After the interview, Zhou Quan said hello to friends like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Walton, and made an appointment with them to have lunch together tomorrow. Then he said goodbye to the SuperSonics fans and left the stadium with Zeng Li.
After Zhou Quan left, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Walton, and Reggie Miller stayed to be interviewed by reporters.
"Karim, how do you evaluate Tekken's performance tonight?" a reporter asked.
The three looked at each other and Bill Walton said: "Some people say that Tekken's performance of 59 points per game in the first two games was mainly because the opponent was too weak, but tonight Tekken's 20+20 and 5*5 performance, as well as this victory , proves that this view is not very correct."
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar nodded and took over the conversation and said: "Mosaic's No. 1 position is indeed too bad. This is indeed an important reason why Tekken scored 59 points in the first two games, but it is definitely not the only reason."
Reggie Miller said disdainfully: "Some people oppose just for the sake of opposition, because Iron Fist won't let him come back. Everyone knows this, so we don't care about him.
Michael Jordan scored 63 points, lost that game, was swept, and was still praised to the sky. I think Iron Fist's 60 points in a single game are more valuable than Jordan's 63 points.
The Sonics even have a chance to sweep Mosaic this time. If so, it will prove that Tekken's 60 points are indeed greater than Jordan's 63 points. "
After Dameng rushed into the locker room and knocked over two chairs, he suddenly remembered the bill from the Seattle Center Arena, stopped and sat down angrily.
The frustrated Barkley sighed, pulled up a chair and sat next to Dameng, as did Drexler behind him.
"With just the three of us, it doesn't seem possible. We still need good enough role players and substitutes." Dameng glanced at the two of them and said distressedly.
Tomjanovich came over and said: "You account for 70% of the team's scoring, and no one can help you."
"What to do?" Buckley asked.
"We will all be one year older next year." Glider said in a low mood.
Damengqiang cheered up and said: "Don't be afraid, didn't that guy say that the contracts of several people in the SuperSonics have expired, and their championship lineup will definitely not be guaranteed next season."
General manager Steve Patterson nodded and said: "The contracts of the three main players Rodman, Schrempf, and Gilliam have ended, and it is impossible for all of them to stay in the SuperSonics.
Jose Hawkins is in a contract year next season. If he wins the championship this time, he may also be traded, otherwise he will become a free agent after the contract ends.
In terms of substitutes, Vincent Estiu's contract has also ended, and McMillan is also in a contract year next season. And Earvin Johnson's rookie contract is also over.
It can be said with certainty that the SuperSonics' lineup will undergo major changes next season. Even if their boss Ballmer is willing to pursue a three-peat dynasty, it will be difficult to retain this championship lineup. "
Tomjanovich nodded and said: "Rodman, Schrempf, and Gilliam are not young anymore, especially Rodman. The three of them definitely want a big contract, and it is a long-term contract. The price the Sonics have to pay for keeping them is not small, but very high."
Patterson nodded and said: "I think it is impossible for all three to stay. No matter how rich Ballmer is, he is also a businessman. It is impossible to offer veteran contracts to these three main players."
Dameng said happily: "They are all free agents. If the Sonics can't stay, they can only let them go in vain. They don't even have the bargaining chips to trade. Their strength will definitely decline significantly next season. We have a chance."
"If we strengthen next year, the chance will definitely be greater than this season." Patterson glanced at Barkley and Drexler and said.
Barkley and Drexler exchanged confused looks. Why are these three guys talking like this in front of them?
In fact, the two of them didn't know that the reason why Tomjanovich and Patterson said these words was to impress them and let them stay after seeing hope.
An hour later, the post-match press conference was held.
"Dameng, Iron Fist has just announced that it will sweep you all away. What do you think?" a reporter from the New York Times asked.
"What do you think? I am Fake Oil!"
Dameng cursed secretly, and said with a very hesitant expression: "He is just bragging. The person who can defeat me has not yet been born."
The reporter smiled and said: "Let me remind you, you were swept by the Lakers, Magic and James Worthy in the first round of the 1991 playoffs."
"Pfft!"
Many reporters below laughed.
Dameng's face was as pale as the bottom of a pot, and he said angrily: "I didn't have any help that time."
"With two helpers this time, can you avoid being swept away?" The reporter immediately asked.
"Of course."
Dameng said angrily.
Barkley and Drexler were embarrassed and restless.
Upon seeing this, the host quickly had the reporter's microphone confiscated and handed it to the reporter from the Los Angeles Times next to him.
"Charles, you only have one year left on your contract. Do you think the Mosaics will trade you?" the reporter asked.
"Of course not," Barkley said firmly.
"What about you, Clyde? Your contract has ended." The reporter turned around and asked.
Drexler said hesitantly: "I'm thinking about it."
"Clyde?" Dameng became anxious.
"well!"
Drexler couldn't help but sigh.
With his current strength, even if he stays, the management will definitely not give him a big contract, but will only renew it at a low price.
In other words, staying with no money and no hope of winning the championship is not a good choice at all. His agent has just contacted him and asked him to leave and find a bigger job with another team. contract, preferably a long-term contract.
But this is his hometown, and he doesn't want to leave, and with Hakim's friend's insistence on staying, he can't say the words to leave.
"I need to discuss it with my agent," he said at last.
After the press conference, the three returned to the locker room. Dameng asked the others to leave first, and took Barkley to persuade Drexler.
Dameng said: "Clyde, stay. Patterson and the others just said that the SuperSonics lineup will definitely be scattered next season, and we will strengthen it. Our chances next season will be better."
Buckley also said: "Clyde, if you leave now, are you really going to hug that bastard Iron Fist's thigh?"
Dameng glared at Buckley, are you trying to persuade him to leave?
Barkley blinked. If you dare to glare at me, if you glare at me again, I will hug Iron Fist's thigh after next season... No, I will go to Michael.
Drexler is such an honest man. He was not angry when Barkley slapped him on the face, but his face became even more bitter, like a bitter gourd.
Dameng persuaded again: "Besides, Clyde, your current offensive efficiency, if you really go to the SuperSonics, I am afraid that the main force will not be able to match it."
"That's right, that Iron Fist guy must be trying to trick you into going to the SuperSonics to come as a substitute for him. Hawkins is more efficient than you, and he will definitely not give up his main position." Barkley quickly agreed.
"And they want to keep Rodman and the others. There will definitely be no salary space left for you. You can only get a veteran contract, which is hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. Why bother?" Dameng said.
Drexler was a little angry, you two guys, do you want me to leave so much?
But he admitted that these two guys do have a point. The Sonics will definitely not give him a decent contract, and it is indeed difficult for him to grab the main position from Hawkins.
"Hey, Hakim, what contract do you think management will give me?" he asked after sighing.
Dameng was overjoyed and said quickly: "You can't run away with millions, so don't worry."
Drexler nodded and said: "Then I will discuss it with my agent and let's talk about it after the Western Conference Finals."
Dameng nodded, breathed a sigh of relief, and said to the two of them: "We have only one task next, which is to avoid being swept. We must not be swept by that bastard Iron Fist in the Western Conference Finals, and I will never accept the fate of being swept. "
"Um."
Glider and Buckley nodded immediately.
They all know in their hearts that once they are swept, the team will lose any hope and their morale will be completely shattered. Even if they are still together next season, they will just hold together and sink, and they will die in Houston. Sell tickets to the boss.
…
On the 25th, not only the US media, but hundreds of media around the world reported last night's G3 game of the Western Conference Finals, writing a special review of Zhou Quan's 5*5 data in his second playoff game.
"The Iron Fist King won the second league playoff 5*5, he is the greatest super point guard!" Tokyo Daily News.
“Iron Fist will eventually surpass Magic Johnson.” Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
"The Iron Fist King, the most versatile super point guard." Detroit Daily Worker.
"my country's famous professional heavyweight world boxing champion Zhou Quan performed well in the NBA playoffs last night..." Xinhua News Agency reported.
At ten o'clock in the morning, Zhou Quan woke up and felt pretty good. He didn't have many dreams last night, probably because the consumption in the G3 game was not too big. After adjusting again tonight, he should be in a pretty good state for the G4 game.
At noon, he and Zeng Li invited friends to dinner, and more than twenty people came.
This evening, the G3 game of the Eastern Conference Finals begins.
As a result, the Magic lost at home, 86:67, and the Bulls got the match point.
Jordan's performance was average, making only 5 of 14 shots, a shooting percentage of only 35.7%, and only 6 of 11 free throws. He scored 17 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 1 block.
Pippen made 11 of 14 shots, a shooting percentage of 78.6%, and scored 27 points.
The Bulls' overall shooting percentage was only 43.5%, but their three-pointers were good, making 8 of 16 shots and a true shooting percentage of 52%.
The Magic's performance was even worse. Hardaway made only 8 of 24 shots, a 33.3% shooting rate, and 2 of 9 three-pointers, a 22.2% shooting rate, and only scored 18 points.
O'Neal was similar, scoring 17 points on 8 of 19 shots. As a super center, his shooting percentage was only 42.1%, especially on free throws. It made Zhou Quan want to curse. He only made 1 of 9 free throws. Even a blind man can make more accurate free throws than him.
The entire Magic team shot only 33.8% from the field, only 5 of 23 three-pointers, a miserable 21.7% from the field, only 10 of 24 free throws, 41.7% from the free throw line, and only 38.3% from the field.
In this game, he saw the Bulls' terrifying perimeter defense capabilities, forcing the Magic perimeter players to just throw three-pointers from the outside without being able to break through.
Moreover, relying on strong perimeter defense also prevented the Magic's perimeter players from getting open opportunities, and their shooting percentage was appallingly low.
Hardaway, whom the Magic valued, did not play an offense that attracted double teams. Jordan guarded him to death by himself.
"You deserve to lose, you will be swept away."
After the game, he sent a text message to O'Neal and went to bed.
Before, he was worried that if the Bulls swept the Magic, they would have a physical advantage in the finals, but now that he is leading 3-0, he may also sweep the Mosaics, so he is no longer worried.
There is no burden in my heart, there are fewer distracting thoughts, my energy is restrained, and I can enter concentration quickly. I entered concentration not long after I went to bed.
"Can you blame me alone?"
Ten minutes later, far away in Orlando, O'Neal saw Zhou Quan's text message and felt very aggrieved. The whole team did not perform well, and it was not just him who failed to play well.
That Penny played like shit and made the Bulls use all their defensive power on him. Can you blame him?
…
On the 26th, the G4 game of the Western Conference Finals.
Zhou Quan did not have the super performance in the G1G2 game, nor the all-around performance in the G3 game. He can only say that his performance was quite satisfactory. He made 14 of 24 shots, 3 of 7 three-pointers, 9 of 10 free throws, and scored 40 points, 7 rebounds and 16 rebounds. Statistics of assists, 7 steals, 3 blocks, 3 turnovers and 3 fouls, with a shooting percentage of 58.3%.
Schrempf scored 24 points and shot 54.5% from the field. Gilliam, Hawkins, and Esqiu also scored in double figures. Five players in the team scored in double figures, two of whom scored 20+ points.
In terms of Mosaic, Dameng tried his best and scored 32 points, 16 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, 5 blocks, 5 turnovers and 5 fouls. However, Barkley and Drexler only scored 16 points and 15 points respectively, and their efficiency was low.
In the end, the SuperSonics defeated Mosaic again, eliminated their opponents with a score of four to zero, and advanced to the finals in a sweep.
"Oh ho!"
"Finals, here we come!"
"Swiss sweep! Sweep sweep..."
After the game, the Sonics were in a state of excitement.
He was actually swept, and fell to the SuperSonics and Iron Fist in the Western Conference Finals for three consecutive years. When the final whistle sounded, Olajuwon had tears in his eyes. After the game, he immediately left the game with hatred and hurriedly walked in. In the player tunnel, none of the reporters caught up with him.
Barkley and Drexler were also very frustrated and left the court with their heads lowered.
"Congratulations to Zhou Quan for reaching the finals for the fourth time, and congratulations to the SuperSonics for sweeping through three rounds and reaching the finals with a record of 11 wins."
At the end of the game, Zhang Lili and Xu Jicheng were excited.
In the ESPN commentary box, the assassin smiled and said: "Mosaic has failed in the Western Conference Finals for three consecutive years, and this time they were swept. I think there is no need to retain the Big Three lineup. Let's tear it down and rebuild it, otherwise Barkley's contract will expire next year." Period, he will definitely run away."
Laimbeer said disdainfully: "If he can't make it to the finals with a super center, where else can he go? To the Bulls?
You may not be able to beat the Sonics if you go to the Bulls. Jordan is getting older and older, and the Iron Fist kid has entered his peak period again. "
"Then it will be the era of Iron Fist." The assassin said excitedly.
"You are so happy, what does it have to do with you?" Ranbir said disdainfully.
"He is my brother." The assassin said seriously.
Ranbir snorted coldly and said nothing more.
(End of chapter)
