Before the start of the 2014-15 season, almost everyone''s eyes were on Cleveland.
Last summer, the Cavaliers returned to their "emperor" LeBron James, with "two pairs of machines" Kevin love, plus 2011''s top man show Kelly Owen. A younger, more powerful big three was formed.
In the eyes of most people at that time, such a lineup, let alone in the East, even if looking at the whole league, few teams could compete with it.
Even the Memphis Grizzlies, when they meet the younger big three, don''t necessarily guarantee a 100% rout.
The eastern part of the country is almost dominated by one family, and no one can pry into the first place in the East except for the Knights.
But when the season really started, it wasn''t the Cleveland Cavaliers that surprised people, but the Atlanta Hawks that few people remember last season!
Under the leadership of coach budenhower, the Hawks have been in the first place in the East since the start of the season and have won more games than the Cavaliers.
The eagles'' five starters are Jeff Teague, Kyle Cowell, DeMar Carroll, Paul Millsap and Al hofford.
None of these five can be regarded as an absolute superstar, and there is no match for the brilliant Cavaliers.
In this eastern first hawk formation, the highest average score per game is Millsap''s 16.7 points. And no player has scored 30 + points in any game of the season.
The Hawks are unlikely to be a successful team in any way.
Hawks do not have much individual heroism, but they play the spirit of team basketball to the extreme.
This has to mention their head coach Mike budenhozer.
The manager, who was born in the Spurs system, successfully injected the Spurs'' tactical concept into the Hawks.
Hawks play the team basketball with rigorous tactics, each player gives full play to his own advantages. As the leader and commander of the team, budenhozer is indispensable.
As a result, many fans call this Eagles "Spurs team 2", and even jokingly tease the Spurs into "little eagles.".
Of course, their best-known nickname is the eastern spurs.
In fact, the Atlanta Hawks have always had a good base.
Since 2007-08 season, only two NBA teams have never missed any playoffs.
Not the old spurs naturally ranked among them, and the other team is the "Eastern spurs" Eagles.
Last season, the Hawks entered the playoffs as eighth in the East, 18 games less than the first pacer.
But the hawks in the playoffs last season but played with the Pacers to snatch seven to lose, nearly staged the black eight miracle.
It''s just that the team with simple style and no big name stars has received too little attention, so few people remember their achievements, and few people remember that they nearly performed the black eight miracle last season.
That''s why they were surprised by their sudden rise this season.
There is no doubt that the Atlanta Hawks are now the league''s top team. Their record is not only outstanding in the East, even in the west, but also second only to Grizzlies and warriors.
In the case of uneven lineup, in the face of such a top team, Joel is naturally very headache.
But fortunately, the Grizzlies can play the New York Knicks to warm up before the Hawks.
On January 5, the Grizzlies, who lost Pau Gasol, played at home against the Knicks, who are only 5-31.
The New York Knicks also suffered from injuries this season, but worse than Grizzlies, what they lost was their star player Cameron Anthony.
After Anthony''s absence, the Knicks did not have much combat power at all. Coupled with the management confusion, the Knicks'' record can be described as a cliff jump.
In the past few seasons, the Knicks were still a strong contender for the championship. Last season, the Knicks were the best team in the East.
But this year, they went straight to the No.1 player to sign...
if the league wants to choose a "fastest regressive team", the Knicks will definitely be the champion.
There is nothing to say about this game. Naturally, the Knicks are so abused that they can''t take care of themselves. People ridiculed that it would be hard for the Knicks to play NCAA.
In the end, grizzlies scored 105-83 at home, and directly abused the Knicks to explode.
Link clocked out of work in the third quarter, scoring 25 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists. In the middle of the third quarter on the main line-up, the Grizzlies still won the Knicks nearly 20 points.
From this we can see how solid the Knicks are in the last place. After this game, the Knicks have lost a total of 12 games in a row! After the
match, even Mike Brin, who was stationed in New York''s interpretation competition, could not help but make complaints about it. "The Grizzlies are less than black and white. They can win Nicks nearly 20 points, saying Nicks can''t fight in NCAA, that''s a bit too much. In my view, the Knicks have at least reached the level of the Development LeagueMike brin seldom talks bitterly, but this time, he''s really not spitting.
There seems to be no bright spot in this food abuse competition, but if you look at the data table of both sides carefully, you will find something different.
In the Knicks'' appalling data sheet, Quincy assie, in this 12-year second round show, won 19 points and 14 rebounds in the big double double! Scores and rebounds, are the team''s highest!
ASI has been a blue collar player at the bottom of the League since he entered the league, averaging 5.9 points and 4.4 rebounds this season. Even in the Knicks, the league''s worst team, ASI couldn''t get a start.
It is such a player who has won two doubles in the first place in the League...
the reason is very simple. The playing time of ASI just corresponds to the time that Grizzlies don''t have any inside line available!
After Gasol was injured, the Grizzlies naturally pushed Whiteside to the starting line-up. Whiteside although the comprehensive strength is not as good as Gasol, but the most basic frame protection and basket snatch is absolutely enough.
He may not be able to add to the icing on the cake, but Whiteside can do his job well.
As a result, the Knicks'' two starting insiders, Cole Aldrich and Jason Smith, were battered to death.
The former had only 7 points and 3 rebounds, while the latter had 10 points and 5 rebounds, but only 4 out of 11 shots. As a low position attack based inside line, such data is obviously failed.
But after Whiteside, the Grizzlies had to play center with Tobias Harris!
There is no doubt that the Grizzlies'' ability to protect the frame has been greatly reduced. As a result, the Knicks substitute Quincy assie just pinched the soft persimmon and made a double data.
Although the Grizzlies won the Knicks easily, Gasol''s injury left a huge loophole, but also exposed.
Just a Quincy assie can blow up the Grizzlies'' reserve line like this. Isn''t it going to be worse to play hawks in the next game?
Harris would be fine if he met hawk backup center Penn anditch, and it would have been bloody if he had met Millsap or hofford.
Joel has to be glad that Grizzlies are facing a rotten Knicks with no bottom line.
Otherwise, the grizzly bear may be really cold.
So the day after the game, the day before the Grizzlies and hawks.
Joel called link to his office early in the morning and made a very bold proposal.
"The next game, link, I''m afraid... I''m afraid the rotation time, I''ll give you top five!"
Just as the Los Angeles Lakers lost Jabbar in 1980, then Laker coach Paul Westhead had to push "magician" to the fifth position.
Joel also chose to use the team''s superstar to fill the vacancy in position five.
It''s weird, but it''s the only way.
Link was not surprised to hear Joel''s proposal, for no one was better suited to the task than he was.
Link is not nervous, but very excited.
Of course, it is impossible to be afraid of challenges.
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