basketball forever

Chapter 78 Team Adjustments
During the offseason of the 01-02 season, the changes of each team were not small.

In the Eastern Conference, the signings and draft of the Washington Wizards attracted the attention of the world. After all, Jordan was accepted, as well as the No. [-] pick in the draft and Chinese players with high picks.

In addition to the Wizards, the signings of other teams have also made a lot of moves.

New Jersey Nets.

The final ranking of this team last season was the fourth from the bottom in the Eastern Conference, which can be said to be very bad.

However, after this offseason, their status has risen.

In the 01 draft, the Nets got a potential player from the University of Arizona, Richard Jefferson.

In the free agent market, they got another big fish, Jason Kidd!
If it weren't for the big event in September, if it weren't for Jordan's comeback, the exchange between Kidd and Marbury would definitely detonate this summer.

However, the fact is that there is no.

Kidd was no match for that big event and Jordan's comeback.

He can't even match the popularity of Chinese player Wang Xiaohui.

Through the recruitment of the management, the new season, the new lineup of the New Jersey Nets will be finalized——

Point Guard: Jason Kidd
Shooting Guard: Corey Kiddles
Small Forward: Kenyon Martin
Power Forward: Keith Van Horn

Center: Todd McCloch
Strong backup: Richard Jefferson

In the previous eight preseason games, a six-man team like New Jersey has achieved results that no one expected.

8-0!

An undefeated horror record.

They even put the runner-up 76ers who dominated the Eastern Conference last season under their feet.

They also bullied the Raptors with Jordan's successor Carter.

The media with good things about New Jersey began to predict themselves:

"In the new season, the Nets will be the number one player in the Eastern Conference."

"The only opponents of the Nets are the Lakers in the West!"

"The goal of the Nets for the new season is the championship!"

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Philadelphia 76ers.

00-01赛季，76人在总决赛4-1冲冠失败。

During the offseason, not only the Lakers, the championship team, were poached, but the 76ers, the runner-up team, were also targeted by many teams.

The 76ers have poached many veteran players whose contracts have expired.

The long-armed shot-blocking king Theo Ratliff joined the Eagles as a free agent, replacing Uncle Mu's defensive core position;

Blue-collar defensive champion, small forward George Lynch went to the Charlotte Hornets to make money;

More than 30-year-old veteran Troy Hill went to the Heat to earn the last pension contract;
The gangsters on the bench like Jumaine Jones were stolen one after another.

What can the 76ers management do?
The value of the contract given by others is high, they can't match it at all, so they can only let it go.

The only thing they can do is to retain the core players of Iverson + Mutombo, and then quickly find cheap supplements.

During the offseason, they added former 76ers veterans:
Former NBA All-Star Player: Derek Coleman;
Blue-collar defensive champions, small forwards, Matt Harprin and others.

In this way, the members of the very 76ers team for the new season are almost settled.

Point Guard: Allen Iverson,
Shooting Guard: Derrick Snow,

Small Forward: Matt Harprin,
Power Forward: Coleman,
Center forward: Dikembe Mutombo,
Subs: Aaron McGee, Raja Bell, Dalembert
Such a lineup basically maintains the core team of the 76ers last season.

It's just that such a lineup looks good, but its combat effectiveness is not very good.

It can be seen from the previous few preseason games of the 76ers that after they won a runner-up, they struggled a lot.

4-4!

Although it is half and half, but after watching the game, everyone knows that the 76ers won too hard, and they always rely on Iverson's superb performance every time.They lost too badly, every time there was a massacre of [-] or [-] points.

The runner-up's face is a bit ugly.

For these, Philadelphia fans are also very disappointed. What they want to see is reinforcement, not picking up a few crooked melons to fill the team.

In the finals, everyone could see that only Iverson scored for the 76ers.

If you don't find help for Iverson, you will be a runner-up at most in the end of this season.

"Breakthrough, we want to break through, what we want is the champion!"

The Philadelphia fans shouted their hearts out, but the 76ers management didn't have any ideas.

Not only these, you also know a lot of inside information.

Some media people began to break the news. It seems that the owner of the 76ers wants to sell the team.

In the 76ers team, the conflict between Iverson and coach Larry Brown has become increasingly prominent.

The boss and the general manager must be on the side of the cash cow superstar Iverson.

This time, Larry Brown must be upset.

It is quite difficult for a restricted head coach to make great achievements in the NBA team.Just like Del Harris of the Lakers before.

The regular season of the new season has not yet started, and 76ers fans already know that this season, the 76ers' prospects are worrying.

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What about the Orlando Magic?
They also ushered in good news this summer.

Gentleman Grant Hill will return this season.

In the 99-00 season, rookie coach Doc Rivers took over from old coach Chuck Daly.He played an excellent record of 41-41 that season and won the best coach award.

In the 00-01 season, the Magic began a major shake-up.

Originally, at the suggestion of Rivers, it was to poach the corner of the Spurs and steal Tim Duncan.

Duncan + McGrady, what a fantastic combination.

But who knows, the Magic management missed Duncan because of a small problem.

At that time, Duncan wanted to visit Orlando and wanted to fly with his girlfriend.

Unexpectedly, the Orlando management was unwilling to reimburse Duncan's girlfriend's plane ticket.

That's it?

Yes, that's it!
Duncan and the Magic parted ways.

Doc Rivers, who has been an on-site commentator for the Spurs for many years, sighed.

In the end, the Magic chose to match the first generation of Jordan's successors with McGrady.

Originally, the Magic had a long-term dream, but it turned out to be miserable last season.

Hill, glass body physique.

Grant Hill, who has not changed his style of play, is indeed too prone to injuries.

The team has all the ball in his hands, and every time he has to try to create opportunities, it really puts endless pressure on his fragile knees.

This season, although Hill is coming back, no one dares to imagine whether Hill can really play a beautiful and complete season with Tracy McGrady this season.

Last season, the strength of Mai Xi's combination was obvious to all. The probability of winning the game together was more than [-]%.

Magic fans are still very much looking forward to the reappearance of their combination.

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Indiana Pacers.

The rookie head coach who took office last year, the once all-powerful smiling assassin Thomas, did not have a very good life in the Pacers.

Obviously in the 99-00 season, when Larry Bird led the team, the Pacers were the number one existence in the Eastern Conference.

However, after Thomas took over, the Pacers fell to No.00 in the 01-8 season and almost fell out of the playoffs.

Obviously with the outside combination of Reggie Miller and Jaylen Rose, and the inside star Jermaine O'Neal, they just failed to achieve the desired effect.

1+1+1, they played less than 3 effects.

This season, comeback.

These guys who have been working together for a season should be about to rise, right?
Jermaine O'Neal, Jermaine O'Neal.

This is a high school student who was in the same class as Kobe in 96.

He was covered by Rasheed Wallace in the Trail Blazers before, and he failed to show his strength.Early Pacer, he finally unleashed all his energy.Today's O'Neal is one of the most dazzling power forwards in the league, even more so than Duncan and the others.

Although Reggie Miller is old, his sudden marksmanship still pierces Yang with a hundred steps, making it hard to guard against.

Jalen Rose, this is a well-known figure.At the small forward position, Jaylen Rose is also considered a leader.In the past few seasons, he has almost always been the team's top two scorers.

During the offseason in the summer of 01, the Pacers naturally had their own moves.

In the free agent market and the trading market, the Pacers management took a risk to get the bull Ron Artest who had been recuperating for three months because his ribs were broken by a Chinese player. In addition, he also got the white big man Brad miller.

Why is it an adventure?
Artest's injury?

Do you think the strength of your two new aids?

No, their strength is actually quite good.

So why?
It's because these two are problem players, the thorns of the Bulls!

Beast Ron Artest!

His nickname is not for nothing, he is a grumpy person on the court.Of course, he is also such a person in reality.

If there is a disagreement, he will wave his elbow.

Here, on this topic, the future bearded Harden has the most say.

As for Gerald Miller, this guy looked white, but when he quarreled and fought, this guy turned into a red man.

My face is red and my ears are red, I wish I could beat you to death.

A big, cranky white guy.

These two thorns are indeed talented, and they play really well.

However, the Pacers took the risk of trading them, what is this for?
The Pacers coach's smiling assassin is such a dwarf, does he really hold the field?

Although he used to be a member of the Pistons team, would the youngsters be afraid of you now?
The previous season, Larry Bird brought the Pacers to the Finals, but now, a better hand is in the hands of Thomas. Can he really lead the Pacers to rise again and reach the NBA Finals again?

Pacers fans naturally support this, and they are firm support.

However, many media and basketball experts have other ideas.

The preseason record of 2-6 makes many professionals unable to say good things about the Pacers.

They played too badly, like a beach of loose sand, they couldn't get together at all.

Jaylen Rose is relying on the old to sell the old, Reggie Miller is gradually fading out of power disputes, and O'Neal is a latecomer who wants to take the lead; Miller and Artest, the two thorns, also have their own starters and more balls that they want to fight for. Right will be.

Fight for power!

Every team will have it.

However, the Pacers are the worst.

There is no one who can really talk and can really hold the field. It is too difficult for the Pacers to go far.

"The Indiana want to return to the Finals, so they must find someone to talk about."

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Miami Heat.

In the playoffs last season, the Heat suffered a black six.

The third place in the East, they were eliminated by the No.6 Hornets in the first round.

Such a record naturally made Pat Riley cruel and made restructuring adjustments.

Public opinion has a lot of news, and the Heat are very interested in the picks for next year and the next year.

Then, in the offseason, the Miami Heat lost a lot of people.

Anthony Mason Jr., Tim Hardaway, Leonard, Bruce Bowen...

The absolute combat effectiveness of the Heat was just poached by others.

This season, they only have kidney fighters left:
Alonzo Mourning!

Of course, there is also the former All-Star Eddie Jones that the Lakers don't want.

Eddie Jones didn't have a good time with the Lakers.

It's all about Kobe Bryant.

After Kobe came to the barbarians, Eddie Curry's roles became less and less, less and less.

Fans in Los Angeles love to watch Kobe play.

And Eddie Jones is gradually giving birth to business.

After tossing and turning, to the Heat, unfortunately, they were swept out last season.

Whoever encounters this kind of thing is embarrassed.

There are only two front-runners left, and the Heat will naturally be hot-eyed in the new season.

1-7 record in the preseason.

Miami fans didn't even bother to watch.

However, everyone clearly knows that these obvious big changes are a signal for the Heat to enter the reorganization.

Today, the league is the Lakers' league and their world.

It was obvious that he would not be able to win the championship, so he had to find a way to hide.

Maybe, hide and hide, and the Lakers will be dismantled.

Perhaps, after hiding, Kobe will come to the Heat.

Maybe, if you hide, you will find Jordan in the draft next year.

There is no way. In the past few years, the Heat have been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs many times in a row. The management will not be satisfied after seeing it.

Pat Riley, the head coach and general manager, naturally couldn't stand it.

Why form a team?Isn't it just to make money?
Ahem, isn't it just for the championship?
After winning the championship, don't the tickets keep coming in?

Who would be willing to dismantle the top three teams in the Eastern Conference if it wasn't for the unbearable?
It's all because the Heat have big ideas.

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In the Western Conference, each team also has its own actions.

The defending champion Lakers.

They are the ones who get the most attention.

The consecutive championships of the OK combination have attracted countless fans to them.

The Lakers have become the league's public enemy.

When many teams build a team, they have to deploy several meat tanks.

Isn't it just to deal with O'Neal of the Lakers?

If a man without a big meat suit is carrying O'Neill, is the game still going to be played?
It was almost like the inside line was crushed by O'Neal, and the game was GG.

During the offseason, except for the power forward Samaki Walker who was given up by the Mavericks, the Lakers' other core players remained basically the same.

Although they were also dug out, their corners were not dug deep.

After all, Los Angeles is a big city, and many Lakers players still like to stay here.

Instead of going to a small city to be a big force, it is better to gain a firm foothold in Los Angeles.With increased exposure, it is not a big problem to go panning for gold in the future.

The Lakers have almost completely maintained the lineup of last season, and the combat effectiveness naturally has no impact.

Not surprisingly, they are still strong contenders for the championship this season.

O'Neill's toes were injured all the year round because of his heavy weight.

After this summer's offseason treatment, in the new season, he will continue the intermittent process of last season.

Not playing back to back, this is the Lakers' rotation during this period.

Without the influence of later generations criticizing the rotation, O'Neill took the rotation confidently.

In the regular season, this big fat man will be fierce in the playoffs.

Kobe was on his honeymoon all summer.

He married his lover Vanessa in April this year. Although his family members opposed him and he didn't even go to the wedding church, Kobe still insisted on going his own way and chose the love of his life.

I spent the whole summer on my honeymoon, but after returning, Kobe was completely unaffected.

From a rookie in 96 to now in 01, after 5 seasons, Kobe has changed from a rookie to an "veteran" in the NBA.

In the preseason, both Kobe and O'Neal showed their outstanding strength.

O'Neal was very dominant at the basket, and Kobe sent assists from the outside. When O'Neal was double-teamed, Kobe could rely on his own breakthrough to give the Lakers a way out.

The OK combination is still that terrifying combination that makes people dread.

Perhaps, this season, they have become even stronger.

In addition, this summer, the NBA has made some adjustments to the rules.

Almost all fans in the United States believe that at this time, the Lakers are still the biggest favorites for the championship.

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San Antonio Spurs.

In the draft, the old man Bubu of the Spurs selected the French defender, the small Tony Parker.

This is Tony Parker, known as the little French sports car.

Many people think that international players are not good people, but here in the Spurs, it has proved something.

The old man Bu Bu did some things unethically, he was a bad old man, but he was still good at observing players, selecting players, and training them.

Ginobili and Tony Parker are the masterpieces of bad old men.

Later, in the free agency market, the Spurs cheated again.

The old man Bu Bu sneaked up on the corner of his own Pat Riley.

Bruce Bowen.

Of course, this is where Pat Riley defends minions.

Pat Riley didn't think much of Bowen.

Bruce Bowen is nothing more than an honest water cooler caretaker in the Heat.

What I didn't expect was that after this guy came to the Spurs and followed the bad old man, he also became bad.

Everything is for living.

Who can blame whom?

It's like Alphabet Song Stepping Owen.

What if Alphabet Song finally won the championship because of this step?

Is that step worth it?
The society is very simple, but it is people who are complicated!

The Spurs not only brought in defensive blue-collar Bruce Bowen, but also added excellent shooter Steve Smith.

Although Smith, in his thirties, seems to be starting to decline in ability, but this addition is of great significance to the strength of the Spurs' bench.

After such operations, the Spurs' members for the new season came out:
Point Guard: Tony Parker,

Shooting Guard: Michael Finley,

Small Forward: Steve Smith,
Power Forward: Tim Duncan
Center: David Robinson,
Bench: Bruce Bowen, Manu Ginobili, Antonio Daniels
The Spurs used this combination to achieve a good record in the preseason of the new season.

6-2
Last season, the Spurs had the No. [-] record in the Western Conference.

Although their heads were shaved by the Lakers, their No. [-] record in the Western Conference does exist.

In the new season, San Antonio's goals remain unchanged.

champion!
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Dallas Mavericks.

For the Dallas Mavericks this summer, it is really not friendly.

In the draft, in the free agency market, and in the trading market, they have failed.

Of course, not only in this season, in fact, every season, the offseason of the Mavericks is not easy.

In Dallas, there is actually a very general awareness.

Ethnographic!

Why do the Mavericks like white players so much?In fact, this is caused by the local culture.

Discrimination is quite serious in this state.

That's the dilemma the Mavs have been in all along.

Obviously the owner of the Mavericks team has a lot of money and has plenty of money, but other teams just don’t like to make deals with you, and many players just don’t want to come to the Mavericks team, and don’t want to come to this place to experience the different customs here.

Before the offseason, Mavericks coach Nelson had a plan.

He has taken a fancy to many high-quality players,

For example: Shawn Marion of the Phoenix Suns,
For example: Raja Bell of the Philadelphia 76ers,

Example: Free agent Steve Smith.

It was originally negotiated that free agent shooter Steve Smith was going to come to the Suns to beat and run, but for some reason, the other party ended up going to San Antonio in the countryside.

The Mavericks were cut off by the Spurs in the backcountry, can you believe that?
Moreover, one Steve - Smith even, the Mavericks management also found a big thing.

The Spurs secretly contacted the Mavericks' core shooting guard, Michael Finley!
Dig the wall!
Digging the foot of the wall actually dug into the heart of others.

Nelson scolded the people of San Antonio: "Among the ambitious dogs, you wait for me, old man Bubu, watching my game is better than beating you out?!"

Many Dallas fans who knew this were indignant, and bullied the whole family of that old man over there for several generations.

"Next time we dare to come to Dallas, we will kill them."

Back on topic, Nelson and the Mavericks love this, love that, and appreciate this.

But, just because you like it doesn't mean others like it!

People often open their mouths like lions.

"Okay, take Steve Nash for it."

"Okay, Michael Finley, can you afford this chip?"

"Nowitzki is coming, I think this German guy is good."

Who can stand such a sea?
The Mavericks simply can't take it.

The weak Mavericks can only afford Mr. Billionaire, Juwan Howard.

But, who wants Mr. Billion Dollar?

Who will eat that late-term contract that is getting bigger and bigger?
If you eat it, won't you have indigestion?
Juwan Howard's contract is too big.High salary and low ability!

He can indeed score a few points on the court by relying on mid-range shots, but many big men can do it, but he can't do it.

Especially a more critical job like defense.

The team already has a hole like Nowitzki, and a hole like Nash, and another Howard?

Although Nelson kept saying that he didn't care about defense, he couldn't help but feel his liver hurt when he saw the defense full of holes when all three were on the field.

Throughout the summer, Sr. Nelson kept shaking his head.

"If only I had been more ruthless at the beginning, I would have taken Wang down."

Of course, this Wang is not the current Mavericks Wang Zhizhi, but the rookie Wang Xiaohui with the 13th overall pick.

But it's no use regretting.

Lost is lost, can not be recovered.

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Grizzlies!
This season, the Grizzlies moved.

They moved back to Memphis in the United States from Vancouver, Canada.

In the draft, the Grizzlies selected the best college player Shane Battier.Unlike the previous teams that selected super centers from high schools, the Grizzlies have a unique vision and are looking at college players.

Of course, that's all because of the sourness.

If the Grizzlies are in the front pick, they will also return to a super center.

No, soon, they will move.

In the free agent market and trading market, the Grizzlies also have a lot of moves.

Through the trade, they sent away Rahim and exchanged this year's rookie from the Atlanta Hawks, a talented big man from Spain, Pau Gasol.

Later, they traded White Chocolate Williams from the Sacramento Kings.

In this way, the Grizzlies' team was formed.

White Chocolate + Shane + Gasol.

Although it is impossible to compete for the championship this season, they have great potential in the future.

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Sacramento Kings.

This summer, they adjusted the members slightly.

Point Guard: Mike Bibby,

Shooting Guard: Doug Christie,

Small Forward: Peja,

Power Forward: Chris Webber,

Center forward: Divac
Substitute Turkoglu, Scott Pollard.

Bibby is a point guard traded from the Grizzlies, swapping clubs with Williams.

Future generations can know that this lineup will play unimaginable Princeton basketball.

It's just that these people today are simply unimaginable.

As far as this lineup is concerned, only Bibby has been replaced, and the Kings' style of play has become even better.Their strength directly became the ranks of the championship.

After watching the playoffs, you will know, the Western Conference Finals, the Lakers vs. the Kings.

This Kings 3-4, unfortunately lost to the Lakers.

If there is another accident in the 7 games, then this king will most likely reach the championship in the end.

And the status of this Kings team will also rise accordingly.

The style of play of the Princeton system may also be used and learned by more famous coaches.

It's just that there is nothing if ah.

When the king loses, he loses.

This is the era of the Lakers.

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The aging Utah Jazz.

Since Hornacek retired, although this Jazz team still has "black and white double evil spirits", they are no longer the Jazz team they used to be.

Both black and white are old.

Although Karl Malone still holds the team's highest salary of 1750, his state has really begun to decline.

Even Iron Man, he started to slide.

The Jazz are going into rebuilding.

The Jazz are aware of this.

Therefore, before the black and white Shuangsha retired, the Jazz began to look for new players, and began to let the black and white Shuangsha lead apprentices.

In the summer free agent market, Jerry Sloan found a three-pointer for the Jazz.

Marshall.

This is Marshall who later set a record of 05 three-point goals like Kobe in 12.

In addition to this person, the Jazz also has reinforcements from foreign aid.

A talented player from Russia, AK47, Andrey Kirilenko.

Kirilenko was originally selected in the 99 draft, but he just joined the NBA today.

It can be said that this person is a strong contender for Wang Xiaohui's best rookie.

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Houston Mosaics.

In this summer, unfortunately, Eddie Griffin became the unlucky guy who was selected by the Mosaic team, and then he started his unlucky career there.

In the free agent market, the Mosaic team took a fancy to the former three-point shooter and won Jordan's All-Star Game MVP, Glenn Rice.

Olajuwon is now 38 years old, which can be regarded as the sunset year of his career.

However, he who wanted to die here was ruthlessly abandoned.

With his big contract, he was dumped to the cold north, the Toronto Raptors in Canada.

If it weren't for the strength and body that didn't allow it, Olajuwon and Carter formed a team, how many people would be scared to death?
In the preseason of this season, the Mosaic team played extremely rubbish.

0-8.

water!

Their strength is too weak.

Their rockets should all be launched by water guns, right?

Moreover, this team is very unfortunate.

The preseason has just started, and their Glen Rice is injured.Griffin was also injured in a few days.

Two consecutive generals were injured, which directly cast a thick shadow over the entire team.

Unlucky round, who can compare to our mosaic?
After a season of hard work, only Francis and Mobley remained in the end.

It's still the team with Francis and Mobley at home. Such a mosaic team is really nothing to talk about.

Rebuild, rebuild, the words filled management's offices again.

No one knows why they are so unlucky?
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Except for the teams mentioned above, the lineups of other teams have basically not changed much, and they have basically retained their lineups from last season.

Soon, after the establishment of the 15-man roster of each NBA team, ESPN announced the NBA's new season team strength list selected by the expert group——

1. Los Angeles Lakers

2. Sacramento Kings

3. San Antonio Spurs

4. New Jersey Nets

5. Philadelphia 76ers
6. Toronto Raptors

7. Minnesota Timberwolves

8. Dallas Mavericks

9. Portland Trail Blazers
10. Milwaukee Bucks
……

16. Washington Wizards

The Lakers are still the most promising favorites to win the championship.At the top of the list, there is no doubt.Maybe the Lakers will take a nap during the regular season, but everyone knows that the Lakers can't afford to mess with anyone in the playoffs.

Of course, the challenges facing the Lakers this season are not small.

The reinforced Kings and Spurs are all competitors of the Lakers in the West.

If the Lakers want to enter the finals, they still have to lose a layer of skin first.

No one knows who will be the final champion of this season.

Only by comparing will you know!
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The new season of the 01-02 season will start soon.

Tomorrow, June 10th.

The first day of the NBA regular season is coming.

Several opening games are direct dialogues between several popular teams in the East and West.

Lakers vs. Wizards;
Nets vs Mavericks;
76ers vs Kings;
Bucks vs Trail Blazers;

Among them, the defending champion Lakers and Jordan's Wizards are the opening game.

The reunion of the old and new kings makes everyone look forward to it...

(End of this chapter)