Chapter 178: [Popular, no challenge]

When the rookies arrived at noon on Friday to be interviewed by the media, Guo Xu was the most popular player, and the popularity was significantly higher than last season's two best rookies Elton Brand and Steve Francis. In the star game fan vote, Guo Xu had more votes than the two combined, and eventually reached 970,000 votes, only 90,000 behind Kidd.
The reporter's questions were varied. Some asked Guo Xu if he was eager to compete with Iverson at the star game. Some asked him if he had the confidence to lead the team to defeat the second grade. Another Chinese reporter asked him if he knew Wang Zhizhi, who was going to join NBA.
No matter how you ask, everyone regards Guo Xu as the sole core of the first grade team.
At this time, the Grizzlies management's heart is bleeding. Although the top five rookies in the 2000s are not as good as Guo Xu, they are invited to participate in the challenge anyway, but their own leader can only leave at home.
In Guo Xu ’s previous life, Swift was invited to participate in the 2000 slam dunk contest, but now the NBA officially invited Jason Richardson, who is obviously better at slam dunks, and he has nothing to do in the best field.
In the afternoon, the first-year team conducted simple training. Three Michigan State players gathered together. The advantage was very obvious. Guo Xu knew the shooting position and running habits of the two teammates.
The first-year team does not have a regular center, but there is no lack of talent. Both power forwards are as fast as defenders.
Mark Jackson is of average fitness, with a height of 208 cm and a weight of 115 kg, but his tactical role is greater, and he has a stable mid-range shot.
The 26-year-old Jackson entered the NBA as a non-draft draft. Because the Warriors suffered from injuries inside, he jumped from a marginal to a starter. Then he set off a "black whirlwind" in the NBA. After starting, he averaged 18.9 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists. His shooting percentage was as high as 55.9% and his free throw percentage was 83.3%. He became a strong contender for the best rookie.
The biggest highlight of this training was Crawford ’s proposal and Guo Xu ’s heads-up. He was very confident in his heads-up ability and wanted to prove his strength in this way and get more playing time.
Guo Xu agreed, and the two decided to win by 10 goals in a general bullfighting way.
The game quickly ended, Guo Xu easily played Crawford a 10 to 3, two of his friends took the lead to call out to make Crawford faceless, flushed on the end.
Crawford can feel the huge gap between the two sides, it is not a grade at all, he found the wrong opponent.
The 21-year-old Crawford breakthrough is not too sharp, and Guo Xu can't pass, only height advantage. He is 196CM tall and weighs only 91 kg. He can't easily squeeze Guo Xu from his back. After being stuck in the position, he turns and shoots. His shooting rhythm is not very good, and he frequently hits iron.
Guo Xu was much easier to play Crawford, various directional layups made easy layups, far distances to retreat and step shots, and two high layup performances. He wanted to give his opponent some face, but his frustration was so good, he also scored high, and he scored 10 goals in 12 shots.
At present, Guo Xu's average data in the regular season has risen to 18.2 points, 2 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.4 steals. His shooting percentage is 51.2%, his three-point percentage is 43.1%, and his free throw rate is also 85.6%. Many people think that he is overestimated, and the high hit rate is because of the "OK combination" as a partner, it is easier to shoot.
Now this group of first-year rookies and coach Jack Marlin feel that Guo Xu is clearly underestimated. With his shooting accuracy and breakthrough ability, if he is not in the Lakers, if he shoots a little more, it will be easy to average more than 20 points per game. . Moreover, Guo Xu's defense is not as bad as the rumor, and it will not be easily hit against players taller than himself.
The apprentices Gary Peyton taught defensively are not weak. Kidd, Kobe and Snow have all been selected as the best defensive lineups. Guo Xu practiced defensively with Kobe in the loop, and it was also passed down the same line. He was afraid that his opponent would take advantage of his height to pull up a jumper. It was very difficult for the face frame to jump on him with speed and change of direction.
After the heads-up, it is no longer controversial for the first-year team to do the core. Marin arranged the frontal pick-and-roll and the side ballless screen as the main tactics. This is the foundation, and everyone will play. In addition, players grabbed backcourt rebounds and played a quick counterattack to speed up the pace.
The second-year rookies came to train later, but the coaches had trouble arranging tactics and had to fight in chaos. There are too many players with beautiful statistics in the regular season, especially the 1st position cannot establish the core, and even the playing time is not easy to allocate.
The Hornets' Byron Davis averaged 14 points, 5 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game. This was the worst point guard. Francis and Terry averaged nearly 20+ points per game, and Miller averaged the top five assists per game.
In this case, it is easier for the second grade to play the small forward. Only Szebiak and Marion share the playing time. Marion has to guest the power forward, and he can't let the two inside players play the entire game.
In the evening, the Rookie Challenge kicked off.
Guo Xu was very beautiful when he warmed up, because the new potato chips advertisements for him, O'Neill and Megan were put on the big screen of the stadium, and the audience laughed a lot.
O'Neill and Kobe were sitting in the front row as spectators. Guo Xu went to the sidelines to fight with the two of them and greeted Vanessa.
In the ESPN live game, Tom Hovas said: "Four second-year four point guards are about to face. Jason Guo still looks relaxed. He was almost selected as an All-Star starter in the rookie season, but lost to Kidd. He may have been selected, and this popular rookie is very rare. "
Partner Mark Woodson laughed: "Only Grant Hill's rookie season was more popular than others. In 1995, Hill was directly elected to the All-Star ticket. But considering Jason's pick, such high popularity is more rare. . "
The two sides made their debut.
First-year teams: Guo Xu, Jason Richardson, Mike Miller, Kenyon Martin, Mark Jackson.
Sophomore teams: Steve Francis, Hamilton, Szebiak, Odom, Brand.
The beast forward Martin jumped the ball to win and the game began.
Guo Xu took a three-pointer to take the ball, waved his teammates away, and hit Francis in the middle.
Before the time loop, he had little confidence in facing the Rockets against the "Boss Phrae", and now he no longer takes the opponent seriously, and he didn't want to find a pick-and-roll.
Guo Xu's dribble to the left hand, the left shoulder slightly flicked, and turned to the right one step, then passed Francis, brought into the three-point line, a sudden stop jump shot. 2 to 0.
Francis' defense is not very hard ~ EbookFREE.me ~ After being turned around, he only stretched out his hand and did not jump off the cover. Guo Xu clearly felt that dealing with him was easier than in the regular season.
Offensive in the second grade, Francis dribble the ball in the middle of the half, and Guo Xu is a three-pointer in the middle. He wants to return one. The choice is too simple. Guo Xu didn't jump, only reached a little interference, the ball missed the basket, Jackson grabbed a rebound in the backcourt.
Guo Xu took the ball to the frontcourt. This time he played a pick-and-roll with Jackson outside the three-point line. He got rid of Francis and moved a step forward. He shot a 3-pointer on the right 70 degrees. Brand didn't change defense, Francis was also not active in pursuit and defense, Guo Xu easily shot and opened the net. 5 to 0.
The fans on the scene gave warm applause. He is the most popular rookie and the continuous scoring is what fans want to see.
Woodson commented: "The second-year defense is too lax, Jason Guo has no interference with his shots. If he has to be so defensive, he must have exploded."
Horvas agreed. "This shot is not challenging for him. Francis is going to be tested. He must take it seriously."
Search () to see the fastest updated book!