On December 20, the Pistons returned to Detroit.
This afternoon, the Houston Mosaics arrived in Detroit.
More than half a year has passed since the second regular season game with Mosaic last season, and after the conflict with Dameng on the court, this is the first game between the Pistons and Mosaic.
At the request of the media, the Mosaic team held a press conference in the hotel at four o'clock in the afternoon, and Detroit TV broadcast it live.
The New York Times reporter asked: "Big Dream, Larry Johnson and Oakley both challenged Iron Fist in the ring. Although they lost, and they lost very cleanly, they dared to challenge Iron Fist, so they can still be called warriors.
The postman also said that no matter what, he would fight Iron Fist after getting the license. So what about you, who has been beaten by Iron Fist? "
Dameng's face was livid, these bullshit reporters who are afraid of chaos in the world, I hope you fall into the sewer when you go out.
After thinking for seven or eight seconds, he said: "It's not that I won't fight him. I have to compete in the Olympics during the offseason and have no time to do boxing training.
As you know, he is a professional boxer. You will never let people like us who have not received professional training compete with him in a professional boxing ring. That is not fair to us at all, and I don’t think it is necessary to do that. Even if I do, I’m not qualified to enter the professional boxing ring.
In fact, the postman competed in the Olympics just like me, but he didn’t apply for a boxing license. This is the boxing committee’s protection measure for us non-professionals. They will not allow non-professional boxers to enter the professional boxing ring.
But I also have plans to prepare for boxing training next offseason, and hope to apply for a boxing license in the future. This is my idea. I am not afraid of Iron Fist, I am not afraid of him at all. "
After talking for a long time, Dameng finally dealt with the reporter's questions and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Vernon, are you interested in applying for a boxing license and challenging Iron Fist in a professional boxing ring?" The next reporter turned to Maxwell.
This irritated Maxwell. Last time, Zhou Quan kicked his large intestine with two feet, split it in several places, knocked out his feces, and exploded all over his stomach. Then the doctor removed almost one meter of his large intestine. , it is said that the stomach full of feces made several young intern doctors sick to the point of vomiting.
After suffering a big loss from Zhou Quan, he was so angry that he immediately slammed his fist on the table and shouted in an almost roaring tone:
"I can tell you unequivocally that I am training professionally, and one day I will step into the ring and end it with him. I will not let him go."
"It seems that I can't relax either. These bugs are always staring at me. If you are careless, you will suffer. Each one of them must be taught a lesson."
Zhou Quan, sitting on the sofa at home, murmured.
…
On the evening of the 22nd, the Palace of Auburn Hills.
At eight o'clock, both sides announced the starting lineup.
Mosaic: Olajuwon, Ostie Thorpe, Robert Horry, Vernon Maxwell, Kenny Smith
Pistons: Ronny Seikaly, Dennis Rodman, Orlando Ulrich, Joe Dumars, Zhou Quan
This game was a national broadcast of the Pistons, broadcast live on ABC TV, and the commentators were Bill Walton and Lewis Williams.
Bill Walton, now stuttering, said very smoothly: "This is the second time to commentate on the Pistons game this season. The last game was very exciting, and I hope it will be another exciting game tonight.
We know that Tekken often performs wonderful dunks and layups this season. He is a rare point guard with such ability at the first position. He also has wonderful passes again and again, a more stable jump shot than last season, and a tough defensive style. He has gradually become one of the rare offensive and defensive stars in the league. "
Williams nodded and said: "In comparison, the Assassin's defense is not as good as his, and his offensive ability is stronger than his current one, but he is more balanced than the Assassin."
Bill Walton smiled and said: "The Assassins won two consecutive championships. This season, the Pistons ranked first in the Eastern Conference. They have a better record than the Knicks and Bulls. I also hope that Iron Fist can be like the Assassins and have the opportunity to complete the championship. dream."
"Iron Fist, you, an alumnus like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, have been supporting you." Joe Dumars said in the home team's locker room.
Zhou Quan nodded and smiled: "Their support is very important to me, and I have to thank them."
Soon after, he saw Dameng and Maxwell in the tunnel.
When Maxwell saw Zhou Quan, he was extremely jealous of his enemies. He immediately clenched his fists and his eyes were burning.
But Zhou Quan didn't even look at Maxwell, but he approached Dameng and joked: "Hey, Mr. Dameng, do you want me to introduce you to a boxing trainer? I guarantee that he is a professional and can make you Get your license in the shortest possible time.”
"Boy, don't be too crazy." Dameng said harshly.
"I hope you can apply for a license as soon as possible. Don't delay. If it takes a few years or more, I won't fight you. I don't want to bully the old man." He continued to tease.
"Iron Fist, I think that's what he thinks," Rodman shouted.
"Dachong, do you want to stir up trouble?" Dameng stared at Rodman with fierce eyes.
Zhou Quan stared at Dameng with a smile on his face, stretched out his hand and nodded, and said: "Da Meng, if you dare to touch one of my people in the Auburn Mountain Palace, I will make you unable to eat, carry you around, and make you lie down Let’s go to the hospital.”
Seeing Iron Fist's ferocious eyes, Dameng's face twitched again and again. Although he was furious, he just couldn't bear the determination to be beaten.
His knife-wielding guard, the main power forward of the Mosaic team, Austy Thorpe, was determined to protect the master, but he felt that he was far from an opponent and did not dare to stand up easily.
"Iron Fist, one day I will make you fall at my feet in the ring." At this time, Maxwell's suppressed angry voice sounded.
"You? Okay, I'll wait for you, don't let me wait too long. Also, train your abdominal muscles, don't let me punch you until you explode." Zhou Quan said disdainfully.
"you?"
Maxwell was so angry that he almost had a brain hemorrhage.
"Ha ha……"
With Zhou Quan by his side, Rodman was so courageous. He laughed strangely and said, "Does any trash think that he can be a professional boxer now?
Iron Fist, your last appearance fee for fighting Oakley was US$2 million, and it will definitely increase for the next one, but if you pick rubbish as your opponent, your value will drop. "
"Dennis, what you said makes sense. It seems that if they want to fight me, they must first prove that they are not trash. I can no longer boxing with trash." Zhou Quan nodded.
"Haha, that's it." Rodman laughed.
"You two bastards!"
Dameng and Maxwell's eyes were filled with rage as they stared at Rodman and Zhou Quan. They were both so angry that they wanted to vomit blood, but they could do nothing.
At this time, the visiting team came on the scene, and Dameng was not the last one. He was the first to go out, and then Maxwell.
"It's your turn, rookie."
Zhou Quan saw Robert Horry looking at him and urged him kindly.
"ah?"
Horry was startled to find that he was the only one left, and ran out quickly.
"This rookie is a bit stupid, Orlando, you can keep an eye on him today, maybe you have a chance to play first-class defensive quality." Zhou Quan joked.
"Ha ha……"
Rodman and Joe Dumars laughed.
"I will." Ulrich said awkwardly.
Seikali is also a little embarrassed because his defense is similar to Ulrich.
At half past eight, the game started. Dameng won the jump ball and Mosaic attacked.
Zhou Quan followed Kenny Smith. He had studied this guy. He was fast, so he was called a jet. He should be a little faster than him.
Accurate three-pointers, averaging 2.7 three-pointers per game this season, shooting 43.8%, overall shooting rate as high as 52%, averaging 13 points, 5.4 assists and 1 steal per game. This season is the Jets' peak period.
Moreover, the Jets don't occupy the ball very much and move a lot without the ball. They are good at pulling the opponent's defense and creating opportunities for other teammates to cut inside.
Dealing with this kind of speedy blue-collar point guard who is good at long shots was not what he was good at before, but now his speed and agility have improved a bit. Although it may not be as good as the Jets, it is not much different. The Jets are as tall as him. Still, he was confident that he could defend against it.
The Jets held the ball close to the top of the arc. When Zhou Quan came up, they immediately took a step back and then hoisted the ball low to the left wing.
On the outside, Horry is a rookie and has poor offensive ability with the ball. He mainly focuses on off-ball and defense. Joe Dumars has been selected to the All-Defensive Team several times. Maxwell has average ability, so the tactics drawn up by Tomjanovich today are It is to take advantage of the weakness of Sekat's defense to strengthen the low-post attack, let one's own strongest point attack the opponent's weakest point, and use the strong to attack the weak, that is, Dameng's main attack.
After Dameng caught the ball, he used his left foot as the axis and moved his right foot up and down continuously. At the same time, he used his butt to feel the defender's reaction and position. When he found that Seikali behind him was shaken upward, he immediately He turned around and slipped to the bottom, rushed into the paint area, and rushed past Rodman under the basket.
"ah!"
Rodman screamed, fell to the sky, and kept sliding.
"Shh!"
The boos rang out immediately, and Zhou Quan and others immediately ran over.
Dameng stopped there, holding the ball in his hand, looking at the referee running over with an innocent face and shouting: "Fall, he is diving, I didn't hit him."
The referee looked at Dameng expressionlessly and did not speak. Instead, he made gestures of hitting someone with the ball, making an offensive foul, and exchanging the ball.
Pistons offense.
At the top of the arc, Zhou Quan faced the Jets who were as tall as him and chose to play singles without hesitation.
The reason for singles is quite simple, because the reason why the Jet is a Jet is because he is very light, only 170 pounds, 77 kilograms.
And he doesn't need to play from behind, not at all, he can directly face the basket in singles and make a three-in-one breakthrough.
His speed was only a little slower. He swayed first and then burst forward. While changing hands to dribble, he broke through in one step from the left.
"Bang!"
At the moment when he was suddenly attacked, a confrontation broke out and Kenneth was caught on the shoulder. Kenneth rolled over and fell to the ground, completely unable to resist.
Unfortunately, the whistle did not sound.
Zhou Quan crossed the three-point line from the top of the arc and rushed into the paint from the left end of the free throw line. At this time, the vicious Dream took a step up from the low post. As long as he takes another step forward, he will face the supplement of the top defensive center. To defend, he decisively stopped one step inside the free throw line to shoot a jumper. He instantly pulled up the ball with his right hand and closed it with his left hand.
Dameng took a step forward. Seeing Zhou Quan stop suddenly, he immediately took another step forward and stood in front of Zhou Quan, preparing to jump to block the shot.
But at this moment, Zhou Quan, who was worshiping Buddha, pushed the ball towards Dameng's crotch with his right hand. With a bang, the basketball hit the ground and rebounded, disappearing behind Dameng.
"Seikali!"
Dameng thought to himself that it was not good, but it was already too late to turn around.
After Dameng made up the defense, Sekali immediately cut into the basket from the left wing low, then took off after receiving the ball, made a small throw to Thorpe who was covering up the defense, and scored the ball.
Although Thorpe is good at defense and can fill in the gaps for Dameng, and his inside combination with Dameng is one of the best inside combinations in the league, he is better at one-on-one defense and his defensive ability is average, especially as a power forward. The shot-blocking ability is not good, so I failed to defend this time.
Bill Walton laughed and said: "Kenny Smith will have a hard time guarding Iron Fist. This point will be blown away. Once Iron Fist gets in, either Dream or Thorpe will have to make up the defense. In this way, Rodman and Seth One of Cali's can get the open spot.
I think it's best to let Thorpe fill in. Rodman has no shooting ability after leaving the basket. If he is under the basket, there are also big dreams to watch him. "
Williams shook his head and said: "Bill, when the iron fist rushes in, Sekali will definitely pull out. Dameng cannot be under the basket, he must at least follow to the left midfielder.
So if Thorpe goes to make up for the iron fist that rushes in, Rodman will definitely enter the basket, Dameng will return to defend the basket, and Sekali will still be free.
Unless Thorpe can stop Tie Fist from passing the ball to Rodman, but that is difficult, so there is nothing wrong with Dameng going to cover up the defense. He is in the left waist position, closer to Tie Fist. "
As the game continued, Zhou Quan was staring at Kenny Smith on the offensive end. He would either break through the opponent and then make a jump shot at the free throw line or the left and right elbow areas, or break in to attract the defense and then pass the ball. The efficiency of offense and assists was very high.
There were a total of seven attacks in 4 minutes, and he controlled all the ball rights, so the offense was initiated by him. He scored 4 points on 2 of 3 shots, sent 3 assists in 4 passes, and scored 5 out of 7 attacks. Success rate It reached 70%.
In addition, Joe Dumars stole Maxwell once, and Mosaic made two turnovers within 4 minutes.
In just 4 minutes, at 4:10, the Pistons led by 6 points and stopped the opponent.
Bill Walton analyzed: “In the first 4 minutes, the Pistons used strong defense to force the Mosaic team into three turnovers, laying the foundation for the lead.
At the same time, Tekken sent out 3 assists. Through his singles against Smith, he attracted Mosaic's inside defense and passed good balls one after another.
He tore through the Mosaic team's strong interior defense through wonderful passes one after another, which was also an important reason why the Pistons took the lead. "
Williams nodded and said: "Dameng and Thorpe can be called the most powerful defensive interior combination in the league, but Tekken broke through with the ball and made the Mosaic team's interior defense useless through his passing."
Bill Walton nodded and said: "The Mosaic team succeeded in two of their four attacks. Dameng made 2 of 3 shots on Seikali's head. Unfortunately, there were too many mistakes."
In front of the Mosaic team's bench, Tomjanovich is emphasizing defense. He not only emphasizes interior defense, but also emphasizes outside defense first. He said to Kenny Smith:
"Kenny, can you use your brain? Don't fight with Iron Fist, you will be injured. You have to be more flexible and take advantage of your movement speed to interfere with him and interrupt his rhythm."
Kenny Smith is helpless. He is only a little faster. If he does not establish a defensive position in the front, it will be difficult to prevent the opponent from breaking through.
But he didn't defend him once just now, and he was caught every time, so he didn't stick to his idea and nodded and said: "I know, coach."
Tomjanovich doesn't think that after Smith changes his defensive strategy, he can defend Zhou Quan. Zhou Quan's strength is much better than Smith. Although his movement speed is not much different, just in terms of tonnage and strength. It is difficult to overcome the advantages of confrontation, but you have to try other methods, right?
He then said to Dameng and Thorpe: "Iron Fist will definitely continue to keep an eye on Kenny to fight. You don't want to make up for it next. Robert will make up for it."
"I?"
Robert Horry was stunned.
"Yes, that's you. Ulrich's mid-range shot is average. When Iron Fist breaks through, you can let him go. At the same time, when Iron Fist breaks through, your position is just right to cut off the connection between him and Ulrich. In the passing route, just pay attention to return to defense in time."
After Tomjanovich warned Horry, he said to Thorpe: "Osti, Ulrich's mid-range shot is average, and there is no three-pointer. Sekali pulled to the left wing, and his position overlapped with him. Now you can guard Seikali and help Robert keep an eye on Ulrich. I believe you can handle it, right?"
Thorpe thought for a moment and nodded.
Tomjanovich added: "Leave the basket to Hakeem, but don't try to block Tekken, don't completely cover it up, because Tekken's passing ability is too strong.
If the Jazz don't have the postman, John Stockton's assists will definitely be much less than Iron Fist, so you just need to prevent him from getting to the basket, force him to stop for a jump shot, and interfere with him, but you must pay attention to his passing and return to defense in time. Basket. "
(End of chapter)
