NBA: I am a master dealer

Chapter 293 The fiercely competitive Eastern Division!

The Knicks successfully ushered in a four-game winning streak and successfully returned to the public's attention.

The new season has passed for more than ten days.

The strong teams have gradually found their form, the stratification of the east and west has begun to appear, and the strengths and weaknesses have gradually differentiated.

Taking a look at the regular season record rankings, you can probably tell who will make the playoffs this season and who will continue to run with them for another year.

of course.

There may be some deviations, but overall, the difference is not much different...

First is the East.

The top spot, very surprisingly, is the Atlanta Hawks. With a record of 7 wins and 1 loss, they have become the most beautiful team in the Eastern Conference.

In fact, their lineup did not change much during the offseason. They only lost one Carroll, but Bazemore quickly stepped up and performed well.

Besides.

The Eagles' substitute lineup is also extremely strong. Schroeder, Sefolosha, Scott and other strong players all have strong combat effectiveness.

However, their problem is still the same problem. They don't have a superstar to back them up, and they are extremely lacking in ability at critical moments, which will make it difficult for them to maintain such results.

And even if they can be as crazy as last season, it will be difficult to make a breakthrough in the playoffs. This is the drawback of team basketball.

Ranked second is the Miami Heat, who rank second in the Eastern Conference with a record of 6 wins and 1 loss.

The power of the Big Three is still very powerful, plus the Heat also have two powerful power forwards in Ibaka and Porgitins.

The role players and bench have quite good combat capabilities. In terms of overall strength alone, they are definitely the leaders in the league.

The only test they face now is the problem of running-in.

Even though they won 6 games, there were actually two or three games where the scores between the two sides were very close at the last moment.

Both Wade and Anthony were tough enough to let them pass the risk. Otherwise, they might face the same situation as the Knicks.

——After losing three consecutive games at the beginning of the game, they were beaten to a pig head.

Especially with the departure of Xue Liancheng and the arrival of Anthony, the Heat need to coordinate a lot of complicated things, such as ball distribution issues, core issues, tactical system issues, etc., which all take time to build.

The summary is that although he is strong on paper, how much firepower he can exert depends on Spoelstra's skill.

1+1+1>3, then they have a lot to do.

If 1+1+1<3, that would be terrible. The possibility of failure of the Big Three team is extremely high.

As the Detroit Pistons defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 120:103, their record came to 5 wins and 1 loss, temporarily ranking third.

It was an unexpected surprise.

The inside-outside combination of Reggie Jackson and Drummond seems to be full of promise. Take the victory over the Trail Blazers as an example. The two showed great power.

雷吉-杰克逊26投15中，爆砍40分5篮板5助攻，德拉蒙德19投14中，拿到29分的同时，还疯狂掠下27个篮板。

The famous Zhuang Shen is about to be born.

In addition, the Pistons also have strong players such as Pope, Marcus Morris, and Baynes, as well as Jennings in the backcourt, and Stanley Johnson, the eighth pick in this year's first round, and the future looks bright. The Bright has a chance to compete for a ticket to the playoffs.

of course.

Just a chance.

How many teams started the season strong, but after experiencing a losing streak, they lost their morale and immediately collapsed.

The Pistons have this possibility.

First of all, the Pistons have been in decline since the disbandment of the Five Tigers. They are not a traditional strong team and have been struggling in the lottery over the years.

In other words, there is no winning atmosphere and the toughness is too poor.

Secondly, the Pistons lineup is too young. The main rotation is made up of young players. They rely on their emotions to play. When they are excited, they can overturn any team. When they are depressed, it is embarrassing and no one can beat them. but.

The lineup is too young and the state is extremely unstable.

Finally, there is no real superstar in the Pistons lineup, not even an All-Star.

Even though Reggie Jackson and Drummond are both explosive, no one would include them in the list of top players.

To get everyone's recognition, you need to continue to perform, rather than suddenly burst out...

Therefore, the Pistons Tianhu started, but there is still a long way to go.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 5-2.

After losing to the Knicks, countless fans were disappointed, but with the Knicks' four-game winning streak, it seems that losing is not so difficult to accept.

After all, the Knicks have one of the best players in the league, and Lopez is also a top player at the center position.

The paper strength is still very strong.

Although they are temporarily ranked fourth, everyone believes that the Cleveland Cavaliers will have a good record this season.

With the Big Three in charge and a bunch of outstanding role players, they are still one of the strongest teams in the Eastern Conference. The playoffs are not their goal at all, their goal is the championship.

Fifth is the Toronto Raptors, with the same record of 5 wins and 2 losses.

The new season has added Carroll, Biyombo, Dayao's former partner Scola, and Joseph, a group of strong players. It can be said that the strength has made a qualitative leap.

In addition, they have retained the main framework, Lowry, DeRozan, Valanciunas, Terrence Ross, and have not shaken the foundation. The Raptors this season must not be underestimated.

Sixth is the Chicago Bulls, with a record of 4 wins and 3 losses.

This season's Bulls lineup is also stable, with the three core players Butler, Gasol, and Rose.

Except for Hinrich, basically no one left in the main rotation.

Their lineup actually looks pretty good, but it just feels like something is missing.

The general consensus is that the Bulls are a playoff team.

Want to compete for the championship?

That makes a lot of difference.

The seventh place in the Eastern Conference is the New York Knicks.

After experiencing three consecutive losses at the start of the season, they finally raised their heads and immediately welcomed a wave of four consecutive victories. The record was 4 wins and 3 losses, which once again showed the hope of the Knicks' re-emergence.

At the same time, people also admired the MVP's style.

During the three-game losing streak, Xue Liancheng averaged 22.3 points, 7.3 assists and 8 rebounds per game, which is not very good, but if you want to say it's bad, it's not bad.

However, during the three-game losing streak, Xue Liancheng's offensive efficiency was relatively average, plus there were 5.3 turnovers, which can only be said to be hard to describe.

During the four-game winning streak, Xue Liancheng averaged 35.7 points, 12.2 assists, 7.2 rebounds and 3.2 steals per game, with an overall shooting rate of 62.8%, an astonishing 51.6% three-point shooting rate, and only 1.2 turnovers.

This kind of performance is simply terrifying. It once again reproduces the invincible, invincible and god-like operation of last season's Eastern Conference Finals and Finals.

This undoubtedly won a lot of applause and cheers. This is the superstar that fans have been waiting for.

Only this kind of performance can meet the expectations of the media.

It has to be said that Xue Liancheng's height has now been raised to an incredible level.

of course.

If you want to compete for the No. 1 position in the league, you must convince everyone. The fans and media's demands for Xue Liancheng can be considered reasonable.

After all, when James dominated the regular season, his statistics were also very exaggerated, 30+7+8, which was almost a routine operation.

and so……

Xue Liancheng wants to suppress James and become the new face of the league, at least it can't be worse than this.

This is the only way for superstar players of the same generation. If you don't want to compare, fans and media will compare you.

Except Xue Liancheng.

Lopez has also performed well. So far this season, he has averaged 18.1 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, which seems to have not changed much from last season.

But Lopez is in a different environment this season, the pressure he is under is different, and the ball rights he receives are also different.

The most important thing is that after three games and three quarters, his overall data was lowered. Otherwise, Lopez would be close to 20+10.

This kind of performance is in line with the fans' expectations for Lopez. After all, he was signed with the maximum salary. How can you convince the New York fans if you don't show some performance.

As the third scoring point, Will Barton's data of 16.6 points, 3.2 assists and 3.3 rebounds are also excellent.

For its price, it's a great value.

However, his performance is not very stable. When he feels bad, he can kill the team. He urgently needs to improve his ability to attack tough situations.

but……

You can't force him to do anything, after all, when he came here, he didn't expect to be trained as a third scoring point.

Crowder is relatively average, with 10 points and a 43% shooting percentage, which is actually in line with expectations.

Needless to say, PJ Tucker is not a player who can make a huge contribution on the offensive end. As long as he seizes open opportunities or blocks well under the basket, he does not hinder the team's offense. The most important thing is to improve his defense. If you do it to the extreme, you have accomplished the task.

The bench, on the other hand, is the absolute highlight.

Chalmers, Tyler Johnson, Jeff Green, David West, Ilyasova, and Rooney can all make their own contributions as long as they play.

And...the contribution is huge.

At least after these seven games, they have never been at a disadvantage when competing with the opponent's substitute players, which is one of the biggest strengths of the Knicks' lineup.

But the Knicks' problem is also obvious.That is, apart from Xue Liancheng, Lopez is the only one who is a more reliable scoring point.

As for the others?
You say you can't fight, but they are quite capable of fighting.

You say they can fight, but it seems they can't beat someone to death.

It's just rather embarrassing, the kind of embarrassment of not being able to go up or down...

At present, the public's positioning of the Knicks is still relatively vague.

If you want to say that the Knicks don't have the strength to compete for a championship, that's not necessarily true.

It's really easy to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers, and it's equally easy to beat the Bucks twice. You know, the Cavaliers lost two games, and the Bucks are not good at it either. They have 3 wins and 4 losses in the new season, two of which were given by the Knicks. , otherwise, their record would also be among the best.

Only the Lakers' strength is a bit bad, and winning is not worth bragging about.

In addition, the team has the internal and external combination of Xue Liancheng + Lopez, plus a large group of high-quality role players, and the foundation is here.

On paper, the overall strength is still acceptable. As for whether they can reach the end, it can only depend on God's will and Xue Liancheng's performance.

But looking back, if you want to say that the Knicks have the ability to compete for the championship, it seems like child's play.

Xue Liancheng is a superstar who has never led a team to prove himself. This is only his second season. It is difficult to say how high he will eventually grow to...

Lopez, a weak center that everyone knows, has some weight, but not much.

Then filled in a bunch of role players, such as Will Barton, Jeff Green, Crowder, PJ Tucker, David West, Ilyasova, Tyler Johnson, overall not bad .

But taken individually, which one can stand alone?
not a single one.

With such a lineup, if you want to force James + Irving + Love, or Wade + Anthony + Gasol, it seems that the difference is not even a little bit different.

Therefore, it is not easy for the Knicks to break out of the Eastern Conference.

Even if the Knicks beat the Cavaliers in three quarters and surprised people, it was just because the inferior player succeeded in the challenge and surprised the public.

In fact, everyone does not think that the Knicks are better than the Cavaliers at all.

As for why the Cavaliers lost so completely, this...

Ok……

There is only one reason.

Xue Liancheng exploded.

Next time they meet, can the Knicks wait until their star star explodes?

and so……

The public's positioning of the Knicks is still very vague. In one sentence, it is unclear, and it can be either up or down...

No. 8, Indiana Pacers 3 wins and 4 losses.

Paul George's return has completely revitalized the Pacers' offense.

Paul George is not as lame as the public imagines and cannot play. His performance in the new season is still OK, 20+6+3, a quasi-All-Star level, but his shooting rate is a bit low, only in the early [-]s. .

But it doesn't hurt.

After all, the Pacers' tactics are mainly defensive, and they are just like fighting you in positional battles. The Pacers' team's shooting percentage is actually just like that, quite satisfactory.

In addition, after George became famous, his offensive efficiency was mediocre, and he felt a little rusty after returning from injury.

and so……

This is nothing to be alarmed about.

With George back, the Pacers are also strong contenders for the Eastern Conference playoffs.

This summer, they failed to get Xue Liancheng, so they had to settle for Ellis.

Coupled with George Hill, Miles, Mahinmi, Stucky, Jordan Hill and other strong players, the strength is definitely not as bad as imagined.

The ninth Orlando Magic also has a record of 3 wins and 4 losses.

The media predicts that the Magic's accumulated talent should be realized this season.

Vucevic, Oladipo, Tobias Harris, Fournier, Elfrid Payton, Noah Vonleh, this bunch of talented people have accumulated over two or three seasons. Okay, you have to achieve results this season, right?

Therefore, they are also very competitive and are another strong contender for playoff tickets.

Tenth, the Milwaukee Bucks also had 3 wins and 4 losses.

If they hadn't fallen to the Knicks twice, their record wouldn't be bad.

Middleton, Antetokounmpo Antetokounmpo, Greg Monroe, last year's second overall pick Jabari Parker, McAway, Bayless, OJ Mayo, this lineup is very competitive.

Especially this season, Antetokounmpo has grown rapidly and has a huge influence on both offense and defense. He has been identified as the core by coach Kidd.

And Antetokounmpo has lived up to expectations. Not only can he use his physical talents to eat raw, he has also officially become the starting point of the team's offense, and he also protects the basket in the three-second zone.

Truly a combination of offense and defense.

No. 11, Washington Wizards 3 wins and 3 losses.

No one dares to underestimate the backcourt duo of Wall and Bill. As long as they stay healthy, they are pretty sure to compete for a ticket to the playoffs.

But if I want to go far, it seems I can’t go far.

Like the bull, I always feel like I'm missing a breath.

Especially after Wall was brutally beaten by Xue Liancheng last season, his sharp edge seemed to have been smoothed out, and he didn't come out to force Lai Lai much.

No. 12, Boston Celtics 2 wins and 3 losses.

The Heat's opponents in the first round of the playoffs last season also have the goal of making the playoffs this season.

Their defensive system is very mature. With the firepower of Thomas Jr. this season, fighting for a ticket to the playoffs does not seem to be a big problem.

But the problem is...

This is already the No. 12 team aiming to compete for a playoff spot.

This is difficult to do.

There are only eight seats in the playoffs, but [-] teams have shown willingness to compete in the new season, so four teams must be eliminated.

At this time, it aroused heated discussion among countless fans. Which team does not have the strength to make the playoffs?
The No. 13 Chartreaux Hornets have a record of 2 wins and 4 losses, which is actually not too bad at the beginning of the new season.

But they really don't have a good lineup, and it's basically slim to compete for a playoff spot.

But Mr. Jordan is very ambitious, claiming that this season is their best chance to hit the playoffs.

In other words, it is impossible for them to give up the season without encountering Waterloo.

So……

In the Eastern Conference, there are only two teams that are clearly facing failure.

No, to be precise, there is only one that actively messes up, and the other one that passively messes up.

First of all, there is the Philadelphia Digital Man, who has lost six games in a row at the beginning, and continues to ruin his career. He looks like he will not rest until he reaches the top pick.

Another bad team is Lopez's old club and the Knicks' rival team, the Brooklyn Nets.

They were in a passive position and had lost seven games in a row. There was nothing they could do.

After being tricked by the old thief Anji, the Nets couldn't recover for a long time. They lost Lopez again this season and exploded on the spot.

It’s true that I can’t beat him, and there’s really no hope at all.

and so.

The Nets can only passively mess up.

If they can win, how could they not fight to win?

After all, the Celtics hold the draft picks for next season. If their team has a poor record, isn't that just giving away their own bad results?

Any fool knows not to do this.

But the Nets can't help it, they are really bad.

So rotten that it cannot be saved.

That's what's happening in the East right now.

They are basically fighting for a spot in the playoffs, and the competition is still very fierce.

Among them, the Pistons, Magic, Celtics, and Hornets are considered to be the teams most likely to lose their playoff qualification.

But this is not enough.

Therefore, the Bucks are also considered to be unlikely to make the playoffs.

But this is just the opinion of most people. Last season's record can only be used as a reference and cannot be used horizontally.

Otherwise, why would you call me?
A large number of people believe that the Knicks should also be included in this list.

After all, Xue Liancheng is a human being, not a god.

The Knicks' playoff run is not a sure thing.

When Xue Liancheng saw the media analysis, he was happy...

He knows the situation in the Eastern Conference this year. According to the historical trajectory, this year's Eastern Conference is indeed very interesting...

(End of this chapter)