fans couldn't help but panic:
Is the era of the Bulls really over?

We still haven’t caught the last bit of Jordan’s peak!
Maybe we shouldn't have traded Pippen in the first place?
This is the most uncertain playoffs for Bulls fans since they had Jordan.

The reason was that Jordan was no longer reliable, and his injuries caused his condition to fluctuate. But no one from the Bulls stepped up to support the precarious "Bulls Dynasty" instead of him.

Still fourth, the media in Los Angeles was very excited and the fans were full of expectations:

Last year they also only entered the playoffs as third in the Western Conference, but didn’t they still make it to the finals and win the championship in the end?

There is actually not much difference between the fourth and third places in the Western Conference.

They are not worried about the Lakers' impact entering the playoffs.

And Meng Lang is here!
No problem is a problem!

In 50 games this season, Meng Lang averaged 28.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 11.2 assists and 1.7 steals per game. His average points per game ranked first in the league, and his average assists per game also ranked first in the league.

He became the first player to win the "scoring champion" and "assist champion" titles in the same season since Nate Archibald in the 1972-1973 season. If he averaged 3.3 more rebounds per game, he could become the first player to average a triple-double in a season after "Big Oscar".

Barkley thinks so: "Dream has always been able to get such data, it just depends on whether he is willing and when he wants to accomplish such a thing!"

There is no doubt that he is now a naked "Meng Chui!"

No matter how big the earth is, he dares to brag about Meng Lang!
In addition to Meng Lang, Kobe's average statistics this season have also improved significantly.

He averaged 22.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game, which was better than his third season.

This was due to Meng Lang's hard work day and night in the past few years, and of course, it was also due to Meng Lang attracting a lot of defense for him.

大本场均7.3分12.4篮板3.1盖帽。其中篮板排在联盟第5的位置，盖帽排在联盟第2的位置。本赛季确定了他为防守核心后，他的盖帽数据进一步增长。

Other people's blocks may be a bit exaggerated, but the increase in Ben's average blocks per game proves that his ability to make up for the defense is more outstanding.

The media felt a little sorry for this: "If the African mountain had not gone to Philadelphia, Ben Wallace would have a good chance of winning the Defensive Player of the Season Award this season."

Unfortunately, Mutombo went to Philadelphia, and no one can compete with him for this position this year.

With him, plus Tim Duncan's help defense next to him, Philadelphia's inside line is impregnable this season, and it is very difficult for any team to score in their inside line.

Philadelphia only allows 86.4 points per game!
Such defensive intensity, coupled with their second place in the Eastern Conference, requires one person to step up and claim the honor.

Mutombo is more qualified than Tim Duncan.

His 3.4 blocks per game shine.

In this period of the league, when it comes to defending Mutombo, it is a mountain that cannot be avoided.

Divac's statistics this season fully demonstrate his characteristics, averaging 15.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.8 blocks per game.

Apart from the Philadelphia 76ers, the Lakers' inside line is the combination that other teams in the league least want to face.

The two players' ability to help defend and occupy space under the basket complement each other, making them the representatives of the league's defense.

If the two of them met Mutombo and Tim Duncan, they really couldn't beat them at all.

The gap between the second and the first is much greater than the gap between anyone else and the second.

Fox, who came to the Lakers for the first time, also played well in the starting lineup, averaging 11.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. As a "brick" in the starting lineup, his performance is undoubtedly qualified.

Horry also played well off the bench, averaging 10.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, with a 38.6% three-point shooting percentage.

In addition to him, "Little Fish" showed reliability in defending the No. 1 position, and his open three-pointers could also be the "icing on the cake".

The performance of others, including Coach Lu, can only be described as average. However, this is only Coach Lu's first season, so we can take it slow. Moreover, even if the players in this position cannot perform well, they can just be replaced.

The starting lineup has developed enough chemistry to make Chuck Daly feel at ease.

On the first day after the regular season ended, the league announced the first awards of the season:
"Best Newcomer Award".

That award belongs to Vince Carter.

Since the Raptors made it to the playoffs last season, the team that selected him this time was not the Raptors.

The Milwaukee Bucks.

文斯-卡特职业生涯的第一个赛季，他的发挥要比他的表弟好上太多，场均18.3分5.7篮板3助攻1.1抢断1.5盖帽。

This data also makes him the "Best Rookie" of this season as before.

It is worth mentioning that with the addition of Marbury, who averaged 19.6 points and 8.4 assists per game, and Vin Baker, who entered the All-Star Weekend last season, the Bucks already have the ability to make the playoffs.

But when the stall was shut down...

Kemp is the biggest victim of the current "shutdown" discussion.

In fact, Vin Baker, who was fond of drinking, was equally depraved.

Not only is his form completely gone, but his stats have also dropped directly to the level of his rookie season.

The Bucks finished third from the bottom in the Eastern Conference, which is full of strong teams this season, ahead of the Magic and the Raptors.

Vince Carter's winning of the "Best Rookie" award is their only consolation this season. Now they just hope to draft a good inside player in the summer, seize the "benefits period" of Vince Carter's rookie contract, and let the Bucks regain their former glory.

It all depends on summer’s choice!
After the results of the "Rookie of the Season" were announced, the media asked a question: "Dream, who do you think is Jordan's successor?"

The "Jordan's successor" here has a different meaning from the original one.

The original meaning of "Jordan's successor" was the next face of the league.

Although there is such a meaning now, it is more about his playing style and spirit.

Although Meng Lang defeated Jordan, their playing styles were indeed very different.

Moreover, Meng Lang defeated Jordan so many times, and the media could sense that he didn't like this title very much.

He likes to hear that he ended the Jordan era and started a new era.

But if you say he is "Jordan's successor," even though Meng Lang didn't say anything at the time, the way he stared at him was like he was scolding someone!

Meng Lang thought about it and gave an answer: "It's not Kobe anyway!"

This made Kobe angry. Will you die if you answer the questions without including me?

It's such a fucking pain.

But now is not the time for him to think about this.

He is concentrating on preparing for the Lakers' first-round playoff series.

The Lakers' first-round opponent is the Timberwolves.

Not to mention that the Lakers came from Minnesota, let's talk about the Timberwolves' second-place player Ray Allen. He is Meng Lang's junior, and they are both "96 generation". Ray Allen's draft pick is higher than his. He was the 13th pick in the first round, while Ray Allen was the 4th pick in the first round.

Since entering the league, Kobe has written down the names of every perimeter player who ranks ahead of him in a small notebook. For him, every game is a "battle of proof."

Combining these two reasons, he hated Ray Allen even more, to the point of being extremely hostile.

Given Kobe's temper, how could he not prepare well for this series?
Of course, there is another reason Kobe cannot say:

If I can’t handle Meng Lang, how can I handle his junior fellow apprentice?
Ok……

Kobe has made tremendous progress this season, which is also reflected in his bullfight with Meng Lang.

Now he can score more goals against Meng Lang, but up to now, he has not defeated Meng Lang even once in a bullfight.

This feeling of helplessness forced him to focus his fighting spirit on people related to Meng Lang.

Just like Ray Allen!

In fact, there was also Hardaway, but every time they met, he was beaten by Hardaway.

His body shape really puts him at a disadvantage when defending Hardaway.

Moreover, Hardaway is not an offensive outside player. He observes his teammates very frequently. If his teammates have a chance, he will pass the ball to them at the first opportunity. It is indeed not easy to regain the advantage against such an opponent.

Ray Allen is still better. They play the same position and have had more confrontations on the court.

And just like that, with Kobe's expectations, the Lakers ushered in their first playoffs of the season.

It is also the "most promising playoff game" in the eyes of Minnesota fans.

As soon as the game started, many Timberwolves fans wanted to turn off the TV.

Bob Hurley couldn't defend Meng Lang at all. He could easily do whatever he wanted in front of his old college teammates.

Hurley was not known for his defense.

On the offensive end, the job of defending Hurley was given to Fox.

Meng Lang ran to defend the Timberwolves' flank.

The Timberwolves' offense can only be organized by Kevin Garnett.

He just happened to run into the kind of inside combination that was most restrained towards him.

Ben Wallace can keep up with his movements on the outside, and Divac in the interior can prevent him from having the temper to play one-on-one under the basket.

It wasn't until the Lakers scored 10 points that the Timberwolves scored their first goal.

The person who scored the goal was Ray Allen, who returned to defense with an expressionless face.

His off-ball movements made Kobe want to break his legs.

Although both are off-ball movements, Ray Allen's off-ball movements will not remind people of Meng Lang's off-ball running.

Ray Allen relies purely on his physical fitness and endurance to keep moving.

He has a large amplitude, changes direction quickly, and his speed of catching and shooting the ball is also top-notch in the league.

This made it very difficult for Kobe to defend.

In fact, in order to train Kobe to defend Ray Allen who moves without the ball, Chuck Daly arranged for Meng Lang to play without the ball several times in the training game. Now it seems that it has no effect at all.

"Guard your man, Kobe!"

Meng Lang started to talk, and looked at Kobe with the same look:
How come the defenses of others didn’t lead to a goal, but the defense of you led to a goal?
You can think of it this way:
He is in KTV Kobe!

After all, a guy as arrogant as Kobe would definitely think of "rebellion" once he felt that he had grown up enough. This was also the reason why Meng Lang suppressed Kobe first when he mentioned him.

He has to remind Kobe when he makes a mistake:
Look, you made a mistake again!
Only in this way can the relationship between the two of them be prevented from further deteriorating.

This is also what he learned from how Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe got along.

The original Shaquille O'Neal gave Kobe enough face, and said more than once in front of the media: "He deserves the regular season MVP."

The result is that the more you say this, the more he becomes inflated, and then you can no longer stop him.

This kind of person needs to be severely verbally attacked.

Kobe was speechless and could only vent his anger on Ray Allen.

But a somewhat helpless fact is...

He really can't catch that bastard Ray Allen!

This guy loves running so much, why doesn’t he run a marathon!

What he didn't know was that his high school rival Hamilton was watching this scene on TV, deep in thought.

He was always defeated by Kobe in high school...

I understand! (End of this chapter)