Chapter 1296: Chapter 410: Like Chasing a Ferrari on a Bicycle
As the defending champions, the Warriors have almost lost all their gas against championship-contending teams before.
Only by competing with top opponents can you truly understand your current level.
In the next ga, the Warriors’ opponent will be the Dallas Mavericks—although the Mavericks’ tactics and lineup are quite peculiar, you can never exclude a team boasting Shaq, Dirk, UFO, and Jason Terry from the championship contenders.
Gary Payton knows his task; in the last ga, he only needed to deal with Baron Davis, and in the next ga, his opponent will be Jason Terry.
Payton continues to practice his stamina, striving to improve his cruising ability.
At noon, training concluded, the solitary Payton sat on the sidelines, drinking water and resting.
At this mont, a person walked up to him with a basketball.
It was Monta Ellis, who was sent to the developnt league for gas but trained with the first team.
Payton tilted his mouth: “Kid, what do you want?”
“They say you can teach defense.”
“Who are they?”
After asking, Payton looked past Monta Ellis and saw Stephen Jackson and others grinning wickedly.
This was a complete prank; they deliberately sent Monta Ellis to provoke this solitary, bad-tempered old man and then waited for the show.
Payton satisfied them: “Get lost, you ugly freak, why should I waste ti teaching an idiot like you? I’m here to play basketball, not to be a babysitter.”
Stephen Jackson and the prank initiators were already laughing; normally, this prank would end here. They angered the old man with a bad temper, and teased the rookie, so everyone was pleased.
But Monta Ellis told Gary Payton: “They said your defense is better than Jason Kidd’s, that’s why I ca to you, don’t be ungrateful.”
Everyone was stunned; no one expected this rookie to be so bold.
Indeed, those selected by the Golden State Gangsters aren’t ordinary people.
Payton’s defense is indeed better than Jason Kidd’s.
Payton’s level is such that he was once assigned to single-handedly defend Michael Jordan; Roger Kidd’s defensive highlight was rely defending Jas years later, but what’s the big deal? He’s at the sa level as JJ Barea.
Gary Payton stared at the youngster: “Do you know, Jason Kidd used to be just my little follower on the street courts!”
“So what? I used to be my brother’s little follower too, but I eventually beat him. Gary, you can’t always talk about the past.”
“And who the hell is your brother?”
“The best high school player in Mississippi.”
“Listen, I don’t know which ugly freak your brother is, and I don’t know you. If you can beat one-on-one, I’ll teach you; otherwise, get lost and never bother again.”
With that said, Gary Payton angrily tossed the ball to Monta Ellis.
Monta Ellis froze for a mont; Gloves thought this kid was scared.
But Ellis responded: “If I can beat you, what can you still teach ?”
“Damn, damn! You’re finished, kid, I guarantee you’re finished!”
In the next few minutes, the Warriors team saw how Gary Payton made Monta Ellis unable to score even a single point.
Monta Ellis is talented, but as a rookie high school player with a small fra and little muscle, he was completely battling at a level mismatch.
Whenever Gary Payton applied pressure, all his technical moves deford and couldn’t be executed.
Speed?
In front of Gary Payton’s fine distance control, Monta Ellis’s speed was utterly ineffective.
His shooting also lost accuracy due to the intense confrontation.
And his defense against Gary Payton was a disaster; Gloves is one of the few back-to-the-basket experts at the point guard position. Hence, he only needed to lift his butt, like an experienced MILF, and fiercely attack the young Monta Ellis to make the young man surrender.
Ultimately, Gloves defeated Monta Ellis 10-0.
Monta Ellis was defeated while also receiving a trash-talking package.
“Get out! Go tell your ugly brother that you played ball with Gary Payton! And the rest of you, don’t make fun of again, or I’ll stick this little dog’s (Ellis’) head into your skin inflammation!”
Stephen Jackson and the others pretended nothing happened and turned away.
Monta Ellis picked up the basketball and wiped his sweat.
Gary Payton glanced at him with disdain, then sat back on the bench to continue resting.
Jeff Hornacek walked over to Roger, who had been watching the show: “Monta was soone you specifically demanded to select, are you sure you don’t want to intervene? His confidence will be eroded by Gary Payton, that unsociable old bastard.”
Roger simply smiled and waved: “Eroded confidence? If he can be easily knocked down, I wouldn’t have chosen him. This is the Golden State Gangsters’ nest; let them interact as gangsters do.”
Indeed, Monta Ellis did not leave in sha; instead, he told Payton: “I’ll co to challenge you again tomorrow.”
Gary Payton froze for a mont but quickly showed his grim face: “Get out!”
“Oh.” Monta Ellis calmly left.
Roger didn’t know what kind of strange chemistry these two would have, but he could see that Gary Payton doesn’t truly hate Monta Ellis; otherwise, he wouldn’t have agreed to a duel with him.
Gloves just wanted to maintain his aloof persona.
Anyway, with the Warriors missing the Little Dominator this season and the tactics requiring high demands on stamina and health to win the championship, the more players they have who can play, the better.
Perhaps Gloves can really accelerate Monta Ellis’s growth?
The next day, the Warriors faced off against the Mavericks at Oracle Arena.
The entire crowd held signs reading “We believe,” and the ho atmosphere was so heated it made Shaq reminisce about Orlando’s glory days.
Today, the Warriors’ three-point shooting was still average, but they maintained their level on defense.
The Warriors relied on pressure to choke Vince Carter and Jason Terry, and Dirk struggled against Stephen Jackson and Boris Diaw’s strong and agile forwards.
The aging Shaq surprisingly carried the team, scoring 24 14.
As his teammates struggled with their three-point shooting, Roger took on the scoring responsibility, blasting a season-high single-ga 62 points—Mavericks’ weak defense always provides Roger a scoring paradise, and last season, Roger’s career-high of 71 points was also scored against the Mavericks.
Finally, Roger set a record of 110 points in back-to-back gas, leading the Warriors to continue winning.
The defending champions have truly rediscovered the winning feeling.
—————–
Gary stopped Jason Terry, well, a few years ago this would have been insignificant. But now, this is a testant to Gary’s value; he just needs to do this to win. His choice is correct; only Roger can lead him to a championship. — Charles Barkley mocking Gloves.
Gary is right, LBJ is chasing a Ferrari on a bicycle. Shaq? He’s slightly better than LeBron, driving an eight-handed Buick chasing a Ferrari. — Bill Simmons mocking Shaq in his column.
110 points in two gas, I don’t know who can break this abnormal record. The Warriors’ ranking will quickly rise; I’m sure of it. — “San Francisco Chronicle.”
The defending champions are not without flaws; their strategy makes them extrely reliant on long rotations, and any injury or accident can disrupt the perfect rotation. Their margin for error is too low; that’s why the Knicks will ultimately beco champions, this ti for real! — “The New York Tis.”
Monta Ellis scored 33 points in a single ga in the developnt league; how far is this second-highest high school player in Arica from contributing to the Warriors? — “Slam.”
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