Bishop of the Abyss

Chapter 11 11. Ma Long's debut: change every gear;

On November 11, local time in the United States, the Timberwolves officially announced that the team has officially signed a contract with the famous star Karl Malone.

The two parties signed a one-year minimum guaranteed basic salary for veterans.

There are not many surprises for this signing with other teams in the league, because when Timberwolves general manager McHale traveled to Arkansas many times to meet with Karl Malone, people had already thought of this result.

It's just that Karl Malone, who is already in his 40s this year, has not been taken seriously, or in other words, other teams have no sense of crisis at all about the Timberwolves signing Karl Malone.

Even though Malone averaged nearly a double-double last season, today's "postman" is no longer the "postman" of the past, and today's tough guy is also not the tough guy back then.

If you really want to say something that makes people feel jealous, it is Karl Malone's "iron elbow" that opened the way.

Originally, this Timberwolves team was like a "stab shelter", and the players in the team were more or less violent. Now that Karl Malone is joining the Timberwolves, this is indeed not a good thing for other teams.

Although Karl Malone's joining may not bring about a qualitative change in this Timberwolves team, but if it is a fight and fighting level, then this Timberwolves team can take off directly on the spot.

After all, the new head coach of the Timberwolves is called Luke, although most NBA fans are unfamiliar with the name Luke.

But as the Timberwolves once played the league's first and unrivaled explosive performance in the new season, more and more fans have become familiar with Luke.

This also made Luke's various bad habits in European basketball circles spread in the NBA. Even when some younger fans learned about these things, they couldn't believe it at all.

Because it is difficult for people to associate a notorious devil with the Timberwolves, a young man who is only in his 30s and looks very handsome.

However, when the photos and facts are presented in front of the fans one after another, people have to believe that the new head coach of the Timberwolves is not only very skilled, but also a complete jerk! !
In addition, the joining of Karl Malone also brought the Timberwolves' lineup to 14th in the new season.

And Malone will wear his most familiar No. 32 jersey this season, which is the "No. 18 jersey" that accompanied him for 32 seasons in the Jazz.

………………

On November 11, the Timberwolves ushered in their strongest opponent since the start of the new season.

In this game, the Timberwolves will sit at home to meet the challenge of the Seattle Supersonics.

And new aid Karl Malone will also make his debut in the game, and will play in a Timberwolves jersey for the first time in his career.

This season, the Sonics have not changed much in the team's core lineup, but their record has suddenly improved. They are currently second only to the Timberwolves, the Suns and the Spurs, ranking fourth in the West.

The Supersonics are currently the strongest team the Timberwolves have encountered. In a sense, they are very suitable to play the role of a sharpening stone.

Let Luke analyze more accurately whether there is still a gap between the Timberwolves and the league's top combat power.

Don't look at the Timberwolves currently ranking first in the league with a record of six wins and zero losses, but the overall strength of the opponents the Timberwolves face in these six games is average.

So for the arrival of this game, Luke has long been impatient.

In the new season, this Supersonic team is still built around the twin stars of Ray Allen and Lewis. For the Supersonics' record this season, it can be achieved by leaps and bounds, largely thanks to Lewis' personal performance this season. break out.

As of now, Lewis's average per game has increased to 22.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.1 steals. With a 40% three-point shooting percentage, Lewis has become Ray Allen's best helper.

In addition, the growth of the second-year rookie Ridnour is also an important factor for the Sonics to take off.

Playing next to Ray Allen and Lewis, the two top shooters in the league, Ridnour's average of 10 points and 7 assists per game is enough to stand firm.

At least for a second-year rookie who was selected with the 14th overall pick in the first round, Ridnour's performance has already ushered in the approval of the Sonics management.

Before the start of the game, Luke gathered the players together, and then kept explaining something with the tactical board.

If you look at it from a distance, people will definitely think that Luke is explaining the tactics to the players and the precautions after the game starts.

But when the camera zoomed in, what people heard was: "The Supersonic's inside strength is average. Except for Jerome, only Nick can barely protect the frame, so we must play the ball more in this game." A lot of hits to the basket."

"Carl, this is your first game since you came to the team. I will let you start this game. I hope you can teach Jerome on the opposite side an unforgettable lesson."

"After all, this season is Jerome's contract year. If you want to lose his fat contract in one game, then I believe you will be able to integrate into the team." After a pause, Luke continued: "We can Make a bet, if you score three times or more than him, then the rest of the team this weekend, I arrange."

Under the smirk of Sprewell and others, Ma Long, whose stubble had already started to turn white, smiled lightly: "That's so embarrassing, but you will definitely spend money this weekend."

"Why don't you bring me one, coach, I'll raise Carl." "Madman" Sprewell continued to boo.

"You'd better get out and play your game well. I hope you won't be blown off your head by thunder in this game."

"No, I think Ray's dog head should be blown off." Putting down his drink, Sprewell walked towards the arena in a good mood.

As the game is about to start, the two sides announced the starting lineup respectively.

Timberwolves: Cassel, Madman, Szczerbiak, Garnett, and Karl Malone.

Sonics: Ridnour, Ray Allen, Lewis, Reggie Evans, and Jerome James.

In this game, Luke chose to put Karl Malone in the center position as the starter. Although Malone is only [-] meters tall, his strong muscles are enough for him to reach the fifth position.

As for the two insiders on the Supersonic side, it is even more strange. Whether it is Reggie Evans or Jerome James, neither of them has the ability to score.

Jerome James averaged 4.9 points per game this season, while Reggie Evans averaged 4.7 points.

So this Supersonic team relies entirely on the performance of Ray Allen and Lewis on the offensive end, and most of the finishes are in the mid-to-long distance position.

The Sonics are also the team that averaged the second most three-pointers per game this season.

After the game started, the possession of the ball was taken by the Sonics first.

On the offensive end, the Sonics mainly rely on Ray Allen, as well as the shooting space of Ridnour and Lewis after the pick-and-roll.

Since both Evans and James have average finishing abilities at the basket, in simple terms, they are typical rough players.

This also led to the Supersonics coach McMillan having to arrange for Ridnour and Lewis to play pick-and-rolls.

In this way, Lewis is within his offensive range no matter whether he is going down or up, and Ridnor can also choose to pass the ball to Ray Allen who is running without the ball according to the situation, or finish it with a layup. .

The team against the Supersonics is relatively simple in Luke's view. After all, the Supersonics mainly rely on the Gemini to score.

Therefore, the strategy given by Luke is to "change every block", switch defenses when encountering pick-and-rolls, and resolutely not let the Sonics shoot from the outside. .

Except for Karl Malone, others will switch defenses as soon as they meet the pick-and-roll, which can interfere with the Supersonic's shooting to the greatest extent.

Even if Garnett switches to guard Ray Allen, it will be difficult for Ray Allen to single Garnett in one-on-one to ensure efficiency. It is precisely because of this that Luke has enough confidence to take the game away.

As the Sonics used multiple pick-and-rolls on the offensive end without creating an offensive opportunity, Ray Allen finally had to complete an emergency stop shot at the mid-range position.

"boom!"

With Ray Allen's emergency stop and a missed shot, Garnett immediately protected the backboard and then advanced forward with the ball.

Coming to the frontcourt, Garnett, who failed to create a counter-defense opportunity, handed the ball to Cassel for organization, and then the Timberwolves players all settled according to tactics.

It is also the familiar horn position, but this time after the pick-and-roll is separated, the player who lifts up becomes Karl Malone, and the player who moves down becomes Garnett.

Since Malone played at the fifth position, James had to stand further outside while Malone moved up.

In this way, Garnett, who cuts down, can create an open scoring area near the penalty area.

Even if Reggie Evans is not out of position on the defensive end, Garnett can easily score, because Reggie Evans has an average of 0.1 blocks per game in his career. As an insider, it can be said that he has no frame protection at all. ability.

And after the pick-and-roll, he mentioned the mid-range shooting near the free throw line. This is the way Karl Malone has been performing all his life.

Coupled with Karl Malone's stable shooting efficiency, Luke will adjust the positioning of the two.

In addition, if Jerome James chooses to double-team or assist Garnett after defending the pick-and-roll, Garnett, who has excellent passing vision, can also pass the ball to Malone who is in the open position at the first time. Malone finished the shot more easily.

All in all, Garnett's comprehensiveness allows him to play different roles. At the same time, it can also make the Timberwolves more flexible and allow Karl Malone to play more comfortably.

Throughout the first quarter, thanks to head coach Luke's targeted defensive arrangements, the Supersonics, who averaged the second most three-pointers per game this season, were choked by the Timberwolves, and their three-pointers in the first quarter directly set a new season low. .

And the offensive end also stagnated, and the Timberwolves scored 27:14 in the first quarter. It didn't look like a battle between the Western Conference teams at all, but a unilateral massacre.

It's the same as when the Timberwolves slaughtered the Warriors and Trail Blazers before.

It is worth mentioning that Luke's defensive strategy of switching defenses as soon as he encounters a pick-and-roll has basically become popular in the small ball era of later generations.

However, although this defensive method sounds relatively simple, it is a very big test for the lateral movement speed of the inside players.

Otherwise, once the big player is switched to the small player, it is very likely that the latter will pass by in one step and complete a wonderful individual singles.

Fortunately, Garnett is now at the peak of his career, and his dominance on the defensive end has reached the top of the league. Even if he switches to a small player, Garnett can still parry.

That's why Luke can safely target the supersonic speed.

Similarly, it is precisely because of Garnett's impeccable overall performance on both ends of the offense and defense that the Timberwolves spend the game in just one quarter.

最后，卡尔马龙在首节一共登场了7分21秒，个人在进攻端4投2中，贡献出4分3篮板以及1次封盖。

Four of the shots were from mid-range shots. This kind of semi-healthy style of play can definitely prevent Karl Malone from injury, and it also makes it easier for Karl Malone to focus more on the defensive end.

As for whether Karl Malone, who is in his 40s this year, can still beat young people at the basket, Luke is not worried at all.

Because Luke knows very well that even the peak Malone will be "elbowed" when he can't win, let alone the old Malone...

　The new book starts, please recommend tickets for support, thank you very much!
　　


(End of this chapter)