Bishop of the Devil

America West Arena!

This arena, which can accommodate 18,000 people, is the home arena of the Suns.

Players from both sides were warming up, and Richard was chatting with Suns chief assistant Jerry Hidding on the sidelines...

Hidding is an alumnus of Richard Purdue University, and the two had chatted once before at the NCAA championship dinner.

"Li, the team you built looks really good..."

"It's not bad. After all, they are all young people. I'm afraid only God knows how far they can grow in the future!" Richard replied with a smile in response to Hiding's compliment.

"No, if others say this, I definitely feel it makes sense, but you? Man, you are the God of the NCAA..."

"I can guarantee that these young people you have chosen will definitely become the mainstay of the alliance in the future!"

Richard grinned, feeling quite comfortable being flattered like this.

…

But when the game started, Richard couldn't feel comfortable because the Blazers were losing ground...

Definitely not because of the away game, but because of the Suns' lineup restraint.

The reason why the three teams that the Trail Blazers played against before were able to win was because of their inferior strength and slow-paced play!

But now the Suns' lineup is not weak, and they have backcourt players as the core of their offense, and they use all kinds of fast breaks, which makes the Blazers very uncomfortable!

Take a look at who the Suns have in their backcourt...

Kevin Johnson, an All-Star point guard, is stronger than the original Blazers star Speedy. After retiring, he was nominated as a Hall of Fame candidate in the same class as Ben and Tracy McGrady, which is enough to show the strength of this player!

The key is that this guy is at his peak right now!

Michael Finley, yes, he is the poor man's version of Jordan who was hammered by boilermakers in the NCAA...

Rex Chapman, who stole Apple, is a shooting guard who averages about 15 points per game, and is quite good!

The reason why I say stealing Apple is because after he retired, he went to an Apple store to steal something and was caught...

Wesley Bosen, a second-year shooting guard who averages 13 points per game!

This group of offensive players, led by Kevin Johnson, a peak All-Star player, is so fast that even if the Suns are not running a run-and-gun strategy, it is still difficult for the Blazers' big men to resist...

Kobe Bryant faced Kevin Johnson, and the effect was not ideal!

It can be said that Kobe's defense now is more difficult for those old, weak, sick, disabled and pregnant...

She doesn't seem to be pregnant, but for such a player, Kobe's defensive threat is great!

But for an All-Star point guard in his prime, the 18-year-old Kobe was at a disadvantage.

At the end of the first half, Kobe had already received his fourth foul...

In the fourth quarter, with half the game time left, Richard took the team's main players off the field and replaced them with a pure substitute lineup, giving up the game.

Lost!

This is the first official game that Richard has lost since time travel, excluding the pre-season games!

This feeling is very uncomfortable. Anyone who is used to winning will not like the feeling of failure.

Dugu seeking defeat only exists in novels. Under normal circumstances, anyone who wants to fail after being full is probably masochistic...

"If you don't lose, are you still a human being?!" Richard comforted himself with the words he used to comfort Dazhi...

…

The team lost and the problem was exposed!

That is, the players are all big men. Facing a team that focuses on dexterity in the backcourt, the defensive end is at a disadvantage.

Richard was not prepared to find a reason for his defeat in this game. It was simply due to his inferior skills.

Inside the hotel where the team is staying.

The coaching staff is analyzing the reasons for the defeat in this game.

"Our current lineup still has big drawbacks. This lineup can only get us into the playoffs!"

"But after entering the playoffs, it depends on the other team's face. If they actively choose fast breaks, our ending will be the same as today, being beaten!"

I was really beaten today and lost by 17 points!

The four assistant coaches nodded. The problem Richard mentioned was not discovered on the first day. It was discovered from the day the lineup was established...

Of course they can send two small players like Trent or Childress on the bench, but the defensive effect is very bad, not even as good as the big men's defensive effect!

As for the veteran Curry, he did not rely on defense to make a living during his peak period, let alone at his current age.

…

But if the problem is discovered, what can be done?

A good defensive backcourt is not the kind of wild vegetable on the roadside that can be taken whenever you want.

Moreover, just being good at defense is not enough.

A certain amount of offensive firepower is also needed, otherwise, the Blazers' offensive firepower on the field will be greatly affected.

Originally, their main output points were three anti-aircraft guns. If one was taken down, it would be equivalent to losing one-third of their firepower points!

The price is too high!

"Carlisle, let's put aside the matter of recruiting minimum-salary players for now. You and Stevens can help me find someone!"

After Richard thought for a moment, he said to Carlisle and Stevens.

"I don't know exactly where this player is. I just saw news about him in a local newspaper before!"

"He should have played in Europe a few years ago..."

"The name is Bruce Bowen. Find him as quickly as possible!"

The shortcomings in the team's lineup must be made up for!

But through transactions, it is not very realistic...

Richard is reluctant to trade out the valuable chips now. If he wants to exchange the worthless chips for a strong defensive backcourt player who also has a certain offensive level, that is undoubtedly a fantasy!

So Richard had no choice but to target Bruce Bowen!

To be precise, Bowen cannot be regarded as a backcourt, but a standard forward. However, he is usually the opponent's core backcourt player on the court, so he is generally classified as a backcourt player.

He clearly remembers that Bowen entered the league in the 1996-97 season, but signed a ten-day short contract with the Heat, played only one game and had no ball to play.

Therefore, Bowen has not yet appeared in the league.

Richard originally planned to let the Heat find Bowen. Anyway, the Heat only gave Bowen a ten-day short contract. When the contract ended, he would sign Bowen with a guaranteed contract...

This is undoubtedly the most time-saving and labor-saving approach.

But it's not possible now, Richard can't afford to wait.

They must get Bowen as soon as possible, otherwise, their next schedule will probably be very uncomfortable...

The Suns defeated the Trail Blazers easily, and there is no guarantee that other teams will follow suit. They sent an unconventional starting lineup to beat the Trail Blazers, specifically to play fast breaks with the Trail Blazers...

And if Bowen gets it, the situation will be different.

Bowen has honed extremely good defensive skills in Europe. Now he is 25 years old. He is considered a mature player and can be used immediately!

The key is not only excellent defense, but also a good three-point shot!

This is simply the best puzzle piece for the Trail Blazers lineup...

And it’s a very cheap puzzle...