The real impact of Brother Deng's collision with the World Trade Center on NBA was just beginning...

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On Pierce's side, the new nickname "Truth" became a hit.

After the All-Star Weekend, Pierce, who is in Angel City, received more attention.

He won the All-Star MVP with Zhang Hao. Although it is fine looking at the data and performance.

But the media prefer to regard this incident as a signal released by the league. Pierce has become one of the league's strong teams.

It is indeed because of this incident that Pierce's outstanding personal performance, comprehensive and superb skills, and steady key ball skills have been learned by more people.

When Pierce was in Los Angeles and performed well, the league followed suit and made a very successful star-making career.

When Zhang Hao saw the news popularity of Pierce after the All-Star Game, he also felt the difference in the David Stern era 20 years later.

NBA is not short of geniuses, so there is no need to force someone to praise him. It is much smarter to push the right genius at the right time than to force a star-making person.

The trading wave, contract renewal wave during the All-Star weekend, and the thigh-hugging wave that some veterans bought out have nothing to do with the Supersonics.

The Supersonics' signings were already done before the All-Star Weekend.

The signings last summer were so many choices that the Supersonics slowly picked them. Now it looks very successful.

Some media joked that the Supersonics team competed for a position last summer when ten high-quality players competed for one position. As long as they were not mentally retarded, they could bite a dog casually, and any bite they could count as if they were counted as any other person.

On February 15, the second half of the Supersonics season began.

8 games in 14 days, the schedule is a bit difficult.

Fortunately, although there are teams currently in the playoff rankings in these 8 games, they are basically teams on the edge of the playoffs. The Supersonics' strong team treatment this season is particularly good.

The time came on February 28. The Supersonics defeated the Knicks 97-84 in the second back-to-back game. After eight games in the second half of February, the Supersonics achieved a record of 6 wins and 2 losses. After the first four months, the record increased to 44 wins and 15 losses.

Zhang Hao's overall performance in these 8 games was stable, with 7 games above 30 points, and two of them were 40+.

Cassel and Jordan's two veterans, All-Stars, have reduced their playing time after the weekend. Cassel is fine. Jordan's efficiency has actually increased against the trend, playing 5 games, averaging 20 points per game in 28 minutes, which is better than averaging 18.2 points per game in the first half.

And when the All-Star Weekend comes back, Jordan turns 39.

The ability to maintain the state and adjust the playing style... are all amazing.

Throughout February, the Supersonics' performance was comparable to that of the Kings, with 8 wins and 2 losses.

The Eastern Conference also has a team similar to the Supersonics and Kings, with a record of 8 wins and 3 losses in February.

On March 1, the league announced the February best awards.

Rookie of the Month, Trenton Hassel of the Bulls won the game, averaging 10.3 points and 4.2 rebounds per month; Paul Gassol of the Grizzlies won the third rookie of the Month, averaging 15.9 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.6 blocks per month.

Coach of the Month, East, Celtics coach Jim O'Brien won; West, Clippers coach Alvin Gentry won.

Player of the Month, McGrady of the Bulls won the game, averaging 16.1 points, 7 rebounds and 11.6 assists per month; Ben Wallace of the Supersonics won the game, averaging 8.4 points, 14.2 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 3.5 blocks per month.

...

The new month has arrived, and the Supersonics have returned to Seattle, and the next game is an alternating home and away game.

The schedule in March is relatively tight and the task is heavier.

The problems found and those that can be solved need to be solved this month. In April, the game must be regarded as a playoff preview.

The Western Conference Player of the Month is over the Supersonics, which is something to be happy about.

But Ben Wallace, who won the best player of the month for the first time in his career, is cautious now when he goes out, worried about flying across the elbow...

Judging from the situation after playing in February, the best of the month in the East is either Kobe or McGrady; the best of the month in the West is also clear candidates, among them, the Kings and Timberwolves.

If it was the Kings, it must be Weber and the Timberwolves must be Garnett.

Weber's record and data are worthy of it; although the Timberwolves only had 7 wins and 4 losses in February, Garnett's performance alone was too good.

If Duncan is regarded as a power forward, only Garnett can compete with Duncan for the second largest forward in the league.

If Duncan is regarded as the center, Garnett is the league's second largest forward.

Although Weber performed well, he was basically recognized as the two No. 21s being the strongest power forwards since Zhang Hao.

In terms of the Supersonics, Zhang Hao is the only candidate to win the best player in the month.

But the league sent him big bench...

Seeing Ben Wallace's data in February, thinking about Ben Wallace's performance in the defensive lineup built around him, and his win of the February Player of the Month is generally recognized by public opinion.

Duncan, Garnett, Kobe, Kidd, O'Neal, Zhang Hao...The defensive performances of these people this season have been suppressed by Ben Wallace.

Only Garnett's defensive efficiency of 7.3 and Duncan's 7.1 can be close to Ben Wallace's defensive efficiency of fluctuating around 8.5.

But Ben Wallace, who gloriously won the first Best Player of the Month Award in his career, now feels that he can't stand such a blessing...

As a pure defensive player, the only one who can win the Player of the Month before Ben Wallace!

Ben Wallace's performance is worthy of the Player of the Month, but according to common sense, the Pure Defensive Player of the Month will not be awarded the Player of the Month.

Mutombo, Mark Eaton and other best defensive players have never won.

Before, only Rodman, a pure defensive player, won the Player of the Month Award, and Ben Wallace won the only history before this award.

Leave anything else for now, this is definitely a very glorious thing.

But Ben Wallace is now a little frightened...

After winning the prize at noon, he came to the stadium in the afternoon and accepted the trophy awarded by league officials, and always felt that someone was watching him.

And it was not an illusion! He followed his sight and saw Zhang Hao!

On the second day, the Supersonics' first game in March, the day to host the Nuggets at home is here.

Ben Wallace could still feel a look on him from time to time.

In the evening, when I was warming up, Ben Wallace couldn't help it and approached Zhang Hao, but he didn't know what to say.

"Ben, don't you go to warm up?"

"Boss, scold me!"

"?"

"I'm really uneasy if you don't scold me."

"Why?"

Why? I'm afraid you'll let me go! Ben Wallace said: "I may affect your boss and you'll compete for MVP."

"Ah? How could you affect me to compete for MVP?"

"I snatched your player of the month..."

"What do you mean to steal my Player of the Month? That's when you played better than me last month and won the Player of the Month."

"Uh...are you angry?"

"I have said that I'm angry? So what if I didn't get the best player of the month? So what if I didn't get the mvp in the end? Just an mvp, you underestimate me too much."

"Then boss, why do you often look at me these two days?"

"?..." Zhang Hao said speechlessly, "I am the boss of your agency, right?"

"right."

"Mr. Schultz is talking to me about your contract extension. I want to help you get a contract like Mutombo, but it's more difficult."

"A contract like Mutombo?" Ben Wallace said a little confused, "I can't stand up for the defense alone like him. It would be nice to get a contract like Rodman."

"Henry also thinks so, but Davis gets 6 million, Wells gets more than 7 million, Nestrovic wants 8 million, and Lafrenz averages an average of 10 million in this market. If you don't fight for a big contract, I feel like you're losing money. Don't worry, I'll have a good talk with Mr. Schultz."

"..." Ben Wallace didn't know what to say.

Since that's the case, when will the boss be unhappy? He stretched his head over and elbows the boss, and I will bear it!

...

When it comes to the Nuggets, many fans will think of the "Five Power Forwards in the 1995". Until now, the five top power forwards have collapsed.

No. 1 pick Joe Smith is currently holding a middle class for two years with the Timberwolves.

Zhang Hao, Garnett, and Rashid Wallace are doing well.

Until last season, Antonio McDyce, who was still regarded as a top power forward and averaged 20 points and 12 rebounds per game last season, was seriously injured after playing a few games this year.

It was not just a serious injury. Antonio McDyce had minimally invasive surgery, but it was regarded as falling from the top power forwards. The age of 27 made many people feel a pity.

Who knew that after a minimally invasive surgery, the recovery was still very unsatisfactory. In mid-January, the injury worsened. The surgery was re-examined last month, and the recovery period was expected to be between 8 and 14 months.

In other words, before the season ends, Antonio McDyce has confirmed the reimbursement of next season.

Originally, many people regretted that Antonio McDyce had minimally invasive surgery. After the explosive power was weakened, it would slip from the top power forwards and was accompanied by injury signings, but the lowest expectation was also 17+8 or 15+10 levels.

But now that I have such a complete plan, it is hard to say whether I can get a good level when I come back.

This is completely different from Grant Hill's reimbursement for one and a half seasons. Grant Hill took the initiative to perform surgery to eliminate potential injuries. Even minimally invasive surgery was performed before the injury broke out. Antonio McDace was much worse.
To be continued...