Chapter 1 According to the Schedule

According to the schedule, in the new season, the Raptors' opponent in the opening game will be the luxurious lineup, and aiming for the championship...

————New York Knicks.

Originally, when formulating the new season's schedule, Stern initially planned to let the Raptors go to Philadelphia in the opening game, and let Su Feng and his old club the 76ers...

"Join forces" to put on an old-fashioned plot like "rebellious ninjas surrounding Kimura Leaf" to attract attention.

However, after Jordan announced his joining the Raptors, Stern decisively abandoned this plan.

Because...

In Stern's view, instead of struggling with whether the Raptors should go to Chicago or Philadelphia in the opening game, it is better to let the Raptors go to the famous "basketball mecca" and have an attention-grabbing opening game with the Knicks first.

I have to say that in terms of stirring things up, in this league, if Stern claims to be second, no one would dare to say they are first.

You know, as soon as the new season NBA schedule was announced, the game between the Raptors and the Knicks became a hot topic among fans.

So, in this way, under the linkage of Boss Jordan driving the local market and Emperor Feng driving the overseas market, for a time, after the end of the lockout, the popularity of the NBA not only did not decrease but increased...

Can you believe it?

Affected by the merger of Su and Jordan, the three major American television networks have adjusted their broadcast plans for the new season.

Although not a single game has been played in the new season, there is no doubt that the Raptors have become the sole main team in the hearts of many fans for the new season.

And it is worth mentioning that on February 2nd, with ESPN's announcement of the new season's team strength rankings, the Raptors successfully caused another wave of discussion.

Because on this strength list, they are ranked seventh, and in the opinion of many experts, they are overestimated.

There is no way, even if Jordan joins this Raptors team, under the rational analysis of American experts, they do not believe that Jordan, whose form has declined severely, can become the savior of this Raptors team in a short time.

After all, when he first came back, Jordan, wearing the number 45, left many "famous scenes" due to lack of practice.

Therefore, when making season previews, 9 out of 10 American experts believed that reaching the second round of the playoffs would be the limit for this Raptors team.

And the most daring expert only speculated to the conference finals.

However, as one of the future TNT Big Three...

Kenny Smith, who believes that he is "a unique firework," does not think so.

In Smith's view, these people are focusing on the wrong things.

Smith, who once completed the Black Eight miracle with Su Feng, is very clear that Su Feng, such a hardcore training monster, will definitely become the biggest surprise in the NBA this shortened season.

"I think how far the Raptors can go in the new season mainly depends on how much Su has improved during this long lockout period.

Maybe some players will slack off during the lockout, but believe me, that player will never be Su."

TNT TV, when doing the new season's preview program, Smith frantically called out to Su Feng.

However, Smith's understanding, in the eyes of his peers, is just his personal hype of Su Feng.

Because in the eyes of these experts, even Jordan is not the savior of this Raptors team, let alone the 20-year-old Su Feng?

To be fair, there is a reason why the future TNT Big Three can conquer fans.

Because if you carefully recall the commentary quotes of these three people, you will know that these three people seem to be joking and having random meetings every day, but in fact...

The truth is often hidden in these jokes.

…

Toronto, under Su Feng's "help," Jordan, who is working hard to recover his form, is furious.

For Jordan, who has always liked to turn pressure into motivation, when he saw the reports and evaluations made by the media and experts on this Raptors team, Jordan only hated that he did not have a Chicago typewriter in his hand now.

Otherwise, he would have taken this Chicago typewriter and swept the damned mouths of these stupid experts.

And unlike the exasperated "old rogue"...

When he noticed that only Smith was "stabbing" him in the back, Su Feng was overjoyed.

For Su Feng, who knows that public opinion changes faster than a woman's face or a reader turning a book, he is very clear that according to the current development of public opinion, it is only a matter of time before the Raptors detonate the new season of the NBA.

And it is worth mentioning that, because of the dense schedule of the new season, the ingenious little genius Davis decisively made a decision after entering February:

Before the team departs for New York on the 4th, the team's training session will be changed from one day to half a day.

According to the 98/99 season schedule, from February 5th to May 5th, each team will have to play 50 regular season games in just 89 days.

Therefore, it seems that the shortened season has fewer games, but this season, the consumption of players is much greater than the average regular season.

After all, there are not many players who like to train themselves hard like Su Feng and his group during the lockout period.

Therefore, Davis decided to reduce the team's training volume in the new season and let the players have more rest.

Just...

Jordan, who was practicing hard, was not very happy when he learned of Davis's decision.

You know, when he joined the Raptors, Jordan originally planned to join forces with Su Feng to put pressure on the team's management and let the Raptors replace Davis and bring in Phil Jackson.

However, Su Feng, who knew Jordan's thoughts at the time, only used two reasons to successfully make Jordan give up this stupid idea.

Su Feng's first reason at the time was that if the "Zen Master" came to coach, then if the Raptors won the championship, would the credit be his "Zen Master's," or yours, Jordan's, and mine, Su Feng's?

Jackson, who already has five championships, if he can win another championship with the Raptors, who would dare to say that he is a coach who rides on the coattails of stars in the future?

And Su Feng's second reason was, who said that the "Zen Master" must be better than Davis?

Didn't his Davis lead the 76ers to defeat Phil Jackson's Bulls back then?

There is no doubt that, compared to the first reason, what really convinced Jordan was the second reason.

Because Jordan had reason to believe that if he continued to talk to Su Feng, this guy would say to himself every day:

"Oh, great Michael Jordan, I defeated you with my own hands, do you remember?"

In short, in Su Feng's view, no one is more suitable to lead this Raptors team than Davis, such an excellent tool coach.

However, like Kobe, even more so than Kobe...

You say, how could Jordan not be anxious when Davis announced that the team would have half a day off every day?

"Su, stop watching the video, I know you have a good relationship with John, can you ask him to change the training plan?" That day, Jordan looked at Su Feng worriedly.

Although Jordan could go to Davis himself to respond to the unscientific training plan, in the eyes of Boss Jordan, who is concerned about his reputation, why should he come forward in person when he can use Su Feng, his little brother?

And for the suggestion put forward by his old deputy, Su Feng said to him: "Michael, why change the current training plan?"

"Su, isn't our goal in the new season the championship?" Jordan asked in confusion.

"Who said that winning the championship requires crazy training?

Michael, you need to know that it is now before the start of the regular season, not the offseason.

Didn't Grover tell you that players should reduce their training volume as much as possible during the regular season?" Su Feng blinked his big eyes and said to Jordan.

Jordan: "......"

I believed your evil!

If you say whether Jordan has ever regretted joining the Raptors, then at least now, he feels that his head must have been caught in the door before he chose to join the Raptors.

But fortunately, after Su Feng, who is good at observing words and expressions and is familiar with "Emotional Intelligence," led the topic of conversation to Jordan...

Boss Jordan was flattered.

While boasting to the young people about his story of defeating the entire league back then, Jordan also慰心的用 his big hand to touch Su Feng's head.

And after Jordan 装了一波满满的杯, Nash, who still felt that he hadn't heard enough, added: "Michael, can you tell us again about your story of the first three consecutive championships?"

I have to say that, putting aside his character, Jordan does have many advantages on the basketball court.

For example, Jordan's ability to tell stories and断章 is simply trained in the Qidian 断章 class.

"Wait for the next time, I'll continue to tell you, now, I'm a little sleepy."

Looking at the young people who were successfully piqued by him, Jordan put on his eye罩 with satisfaction.

On the afternoon of the 4th, the Raptors officially arrived in New York.

Because he knew that his form was not as good as before, Jordan, who attached great importance to this opening game, did not go anywhere after arriving in New York this time.

And the other players of the Raptors also stayed obediently in the hotel under Su Feng's control.

However, the next day, at the team's pre-match team meeting, Jordan was completely stunned when he noticed that Davis only spent fifteen minutes explaining the tactics.

No...

John, is this your tactic?

Our opponent tonight is the Knicks!

It is a super team that has Ewing, Houston, Big Mom and a bunch of other All-Stars, and has exchanged for Sprewell in the new season!

Shouldn't we respect them a little bit?

However...

Just as Jordan kept asking Davis if there was anything else that needed to be emphasized, Davis touched his head and looked at Jordan and said:

"I have said it very carefully, Michael, is there anything about this Knicks team that I have not noticed?"

Jordan: "......"

Carefully?

John, are you sure that the tactical arrangements you just said that I can all say are also tactical arrangements?

Aren't those things you just said all the training content of our two days?

Eh...

After suddenly remembering something, looking at Davis, who had a blessed face, Jordan suddenly felt that he understood.

"Su, is it possible that the training content that John has arranged recently is all aimed at this Knicks team?"

Before preparing to change equipment and enter the field to warm up, Jordan looked at Su Feng curiously and said.

Su Feng nodded and replied after thinking for a while: "Yes, Michael."

And after getting Su Feng's affirmative reply, Jordan, who was still a little impetuous, was relieved.

However, what Jordan did not know was that Davis's training content and tactical arrangements were aimed at...

In addition to the Knicks, it also includes the opponents that the Raptors need to face in the next 49 games.

Su Feng saw Jordan's impatience, but he didn't want to explain anything to Jordan in particular.

Because after playing a few more games, Jordan will know how strong this Raptors team is.

And the "old rogue's" impatience is also within Su Feng's expectations.

As the saying goes, caring leads to chaos.

The current Jordan, because his form is not as good as before, so after joining the Raptors, he is aiming for the championship, and like his future period in the Wizards, it is impossible not to be anxious.

However, in Su Feng's view, Jordan's current impatience is a good thing.

Because even Jordan is anxious, then think about it, before the start of this opening game, are his fans also very anxious?

Anxious, right?

Anyway, the more anxious the fans are for the Raptors now, the more surprised they will be in a while.

"I said, I have a suggestion." Before the opening game, Su Feng hugged Cammy with a wicked smile and said.

And on the side, Jordan, who was changing his sneakers, almost twisted his waist after hearing what Su Feng said to Carter and McGrady.

Looking up to the sky...

You say, are the young people now too crazy, or are old guys like me really unable to lift the knife anymore?

Looking at the inflated Su Feng, and the equally inflated Carter and McGrady...

Jordan felt that it was necessary to remind these young people that the Knicks are not善茬.

But...

After thinking carefully in his head, Jordan felt that it didn't seem like a bad thing to let these young people touch the wall.

However, will the Su-Carter-McGrady trio really "recognize themselves" in this game as Jordan thought?

February 5th, 8:30 PM local time in New York, in the "basketball mecca," when this young Raptors team came to the world...

This era simply does not know how many future Hall of Fame players there are on this Raptors team.

Look, that center with a 10 cm high afro, a man "seven feet" tall, he is Ben Wallace, who is about to be crowned "Space Fortress."

Look, that shooting guard wearing the Raptors No. 15 jersey, who always likes to show a smile that he thinks is handsome, he is Vince Carter, who will soon be given the name "Half-Man, Half-God" by Su Feng.

Look, that point guard with a flowing and handsome long hair, who looks very受, he is Steve Nash, the helmsman personally appointed by Su Feng, who is not yet the "Sun King."

So, plus Jordan and Su Feng.

In the next twenty years, when reviewing this Raptors vs. Knicks 98/99 season opener, the most frequently mentioned梗 in the barrage is almost without exception:

"It turns out that McGrady is not worthy of having a name on this Raptors team?"

Madison Square Garden.

Just as NBA President David Stern, who came to supervise the battle, was listening to his assistant Mark reporting the ratings, how could this smiling president know that now, there are only 30 minutes left before the NBA explodes.

And those commentators on the commentary席 who are all感慨 that the Knicks' lineup is even closer in the new season, how could they know that in this season, there is no team on paper that can be greater than this Raptors team.

Under the gaze of more than 20,000 New York fans at the scene.

Under the围观 of a bunch of celebrities and the upper class at the scene.

Under the expectations of more than 200 million fans in China and the United States combined.

"23+24", they're here!

……

ps: Revised to the twenty-sixth edition, finally wrote a chapter above 8 points.

Work overtime today, write another chapter before I go to sleep... Of course,小伙伴 who can't wait can go to sleep first, 么么哒!