Basketball's most talented forward is on the left

Of course, not everyone gave them face. Eddy Curry and Nate Robinson made excuses not to come. One of them was directly squeezed out of the starting lineup by Zuo Li, and the other was dissatisfied with D'Antoni's use of him.

I especially feel that my playing time is too little.

Zuo Li has nothing to say about this. He is not a dollar bill and it is difficult to satisfy everyone. Moreover, these two were not originally part of the Knicks' next plan.

After having a good meal, D'Antoni stayed with Zuo Li until the end and talked to him: "Zuo Li, we may have to trade in a while, what do you think?"

Obviously, the New York front office has seen the potential of New York this season. Currently, they have won 3 consecutive games and only lost once in the first 10 games. With 9 wins and 1 loss, they ranked second in the Eastern Conference, second only to the Cavaliers who started with 10 consecutive wins.

The results are also the best in New York since the new century.

Therefore, the front office naturally hopes to further strengthen the team through transactions. Eddy Curry, Nate, and several water cooler players are the targets of their transactions, and they are now planning.

When I asked Zuo Li, I naturally wanted to hear what Zuo Li, who is considered the cornerstone of the New York team, had to say.

Hmm? Cornerstone?

It sounds a bit unlucky.

"Well, I think the transaction is necessary. Let's not talk about insiders for now. I think Randolph David Lee is still very useful."

"The top priority should be to strengthen the back line. Richardson is too slow to play at the back. Duhon is very practical, but has average ability and is more suitable as a substitute. I won't mention Nate. We need a main point guard or someone who can

The defensive second position is also good.”

"Finally it's the pitchers. It wouldn't be a bad idea to have a few reliable pitchers, they will open up more space for me." Zuo Li thought for a while and said.

This is also the reinforcement direction that Zuo Li has thought about for a long time. Now New York's inside line is actually not bad at all. Of course, except for Zuo Li, the defense is not very good, but the offense is strong. Randolph and David Lee, these two offenses don't need much.

Just say it.

Before, there was constant internal strife and I didn’t fight well. Once I take it seriously, I’m really no worse than others. Of course, it’s not bad to have a qualified substitute.

But in the current season, there is a serious shortage of good centers, and other teams will basically not suggest it, so I won’t mention it for now.

Chandler defends well in the third position. Although his offense is average, he stands on the left and can defeat the six, so there is no need to attack in the third position.

Therefore, the most troublesome thing in New York is the backcourt. Both the first and second positions need reinforcement. The current backcourt is the best to defeat six, but he can't pass the ball. It will be troublesome to put him in the starting lineup. What Zuo Li needs is Curry who can

As a threat from the outside, the two had a tacit understanding in college and high school.

Zuo Li wants to draft Curry to New York, but he doesn’t know if he will have this opportunity next year.

Now, although the Knicks have played well in these few games, they may be restricted when encountering a team with a strong backcourt, so it is best to strengthen the backcourt.

"Well, I understand, and I will also suggest it. I think what you said is very good, let's do it!" D'Antoni nodded, very much agreeing with Zuo Li's idea, and he thought so too. Everyone knows that De'Antoni nodded.

Anthony likes guards who can handle the ball and pass the ball best. It is difficult for him to be satisfied with the Knicks' configuration, so reinforcements are a must.

After talking about business, D'Antoni chatted with Zuo Li for a long time: "Zuo Li, where do you think we can go this season?"

Zuo Li touched his head. He was still a little unaccustomed to being touched by no one around him: "Well, well, although we have won many games, you also know that first of all, they are not familiar with us, and secondly, the strength of our opponents.

It’s not too strong.”

"I think we still have to be realistic. With the current configuration, the first thing we have to do is make it to the playoffs. It doesn't matter if we lose a few games after that."

Zuo Li gave a very rational answer. He was not blindly arrogant because he had won a lot of games recently. Although it is not yet the era of big groups, whether it is the Lakers in the West or the Celtics, Cavaliers, Magic, or Knicks in the East,

If you can directly compete with them, one game is okay, but the series is difficult.

"Yeah, I know that too." D'Antoni sighed.

"Coach, don't worry, no matter what happens now, we will reach the final destination one day." Zuo Li patted D'Antoni on the shoulder. He knew that D'Antoni wanted to prove himself in New York, but he came under heavy pressure.

It is understandable that people here have such thoughts.

In other words, what coach doesn’t long for success? As someone who traveled through time and experienced many failures in his previous life, Zuo Lijia, who once embarked on the coaching path, understands D’Antoni’s mood very well.

"Haha, you kid..." After listening to Zuo Li's words, D'Antoni got rid of his depressed mood and regained his former elegance: "What you said makes sense, do the things in front of you well."

"Since you performed well tonight, I will arrive at 7 o'clock tomorrow morning and practice for an extra hour." D'Antoni stood up, adjusted his suit, and strode out.

Zuo Li: "???"

Or the one who repays kindness with hatred...

But Zuo Li looked at D'Antoni's back and smiled. This may be the legendary way of maintaining the dignity of a coach.

It would be better if he remembered to leave for an away game at 7am tomorrow morning...

…

On November 19, the Knicks, who had won three consecutive games, finally suffered their second defeat. They lost to the defending champion Celtics in an away game.

There is nothing to say about this game. Garnett is not injured at this time, the Green Army has a complete lineup, and it is still at home. In terms of physical strength, the Knicks are indeed inferior to their opponents.

Zuo Li was also tested for the first time. The black and tough Perkins on the opposite side was indeed a defensive gate. As the most underestimated player of the Celtics championship, Perkins conducted an "inhumane" marking on Zuo Li.

In fact, Zuo Li thought it was acceptable for Perkins alone, but if Garnett was added to assist from the side, it would be really difficult to accept!

Garnett was really strong during this period. Gasol's performance in the 2008 Finals was really not his fault alone. Garnett like this would not be easy for anyone to use.

You didn’t think so when watching the game, but when you actually faced it, you knew that the Green Army’s iron barrel formation was not an ordinary tactic. Their defense was solid and layered, which also caused Zuoli’s shooting percentage to drop by 50% for the first time.

Zuo Li made 8 of 17 shots from the field, 4 of 7 free throws, and scored 21 points with 10 rebounds. The statistics are not bad, although this is Zuo Li's lowest scoring game in the league.

However, Zuo Li on the defensive end also made the opponent very uncomfortable. The most exciting part of this game was not the offense, but the defensive battle, especially at the critical moment of the third quarter. Zuo Li and Garnett exchanged trash talk and blocked each other's breakthroughs.

When they were targeting each other in the backcourt, it was really passionate.

D'Antoni on the sidelines thought that Zuo Li and Garnett had some unresolved grudge...

In the end, Garnett scored 10 points, Perkins scored 4 points, and Zuo Li blocked 6 shots. Garnett and Perkins were blocked twice, and the remaining two were given to Rondo. This guy was blocked by Zuo Li twice.

He put the ball on the backboard and finished the game with 2 points and 15 assists, which almost cast a shadow on Zuo Li after the game.

"The reason I have so many assists is because I can't get in." Rondo said after the game when faced with his bizarre statistics.