The rest is just noise

The Knicks' devilish schedule has surprisingly led to a winning streak.

Initially, some people thought they would lose at least half of their games during this stretch.

Because there are super teams like the Celtics and Lakers.

As a result, in addition to losing to the Trail Blazers, the Knicks went all the way, especially their unexpected wins over the Lakers and Celtics.

The end of this round of schedule is an away game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are at the bottom of the league.

This is a team that has lost all hope.

When they were still repaying debts for Ted Steppi, who was a huge loser, and because they were eager for quick success and quick profit, they made a deal with the Knicks that left the management and coaching staff with no survivors.

In order to acquire Cartwright, the Cavaliers gave up the eighth pick in the 1985 first round and the rights to swap first-round picks in the next two years.

From the current perspective, what they did is simply unreasonable. How could anyone give so much for an insider who suffered a fracture and only had quasi-All-Star ability?

This is a typical hindsight.

After all, what Cartwright suffered was a fracture. Although it was a season-ending injury, as long as he took good care of himself, he would have no problem returning with full blood.

The Cavaliers' current predicament makes people forget that they have the right to swap first-round picks from New York for the next two years.

Now it seems that the Cavaliers have given away their future, but when this deal happened, there were many people in Cleveland who were optimistic about it and made a lot of money from this deal.

Because the Knicks were ranked fourth from the bottom in the league when the trade occurred, and Louis traded away almost all players with immediate combat potential.

Almost all the players he left behind were rookies.

Even if Ewing's talent is rare in ancient times, it is impossible to lead that group of people to achieve great results.

And Cartwright is a mature insider who has proven himself.

This is a real team fortune betting deal.

Both parties to the transaction believe that they will be better off than the other party.

The results are now out.

The Knicks obtained the second No. 1 pick through the No. 1 pick sent by the Cavaliers, Ewing inside and Wilson outside. The basic framework of the team has been formed.

In this battle, the Clevelanders played with the mentality of dying together with the New Yorkers.

Rarely has Louis seen a team display such obvious malice.

The Cavaliers completely put themselves into the situation they imagined.

If we weren't too loyal and honest, how could we be deceived by those Yankees in New York? Damn the Knicks, we are incompatible with them!

That's probably it.

They play the Knicks with hatred.

Just like the relationship between the Lakers and Celtics, the irony is that the grudge between Los Angeles and Boston has a historical heritage. From the court to off the court, the championship battle to the racial battle, to the skin color battle, and then to

The battle between the East Coast and the West Coast extends to the battle between hard-working blue-collar workers and glamorous Hollywood.

The Cavaliers didn't have so many twists and turns. They wanted to take advantage but found that the opponent's thinking was too simple. They wanted to get out but they were already in the mud.

Ewing encountered a foul crisis, and Wilson felt bad under the terrible intensity of confrontation.

The Cavaliers have a real chance of winning in this situation.

However, in the fourth quarter, Louis used McHale and Manute Bol as the offensive and defensive axis. The former dominated the offense and the latter dominated the defense.

114 to 108

The Knicks won the game by 6 points, ensuring only one loss in this nightmare schedule.

Bol's performance was shocking.

Total 4 points, 7 rebounds and 11 blocks.

You know, his data was played in 26 minutes. If Ewing had not encountered a foul crisis, he would not have gotten so much playing time.

Without Ewing, the Clevelanders were killing the basket as if they were full.

Bol comes with a hat.

According to Knicks team statistics, when Ball protected the basket, the Cavaliers' scoring rate in the penalty area was only 24%.

"Patrick Ewing may be the most balanced inside line for the Knicks. He is the foundation of the Knicks' tactical system, but without him, the Knicks' inside line is still very strong. Manute Bol proved to the league tonight that he

He's a Mark Eaton-type player who's scary when he's on the court."

In addition, Richfield Stadium commentator Joe Tate criticized Louie.

"Although Lu grew up in Cleveland, if you look at what he did to this city, he was good at it and didn't love it."

Louis had heard enough of this.

That night, he took Boll to a press conference.

There was a rule written in black and white during the Stern era, but there was no rule that teams would enforce.

The league requires all players on each team to accept at least 20 interviews each season.

Many players will be interviewed privately by themselves, but these interviews will not be included in the statistics. The big media only like celebrities and players who performed well that night, so those role players that no one cares about rarely have the opportunity to be interviewed.

.

Tonight was Bol's first appearance in the media room this season.

He's the Knicks' least human-looking player.

He is also an interesting person.

Every time he tells others about hunting lions and selling animal skins when he was a child. Today, he also uses his performance to call on Americans to pay more attention to his motherland in front of the media.

Sudan is in the midst of a civil war, and Bol is considered an extremist by both warring factions in the country.

"If Manute can gain 30 pounds, he will be the best inside man in the league. Even Ralph Sampson will not be his opponent."

Louis said exaggeratedly.

If you think about it carefully, you will know that this is impossible. Even if Bol gained 30 pounds, he is still no match for Sampson. There is a huge gap in technology.

However, it is normal to brag when you praise your own people.

After the press conference ended, Louis and Bol chatted in the corridor.

Louis knew that Ball was struggling because he sent most of his playing income to his family.

If he could make more money, he would also help poor families in Sudan.

He is an extremely respectable person.

"Manu, if you have any difficulties, you can call me." Louis finally told him.

Bol joked: "Coach, my only difficulty is that I sit out for too long in every game. My agent said this will affect my ability to make a lot of money."

Jokes are one of the ways to convey the truth.

Louis understands Bol's troubles and knows he can play on many teams.

Louis' idea is to make Bol become the ultimate basket-protecting + space player. He has been practicing three-pointers for a while, but he just has no chance to shoot.

Even if his three-point shooting is not developed, as long as he can play 15-20 minutes per game, the Knicks will still frighten other teams in the penalty area after Ewing comes off the court.

Ewing + Bol, two of the top five rim protectors in the league.

But there is always a discrepancy between ideals and reality.

Bol was unwilling to play only so many minutes in each game.

"I will find a way to solve your problem." Louis said.

The only way to solve Bol's troubles is to trade.

But who will he be traded for?

Bol's transaction value is very high, and he hit 11 blocks in a single game tonight. I'm afraid not many clubs can give Louis a bargaining chip.

Back at the hotel, Louis called Baylor in New York.

"Tonight's game was really thrilling. I wanted to turn off the live broadcast several times. It was so exciting!" Baylor, an old boy, was already free enough to watch their game live.

Louis smiled and said: "I want to talk to you about something serious."

"What's the matter."

"Starting from tomorrow, you can let the outside world know a little bit and say that we intend to trade Manute."

"What!!!?"

Baylor didn't expect Louis to want to trade Bol.

If he doesn't perform well, just trade him.

He just played a dominant defense after Ewing fouled out too many and blocked 11 shots in a single game!

"I know Manute is important, but he wants more playing time. I don't think we can give it to him. Instead of waiting for him to get emotional, it's better to spread the word now and let other teams make offers."

"You really want to trade him?"

"I just want to get a feel for him," Louis said. "I don't want to wait until his agent applies for a trade and then rush around asking teams for prices."

"But...can we find a replacement for Manute?"

"As far as rim protection is concerned, it is irreplaceable. Except for Mark Eaton, there is no player in the league who protects the rim better than him. But the value is replaceable. Don't worry, I don't want to trade him now."

Baylor's reaction was quite big. He wished he had all the good players in his hands.

In fact, Bol has always been a highly functional player in the Knicks, but if we want to play against the Celtics or Lakers or the Trail Blazers and Pistons, his role will not be very big.

He is an extreme single-function player.

For him to play is to protect the rim.

The defensive system that Louis wants to build is pressure, suffocation, intensity, and rebounding.

These are not Bol's strengths.

Therefore, trading Bol is something Louis has been planning for a long time. He played so well tonight and revealed his feelings to Louis (wanting more time). Trading him can be officially put on the agenda.

He doesn't like to be passive.

Sometimes, even if you have thought of all the potential risks, something unexpected will still happen and give you a headache.

That night, Louis was reviewing tonight's game against the Cavaliers in the hotel room. At about 2:30 in the morning, the phone rang.

"Coach, Dale was taken away by the police!"

“Which Dell?”

"Ellis! Dale Ellis!"

Louis was stunned.

"Who are you?"

"I'm Dennis, coach!"

Louis immediately hung up the phone.

Dale Ellis has proven the old Chinese saying again and again, a biting dog never barks. A seemingly peaceful person will cause trouble one after another.

Louis went to the police station overnight to inquire about the situation, and was told that Ellis got into a fight at a bar. It was said that he picked up a bottle and broke the head of a Cavaliers fan who made a rude statement.