At around 4 p.m., after arriving at the hotel, the Pistons held a press conference at the request of the media.
"Isiah, your current state is average, which can be said to be very poor. This season, you only averaged 9.5 points and 3.6 assists per game, while last season you averaged 16.2 points and 9.3 assists. Is it because of injuries or the need to prepare for the playoffs? Reserved? Or is it because of the team's request to make way for young players?" a local reporter asked maliciously.
Thomas had an angelic smile on his face and said: "The last time I played bulls, I was deliberately injured by Cobra Grant. It seriously affected my body and affected my performance, but I believe that at the critical moment, I still have the ability." The ability to stand up.”
He didn't like the media and was incompatible with reporters, so after saying this, he shut his mouth tightly.
"Iron Fist, tomorrow night you will face Xiaochong. He once promised to beat you up in the All-Star Game. Do you have the confidence to deal with him?" ESPN reporter asked.
Zhou Quan smiled and said: "I don't know why he is hostile to me, but he wants to beat me up. I don't think this is an easy thing."
"Iron Fist, do you think you have the strength and qualifications to get a signature sneaker contract now?" asked a local reporter in Oakland.
Zhou Quan said with a surprised look on his face: "Did I hear wrongly? It has been more than a month since I signed the contract, and you are asking this question now?
Mr. Reporter, I have to remind you that this issue is out of date, it is no longer hot. If you hand such a manuscript to the editor now, he will throw it directly in your face and fire you. So, do you want to change the question now? "
"Ha ha……"
Some reporters laughed.
The local reporter was a little embarrassed. He just wanted to target Zhou Quan, but he didn't expect to be ridiculed.
The 22nd, match day.
"Tim, Iron Fist said you don't have the strength to defeat him. Do you want to say something?"
When Tim Hardaway drove to the arena, he was followed by several reporters. When he heard this question, he was very embarrassed, because now everyone knew that he was jealous of the rookie.
But he didn't care that much. There were so many All-Stars at that time, including Barkley and Pippen. Who wouldn't be jealous? He was not the only one to show his jealousy in public.
He quickened his pace and said unhappily: "Don't ask me about that rookie. I don't know him at all, and I don't want to know him."
"Why do you want to blow him up? Is it because he signed the signature sneaker contract and you didn't?" A reporter deliberately asked nonsense.
Hardaway was so angry that he wanted to hit someone. Did you do that on purpose?
He said coldly: "I believe that one day I will have my own signature sneakers. I am no worse than anyone else."
Tim Hardaway did indeed do this. In the future, six years later, in 1998, when he was with the Heat, Nike produced signature sneakers for him.
At 7:30, the two teams announced their starting lineups.
Pistons: John Salley, Dennis Rodman, Orlando Ulrich, Joe Dumars, Zhou Quan
Warriors: Te'Lon Hill, Billy Owens, Mario Elie, Chris Mullin, Tim Hardaway
In the visiting team's locker room, the substitutes have already gone to warm up. After Chuck Daly got the opponent's starting lineup, he was using the last moment to set up tactics.
He said: “They don’t have a center and their offense is very fast, so we have to play our own rhythm in this game and not be led away by their rhythm.
Te'lon Hill is a forward, second-year player, rebounding and defensive, and his offense is average at the moment. Dennis, you can handle him. "
"Okay, coach." Rodman said.
Daly added: "In addition, in their starting lineup, except for Hill and Hardaway, the other three are swingmen. They all have three-pointers, breakthroughs, and passing abilities, so you are shrinking." When playing, don't leave big gaps in other positions. Our interior defense mainly relies on interior players.
On the outside, we mainly guard against Mullin and Hardaway. Elie is just a role player with limited abilities. Just pay attention. "
He didn't talk much about offense. The Pistons used to be defensive in the Bad Boys era, and the offense was run by the Assassins and Joe Dumars. Now it is also based on defense.
Although Laimbeer has retired and the Assassins have entered the bench, their defense has not weakened this season. They average 97 points per game, ranking first in the league. Their defense is the strongest in the league. Even the Bulls' overall defense is not as good as the Pistons.
As for the offense, Joe Dumars and Zhou Quan are responsible for it. Just play according to their respective technical characteristics.
After finishing speaking, it was time to play. Zhou Quan and other five people came to the player tunnel, waiting to play.
When they arrived, the warriors also arrived.
"Hello, Chris." Zhou Quan greeted with a smile.
Chris Mullin shook hands with him and smiled: "Iron Fist, I really envy your luck."
"Thank you!" Zhou Quan nodded and smiled.
"snort!"
Tim Hardaway snorted beside him.
Zhou Quan glanced at Hardaway and ignored him.
There are so many people who are envious of him. Not to mention other teams, just in the Pistons, who is not envious of him?
Even for an assassin, the contract amount is far less than him.
Even if he only takes the first two years of his contract, which are unconditionally enforceable, he still has four million US dollars, which is already more than the total amount of the Assassin's sneaker contract.
At eight o'clock, the game officially begins.
Jump ball, Pistons attack.
Zhou Quan caught the ball and entered the frontcourt, but Hardaway blocked the front. He ran over directly, and the latter immediately retreated on his own initiative.
Zhou Quan suddenly pulled to the left, and Hardaway had to follow.
The breakthrough distance from the top of the arc is the closest, but it also faces the most severe double-teams, and his vision will be affected, so he plans to break through with the ball on the left wing, so that his vision will be better and the opponent's double-teams will not be so tight.
As he moved toward the left wing, he glanced at Ulrich, pointed to the paint, and shouted, "Go in and hit."
Without hesitation, Ulrich on the left wing immediately headed for the paint area.
Mario Elie, who was playing against Ulrich, had a twitching face. Was he trying to beat the short with his height?
On the sidelines, Chuck Daly laughed.
Zhou Quan's performance makes him more and more satisfied. Without his arrangements, he can arrange suitable offensive tactics according to different opponents. This is the on-the-spot tactical ability and command ability of a point guard.
In this way, the Pistons' two insiders, plus the small forward, all entered the paint area. However, the Warriors only had Tyron Hill and Billy Owens who were more than two meters tall. The former was 206 centimeters and the latter was 203 centimeters. The height of the insiders was serious. Insufficient, the Pistons occupy a height advantage in the paint area.
Zhou Quan passed the ball to Ulrich, who had just entered the paint area. The latter relied on Mario Eli to throw a shot and missed. However, John Salley under the basket made a timely tip-in, which turned into a second offense.
The Warriors served from the baseline, and Hardaway had just received the ball. Zhou Quan immediately took a step forward and used a sharp steal to force the opponent to turn around to protect the ball. Then he went directly to the confrontation, pressed his body against the opponent's back, and surrounded him with his arms. , locking the opponent.
The center of gravity was squeezed in an instant, and Xiaochong was forced to play the ball immediately, returned the ball to Mario Elie who was serving, then glared at Zhou Quan and ran towards the frontcourt.
"The whole court pressed on the first attack? It seems that Iron Fist was very annoyed by Xiaochong's remarks about killing him?" a commentator from the Warriors said in surprise.
"It's normal. After the All-Star Game, there are many people who want to beat him. Who doesn't envy his sneaker contract? There are a lot of people who are more qualified than him to get signed sneakers. Beating him is a kind of proof to yourself. There might also be a chance to get a signed shoe contract.”
said another narrator.
"Then you have to be able to get it."
"How can I get two years, four million dollars, which is higher than his team's salary?"
