Basketball's most talented forward is on the left

In previous years, the Best Defensive Player, as one of the two most valuable awards in a season, was usually announced second to last, but this year, the Best Sixth Man Award and the Most Improved Award were announced in advance before they were announced.

Some people think it's because there is too little suspense about the best defensive player. After all, after the season ends, everyone is basically sure who the best defensive player will be.

According to what ESPN predicted at the time: "It's not that there's no one else who can take it, and it's not that everyone else can't defend, but what reason do you have for not giving it to someone who has won the rebounding and block titles for four consecutive seasons?"

Indeed, there is really no reason.

Moreover, in addition to the statistics that ordinary fans can understand, Zuo Li also has an advantage in other high-level statistics, such as limiting the opponent's points in each round, limiting the opponent's shooting percentage in each matchup, etc.

Therefore, it is natural for Zuo Li to win the Defensive Player of the Year for the fourth consecutive season.

It's just that this doesn't seem to have much to do with the early announcement of the best defensive player.

And it wasn't until the evening, before the start of the Eastern Conference semifinals, that everyone knew that the league really had good intentions for Zuo Li.

At 7 pm on May 15th, Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the New York Knicks will face the Indiana Pacers at home is about to begin.

Compared with the first round of the playoffs, both the attention and coverage have been raised to a higher level again.

For example, in the first round, CCTV media, which still broadcast the game in domestic studios, moved the table to the sidelines in advance. Not only did Zhang coach and Yu Jia come, they even invited former national player Yao Yao, who is also the number one Chinese basketball player who has just retired.

As a guest commentator.

Next door to them, the broadcast table of South Korea's Smecta has also been set up. In addition to their well-known domestic basketball commentators, they also brought a Korean specialty - Korean idols. In order to attract the audience, they also did their best.

As for the local commentators in the United States, it goes without saying that they are basically the most famous, most well-received, and most capable.

For example, former Rockets head coach Van Gundy Jr. became the courtside commentator at Madison Square Garden tonight.

Not only that, the Knicks also invited Whitney Houston to be the opening guest to sing the American national anthem. Before the queen appeared on the stage, they also arranged a half-hour performance, during which the cheerleaders, hip-hop troupe, and street basketball performance teams would all appear.

In addition to the superstars appearing on the sidelines tonight, Pacers general manager Larry Bird came all the way to the sidelines to supervise the game. Pacers legend Reggie Miller also came to the sidelines to cheer for the Pacers. Before the game, he even went to change clothes.

The room teaches the Pacers players the experience of defending the left winger.

ESPN invited Magic Johnson as a guest, and the Black and White duo reunited in Madison Square.

New York celebrities also attended, including Starks, Derek Harper, Charles Oakley, Charles Smith, Patrick Ewing...

The entire New York Knicks starting lineup from the 1994 playoffs appeared.

It can be seen that they really care about the Pacers.

Of course, there are also those who don't care about the so-called grudges, such as Eli Manning, his several strong teammates, and the beauties around him. They are purely here to support Zuo Li.

Of course, there are also celebrities who use this place as a show venue, Wall Street gold-collar workers who come to relieve their stress, and even Upper East Side girls who just come to see the handsome guys...

In short, the ticket price of $5,000 per person at Madison Square Garden tells people how popular this place is.

In such a scene, Zuo Li holds up the trophy for the best defensive player. This is the real thing: the world is focused on you.

James was extremely jealous while watching TV. He didn't get this much attention when he won the cup.

However, the reasons for the alliance's arrangement can be found from the excited words of the commentators.

"Zuo Li became the first player in history to win the title of Defensive Player of the Year for four consecutive years, and the four-time Defensive Player of the Year has tied Ben Wallace and Mutombo for the first place in history!"

Yes, this is a historic moment, and Zuo Li has become the strongest contender for the best defensive player in history.

This is an incredible achievement for a player who only played four years.

However, Zuo Li himself was very calm. After all, it was already his fourth time. Taking something four times in a row would feel boring.

Of course, it's not that Zuo Li doesn't like this award, it's just that Zuo Li no longer needs this award to prove himself.

These are nothing more than by-products of winning.

Zuo Li now began to understand why Michael Jordan never boasted about his ten scoring titles.

When your level reaches that stage, what you focus on will be different.

For example, what Zuo Li was thinking about at this time was how to get a good start.

Of course, the pedestrians would definitely be unwilling.

Although everyone was harmonious before the game, there were many in the Pacers who wanted to win against the Knicks and prove themselves.

Except for Paul George, Hibbert, who was beaten by Zuo Li in the NCAA, must want to avenge his humiliation.

Hibbert has been working hard in recent years. He has been growing up in the Pacers and quietly walked to the left side.

According to the data, Hibbert is considered one of the top five centers in the Western Conference, and his interior frame protection efficiency ranks third in the Eastern Conference behind Zuo Li and Noah.

In the game against the Hawks, it was Hibbert who held down Horford at the critical moment, which allowed the Pacers to pass smoothly.

In addition to him, there was Hansbrough, the number one player in North Carolina history, who was also very ambitious towards Zuo Li. To compare his achievements in the NCAA, Hansbrough would have beaten Zuo Li head-on, if not for his age.

As for legs, Hansbrough felt that he should have been ranked higher than Zuo Li.

This game is also a battle of proof for him!

As for Granger, although his core status is not guaranteed, he is still the most important scorer for the Pacers. He is also happy to see the rise of his teammates. After all, they have been bullied by the Knicks many times in the past few seasons. This time,

He also hopes to give New York a little color.

In short, the Pacers are very ambitious and ready to do something in Madison Square Garden.

However, there are no eggs.

Although the Pacers are good, their team basketball has just begun to show off, and starters George Hill, Paul George, Granger, David West and Hibbert are all good players, but their weapons are not enough to compete with the Knicks.

Longer or shorter.

Their weakness is that they are too slow.

Yes, it's too slow.

Historically, they met the Heat in the semifinals this season and had a 2-1 advantage in the first three games.

But in the end, the Heat won three consecutive sets and were eliminated.

What do the Heat rely on?

Speed ​​up!

Historically, the Pacers used the inside to defeat the Heat. The Heat's players were not as good as Hibbert in terms of height or confrontation. The Heat's lack of inside confrontation capabilities gave Hibbert room to play.

In the first game of the series, Hibbert showed off his power, playing 29 minutes and scoring 17 points, 11 rebounds (5 offensive rebounds), 2 assists and 1 block. Bosh scored 13 points in this game.

5 rebounds (2 offensive rebounds). In comparison, Hibbert performed better.

In the third game of the series, with Bosh absent, Hibbert was even more unscrupulous at the basket. The Heat could not stop Hibbert at all, but suffered repeated blows from Hibbert. Hibbert grabbed rebounds under the basket and scored.

, throughout the game, Hibbert scored 19 points, 18 rebounds, 1 steal and 5 blocks. This game also ended with the Heat losing to the Pacers 75:94.