Bulldozer of the NBA’s Restricted Area

April 29th, the first day of the playoffs. The results of the two games in the Western Conference were released. The Rockets beat the Clippers by 23 points at home, and the Spurs beat the Trail Blazers by 1 point.

April 30, the second day of the playoffs. The Jazz play against the SuperSonics at home, and the Suns play against the Lakers at home.

…

Early in the morning, Crotty now took Curry's place in the Hornets and became Li Shengli's driver. The two went to the team to report and make final preparations before the war.

It would be a lie to say that I am not nervous. After all, the eyes of fans across the United States will be focused on this day, and the atmosphere in the NBA, including the Jazz, has become a bit weird.

Malone and Stockton have been waiting for this moment for too long. Although they have become numb in the playoffs every year, this season is very different. They are qualified to compete for a championship.

The uncrowned king?

It sounds nice, but who doesn’t want to be a crowned king?

With this tense atmosphere of anticipation, until the game was about to start in the evening, everyone in the Jazz Legion was full of energy, and in the locker room... Jerry Sloan was making final pre-war mobilization and deployment.

…

Seattle SuperSonics.

This team is somewhat special. Although Rain Man Sean Kemp is the core player of the SuperSonics, he averages only 18.2 points per game and shoots close to 50%. It seems like a lot, but for a core player It's really not much.

However, such a team still managed to reach sixth place in the Western Conference. The root cause is... SuperSonics, everyone can play!

Looking at their games this season, six players on the team scored in double figures, and they were not economical 'double figures'. The lowest one averaged 13 points per game. And more importantly, the Sonics have improved. A group of bench gangsters led by Eddie Johnson, who has been on the Sixth Man of the Year award, all of them are capable of fighting and all of them are fierce!

You know, each team will usually build a lineup around the super giant. The super giant is the cornerstone. The existence of other role players is more often to cooperate with the super giant to launch offenses. The Sonics, who have found a different way... regard the starting five as... Cornerstone, stable and solid strength.

There are no strong points and no weak points. The Sonics seem to have no weaknesses!

In the starting matchup, the Sonics can compete in all five positions, and no one can control the players in any position to perform beyond their standards, making it difficult for the defense to restrict them. On the other hand, looking at the opponent, the Sonics' defense can target the opponent's core players. layout.

Offense is not the focus of the Sonics. Using defense to limit the opponent's core players is their way to win.

Obviously...if the previous Jazz faced the SuperSonics, it would indeed be a headache. After all, if the Jazz's heavy firepower Karl Malone is blocked and is in poor condition, then it will only depend on the performance of others.

But it's different now. The existence of Li Shengli has solved this problem easily, and Jerry Sloan can't wait to show the SuperSonics and see the inside line he prepared for the SuperSonics... King Blast!

…

Bang bang bang!

In the locker room, Jerry Sloan clapped his hands and signaled the players to listen, while Li Shengli and Ma Long were receiving foot massages from the team doctor. The team doctor in charge of Li Shengli was okay, but the team doctor in charge of Malone had red eyes and was affected by Malone's big odor. My feet were so hot that I cried.

"Shit, Karl, didn't you wash your feet again?" Jerry Sloan cursed with a smile, to ease the atmosphere and... smell in the locker room!

"Coach, why don't you say anything about Li? His feet also stink!"

"Damn it, don't just rely on me for nothing. I wash my feet every day, so I'm much more diligent than you!"

"Nonsense, the smell in our locker room wasn't so strong before. Ever since you came, the smell has changed, and you still said it wasn't you!"

Li Shengli and Malone were openly at odds, and Jerry Sloan covered his nose and waved his hands.

"Oh, God, maybe you don't need to wear shoes in today's game. I think... your stinky socks should be able to tear apart the opponent's defense!" Jerry Sloan laughed and cursed again, "Okay, man. Hey guys, it's our first game soon, are you ready for victory?"

"Sure, let the Sonic boys do it!"

"That's right, don't even think about leaving once they're here, just bury them in Salt Lake City with peace of mind!"

"Shit, I can't wait...Why hasn't the game started yet?"

All the Jazz generals responded in unison. The warm-up here was over. Jerry Sloan became extremely serious and unsmiling, and began to make arrangements for this game. After a while... the Jazz army came on the scene to welcome the playoffs. The first battle of the game.

…

At this time, the Triangle Center Arena is full. After all, it is the playoffs, and the Jazz's heritage lies here. Looking at this game alone, the madness and enthusiasm of the fans are no less than those of the top giants.

Before the game even started, the scene was already buzzing with noise. When it came time for both teams to take turns on the field, the atmosphere reached a climax. When the trio of Jazz's LeMars appeared on the stage together, the cheers overturned. Go up to the arena dome to cheer for your team.

…

Needless to say, in the Jazz's starting lineup, Limas, Tyrone Corbin is still a small forward, and Crotty is already firmly established as a shooting guard.

With this lineup, Jerry Sloan used the last ten games of the regular season to train, and the results were ideal. Except for the one game where the Rockets performed exceptionally well, they won nine out of ten games!

As for the SuperSonics starting lineup.

Center Michael Cage, power forward Sean Kemp, small forward Ricky Pierce, point guard Nate McMillan, and shooting guard Gary Payton.

The SuperSonics' outside line can attack and defend, but given that the Jazz's main firepower is now inside, the focus of this game is not here.

As for the SuperSonics insiders.

Power forward Kemp, an All-Star player, faces Karl Malone. There are definitely disadvantages, but it also depends on the performance in this game.

Center Michael Cage, the rebounding champion in 1989, said he was not very strong offensively, but he was a strong defensive player. He was the main force selected by SuperSonics head coach George Karl to suppress Li Shengli.

The Sonics can attack in every position, but the Jazz are more inside than outside. In George Karl's view...the focus of this game is on the inside. The performance of Li Shengli and Malone will affect the trend of the game.

To be honest, the Sonics were not afraid of meeting the previous Jazz, but the joining of Li Shengli turned the Jazz into a tough nut to crack, so... For the Sonics, this first round is quite difficult, and it is definitely not as difficult as the second round. Second round is easy!

…

After the entrance ceremony, both parties warmed up and prepared.

"Michael, Ricky, let's see how well you two perform!" Kemp glanced at the Jazz from a distance and said to his teammates Michael Cage and Ricky Pierce.

"No problem, this kid has no experience in the playoffs, I will give him a lesson!" Center Michael said.

"Don't worry, let's watch their performance in the first quarter!" Small forward Ricky Pierce said to Kemp: "Sean, it's you... Malone is not easy to deal with, so be careful!"

The Sonics front three looked at the Jazz on the other side, and the Jazz naturally felt the gaze from their opponent, but... no one took the opponent's gaze to heart.

Counting the records of the two teams' head-to-head matches, the Jazz's winning rate is 66.6%+. Now that the Jazz have entered a new era, they don't have to worry about opponents like the SuperSonics. The only difference is that they have to bury the Sonics in a few games.