No one on this Timberwolves team dares to accuse Kevin Garnett of arrogance.
He is very proud of his success at a young age. He has the highest annual salary in the NBA at $28 million. This season he was awarded the regular season MVP. Now he is leading the team in the Western Conference Finals.
In this league of the jungle, Garnett is already considered a big winner.
But the Wolf King, who participated in the draft after graduating from high school because of poor studies, is indeed lackluster in terms of personal qualities.
In short, the madness is over.
The Wolves are famous for their passion for playing, and the Timberwolves' ticket sales have been booming in the past few seasons.
Modesty, gentlemen and good people like Grant Hill and Steve Nash are too low-key in the NBA and it is difficult to attract enough fans.
According to the timeline of the original world, this season was Nash's last year with the Dallas Mavericks. Because the contract given by Cuban was too low, Nash switched to Phoenix and teamed up with D'Antoni.
He started his magical journey to win two consecutive MVP awards, and also started the first-generation whirlwind of small ball.
Lin Fei still likes Nash very much in his one-round playing career. Will he go to Phoenix to join forces with Nash next season? This seems like a good choice too.
After all, D'Antoni's bombardment tactical system should be the most suitable for a character like Lin Fei. Nash's exquisite passing is also easier to confuse the enemy and can be comfortably passed to the running Lin Fei.
It's just two defensive sloths partnering in the backcourt. This scene is really scary...
"Yeah, the latte tastes good!"
Lin Fei took a sip of the warm latte in the porcelain cup and smiled at Trenton Hassell beside him:
"The NBA is indeed a dream stage!"
"Trenton, you can finally sign a big contract at the end of this season. With your defense, your starting annual salary will be at least US$4 million. I'm envious!"
"As for me, I don't know if any team wants it!"
Hassell also complimented: "Lin, with your three-point shooting, which team can't make a living? I should be envious of you!"
Lin Fei said politely and modestly: "It's just that I feel warmed up for a game. There's nothing to brag about. I don't know how it will turn out in G6 of the Western Conference Finals tomorrow night!"
Michael Olowokandi, who was sitting behind him, snorted, with a hint of contempt in his tone.
"Three-pointers are always a matter of luck. Trenton, as long as your defense is solid, you will never worry about playing time!"
As the No. 1 pick in 1998, Michael Olowokandi can be said to be one of the best No. 1 picks in league history, averaging 8 points and 6 rebounds per game in his career.
The Los Angeles Clippers held the No. 1 pick that year, but missed out on Nowitzki, Carter and Pierce in the 1998 class, and chose Olowokandi, who had no talent but rough skills.
Facts have proved that this was also the worst choice, and it can be said that it screwed up the Clippers.
After being traded to the Timberwolves this season, Olowokandi couldn't even make the starting lineup. In the playoffs, due to the injury of veteran center Johnson, he was promoted to the starting lineup, and his performance was unsatisfactory.
Among this Timberwolves team, Olowokandi can be said to look down on Lin Fei the most, and of course he can also be said to be jealous of Lin Fei.
Compared with Lin Fei's diligent and active training, Olowokandi can be said to be lazy to the core.
Due to his talent, he often misses training and has no patience to polish his skills. His life style is messy, he often hangs out in nightclubs and uses alcohol to numb himself.
Such players, no matter how talented they are, are destined to be eliminated by the NBA.
Timberwolves head coach Flip Saunders often said that if Olowokandi had half the motivation and training volume of Lin Fei, he would have become the next Olajuwon.
Lin Fei laughed off Olowokandi's cynicism. There was no need to waste time with such a person.
The wolf king Garnett next to him was furious. He turned around and gritted his teeth and cursed: "Shut your fucking mouth, you dare to bully Lin. Do you believe that I will beat you up?"
Olowokandi was immediately frightened. He did not dare not listen to what the Wolf King said.
But I still sneered in my heart, waiting for Lin Fei, the undrafted draft pick, to show his true colors in tomorrow's Western Conference Finals G6.
Some video clips from the first five games of this round of the Western Conference Finals were played on the on-board TV. The tactical assistant coach was holding a marker pen in his hand and was explaining on the blackboard nearby.
"Restricting Shaquille is still our top priority on the defensive end, so we must understand the tactical essence of the 23-zone defense!"
"Look here, everyone, this is a defensive round in the last game!"
"Kobe dribbles to the strong side corner. At this time, Kevin, you should go around and block Karl Malone! This way, their pick-and-roll at the 2/4 corner will not be effective..."
About an hour later, head coach Phillip Sanders stopped the tactical assistant’s explanation:
"Tomorrow's game, the starting players are still Darik Martin, Trenton Hassell, Latrell Sprewell, Kevin Garnett and Olowokandi!"
"On the bench, Szebiak, Hoiberg, Lin, Mark Madsen, you four will be the main rotation players!"
"Kevin, Latrell, in this life-and-death battle tomorrow, we still have no way out. Both of you must be prepared to play for 43-45 minutes!"
Garnett patted his chest, showing off his tough-guy temperament: "Coach, I can play 48 minutes tomorrow, no problem!"
"Madman" also gritted his teeth and said angrily: "As long as Kobe is on the court tomorrow, I will be on the court. I will fight with this guy!"
Phillip Sanders nodded and encouraged: "Very good, I am proud to coach you!"
"Lin, you will probably play after the first official timeout of the first quarter tomorrow, and Wally will play with you!"
"The coaching staff and I have developed several cover tactics specifically to create space for you to catch the ball. You can learn about it first!"
"When we get to Los Angeles, the team will practice together at the Staples training facility tomorrow morning!"
"Okay coach!" Lin Fei took several tactical drawings handed over by the tactical assistant and looked through them carefully.
"Coach, I think this can be improved. After the cross screen at the top of the arc at position 2/3, position 4 will conduct another screen at this position, so that I can run to the bottom corner to catch the ball more smoothly!"
"If the opponent comes inside and switches to guard me, Kevin can go directly to the basket and score!"
"In addition, I can take advantage of Lakers Malone's slow footwork and let Kevin move to the top of the arc and at a 45-degree angle to set up pick-and-rolls for me. This way I can get more opportunities!"
Phillip Sanders and the tactical assistant coach looked at each other, smiled and nodded:
"Very good, Lin, it seems you have the potential to be a head coach in the future!"
Lin Fei said bluntly, he can't control too much. The Lakers' defense will be tight in tomorrow's game.
Only higher-quality pick-and-roll tactics can give Lin Fei more opportunities to catch the ball and shoot three-pointers, proving that he is not a flash in the pan.
But although "Wolf King" Garnett didn't say anything, he was still a little unhappy in his heart.
After all, he is the boss of the team, and he always pulls out to provide off-ball screens for his younger brother. Doesn't this show that he has no offensive ability?
Besides, can Lin Fei's three-pointers continue to be accurate in G6 of the Western Conference Finals?
Los Angeles.
Staples Center.
Video analysis room.
The Lakers players are sitting at the conference table.
The assistant coach standing next to "Zen Master" paused the game replay on the giant projector and concluded:
"So, regarding Lin's defense, when the opponent is chasing, he must also consider whose hands the ball is in and from which direction it will be passed!"
"After Cassel retired from injury, the Timberwolves did not have an excellent passer. Whether it was Hoiberg, Kevin or Latrell, their passing skills were average!"
"So as long as you are always careful to cut off the passing line, you will not only destroy Lin's catch and shot, but also very likely create opportunities to steal and counterattack!"
"Besides, whether it's Derrick or Kobe, even Gary, your bodies are stronger than Lin's!"
"Our defense must be physically strong and provide enough pressure, so as to destroy Lin's running position and shooting touch!"
"All in all, defense of Kevin and Latrell are still our two focuses in tomorrow's Western Conference Finals G6, with Lin in third place!"
Old Malone was still dissatisfied with being benched at the last minute of Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals. At this time, he snorted:
"I'm just an undrafted guy. How can I mobilize so many people?"
"7 of 7 three-pointers in the last game, and 0 of 8 three-pointers in the next game. This situation happens often even to Reggie Miller and Ray Allen, right?"
"Three-pointers can never dominate a basketball game!"
As a representative power forward of the old school in the NBA, Karl Malone has always been known for his tough play and defense.
Throughout the 1990s, he competed fiercely with the four major centers and Mourning, and still did not fall behind.
Kobe did not completely underestimate Lin Fei, and said with sharp eyes:
"This kid's three-pointer is not terrible. After all, the feel itself is metaphysics!"
"But his ability to move without the ball is definitely among the best in the league!"
…
"Zen Master" dragged his glasses frame on the bridge of his nose and said coldly:
"In short, you must win G6 of the Western Conference Finals tomorrow for me. You must not let the series drag on to the tiebreaker!"
…
Los Angeles, May 31st.
At 6:30 pm local time.
Staples Arena was packed with people, and the auditoriums on all sides were packed.
The sixth game of the Western Conference Finals that fans have been waiting for will finally start in half an hour.
The fans at home formed a golden sea, and many people were wearing O'Neal's No. 34 jersey and Kobe's No. 8 jersey.
There are also many Lakers fans wearing Malone and Payton jerseys.
Although the Lakers F4 is over-the-top, its cards are really good.
No one doubts the outcome of tonight's game.
Lakers fans are ready to watch the Western Conference Championship Ceremony at home.
League Vice President Adam Joke also came to the scene to watch the game in person with the Western Conference Championship trophy.
At this time, the players of the Timberwolves and Lakers were conducting simple warm-up activities on the court.
Lin Fei deliberately missed a few more three-pointers during his three-point shooting warm-up to release smoke bombs.
If he really scores all the goals and attracts the attention of the "Zen Master" coaching staff, then he will inevitably face a more severe defense.
As for the three-point show-off in pre-game warm-ups like the later generations of Curry, Lin Fei will have plenty of opportunities in the future.
Looking up at the 14 championship flags on the roof of the stadium,
As well as the retired jerseys of legendary stars such as George Mikan, Jerry West, "Sky Hook" Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, "Magic" Johnson, and Elgin Baylor,
Lin Fei could feel the splendor and weight of this arena.
Staples Arena has witnessed too many superstar performances that have gone down in history, as well as those unforgettable comebacks and countdown kills that fans will never forget.
Lin Fei also hopes that he can leave a lasting mark in this arena tonight.
