NBA's strongest prince

Chapter 102 Stages
The Suns attach great importance to the game against the Supersonics. Although they are back-to-back, they are well prepared, and it is not a surprise that they beat their opponents lightly.

D'Antoni also performed relaxed. Before the game, he greeted the opponent's coach McMillan, "Let's see you in the playoffs."

After the game, he also performed the team's substitute players. Last time there was a gap between the substitute players and the opponent, but this time it was different.

He said: "Our substitute players have really performed well, which means a lot for our future games."

"This win is obviously very important for us. We've won the Mavericks and the Pistons before, so we've had three great wins in the last two weeks and we're playing at a very high level. .”

Joe Johnson, who performed well after the game, was also in a good mood. He said: "I think they just wanted to see if I could make a few shots at the beginning. Fortunately, I did a good job, which also allowed me to find the rhythm of the game."

Although he got a contract extension ahead of schedule, he will become the team's fourth player in terms of season performance, including the All-Star. It is very important for him to perform at his best.

After playing the Sonics, the Suns will have to compete with the Spurs, who are next to them in record.

It's a pity that Duncan is absent, this is not a complete Spurs.

Duncan is the core player of the Spurs. Without this point, Russell feels a little boring.

In this game, Parker played him very fiercely, but at the beginning without Duncan, the Spurs were undefended inside, and Stoudemire seemed to enter no man's land, scoring whatever he wanted.

The Suns achieved a double-digit advantage in the first quarter. Although the game was ups and downs later, they kept controlling the situation and won the game easily.

This is perfectly normal. A strong team has no core figures, which is just an average team.

Russell also said after the game, "It's normal to win an incomplete Spurs. It's not something to be proud of. I look forward to the collision of the playoffs."

And then Marion was absent, and the Suns were not low on the Rockets.

Now the Suns are already preparing for the playoffs. Like the Spurs, players will not force themselves to play if they have problems.

The Rockets performed better in the second half of the season than in the first half. Although their tinkering deal still did not solve the problem of the No. [-] position, the addition of Mike James also scored points off the bench, and the offense improved somewhat.

And the Suns, who are a bit anxious about rebounding, lack Marion, the best rebounder in the team. Yao Ming can be said to have completely suppressed them in the interior. Yao Ming also scored a career-high rebound of 20+ this time, and Stoudemire was helpless. .

The Rockets' two strong points are indeed not bad, but the team's weak links are too obvious, and it is difficult to make much difference in the playoffs, so Russell does not regard them as difficult opponents.

If Marion hadn't rested, they would have taken the Rockets easily.

There was also some luck factor in this loss, so it was no big deal.

Next, the team will have an away trip, both east and west, and Marion also chooses to come back.

The physical fitness of the Suns' first few players is really lacking. Russell, who has the longest confrontation, has rested twice anyway, and the others are about the same even if they are not Iron Man.

Russell also told D'Antoni and the team medical team that the players must be kept healthy.

They have such a strong lineup this season, it would be too depressing if they suffer in the playoffs because of injuries.

On the training ground, during the break, everyone will talk about the playoffs from time to time.

As Marion, who has the most experience in the playoffs among the starting players, he always said, "That's how it is in the playoffs. You may be confused for the first time, but for me it's almost the same as the regular season, and I won't be affected." .”

Stoudemire said: "I am more excited to play in the playoffs. If I hadn't gotten fewer opportunities last time, the team may not have been eliminated in the first round."

In the playoffs of the previous season, the Suns played all three strong points, but Joe Johnson was still a role player at that time, so he just showed his face.

Russell and Iguodala are certainly rookies in the playoffs, but they have nothing to worry about.

One is related to character, and the other is confidence in the team.

Those players whose teams are not strong enough, or who are not confident in themselves, will be easily afraid of the intense playoffs.

The Suns will not, as long as they show regular season standards, there will be no problem.

It's just that as the day of the playoffs gets closer, everyone will have some expectations.

There will definitely be something different by then, but I can't feel it at this time.

On March 3, the sun came to Denver again.

The Nuggets are also possible opponents in the playoffs, and they are considered difficult bones.

Of course, at the current level of the West, the top eight teams are not easy to deal with.

When the East was strong, the teams entering the playoffs would not have bad players. Now it is the turn of the West to be strong.

The Suns hope that in the last one or two months of the season, they can train well and play well in the face of possible playoff teams, but the opponent's situation is not as good as theirs.

The Suns are the team with the fewest injuries because they have the strongest medical team in the league.

This season's record is good, so there is no need to work so hard.

The Nuggets are different. Their interior has been affected by injuries.

Not only was Camby unable to play in this game, but Nene was also unable to play, and the Suns lineup had an overwhelming advantage.

The Suns finally have a rebound advantage this time. They have an inside advantage against many teams this season, but the inside advantage is different from the rebound advantage. Their rebounds are relatively average in the league.

This time they have an advantage in rebounding, and they played a lot more steadily.

In fact, the Nuggets played much better than the Suns imagined. Because they didn't have a suitable inside line, they played a small lineup most of the time. The offensive end, especially the bench, was very efficient, and the defense was also very hard.

It's a pity that their lineup is very flawed, and it is still relatively reluctant to fight off the Suns.

The Suns worked very hard to play a strong team, but they then overturned when they encountered the Warriors who were hopeless in the playoffs.

The bearded Davis played well after being traded to the Warriors and directly beat Russell.

When a heavy guard like Davis has a shooting percentage, it is really difficult to limit. This buddy physically crushes Russell, and then goes berserk with a three-pointer. There is really no way.

Therefore, you can't be careless in the face of any opponent, and there are no underdogs in the NBA.

However, losing to the Warriors is also acceptable. Now that the Suns have less than [-] games in the season, they must concentrate on playing against the strong teams in the West, and they must be serious when facing the strong teams in the East.

The energy of the players is limited, and they must relax mentally against the underdogs, otherwise no one will be able to withstand it.

Playing relaxed doesn't mean bad. Generally, you won't overturn, but it's okay if you lose accidentally. Anyway, you won't meet in the playoffs, and everyone has no psychological pressure.

(End of this chapter)