Billups seems to have a lot of choices, but in fact, unless he wants to be flat, there are really not many teams that are suitable for him.
The Thunder, which focuses on Youth Storm and is full of talent, is his best choice.
After all, the Thunder made it to the Western Conference Finals last season. The only thing missing was that they didn't know how to earn the ball, and were properly arranged by the old boys of the Mavericks.
In the end, the Thunder successfully signed Billups with a two-year, 8 million contract through bidding and their own advantages.
In Subei's previous life, the Clippers signed Billups in a flash and only offered a short-term contract of US$4.3 million. In fact, there were some bonus clauses.
In other words, Billups may not be able to get all the money.
In fact, due to a heel fracture that year, he only received an annual salary of 2 million from the Clippers.
Including the Knicks' 12.2 million, it is also top-notch.
All he needs is a chance, not to prove how strong he is, but to regain what he has lost.
In the 10/11 season, Billups averaged 17 points, 5.4 assists and 2.6 rebounds per game.
For the Knicks, the two-point shooting percentage was 40% and the three-point shooting percentage was 32.8%, which looked unremarkable.
However, that's because he was traded to the Knicks after most of the season and needed to readjust.
When he was with the Nuggets, his two-point shooting percentage was 43%, and his three-point shooting percentage reached a peak of 44%. They are considered a strong group. It should not be difficult to play the role of the 38-year-old Kidd.
With Su Bei and Billups joining one after another, the Thunder has become the most beautiful player in the championship competition, overpowering the Heat's Big Three and becoming the biggest favorite for the championship.
December 25, Chesapeake Energy Arena.
Night falls.
It is the Christmas game and the opening game of the 11/12 season.
The Thunder vs. Magic attracted the attention of all of North America and the world.
As the strongest contender for the championship in the 11/12 season, all the media's attention has fallen on this small city team with ceiling-level draft vision.
What kind of game can they play tonight?
Do the youth Thunder have championship potential?
What will be the chemistry between the new players and the old players?
Whether the Thunder continue to charge up and play, or come down to play, the anticipation and focus are full.
Home team locker room.
Durant and Westbrook went inside together.
High-fived and hugged my teammates one by one.
The communion ceremony is very simple and easy.
This team, with an average age of just 23, doesn't look like a professional team, but like a college team.
Scott Brooks walked in and immediately intensity the tactics he was playing.
“The tactics remain the same, it’s still the same way of playing.
The body rushes up, uses physical talent, and hits the basket.
We just need to knock Howard down and we've already won half the battle.
The remaining half is to make the shot. "
Simple and direct!
This is Scott Brooks’ coaching style.
Visiting team locker room.
The atmosphere seems very happy!
With the emergence of the Heat's Big Three, they can only compete for the playoffs, and their mentality is very peaceful.
Howard grinned, twirled and danced.
It's like being in an all-star game.
Hearing Stan Van Gundy roar, this took shape.
There’s nothing to say about tactics!
Just ask and the stars will shine.
…
Amidst the landslide and tsunami of cheers and applause.
Thunder players walked out one after another.
Su Bei saw the blue ocean once, and there was no fluctuation on his face.
After all, he is an old bird and has experienced a lot, so that's all.
During the warm-up, Durant and Howard chatted for a few cents.
Westbrook high-fived Ryan Anderson and hugged each other. They both debuted in 2008, so they said hello.
The others had nothing to talk about.
The core players of the Thunder are still too young and have no friendship.
Su Bei quietly warmed up and shot, received Harden's pass, and found the feeling of three-point shooting.
At this time, the starting lineups of both sides for tonight's match were also displayed on the big screen in the arena.
The Magic's starting five are Howard, Ryan Anderson, Turkoglu, Jason Richardson, and Nelson.
The Thunder started with 5 players, Perkins, Yin Baka, Durant, Su Bei, and Westbrook.
This game was broadcast live by TNT. In addition to Barkley's partner Kenny Smith, Jeff Van Gundy was also invited as a guest.
"Billups, who has received the most attention, did not play tonight, which makes sense!
He signed with the Thunder relatively late and had almost no time to adjust.
Moreover, Westbrook's starting position is inevitable, and it is really difficult to force him into it.
This has to be done slowly.
In the Thunder's starting lineup, only Su Bei replaced Sefolosha.
Su Bei's three-pointers are better, which can be regarded as an enhanced version of the adjustment of the matchup. The tactical play is very likely to be the same as the original one. "Kenny Smith analyzed.
"Jeff, you and Stan are brothers. What do you think of the path the Magic took in 2009?"
"In 2009, the Magic reached the Finals, proving that a one-star, four-shooter strategy with Howard at the core was the most suitable strategy for them.
At the same time, Howard does not have James' ability to organize the ball and make breakthrough shots. Re-trading Kotgrew, who was sent away two years ago, can be regarded as bringing order to the chaos!
Kotgrew can bring what Howard doesn't have, and Carter is naturally very strong, but he can't replace Kotgrew's role. It's that simple. "
"In other words, Stan Van Gundy has no other tactical homework and can only correct it on the original homework.
Ryan Anderson is equivalent to Lewis, and Richardson is a better 3D player.
I don’t know the running-in situation, but just looking at the lineup, the 12 Magic team is now the enhanced version of the 2009 Magic team..."
Beep——!
When the whistle sounded, the referee threw the basketball high into the air. Howard defeated Yin Baka and won the first possession of the ball for the Magic.
Nelson dribbles the ball forward, and Westbrook watches the defense.
Su Bei followed Jason Richardson.
This person, in his previous life in Jiangsu Province, was signed by Bobcats owner Jordan to become an All-Star.
However, my strength was limited and I couldn’t fight it out.
Now he can only be a role player.
The Thunder used man-to-man tactics, and Richardson ran directly to the right corner.
Su Bei also felt relaxed and followed him.
"Nelson dribbled the ball to the top arc, Howard caught Perkins in the low post on the left, and then reached for the ball.
Durant shrank in, trying to prevent Howard from getting the ball..."
With Howard's monster-like physical talent, he is a threat with the ball.
Coupled with the fact that the Thunder's inside line is not high enough to protect the basket, getting the ball to Howard is likely to be a scoring problem.
At this time, Ryan Anderson, as a power forward, stayed in the left corner three-pointer, making the Thunder's defense very uncomfortable.
】
Yin Baka defends, and Perkins alone cannot stop Warcraft. If he does not defend, Ryan Anderson's three-point shooting ability will probably teach the Thunder's defense.
"This is the power of one star.
On both sides of the corner, there are shooters who can shoot three-pointers, and on the wings and in the top arc, there are main attackers who can burst and shoot.
The Thunder's defensive hands and legs were instantly tied..."
Pulling like five horses tearing a corpse apart, this kind of pulling ability is really hard to resist.
There are two bottles of poison in front of the Thunder. Are they going to be inside? Or do you want an outside line?
The Thunder are very ambitious and choose to have both.
“The Thunder’s idea of limiting Howard’s ability to catch the ball, using his mobility and taking care of perimeter defense is a good one.
But Nelson hoisted the basketball into the basket, Howard got the basketball, and then became reckless towards Perkins.
Peng——!
Perkins took a half step back.
Seeing that Howard continued to be reckless, Perkins couldn't compete. Letting the monster get to the basket was a scoring problem.
Yin Baka can only shrink back and attack Howard..."
At this time, Yin Baka had just moved, and Ryan Anderson in the left corner also moved and moved to a high position.
Howard passed the ball to Nelson, took the ball two steps further, and then passed the ball to Ryan Anderson who was completely free.
At the 75-degree two-point line on the left, Ryan Anderson caught the ball, jumped up, faced Durant's blocked shot, raised his hand and shot a two-point jumper...
“Durant was very fast and active on defense, and his hand caught Anderson’s hand and the ball went in.
It’s a beautiful 2+1…”
Swish——!
Beep——!
When the basketball hit the net, the referee's whistle also sounded. Anderson's two-point goal was valid, and he also got a chance to score three points with an extra penalty.
Durant's active defense only prevented a lonely player.
This is why the Magic insist on one star.
James has his own system.
Howard can replace James alone, and naturally he has a system, which is really worthy of him.
Swish——!
At the free throw line, Anderson made a steady free throw, giving the Magic the first three points.
3 to 0!
Ryan Anderson is a space forward, a first-round pick in 2008. In the 2010/11 season, he averaged 11 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, shooting 43% from two-pointers and 39.3% from three-pointers. It’s not without reason that the Magic sent Lewis away with peace of mind and focused on training him.
The question is, there is a basket and it’s cheap!
It matches Howard's style very well.
Outside the court, Stan Van Gundy rushed to the court and applauded.
Not only did he praise Ryan Anderson, he was also very satisfied with Turkoglu's return.
He only needs to stand on the court to increase the Magic's offensive space.
Off the court, Scott Brooks was calm.
The question is that the Magic can score, but they are not as good as the Thunder. They still have confidence in this.
"Westbrook rushed up and quickly reached the frontcourt, looking at Junior Neil on defense.
After a pause, he continued to dribble the ball recklessly.
Nelson could only fight and retreat, and the Magic's defense shrank.
There was no wave, Westbrook distributed the basketball to Durant on the outside.
Outside the three-point line on the left wing, he picked up the ball. When he saw Kotgrew approaching, he immediately tapped his left hand to his right, moved to the center, brought it to the free throw line, immediately raised the ball, and made a flat shot with his hand. A strange two-point jump shot..."
Kotglu was shaken and lost half a step. He rushed to block the shot. Even if he didn't lose half a step, it was of no use.
At 2.08 meters tall, with his wingspan, he could not reach the shot blocker, so he could only listen to the gunshot.
Swish——!
With the knife in hand, Durant easily hit two points.
3 to 2!
"This is Wang Zhao. If you encounter them, you can only bet that there are no bullets in their pistols.
It’s not that our side is too weak, but that the other side is too strong…”
Su Bei was so excited at the beginning and didn't care.
The Thunder team, which has the best combo, is so powerful.
Didn't you know that Tanhua Lang in 2009 would have to stay on the bench and languish for four years.
No matter how strong Durant is and how good he can score, is his salary as high as him?
Does he have more championship rings? He didn't even have any hair, so Su Bei could stand tall and watch over him, and make money while lying down.
"This is Durant's personal ability.
No one in the Magic team can stand up, and with Westbrook's reckless play, it is impossible to defend. The Magic team can only do their best now, let the bullets fly for a while, and come back on offense. …”
Magic offensive possession.
Continuing to expand the formation, Nelson brought the ball to the frontcourt and immediately passed the ball to Turkoglu on the left. Ryan Anderson ran over to cover. Yinbaka could not ignore it and let Anderson and Turkoglu face Durant. Play mixed doubles.
However, as soon as he made the save, Turkoglu passed the basketball to the top arc. Nelson took the ball and immediately broke through inside.
"Howard pulled out, screened Nelson, and immediately cut to the basket.
Little Nelson casually sent the basketball into the sky, and Huo HuaDe, the monster, flew up, caught the ball in the air, and beat Perkins, who was 2.08 meters tall, and it was a two-handed slam dunk..."
Bang-dang——!
Howard made an alley-oop with his entire body hanging on the basket.
5 to 2!
"Continuous pick-and-rolls allowed Howard to have offensive space and get the basketball again, which was equally unstoppable.
The superstar basketball played by both sides was unstoppable.
Next, let’s see how the Thunder come back?
Still push the attack quickly.
Westbrook dribbled the ball to the frontcourt. After being pressed, he didn't play blindly. He distributed the ball to Durant, lifted the ball a little, collected the ball, and changed direction to break through to the right.
Kotglu was easily passed, his reaction was too late.
Durant broke through into the penalty area, and Richardson shrank back.
Pulling the ball up, Durant raised his hand to make a two-point pull-up jumper in the paint... No, Howard flew over and covered the basketball. He swept too fast and engaged in physical confrontation. Durant was empty-handed. After hesitating, he finally threw the basketball away.
Outside the 45-degree three-point line on the right, Su Bei received the basketball. When he was free, he raised the ball and raised his hand to shoot a three-point jumper..."
By the time Richardson pounced back, it was already too late, and he could only bet that Su Bei's three-point pistol had no bullets.
Swish——!
Guessed wrong, Su Bei's pistol has bullets.
He took a three-point jump shot and hit it steadily.
5 to 5!
“Very nice!
Su Bei, a senior role player, plugs and plays.
The three-point shooting is so solid!
He was still invisible just now and didn't show much.
But you can't ignore his offense. He kills every chance he gets, so the Magic know that it's not just the Thunder that can kill the game. "
"Snapped--!"
"Su, great shot!"
“You passed the ball so well!
"
When returning to defense, Durant high-fived Su Bei to celebrate the connection. Of course, there was also a business exchange.
Su Bei scored this goal and got the first blood to join the Thunder from Durant, opening his personal scoring account.
…
