No.1 in basketball scoring-Chapter 893 - 381. The only unlucky one overthrown by the lower ranks_4

On the TV screen, the commentator was also talking about this matter, but unlike Felton, who spoke well, they were stating the facts—among the eight higher-seeded teams in the first round this year, the Hornets were the only team to be upset.

To lose is the original sin, and Paul’s performance was already hard to improve on. If you consider individual players, he might have been the best performer in the first round, averaging 25 points and 10 assists per game.

But if you want to nitpick, you surely can. For instance, in Game 5, the Battle at Mountaintop, when switching to guard Artest, he failed to stop him, allowing Artest to drive and almost score the winning shot, and then when he tried to shoot a game-winner, it clanked off; at the start of the fourth quarter of Game 3, he tried to duel with Ellis but couldn’t keep up...

Hearing the commentator nitpick, Felton complained: "If Chris could actually do all that, wouldn’t he have already won MVP? He can score 25 points and also get 10 assists, something even Nash can’t do!"

Zhang Yang: "When those journalists want to attack a player, they can always find something. They’ll compare your scoring with Jordan, assists with the Magician, defense with Payton, and if you’re a big man, they’ll compare you with O’Neal or Yao, like Howard."

Felton: "Should we give Chris a call?"

Zhang Yang: "To mock him for getting knocked out? Sure, call him!"

"..."

Felton rolled his eyes for a moment, then promptly picked up the phone to dial Paul’s number.

A minute later, a string of cursing could be heard from the home team’s locker room at the New Orleans arena, which was leaked to the reporters by the staff...

That night, the media and fans feverishly discussed Paul’s furious outburst after being knocked out. Some fans thought he couldn’t handle losing, while others praised his competitive spirit.

The next day, May 6th, the Pistons, who had rested for three days, came to Charlotte. After a day’s rest, the Bobcats also started their preparatory work.

Busy all morning, the training load was much heavier than the first round. It was arguably the most intense playoff preparation in three years, but Felton was excited: "I still love playing against familiar opponents. Rick is really impressive, I feel like he’s considered every detail."

Zhang Yang replied: "He’s a perfectionist, wants everything to be the best. We don’t need to worry about those things when necessary, but he surely can’t forget about the Pistons!"

Felton: "Huh? What do you mean?"

Hill, chiming in, said: "You forgot? Rick’s first coaching job was with the Pistons. He spent two years building a system that transformed them from a team that couldn’t make the playoffs into an Eastern Conference powerhouse. He was fired after completing that, and the next year, the Pistons won the championship built on his system."

Felton: "Oh, right, I remember now, but it’s been so many years, and he’s still thinking about it!"

Zhang Yang: "Perfectionists are often a bit obsessed, things that others might forget in a few days, they might remember for years. The Pistons have changed coaches twice, but neither Larry Brown nor Philip Saunders altered the foundation of the Pistons’ defensive system, both just improved on the system left by Rick. I guess whenever he sees the Pistons play, he remembers those days.

Plus, it was his first time, don’t your ’first times’ make a lasting impression?"

Felton: "First times, it’s been so many years. That day was back in 10th grade during a mixer event, drawing playing cards for random partners, going to matching numbered rooms. That little room was pitch black, don’t remember much, do you guys still remember?"

Zhang Yang: "You guys were really wild. Mine was a pretty mixed-race girl, quite memorable."

Hill rubbed his stubbly chin, "Even though it’s been almost 20 years, it’s still very vivid. My first love was a beautiful black pearl—first loves are always wonderful but full of regret."

Okafor was stunned, why was Hill going along with this sidetracking topic? Not resisting at all? Or was it ’if you can’t beat them, join them’?

No, the topic needs to be brought back. Okafor spoke up: "Let’s talk business, we’re playing the second round tomorrow. The coaches have prepared so thoroughly not just because Rick’s a perfectionist, but also due to the Pistons’ strength. You could feel during regular season matchups—they’re stronger than last year."

Wanting to probe into Zhang Yang and Hill’s first times, but what they said didn’t make sense.

But Okafor’s interruption made him drop it, focusing on the matter at hand, he replied: "Yes, the Pistons’ roster depth is much better this year. I remember that player Noah, the center from the Florida Gators, I played against him in my junior year, he was a freshman, supposedly among the top 100 high school players. His passing is remarkable; my college coach praised him, saying he’s as outstanding as Sabonis."

Hill added earnestly: "Noah averaged 2.4 assists per game in the regular season, getting about 20 minutes per game as a rookie. That’s impressive. I remember seeing a ranking at the end of the regular season, he was regarded as having the best facilitating talent among the new generation."

Felton: "Yes, ESPN’s rookie column. Paul and the Hawks’ Horford were also selected. In the rookie big man rankings, Noah was first in organizing the offense, Horford second, Paul third. Noah also averages 6.7 rebounds in 20 minutes, with 1.4 blocks, solid defense, and his side screen quality is very high when we played him."

Zhang Yang continued: "However, his flaw is also apparent. He can hardly score on his own. If he catches the ball and can’t pass, he’s likely to make a mistake. But he has a good sense of positioning. We should note this but not put too much emphasis, keeping a normal defense on him is fine."

Felton: "Dudley is also very good, as a rookie, he has a 44% success rate for long-range twos, and 1.8 assists, though he hasn’t adapted to the NBA three-point line yet. But he mostly focuses on long twos, he’s quite smart."

Hill: "Such role players are hard to deal with, not highly skilled but don’t make mistakes. Plus, that Murray guy they got from the Toronto Raptors, fast, good defense, excellent at penetrating and distributing. Their backup forward Max Hill improved a lot this season, aggressive and defensively tough, can follow fast breaks. It’s the deepest their lineup has been since 2005!"

Zhang Yang agreed: "Yes, I think so too. Since 2005, their role player lineup aged, with little new blood added. In the past three seasons, they fell in the Eastern Finals because of a weak second lineup. It’s different this year.

Their core lineup is solid, with Billups, Hamilton, Prince, Wallace, McDyess still playing well, one of the best starting fives in the league, with a complete and mature system, very difficult to handle..."

Watching his three teammates finally discussing business seriously, Little Duncan swelled: this team truly can’t do without me!

Visit freewe𝑏no(v)el.𝘤𝑜𝓂 for the best novel reading experi𝒆nce