The Rest, Only Noise

UPDATE: Pat Riley's office at Madison Square Garden is as dark as the one at the Blazers' suburban training ground. The overhead lights were usually off, and only one gleamed over his shoulders, almost like the kind used for interrogations in a secret room. Other than that, the room was empty - no plaques or paintings on the walls, little furniture other than two hard chairs, a table and a lamp. On the table lay a pack of cigarettes and some index cards that Riley used to draw for the game.

The Trail Blazers have won 25 games so far this season.

Every time he wins, Riley has two things to emphasize: "You can't be complacent, and you can't be conceited."

He has waited a year to play against Louie's team again.

The Knicks' four-peat should end in the hands of the Blazers.

They have the best stars.

Riley's own mind won't change, no matter what other people think.

"Pat, is there anything else I need to pay attention to tonight's game?" Jordan came to ask for instructions.

Riley didn't answer directly, but asked, "How is Chuck?"

"Fat Alabama feels good about himself every day," Jordan sneered dismissively.

He and Barkley are good friends, but it's also true that he despises Barkley's professionalism and spiritual attributes as a basketball player.

"That's enough," Riley affirmed. "We're ready. The rest is up to the Knicks."

On Christmas Eve, the Knicks were forced to play away games.

In the past, the league would arrange for them to play Christmas games at home.

Because MSG is one of the best arenas, playing Christmas games here can increase the good impression of passers-by and fans.

But every year the Knicks play Christmas games at home, and other teams have opinions, so this year they are scheduled to play at Memorial Coliseum.

Again, all arenas called XX Stadium were built in the first half of this century.

This old-fashioned gym, which doesn't look fancy at all, is a specialty of that era.

"I really don't think playing here is good for promoting the NBA."

Ewing told NBC's live reporter Ahmad Rashad candidly.

Louie gave Ewing a thumbs up when he heard what he said about Memorial Coliseum.

Another day of amazement at Ewing's fluctuating emotional intelligence.

When Barkley heard that Ewing disliked their home court, he said disdainfully: "Do you know what's not good for NBC to promote the NBA? It's to let fans discover that a guy who is not the best player in the league actually holds the No. 1 in the league. With a high salary, if I were a fan, I would definitely think this league was unprofessional."

Before the game started, the leaders of both sides laughed at each other, and the contradictions were full.

During pre-match training, players from both sides warmed up with dunks on the court.

Louie noticed that the Riley-era Blazers had many players that Rick Pitino had left behind.

Like the bandit Anthony Mason, who barely got a chance to play under Pitino, when he played for Riley, he was an important rotation for the Blazers.

There is also Blue Edwards (BlueEdwardsSF), a first-round pick in 1989, a swingman who is only 1.9 meters tall with bare feet. He's a bit like the Knicks' Vernon Maxwell, with a great shot, a big heart, a higher percentage than usual in crunch time, good physicality, and a slam dunk contest a year ago.

Pitino wasn't very good at spotting strengths in these people.

Under Riley, he valued those who were willing to sacrifice themselves. Therefore, those who are willing to obey him and complete training according to his standards are more likely to be favored.

Both Mason and Edwards got the upper hand.

After the two sides warmed up before the game, the game was ready to start.

The lights of the Memorial Stadium were dimmed, and the DJ introduced the starters of the two sides.

Louie intends to test the Blazers, so the starting No. 4 is neither Rodman nor Kemp, but veteran Kevin McHale.

For the Blazers, their starting lineup is Jordan, Jerome Curcy, Xavier McDaniel, Barkley, and Larry Nance.

That's the secret that the Blazers have been invincible so far this season.

Their athleticism is unmatched.

On the opening jump ball, Nance used his speed to slap the ball away from Ewing.

On the first goal, Barkley met his old teammates and bluntly entered the low post.

Even from a distance, Louie could see the muscular lines in Barkley. This is the size of his college days. Although it is not particularly thin, it is already a great improvement compared to what he looked like when he was a bull.

Riley did what 99.9% of coaches couldn't do, getting Barkley to lose weight.

Barkley got the ball low, and the Knicks' players contracted decisively as planned.

However, Barkley's post-up attack did not stop because of the close double-team.

McHale had tried his best to stay behind him, but Barkley's offensive momentum was simply unstoppable.

Barkley overturned McHale, and Wilson's help came in. He ignored the latter's defense and hit a rebound.

2 to 0

"Kevin, you're old, retire now, I really can't bear to hit you!"

Barkley ran back triumphantly.

"That bastard, I really want to give him a kick!" Sean Camp looked anxious.

"Don't!" Rodman said earnestly, "You can't beat him!"

Camp said incredulously: "Just try it!"

"What to try? If you don't play well, you want to fight?" Louis glared back.

Everyone immediately shut up.

The Blazers' five-wing starter, with the league's first athleticism, is the defensive system Riley built for the Knicks.

From the moment they fell into position, the Knicks players experienced countless confrontations.

This confrontation, usually they give others.

Suddenly, the confrontation from the opponent was so powerful.

Stockton encountered Cauchy's one-on-one defense, stumbled through Ewing's pick-and-roll, broke through, and encountered a switch.

The man who switched him was Barkley.

Barkley was the only defensive hole in the Blazers' starting lineup, but Stockton's poor offensive ability passed up a good opportunity to pass the ball to Wilson.

Wilson couldn't see any other opportunities, and he threw a shot against the defense and missed.

Jordan runs fast.

The ball is passed from the back to the front.

Beyond the three-point line at the top of the arc, Jordan received the ball, made an emergency stop, and chased for a three-pointer.

"Shh!"

"!#%@%"

"The Knicks must be familiar with this style of play."

It's like fighting with yourself.

This is the feeling that the Blazers gave the Knicks, who are very similar to the Knicks in every aspect from defense to offense. Also, they're like the Knicks of the dark side, fiercer, more aggressive, and rougher.

At the same time, their defense also gave Louie a sense of deja vu.

They would rather miss the perimeter, and they will definitely set up help defense at the basket, relying on rotation speed to make up for positions~www.wuxiaspot.com~ And, the perimeter that they miss is usually Wilson, Miller and Stockton shooting percentage lowest point. Riley, like Louie, loves to study data, and he won't let this detail go.

Try not to give Ewing the opportunity to eat Nance or other people one-on-one. As long as Ewing has the ball in the low post, they will use the physical quality of the wing players to make savage double-teams.

At the same time, determined to lock the Knicks high dynamic attack. The Knicks love the pick-and-roll, and the Blazers have a lot of delays and switches and double-switches on defense.

These don't look new, but are very disciplined to execute.

The Knicks have never met such a team with similar attributes to themselves, but superior in some aspects.

After four minutes of play, the Blazers led the Knicks 13-7.

6 points behind, Louis is in no hurry.

However, when Stockton called the pick-and-roll and tried to break through and Jordan stole the ball back, he called a timeout.