Lee, who was sitting on the bench, was still experiencing the metaphysical sense of position.
After his explosive power was further improved, his playing style could be optimized.
Oakley, who was still adjusting his physical condition, had not yet appeared on the court tonight.
Looking at Artest, who was daring to fight and hit the iron on the court, he couldn't help but smile and said:
"I like this kid's playing style, but he is not smart enough. He has to continue to carry the bag this season!"
Larry Johnson also thought that Artest was not bad.
Except for being too emotional sometimes, he did have the potential to become an excellent defender:
"This guy is also good at boxing, but he is a little irritable. This kind of personality is indeed easy to be targeted."
The defects in personality are caused by the growth experience.
What Lee noticed was Lewis.
Compared with Artest, this newcomer seemed to have adapted to the team.
Kukoc can also control the ball.
As a tall forward, he has a wide field of vision.
Although Artest's cuts were all spit, his passes to Lewis were impressive.
After Chris Dudley set a screen for Lewis in the right blocking area, Kukoc at the free throw line immediately found Lewis in the right corner.
The latter received the pass and easily hit a three-pointer against the defensive Nazr Mohammed.
Secondary possession of the ball, simple high-low coordination, down or out after the screen, helped Chris Childs control the rhythm of the game.
Kukoc, who has rich game experience, has also found his position - a versatile scorer.
Facing short forwards, Kukoc can also make some mismatch penalties.
Although he didn't feel good tonight, Jeff Van Gundy on the sidelines was very satisfied with the game content of Kukoc.
Chris Dudley just ate the cake under the basket, and Jeff Van Gundy encouraged the players loudly on the sidelines:
"Nice pass! Keep up this offense, pay attention to the protection of the rebound!"
Except for the irritable Artest, all the players who came off the bench scored.
With 4 minutes and 42 seconds left in the first half, Artest received a pass from Kukoc on the baseline cross screen and finally scored 2 points under the basket.
Jeff Van Gundy still did not switch back to the main lineup, and Artest, who scored points, seemed to have opened up his crazy mode at once.
Then he made a three-pointer from the right wing, and finally broke through and caused the opponent to foul.
Artest, who had completely calmed down, finally found his own offensive rhythm.
In the commentary booth, Walt Frazier liked Kukoc's performance very much:
"Every team needs a big man who can pass the ball. Pat is gone, Kukoc can take on this task, but he still needs to work harder on the offensive end. It seems that he has not found his shooting touch yet."
Kukoc only received a pass from Chris Childs under the basket and scored 2 points with 1 of 6 shots.
Commentator Mike Breen was more concerned about Lee's condition.
He was impressed by several pick-and-roll attacks after the opening:
"Lee's offense is getting more and more relaxed. If the screen quality is better, it will be easier to score!"
Like ordinary fans, Mike Breen did not notice the changes in Lee's offense.
After all, those breakthrough layups looked very thrilling.
The score difference was completely widened.
Both teams made frequent substitutions. Iverson, who was sitting on the bench, did not care about the result of the game.
Instead, Larry Brown was still roaring loudly.
In the end, Lee only played for 20 minutes in this preseason game.
The Knicks easily defeated their opponents 80:108.
Everyone appeared on the court, and the New York fans were also very satisfied.
The new aid Kukoc and the new Artest were not scorers, but the substitute lineup could still help the team score!
After Sprewell left the team, it did not seem to have much impact on the Knicks.
Seeing is believing, and New York fans were completely relieved.
On the evening of the 12th, Michael Jordan appeared in Madison Square Garden again.
After becoming the director of basketball operations for the Wizards, Michael Jordan still put on airs.
The management team cannot get along with the players.
Michael Jordan, who was dressed in a black suit, was booed by New York fans before the game.
Michael Jordan simply said hello to theKnicks before the game and sat in the front row to watch the game seriously.
But as time passed, Michael Jordan couldn't help but frown deeper and deeper as he watched Lee pause slightly on the three-point line and turn around to pass Stritland.
Even if he changed defenders, Mitch Richmond and Michael Smith were easily passed.
After watching Lee's pick-and-roll and Juwan Howard suddenly shot from outside the three-point line, Michael Jordan was so angry that he cursed:
"Fuck! Get through the screen and rush!"
In this game, New York fans could clearly see that Lee's body was straighter during the breakthrough, and his speed was not fast, but he could always easily layup in the paint area.
The Wizards' defense was always just a little short of completing a block, but Lee was able to seize the gap and send the ball into the basket.
When the half-time game was about to end, Lee, who was at the top of the arc, suddenly rushed up and directly stole Stritland's cross pass.
He easily made a powerful one-handed slam dunk with 1 vs. 0 in the frontcourt!
42:58, looking at the 16-point difference, Michael Jordan, who was fully engaged, pursed his lips in anger, frowned, and his expression was particularly ugly.
The director at the scene frequently aimed the camera at Michael's, and the New York fans did not forget to follow suit.
Seeing that the score difference was heading straight for 20 points, Michael Jordan couldn't help rubbing his eyebrows with his hands and cursed in his heart:
"Shit! It's so painful to watch you play!"
One-on-one single defense, Lee only needs to hesitate and shake on the three-point line, then turn his hips to accelerate.
As long as he squeezes through the defense and grabs half a body position, he will most likely complete the breakthrough.
When he gets to the paint area, Lee will not stop the ball, either he will directly attack the basket, or turn around and look for opportunities.
Pick-and-roll offense is even simpler.
Most of the time, Lee can squeeze through the defense.
As long as the opponent does not double-team, he can easily score by breaking through or shooting.
Seizing the opponent's small mistakes in the defensive position, Lee can also find his teammates.
The Wizards, who have average defensive discipline, were beaten in the first half.
Hamilton, who came off the bench, also performed averagely.
Facing Artest's brutal defense, most of his ball-holding offenses were missed.
This performance also made Michael in the front row of the audience shake his head, and the expression on his face was
"Get the ball and break through him!"
In the end, the Knicks defeated the Wizards 82:110. Michael Jordan, who was sitting in the front row, had completely lost his smile at this time, and seemed to find it difficult to accept that the Wizards lost so much.
Michael Jordan, who was in a bad mood, threw the management's shelf behind his head after the game.
In an interview with the New York media, he seriously criticized the Wizards:
"Such a failure is unacceptable. In my opinion, the Wizards tonight have no fighting spirit!"
"It's unbelievable that we lost by 28 points. Although it was just a preseason game, I didn't see the players' attitude of playing desperately."
"If you can't put the ball into the basket, at least you should respond on the defensive end. If it were me, I would never let Lee score easily."
"Basketball games are simple. Just defend the opponent's offense and then put the ball into the basket. I hope the team can cheer up in the next game!"
Maybe in Michael Jordan's eyes, Stritland was just slacking off on the defensive end, but the actual situation is that the player has tried his best to dunk and has not changed his mindset yet.
He asked the Wizards players to meet his own standards.
As a result, this criticism did not work at all.
The Wizards kept losing in the preseason.
In the subsequent preseason games, Lee began to carry out a lot of pick-and-roll offenses, leading the Knicks to win continuously.
After seeing too many thrilling layups based on defense, New York fans were no longer surprised.
Everyone realized that this was Lee's improvement.
On October 24, the Knicks easily defeated the last preseason opponent, the Hawks, 107:90.
Mutombo stared at Lee after the game.
He was blown away in this game.
Ewing, who flew to the away game with the team, smiled all the time when he saw his friend in a mess on the court.
He would even mock him when he enjoyed the game.
In the 8 games, the Knicks beat their opponents by 15 points in every game.
Although some teams were not strong, the New York media was ecstatic.
When interviewed by a reporter from the New York Post, the other party kept complimenting him:
"It was wonderful, Lee! Every attack was so wonderful. The Sports Center must have been very busy. There were so many beautiful attacks!"
"Lee, can you talk about your changes in the new season? I mean those wonderful breakthroughs, finding teammates in the gaps between people, and completing layups unexpectedly. It's really amazing!"
The fans who did not leave the stadium were still booing.
Even in the preseason, no one wanted to see the home team lose.
Lee, who had already changed into training clothes, just chuckled when he heard these questions, and then replied with a smile:
"Observe the position of the defensive players, disrupt the opponent's defensive center of gravity, get close to the basket, and then shoot it casually, you can easily score!"
"As for how to find teammates in the gaps between people, it is largely due to the tactical arrangements of the coaching staff."
"Coach Van Gundy will make sufficient plans for every game, and we just execute the game plan customized before the game."
The reporter of the New York Post did not believe in the saying "just shoot it casually", so there was no need to dig deep.
At this time, he could only continue to praise:
"No one can defend our pick-and-roll offense in the new season. Lee, do you have anything to say to the fans?"
Considering that there will be an awards ceremony for the Knicks in early November, Lee did not forget to shout for James Dolan at this time:
"I hope everyone can come to Madison Square Garden to witness the team's fourth championship flag rising!"
"Two consecutive championships, Mr. Dolan has spent a lot of thought on our championship this year. I hope everyone will like this special ring."
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