Bulldozer of the NBA’s Restricted Area

Throughout early May, the horn of the playoffs had sounded, and the entire league was gathering.

Unlike the regular season, nothing can affect the progress of the playoffs. The Lakers are waiting in Los Angeles for their first-round opponent, the Rockets, to come. Even before that, the team's training was not that intense.

Rockets basically pose no threat.

Although Olajuwon played a full season this season, his attendance rate was higher than last season's 82 games, and his condition has also improved, averaging 20+10 double-doubles per game, but he lost Barkley for Pippen. , Olajuwon is very desperate!

But Pippen is also desperate!

I am the second child in the Bulls, and I am the second child in the Rockets?

Well, let’s just say the second one is the second one. At least the contract is much, much bigger.

But the next problem is... after leaving the Bulls and Jordan, he found it difficult to get along outside. He teamed up with Jordan last year and averaged 19.1 points per game in the last season. But when he teamed up with the Rockets and Olajuwon, But it became 14.5 points.

While the average time per game increased by 2.7, the average points per game dropped by 4.6?

After the last game of the regular season, Pippen felt so sorry for himself. It really hurt that he was holding a contract with an annual salary that suddenly increased by 9 million. He felt that Olajuwon was definitely not a man he could trust for the rest of his life...

joke? !

Rodman used to do the dirty work, but now in the Rockets, he has no choice but to do the dirty work. It just so happens that he is new to Houston, and even his status as the team's second in command is not well received. You see, the entire season was basically sold to the Rockets for a big contract.

…

Now the Rockets are going to play the Lakers.

Regardless of the regular season, the entire Houston was waiting for Pippen to produce statistics or performance that matched his salary, but when Pippen thought... Damn, he was beating the Lakers and Li Shengli again, and he was still hitting an egg ball. ?

It's better to have Jordan, Pippen misses Jordan.

It's better for Barkley, Olajuwon regrets not stopping the management who is not very smart.

Pi Er can never be Pi Yi?

Although the playoffs have not yet started, the regular season performance can already show signs of it, and the Rockets management also feels bad at this time. Pier 2's contract is too big, and they must find a successor, because Pier 2 may be in the future. It will be made into leather three, leather four, leather five, or even... a leather bench.

…

Waited for a few days.

On the way to Los Angeles, Olajuwon wanted to cry when he saw Pippen, and Pippen also wanted to cry when he saw Olajuwon. The two of them really cried when they thought of the Lakers and Li Shengli, because... it was so difficult!

At the same time, the Lakers.

Li Shengli didn't have too many ideas. After all, he was fighting anyone. Barkley and Rodman were lamenting the unpredictable circumstances in life.

First up is Rodman.

The Bulls disintegrated after Jordan, and their main players were scattered.

It would be difficult for Pippen to turn over after he went to the Rockets, but Rodman flourished and went to the Lakers to enjoy the blessing of the championship halo. He could hit people whenever he wanted, play ball whenever he wanted, and lived a life like a god. Even back then, His teammate Steve Kerr all went to the Spurs. Everyone was on the rise, but Pippen kept looking back.

Next is Barkley.

Looking at the Rockets' regular season data, objectively speaking... such a plummeting Pippen is really not worth the space in his basic salary, because even if he, Olajuwon, and Pippen join forces, they won't be able to do it this season. The Spurs, Jazz, not to mention the Lakers who are now at their peak.

…

Until May 9th.

The Rockets arrived in Los Angeles before to start preparing for the game. On the day of the first game and during training, Li Shengli, Barkley, and Rodman saw Olajuwon and Pippen. However, the Rockets' fighting will was not that high.

"Well, Pippen's face seems to be longer!" Rodman said with a smile.

"Damn, is it appropriate to talk about your old teammate?" Li Shengli glanced at Rodman.

"What's inappropriate?" Rodman shook his head and said, "What else does he want to do with a five-year, 73 million contract? You don't make as much as he does. Don't you think it's a bit nonsense?"

"Jealous is just jealous. Why are you talking about this?" Barkley said something disgusting about Rodman, and then said: "To be honest, I am quite jealous. He only had 280 in the last year of the Bulls, but he ranked first in the Rockets." It was 1,100 last year, an increase of more than 9 million, and now I can only feel lucky...fortunately I didn't agree to the Rockets' management, otherwise I would lose my money and I wouldn't be able to win the championship."

"Are you jealous?" Li Shengli looked at Barkley and said.

"Why aren't you jealous? He has a ring and a big pension contract. Even if he is beaten to shit, he is still more comfortable than me!"

"Shit? Damn, you...you're really here!"

"Nonsense, I have to continue to work hard like a young man, but people have begun to take care of themselves. There is no way. This is the reality. But having said that, although he feels that he is suppressed by Jordan and cannot hold his head up, if not Jordan, at best, he is like me, so in this regard... I only envy his good luck."

"Come on, then go and prepare. They will take care of themselves while you prepare to receive the first champion."

After Li Shengli finished speaking, he walked to the locker room. The game was about to start in more than an hour, and Barkley and Rodman looked at each other behind.

"I won't say whether the Western Conference is stable or not. Is there a little problem with the Celtics?"

"You still don't believe him?" Rodman turned and glanced at Barkley: "In fact, the only one in the league who can give you this kind of opportunity is the Lakers. I don't care, but you only have this one choice."

"Fuck, don't let my hopes fail, otherwise..."

"Otherwise what?"

"Otherwise I have to continue to live like a young man, and I will be very tired from riding a horse."

"It doesn't matter. We will fight very quickly this time. We may not be able to play a few games. Cherish it, man."

…

The day's warm-up training ended until the game was about to go on the court.

The atmosphere in the Lakers locker room is relatively relaxed, and even Harris, the head coach, is the same. After all, playing against the Rockets does not require too many tactical arrangements. Regular play is enough to cope with it. But looking at the entire Lakers team...the strength on the defensive end allows him to easily Arm every position and don't even have to worry about insufficient offensive firepower.

But in the end it's still the playoffs.

Harris didn't dare to play big, so the starting arrangement was also changed.

Li Shengli, Barkley, and Kobe Bryant must be present. As long as nothing unexpected happens, the starting lineup of these three positions is fixed and has sufficient offensive ability, while the remaining two positions can just supplement the defensive personnel. Crowe Ty and Rodman got starting opportunities.

Obviously, Rodman's starting point was to target Pippen and sweep away half of the rebounds.

As for Crotty, who basically did not start in the regular season, he occasionally appeared in the more intense playoffs, and this game... If Olajuwon and Pippen's offense are not smooth, the Rockets will definitely shift their shots. Crotty is the second defensive sharp knife, defending the Rockets to death.