"Coach Riley, what do you think the Knicks' chances are of reaching the second round?" a reporter from ABC TV asked.
"We have great confidence in defeating the Pistons. This confidence comes from the strength of the lineup and the high will to fight..."
"We have super center Ewing, we also have the strongest defense, the toughest style, we are like an army, we will crush any enemy..."
Pat Riley, who is good at speaking, immediately started his performance. His seductive words and powerful auxiliary movements made the audience immersed in his speech. After the speech, ten minutes had passed.
"Mr. Oakley, all four of you villains have suffered at the hands of Iron Fist. Iron Fist can be called the league's vanguard in combating evil. What do you think of this?" asked an ESPN reporter.
Oakley was so angry that he couldn't speak, and his hands were shaking. He was a bullshit vanguard in fighting evil, but Iron Fist was the biggest villain in the alliance.
"Mr. Oakley?"
When the reporter saw Oakley not answering, he immediately urged.
Oakley said angrily: "He hit so many people this season, even Dameng was beaten to the point where he lay in the hospital for more than a month. If the league hadn't protected him, he should have been suspended for the entire season, instead of just Suspended for two games."
"Charles?"
Pat Riley immediately stopped him. The idiot said that anyone can do it, but don't attack the alliance. Doesn't Stern dare to touch you?
"Charles, you suffered a big loss at the hands of Iron Fist last time. Do you regard the Pistons as your mortal enemy?" a reporter asked again.
Oakley nodded without hesitation: "Absolutely."
"Do you think you can beat him?" the reporter asked again.
Oakley looked at the nameplate hanging on the reporter's chest, Detroit Daily Worker, with an ugly expression. He glared at the reporter before saying in a low voice: "I was careless last time. This time I want to make him look good."
"Charles, last time you were only knocked out by Iron Fist with one punch, why did you stay in the hospital for more than a month? You shouldn't be that seriously injured."
The reporter ignored Oakley's fierce look and continued to ask.
"Am I going to tell you that I challenged him off the court and got beaten up by him again?" Oakley thought angrily.
He thought for a while and said: "For safety reasons, the team let me stay for a while."
Pat Riley, who was next to him, was a little worried. Oakley couldn't do it and could only deal with others. Iron Fist had to be dealt with by Mason. Mason's neck was now thick enough and he should be able to carry it.
"Charles, what do you think of Iron Fist's violence on and off the field?" a reporter asked.
"Why do you keep asking me, am I not a star?"
Oakley cursed in his heart, and when he became angry, he said a little irritably: "He is the Detroit Killer King. Are you satisfied with this answer?"
"oh!"
The reporters exclaimed.
Anthony Mason glanced at Oakley with dissatisfaction. This is my intended nickname. I am the ultimate murderer in New York.
"Patrick, in the second round of the 1990 playoffs, your team was eliminated by the Pistons with a score of four to one. When we meet in the first round this time, are you confident of reaching the second round?" A reporter asked Ewing's head. superior.
Ewing choked for a long time before saying, "Yes."
"Can you say a few more words?" the reporter asked expectantly.
"certainly."
Ewing choked again, then fell into silence, seeming to think about what to say.
The reporter waited for a while, but Ewing was still thinking. After waiting patiently for a while, Ewing was still thinking, so he became desperate and surrendered. He handed the microphone in his hand to the staff, saying that he couldn't wait any longer. .
As the Knicks press conference ended, Zhou Quan's nickname of Detroit Killer King spread like wildfire in the media.
…
At five o'clock in the afternoon, the Pistons ended their team training and held a formal press conference at the headquarters at the request of the media.
"Coach Daly, you are the head coach of the national team. The national team did not recruit assassins. Is it because Jordan did not allow it?"
The first reporter to be flipped was a reporter from the New York Daily News who asked a question that made Chuck Daley want to pull out a gun and shoot someone.
He understood that this reporter must have asked this question in a targeted manner and wanted to use this question to affect his relationship with the Assassins, undermine the stability of the Pistons locker room, and put the Knicks in a favorable position.
This question is really hard to answer. He is not only the head coach of the Pistons, but also the head coach of the national team. The interests of both parties need to be safeguarded. He has been avoiding this question all this time.
And he regrets very much that as the head coach of the Pistons, he cannot bring any of his disciples into the national team. He is the only representative of the Pistons.
He is very clear about the reason why Thomas cannot be selected, and it does have something to do with Jordan, but the biggest reason is that the league does not allow it.
Jordan is now the most popular player in the NBA and the league's biggest signature star. His style of play is gorgeous and very popular, so Stern hopes to use the opportunity of the Olympics to let Jordan help the league develop the international market.
Considering the relationship between Jordan and Thomas, even if we use the most euphemistic word to describe it, it is as cold as ice. It would be best if they don't fight when they meet. If they stay in the same team for dozens of days, I am afraid that there will be conflicts between the league and the national team. Unexpected changes that no one wants to see.
In addition to the reasons for the league and Jordan, there is also Magic Johnson.
The relationship between Magic and Thomas used to be very good, but it turned sour this year, and Magic secretly resisted Thomas joining the national team.
Coupled with Thomas's poor popularity, the final result was that he was not selected for the national team.
Even Joe Dumars was replaced by John Stockton because he was the head coach of the national team.
The face of Isiah Thomas next to him also became ugly. This year's Olympics was the first time that the World Basketball Federation allowed professional players to participate, but he lost the opportunity to participate in the Olympics.
He does not blame Coach Daley, because as the head coach of the Pistons, Coach Daley must avoid suspicion, and he is facing pressure from many aspects and cannot help him. This is not something that a head coach can decide.
He never even asked Coach Daley once why he was not selected and what the criteria for selecting players for the national team were.
Up to now, as his competitive status has declined sharply due to injuries, in fact, even if he is allowed to enter the national team now, he does not want to go. He definitely does not want to show weakness in front of Jordan and watch Jordan Show off your power in the international arena.
But after all, this matter was a thorn in his heart, and he would be very uncomfortable if it was mentioned in public.
In the end, Chuck Daly responded: "You'd better ask the Basketball Association about this question. This is a matter they are responsible for. I am only the head coach and not responsible for selecting players."
"Iron Fist, do you agree with the nickname Detroit Killer King?" A reporter asked Zhou Quan.
Zhou Quan has a good personality and never changes his face easily, but this question almost made him jump: "What is the Detroit Killer King?"
"Oakley said he thought you were the Detroit Killer King?" the reporter replied, holding back a laugh.
"Nonsense! This is slander."
Zhou Quan immediately decided that he could not spare that bastard Oakley. How could such a gentle man like him have such a terrible nickname? Once this nickname spreads, how can he sell his sneakers?
"Iron Fist, as for our first-round opponents, we and they are both defense-first teams. How do you think we should deal with them?" a local reporter asked.
Zhou Quan put down the question of the murderer king, a smile appeared on his face again, and said: "This question reminds me of an ancient battle in China, the Battle of Xiangji Temple."
"The Battle of Xiangji Temple?"
Many reporters slurred over the word one.
"Yes, that was the battle with the largest number of battles in ancient times in our country."
Zhou Quan didn't talk much about the battle at Xiangji Temple, and they didn't understand it if he did. He smiled and said: "We played five games with the Knicks in the regular season, and we know each other's tactics, strengths, weaknesses, etc. very well. It can be said that we actually have nothing to hide from each other.
Now that we meet in the first round, what we have to do is gong to gong and drum to drum with the Knicks, and play a few head-to-head games. Whoever wins or loses, it is possible.
What we are comparing is not tactics or lineups, but willpower, on-the-spot performance, tactical execution ability, desire and pursuit of victory, ability at critical moments, and whether the stars can stand up. "
"Iron Fist, do you think you can stand up at the critical moment?" The next reporter is a reporter from New York Sports News.
Zhou Quan smiled and said: "I don't brag about myself. I don't have this ability at the moment. But we have people like this. We have people who can stand up at critical moments."
"In other words, you are not the most important person on this team?" the reporter asked.
Zhou Quan smiled gently and said, "I'm just a rookie, you know that."
"In Game 6 of Magic's rookie season finals, when Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was injured and absent, he stood up and won the championship in one fell swoop, winning FMVP. At that time, he didn't say he was a rookie." The reporter looked disdainful. typical.
Zhou Quan laughed and said: "Thank you for comparing me with Magic. I also hope to be as great as him. This is every player's dream, and I will work hard for it."
The reporter did not let Zhou Quan go, and continued to ask: "Magic's regular season statistics during his rookie season were: 18 points, 7.7 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 2.4 steals, 0.5 blocks, 4 turnovers, and 2.8 fouls per game. Iron Fist, your statistics are similar, but you If you think you are not as good as him, does this mean that you are brushing up data during the regular season?"
"How hard it is for you to be able to memorize data from such a long time ago." Zhou Quan gave the reporter a thumbs up.
"Haha..." There was laughter at the scene.
The reporter didn't look embarrassed at all. I'm just here to cause trouble for you. Of course, I have to be prepared.
Zhou Quan smiled and said authentically: "If you say that I brushed the data, then how do you explain our record? Third in the Eastern Conference, that is not a record that a team that brushes the data can achieve, so sir, you use Magic To deny me based on my performance in the first finals is to be a hooligan.
According to your logic, are all the superstars who did not win the championship in their rookie seasons just brushing up their statistics? Are they all parallel imports? Otherwise, the Magic can win the championship in their rookie season, why can't they?
For example, Patrick Ewing, Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson, Charles Barkley, and many more.
None of them won the championship or FMVP in their rookie season, and most of them have not even won the championship. So do you want me to name them one by one? "
"You? No need."
After hearing Zhou Quan's words, the New York Sports reporter's face turned black with anger. I can act like a hooligan, so why do you act like a hooligan?
Before he could ask any more questions, the staff came straight up and took away his microphone. He was so angry that he couldn't help but glare at the staff.
"Assassin, will you still play as a substitute player in the playoffs?" The next reporter is from ABC TV.
"You will know tomorrow." Thomas smiled.
"Will you be the one who stands up for the Pistons at critical moments?" the reporter asked.
"Perhaps, each of us may be." Thomas smiled calmly.
After the press conference, it was past six o'clock. His brand shoe store had already closed for business, and the statistics should be out. Zhou Quan contacted Philip to ask about the sales situation.
"Roger, how are sales today?"
"Zhou, it's not bad. Detroit sold 6,253 pairs of sneakers today. Los Angeles was also okay, selling 1,625 pairs. Including other cities, a total of 9,258 pairs were sold, and the sales amount reached 230,000 US dollars. From this point of view, 800 pairs a year Sales of 10,000 yuan should be achieved.”
He breathed a sigh of relief. Eight million a year, with an average sales of more than 20,000 US dollars a day, should be achievable.
But this requires him to continue to perform well, otherwise his shoes will definitely be unsaleable.
Philip said happily: "Skechers is also very happy. They estimate that the annual sales should reach about 10 million to 15 million US dollars. With an average sales of 30,000 to 40,000 US dollars a day, the company should not lose money.
Zhou, if you can enter the All-Star next year, there is definitely room for improvement in this estimated data. Now your brand of shoes has made a good start. If you work hard in the future, you will have more and more fans and the situation will get better and better. "
…
That night, ESPN put on a program to discuss the situation of the NBA playoffs.
The host is former NBA player Matt Guokas, who invited four guests, namely the old partners Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Dr. J. Julius Erving, and Bill Walton.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the ESPN TV NBA channel..."
After the show started, Guokas made an opening statement, and then said with a smile: "Tonight we will discuss the upcoming playoff situation, so which teams do you think have the most championship qualities? In the first round of the series In the competition, which teams are absolutely sure to advance to the second round?"
The four guests looked at each other, and finally Bill Walton plucked up the courage and said, "Let me speak."
"Pa bang bang..."
The other three people and Guokas all applauded in unison.
The reason they applauded was because Bill Walton had a stuttering problem and poor expression skills. He had undergone treatment in the past two years and had improved a lot. He currently plans to work as a commentator, but he still lacks some courage, so they all encouraged him.
Bill Walton nodded gratefully to several people and said: "I, I think, think that the Bulls and Cavaliers in the East, the Trail Blazers and the Suns in the West will advance smoothly, and they will also advance. The most champion-like temperament.”
"Bill, what you said is really good. I look forward to becoming your partner." Guokas smiled.
"Thank you! I, I'm looking forward to it too." Bill Walton smiled.
After this period of treatment, Magic Johnson's condition has been basically under control, so he was in the mood to participate in tonight's show. At this time, he said: "I agree with Bill, the Bulls, Cavaliers, Trail Blazers, and Suns are the four For this team, promotion should be certain, and the possibility of an upset is too low."
"Erwin, aren't you optimistic about the Lakers' upset?" Guocat asked with a smile.
Magic Johnson shook his head and smiled bitterly: "The Lakers want to take advantage of the Trail Blazers, but the chance is slightly zero."
Guokas nodded and said: "So among the remaining groups, who do you think has a better chance of advancing?"
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar said: "The Jazz should be able to eliminate the Clippers. The Black and White Team are quite powerful. The Green Team should also be able to eliminate the Pacers. Don't underestimate Bird's team. They even have the strength and opportunity to reach the Eastern Conference Finals." .”
Dr. J immediately nodded and said: "The green team is not weak. I think it, like the four teams you just mentioned, should be able to advance smoothly."
Guokas smiled and said: "Then the remaining teams that you think may have a stronger stalemate are the Warriors versus the SuperSonics, and the Pistons versus the Knicks?"
Bill Walton nodded and said: "SuperSonics, this team has changed. It has changed its coach. George Karl, yes, he is very capable and has strong control over the team. I am optimistic about this team. Team."
"Bill, you're getting better and better!" Kareem Abdul-Jabbar gave Bill Walton a thumbs-up, and others followed suit.
"Thank you, I think I will get better and better." Bill Walton smiled confidently.
Magic Johnson followed Bill Walton's words and said: "I agree with Bill. The Sonics have a chance to be upset. After all, the Warriors' style of play and their defense have many problems."
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar said: "Yes, the defensive intensity in the playoffs will cause problems for the Warriors' offense. I think the team built by Don Nix is a regular season team, and its performance in the playoffs is limited. .”
Guokas smiled and said: "Then only the Pistons and the Knicks are left. It is difficult for everyone to decide who will advance. Let's discuss these two teams first.
The four teams with the most championship qualities that Bill mentioned just now do not include these two teams. You all agree. Why?
I think they are very strong. The head coaches are Pat Riley and Chuck Daly. They are both championship coaches who have been in charge of the situation for a while. The lineup is also good. "
Bill Walton said: "Theirs, their luck is not very good. They meet in the first round. They are similar in strength. They will fight to the death. This is the reason why I am not optimistic about them winning the championship. In addition, their lineups have their own weaknesses. The strength to compete for the championship is still lacking.”
"For example?" Guokas started to guide the topic.
(End of chapter)
