Basketball's most talented forward is on the left

Zuo Li told the truth.

Training is still the main task of the Knicks in the next period of time, which is also the consensus he reached with the coaching staff and all players before.

After all, there are many rookies. Except for Randolph, everyone else is basically a rookie in the past three years. What rookies need is more games and more playing time to accumulate more experience so that they can grow.

Some fans will ask, you liar, didn’t you say that your goal this season is the finals? Why are you training again!?

certainly!

The goals of training and the finals do not conflict.

On the contrary, only if the training is successful and the potential of these rookies is brought out, the spirit is brought out, and the momentum is full, then the Knicks will truly have the strength to compete for the championship this season!

Anyone with a discerning eye can see that Zuo Li didn't play much in the first game and was obviously holding back. Although the statistics are quite gorgeous, if you look at the passes, you will know that Zuo Li is really playing team basketball, and the purpose is to make the newcomers better.

Quickly integrate into the team.

Especially Curry.

No one understands Stephen Curry's potential better than Zuo Li. The era he traveled through was the era when Stephen Curry dominated the league. His three-point shooting shocked the entire league. Although he was robbed of the limelight as soon as he reached the finals,

But that's not important!

What's important is Curry's role. Curry undoubtedly plays a key role in this Knicks team.

Judging from the first game, Curry performed well. He scored 19 points and made three three-pointers. The shooting rate was 50%. For a rookie in the first game, it is quite good. If he continues like this, the best rookie will really be

There is drama.

After the game, Curry naturally received more attention. In the NCAA, you can also say that his health may not be good, but he scored 19 points and 7 assists in his debut, which was a slap in the face.

So the idea that the Knicks have a keen eye for heroes has begun to spread again.

However, a newcomer is still a newcomer. After all, Curry did not get Zuo Li's incredible bug ability. So in the second game, on the 31st, in the second game of the regular season against the Hornets led by Queen Bee Paul, Curry encountered the first one in his career.

Waterloo.

Starting from the 2008 season, Paul undoubtedly reached the first peak period of his career. During this period, Paul had an incomprehensible and violent style of play. Except for Deron, no one could really limit him. After all, he could shoot suddenly and shoot.

Passing, the little moves are dark and hidden, and the trash talk is also very pleasant. Last season, Paul averaged 22.811 assists and 2.8 steals per game. He was selected for the first team and first defense. There is no doubt that he has replaced Nash as the league's number one point guard.

If this had been during Zuo Li's era, when both of them were at their peak, they would have basically met a good talent, and their personal data would be indistinguishable.

But now, in the second game of his career, Curry meets Paul at his peak, and it is natural for him to be educated.

In fact, in order to protect Curry, the Knicks sent Dragic and Belinelli to start this game, but it was useless. It was difficult for Dragic to get an advantage when meeting Paul. The game ended in 4 and a half minutes of the first quarter.

After receiving two fouls, Curry ushered in his first head-to-head confrontation with Paul.

Of course, the final result was not very good. Curry was completely suppressed. Paul scored 28 points, 13 assists, 5 rebounds and 3 steals in the whole game, shooting 48% from the field.

Curry only had 9 points, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 5 turnovers, shooting 33% from the field.

In terms of personal statistics, Paul completely defeated Curry, and Curry's biggest weapon, the three-pointer, also failed to work when Paul was constantly looking for confrontation, and he only made 1 of 4 shots.

However, the Knicks still won the victory. After all, the Hornets, who replaced Chandler and took Okafor, no longer threatened Zuo Li.

It is said that Okafor is an All-Star, and the Hornets will definitely make money if they just trade for Chandler. However, the Hornets ignored Paul's characteristics.

Throughout Paul's career, he has always been able to turn average centers into All-Stars, from Chandler of the Hornets, to DeAndre Jordan of the Clippers, to Capela of the Rockets. So what is most suitable for Paul is his excellent physical fitness and ability.

A big man who can take advantage of the pick-and-roll, a big man like Okafor who has solid footwork and excellent personal offensive ability is not compatible with Paul.

So this deal is a lose-lose situation. Although the outside world still regards the Hornets as a powerful force in the Western Conference, Zuo Li knows that the Hornets are rotten. When the tactics and players are at odds, the team will have no choice but to mess up.

.

Zuo Li was doing everything he could ask for in the paint throughout the game, hitting 14 goals in 16 shots, including 8 dunks, allowing Madison fans to enjoy a dunk feast. He made 6 of 8 free throws, maintaining the stability of the first game.

Okafor showed his dominance even more when he was sent off for six fouls in the fourth quarter.

With 34 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 blocks, Zuo Li temporarily occupied the top spot in the new season's highest scoring list.

Randolph also scored a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds, and the Knicks outscored the Hornets 59-20 in the paint.

In the end, it was 120-100, scoring more than 120 points in two consecutive games, and defeated the Hornets with a big score of 20 points to win two consecutive games.

After the game, Zuo Li naturally occupied the C position. The media had discovered that despite a low-key summer, Zuo Li was still the center of traffic.

Zuoli's explosive playing style and more stable free throws have also become the focus of discussion. Barkley exclaimed: "This summer will make Zuoli's strength even higher."

Smith also said: "Now the team that wants to implement the shark-cutting tactic against Zuo Li must consider the consequences."

Howard felt very embarrassed.

Curry, as the most average player in the Knicks, has naturally been "taken care of" by the media. His tragic defeat to Paul made many people think that Curry's level is just that, and now he is at the level of a third-rate guard at best.

So Curry went emo...

In the first game in November, facing the 76ers on the road, Curry only took 9 shots, but only scored 5 points, 4 assists, and made 6 turnovers.

This also made the Knicks struggle a bit. Fortunately, at the last moment, Randolph made a tip-in inside and caused a foul. He made 1 of 2 free throws, but Zuo Li took off the rebound and completed the tip-in.

The successful 3-pointer in this round also allowed the Knicks to narrowly defeat the 76ers 106-102 and secure their first three consecutive victories.

Zuo Li became the best player in the game with 28 points and 14 rebounds. Belinelli scored 18 points and 6 rebounds with 4 three-pointers and became the best performer among the new players. Danny Green successfully defended Iguodala at the last moment.

He also became a hero of victory.

Under this situation, Curry naturally encountered some criticism. Many people felt that he was indeed unable to adapt to the intensity of the NBA. Even if he couldn't beat Paul, he didn't play well against fellow rookie Jrue Holiday.

Outrageous.

Some media said: "The Knicks should increase Dragic's playing time instead of letting Curry continue to waste opportunities."

ESPN also said: "Curry seems to lack the means to fight, and his shooting is not working well."

There are many comments like this on Instagram, which further stimulates Curry's nerves, and Curry is also worried that he will be replaced. After all, this guy Beverley is still waiting for him behind him.

However, Zuo Li and Coach D'Antoni didn't say anything, or even talk. Everything remained as usual, as if nothing happened.