Chapter 192 New Rules?
Mosaic is attacking, Yao Ming is in the low post on the left wing asking for the ball, and he wants to return one.

In order to enhance his mid-range and close-range shooting abilities, He Zhongqiu can allow a lower hit rate on the offensive end.

But on the defensive end, he is fully committed, and he devotes all his energy to every defense in order to gain more proficiency.

At present, his defensive level is still very low, which is mainly due to experience and technical issues. According to Thibodeau, if he plays for another one or two seasons, he will definitely be on the best defensive team.

Overall, his starting point was still a little low, but his progress was still very fast.

Because even Kevin Garnett only made the All-Defensive Team for the first time in his fifth season.

Among all the inside players in the league, only the monster Tim Duncan made it to the All-Defensive Second Team and the All-NBA First Team in his rookie season, and to both the All-Defensive and All-NBA First Teams in his second season.

At this time, Yao Ming was in position, and he immediately moved forward to defend.

But he did not use force to push Yao Ming out, but stayed close to him and did not give Yao Ming any space.

This is what Thibodeau taught him, a defensive method specifically for dealing with Yao Ming.

Yao Ming is not as good as inside players like Duncan and O'Neal. His shooting touch is better than most guards. Even if they consume their energy to push him farther, it will not matter to Yao Ming. On the contrary, he will be farther away from the basket, which will affect his speed in returning to the basket.

Yao Ming has now mastered the low-post turnaround jump shot, and even the turnaround fadeaway jump shot. Regarding this technique, Thibodeau suggested that he should defend Yao Ming only after he receives the ball in a close position, so as not to give him space to turn around, thus affecting his shot.

The ball was passed down and Yao Ming was ready to catch it.

His offensive technique is to immediately hit He Zhongqiu after receiving the ball, use the hit to get space for turning around, and then turn around and jump shot.

But before he could get the ball, he was hit by a huge force, which made him unable to stand.

He had been working on his lower body strength, so his thighs were very strong and his lower body was very stable, but the force was too great and he couldn't stand at all.

"What the hell!"

Cursing inwardly, he simply turned around, stepped back, received the ball and made a jump shot.

He turned around and stepped back while catching the ball. After completing the step back, he had already widened the distance between himself and He Zhongqiu, and then he immediately jumped shot. The whole set of technical movements was very smooth.

At the same time, he also made a small move. When he turned around and stepped back, he secretly pressed He Zhongqiu with his left hand.

He Zhongqiu reacted very quickly. He was about to take a step forward and jump to block the shot, but was stopped by Dayao, interrupting his rhythm. He could only watch him shoot.

"brush!"

A splash appeared and two points were made.

"Turning around, stepping back, catching the ball and shooting... beautiful! Yao Ming's skills are really good, his offensive skills are no worse than Duncan's." Xu Jicheng praised.

Yang Jian smiled and said, "Yao's turnaround jump shot in the low post is almost impossible to be blocked. Zhongqiu wants to block this shot, unless he can provide a shadow-like defense."

Sun Zhenping said: "This ball is really difficult! He received the ball while turning around, instead of performing the technical moves after receiving the ball."

"Yes, the technique is really good!" Xu Jicheng nodded.

At this time, the Knicks' counterattack was completed and He Zhongqiu scored another goal.

The offensive rhythm was very fast. While Mosaic's defense was not yet in place, He Zhongqiu went straight to the basket, received Shi's pass and completed a slam dunk.

After he succeeded, Yao Ming returned to the top of the arc to defend. Kevin Cato and Doriak fell behind and were not as fast as Yao Ming.

"Oh, the Knicks play fast break and Yao Ming has no choice." Sun Zhenping said.

Xu Jicheng said: "Yao's speed in returning to defense is actually not slow, and his stride is very long, especially when he is full of energy.

It’s just that Zhongqiu’s speed is too fast, which makes Dayao’s speed seem slow.”

Yang Jian said: "There's really nothing we can do about this. Zhongqiu's speed should be faster than last season, especially in short-distance sprints. His explosive power is amazing. His speed is even comparable to that of a guard. He just completely kept up with Nash's speed."

Xu Jicheng said: "Among the four super centers, David Robinson is the fastest, and Zhongqiu's speed is not inferior to Robinson at all."

"Nash is fast and has very strong passing and control abilities. He and Zhongqiu are a natural match and are suitable for fast breaks," Sun Zhenping joked.

"Haha..." The other two laughed.

After laughing, Xu Jicheng said: "Fast break should be a magic weapon tactic for the Knicks now. It is very effective against inside players like Yao Ming and O'Neal."

"The same applies to the Spurs," said Sun Zhenping.

Xu Jicheng analyzed: "The main problems of the Knicks are, first, how to make up for Nash's loophole on the defensive end, and second, how to prevent Nash from being locked down by opponents on the offensive end. As long as these two problems are solved, they will be a championship-level team."

"The second problem is that we can use fast breaks. In a fast-paced offense, even the Pistons will find it difficult to double-team Nash," said Yang Jian.

"Hey, this is actually a good idea." Xu Jicheng said.

Sun Zhenping said: “The first problem can only depend on Zhongqiu’s defense. If it gets better, it should be able to fill some gaps.

In addition, I feel that the current starting lineup has better defense than the mid-range shooting king in the starting lineup, so it is more reasonable to keep this lineup. "

At this time, the score on the field was 4:6, and the Knicks were two points behind.

Francis hit a mid-range shot over Nash's head, then He Zhongqiu missed a mid-range shot, and Yao Ming hit another mid-range shot.

"Another mid-range shot. You want to lose today, right? I'll help you. Hehe." Yao Ming, who had succeeded, smiled proudly.

"What do you know? This is called training through competition."

He Zhongqiu grumbled and decided not to use the CTV for the time being.

After the locust stone is upgraded, the mid-range shooting technique will definitely change. It is useless to practice it now. It is better to use close shots more often to avoid the hit rate dropping too much.

After scoring 30+ points at the beginning of this season, his scoring has dropped below 30 points in recent games because of his reduced efficiency and a decrease in shots.

However, he has a chance to compete for the scoring title and MVP this season, so he must pay attention to his offensive efficiency.

In the low post on the left wing, He Zhongqiu received the ball and faced the basket, grabbed the ball with both hands and leaned down.

"Another mid-range shot? Maybe not. This guy is very cunning. He might try to break through me."

Yao Ming was unable to make the correct defensive judgment, and the next moment, He Zhongqiu's attack began.

"squeak!"

With the sharp friction sound of sneakers, a figure swept past Yao Ming from the right side, and he was defeated by He Zhongqiu in one step.

Kevin Cato had already returned to the basket from the low post on the right wing, but he had no determination to jump up and block the shot, so he just dodged to the side.

"boom!"

After the one-handed slam dunk, the Toyota Center fell silent.

"Beautiful! Zhongqiu's face-to-basket offense is getting better and better. The first step is so fast that Yao Ming can't react at all." Yang Jian said excitedly.

"I believe that after O'Neal, Zhongqiu will definitely be able to dominate the five position." Sun Zhenping said expectantly.

Xu Jicheng smiled and said: "Barkley said that Zhongqiu can dominate the five position in the Eastern Conference. Now, in terms of the five position in the entire league, the only ones who can compete with Zhongqiu on both offense and defense are O'Neal, Duncan and Garnett, who are power forwards.

But now under Rick Carlisle, the mid-season has also made a bit of a transition to the 4 position, and the functions of the 4 and 5 positions are somewhat blurred.

I think we should compare the entire inside line, that is, O'Neal, Duncan, Garnett, Zhongqiu should be at their level, right?"

"Everyone has their own strengths."

After Yang Jian made his conclusion, he added: "In terms of attacking under the basket, O'Neal is the best, and Zhongqiu is second. In terms of close shots, it has to be Duncan. In terms of mid-range shots, Duncan and Garnett are the best.

Comparing the overall strength on the offensive end, Garnett should be the weakest as he has no ability to attack with the ball. Zhongqiu is above him, and Duncan and O'Neal are the strongest, and they can explode against each other.

In terms of defensive ability, Garnett is the best, followed by Duncan, then Mid-Autumn, and O'Neal is the worst."

Xu Jicheng said: "In terms of offensive skills, Zhongqiu is still a little bit behind. His finishing methods are too monotonous. In addition to layups and dunks, he only shoots rebounds. This season, he has added a lot of rebound shots. People didn't understand it before, but now his opponents understand it and can defend against it in a targeted manner. We should pay attention to this issue."

Sun Zhenping nodded and said, "The finishing method is too monotonous, and the mid-range shot has not been practiced yet. The offense is concentrated in the penalty area. Once the routine is figured out by others, it is easy to be targeted by defense."

At this time, Mosaic was already ahead.

Because the Mosaic back line consists of Francis and Mobley, the top three offensive guard combination in the league, the Knicks played a three-two zone defense, focusing on defending outside breakthroughs and shots.

But they still couldn't defend against this pair of guards. They always focused on Nash's defensive loopholes. Whoever Nash was facing would hold the ball and attack, while the others would move away and let him play one-on-one.

Rick Carlisle asked Nash to switch defense on Jim Jackson and avoid the pair of guards, but it still didn't work, so he went after him after the pick-and-roll.

He Zhongqiu successfully made up for the opponent several times, but more often he failed to make up for the defense, and his help defense was only third-rate.

In this game, Mosaic won at home with a score of 95:102.

The Knicks suffered their second defeat of the season, with a record of 12 wins and 2 losses, still first in the league.

After the game, Xu Jicheng analyzed: "Nash is indeed useful on the offensive end, but on the defensive end, this loophole is a bit big. Now the whole team is filling it for him, and it can't be filled when facing a very offensive outside combination like Mosaic."

Sun Zhenping said: "Francis scored 27 points and Mobley scored 22 points. % of their points were scored against Nash. Both of them scored at least points against Nash.

But they couldn't defend Nash either. Nash also scored 22 points and 10 assists. His offensive performance was impeccable, but he lost too many points on defense."

杨建说道：“中秋27分14篮板1助攻2抢断3盖帽3失误4犯规，命中率54.5%。

Yao Ming had 20 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, 3 turnovers, and 3 fouls, with a hit rate of 62.5%. He had a very good touch today, and his efficiency was even higher than that of the Mid-Autumn Festival. His performance was also one of the important reasons why the Mosaic won the game. "

On the 25th, the Knicks arrived in Minnesota.

Coming here from the warm Houston, the temperature dropped by more than ten degrees, and the temperature at night was even acceptable at zero degrees.

On the 26th, the team had a training session in the afternoon and then went for dinner.

Returning to the locker room at six o'clock, Josh Howard coughed occasionally, but he didn't care.

Around 7:30, he felt a little feverish and had a sore throat, thinking something was wrong, so he quickly called the team doctor.

The team doctor checked and it was probably a viral cold.

At this time, Nash also discovered symptoms, as did several staff members. He Zhongqiu's translator Philip was also coughing.

It is obvious that the team is widely infected.

This did not disrupt the team's composure. Athletes regularly undergo excessive and high-intensity training, which leaves them in a weak state after training. Their immunity temporarily decreases, making them susceptible to respiratory diseases, so the team is prepared to deal with it.

Rick Carlisle quickly adjusted the starting lineup.

Alan Houston returned in the last game and played for more than ten minutes. His condition was obviously not as good as before. His shooting percentage dropped, he had fewer breakthroughs and free throws. He almost just stood there waiting for an open space and played without the ball.

So the original plan was to have him continue to play as a substitute in this game, under the pretext of giving him more time to recover, but now there is no choice but to restore him to the starting position.

Nash was replaced in the starting lineup by Charlie Ward.

In addition, he put Mutombo in the starting lineup.

After all, Mutombo is an eight-time All-Star, so he should be given a pseudo starting position. This is necessary respect.

At 7:30, both sides announced their starting lineups.

Knicks: Mutombo, He Zhongqiu, Bonzi Wells, Alan Houston, Charlie Ward

Timberwolves: Earvin Johnson, Kevin Garnett, Pulswell, Trenton Hassell, Sam Cassell
This game was a nationally televised game for the Timberwolves, broadcast live by ESPN, with commentators Bill Walton and Steve Jones.

Both are retired NBA veterans, Walton is a Hall of Fame member, and the 61-year-old Jones is a player in the ABA league.

After getting the list, Bill Walton frowned and said, "Josh Howard was replaced by Alan Houston. This is nothing. After all, no one can put a former core player with an annual salary of 1600 million on the bench."

Steve Jones speculated: "Charlie Ward replaced Nash in the starting lineup. Did Nash get injured suddenly in the locker room?"

Bill Walton shrugged and said, "The Knicks are currently 12-2 and the Timberwolves are 8-6, but without Nash, the Knicks are in trouble tonight."

Steve Jones said: "When Madman arrived at the Timberwolves, he cooperated very well with Cassell and Garnett. Some media have already said that they are the three-headed monster of the Timberwolves."

"Szczerbiak is seriously injured and has not played. After his return, the Timberwolves will be stronger." Bill Walton said.

Steve Jones said: "Nash is very important to the Knicks. Without him, the Knicks' organization and scoring capabilities will be much weaker, and the offense will be even worse than last season.

Last season, Kurt Thomas and Madman both averaged 15+ points per game, but now only Wells can average 10+ points per game, and Mutombo can only play as a pseudo starter. "

Bill Walton nodded and said, "But the Knicks are really strong this season. I didn't expect them to perform so well.

But the last game against Mavericks exposed a big weakness. They can't deal with a team with strong outside offense, and Nash will be targeted and beaten."

"In the upcoming regular season, this weakness of theirs should be targeted and magnified," said Steve Jones.

At this time, in the player tunnel, Alan Houston and others were greeting the madman.

He Zhongqiu stared at Kevin Garnett and asked, "Latrell, did this guy who likes to bully his teammates bully you? We are brothers, I will help you out."

Garnett was confused. What are you talking about? Am I the kind of person who bullies my teammates? Am I that kind of person? Am I? Wolverine, please don't mess around. I'll call the police.

The madman laughed loudly and said to Garnett and the others, "See? Wolverine is very loyal, isn't he?"

What else could they say? Garnett and the others nodded quickly.

At eight o'clock, the competition begins.

He Zhongqiu and Garnett jump ball and the Timberwolves attack.

Cassell attacked with the ball on the left wing and backed up Charlie Ward.

The league has established a five-second post-up rule, which states that the post-up shot with your back or sideways to the basket cannot exceed five seconds, otherwise the ball will be exchanged.

But that is the area below the free throw line extension, the area above does not apply to this rule.

Cassell is a master of post-ups and plays at a very slow pace, so the Wolves pulled away and allowed Cassell to single out Charlie Ward on the wing.

He started at the 3-point line and backed up Charlie Ward, pushing down past the free throw line extended and then continued down.

In order to make room for Cassell, Kevin Garnett in the low post also left the left wing low post and took He Zhongqiu with him.

Center Earvin Johnson even pulled to the right wing and was not in the paint area.

Three seconds after crossing the free throw line, the madman suddenly cut into the paint from the right elbow area, and Cassell suddenly passed the ball.

"brush!"

The madman received the ball and made a layup in three steps, making a shot.

It was too late for He Zhongqiu to return to defend the basket.

Bill Walton laughed, "It was too slow and the play was ugly, but it was very effective."

Steve Jones smiled and said: "In the 00 Finals, the Pacers let Mark Jackson single out Kobe like this, and then after the Finals, the league introduced the five-second post-up rule."

Bill Walton said thoughtfully: "There is a voice in the league now that we need to encourage offense and limit defense to a greater extent. I don't know what rules will be introduced."

Steve Jones said: "Commissioner Stern has always encouraged offense, and it is not surprising that he has introduced rules to restrict defense."

"There are reasonable collision zones in the interior that are beneficial to offense. It seems inappropriate to introduce rules to restrict interior defense. This time, the rules may be beneficial to outside offense." Bill Walton speculated.

(End of this chapter)