NOVEL NEXT Chapter 288: As Long as I Can Appease Howard, I'll Go as Many Times as Needed! (Part 2)
It was also this issue that led them to persuade Kevin Durant to join the team in the summer of '16!
Bill Walton didn't know what would happen in the future, but he has been commenting on the NBA for many years and was once a Finals MVP, so he can naturally see the New York Knicks' weaknesses very clearly.
In his opinion, the New York Knicks weren't as strong as they appeared in the first round against the Bucks.
Once their form declines, how to have more stable finishing methods is a question this New York Knicks team needs to face.
Of course, the presence of Su Wan is always this team's trump card!
But besides this trump card?
Bill Walton's concerns aren't unfounded.
Because this issue became critical during the regular season against the Lakers!
If it weren't for Su Wan's clutch shot and crucial "poster block on Kobe," the New York Knicks might have been defeated by the Lakers once again.
In this game, the problem presented by the New York Knicks was:
Apart from Su Wan, there is no other ball handler on the team who can consistently step up!
Including Stephen Curry, who performed so well in the first round, he actually doesn't have consistent ball-handling abilities.
Or, to put it another way, consistent ball-handling breakthrough layup abilities.
But this doesn't prevent the New York Knicks from once again becoming the first team in the playoffs to make it to the second round. Next, they will wait for the winner between the Bulls and the Hawks.
While the New York Knicks are waiting, the League suddenly issued a new "turtle rule":
If a defensive player, during a vertical jump for defense, moves sideways or turns to block an attacking player, it will be considered illegal defense and will be penalized as a blocking foul!
This is the "defensive vertical jump" rule!
Originally because of LeBron.
Now...
Still because of LeBron!
This rule was announced after the fourth game of the series between the Forest Wolf and the Clippers.
In that game, Little Si, while defending LeBron James, came out of nowhere, interfering with LeBron, and this was called as LeBron's foul. But now, under the new ruling, it becomes Little Si's foul...
The Los Angeles media, upon seeing this new regulation from the League, knew it was targeting the Clippers.
They weren't having it!
Jokingly, although they always considered the Lakers their "true heirs," the Clippers were merely "raised by a stepmother." But even a "stepmother" is still a "mother!"
This is outright bullying, are they really ignoring Los Angeles?
The "Los Angeles Times" directly published an article: "So, how many more favors do we need to grant LeBron?"
Some Los Angeles media even directly mocked: "Honestly, we have to wonder how many benefits LeBron gave to the League; otherwise, this is just outrageous! I've never seen anything like it!"
The New York media also joined in mocking the officials: "Obviously, the officials are desperate for LeBron to enter the Finals; for this matter, there's only one question: why him?"
This question echoes everyone's inner thoughts.
Over the years, the officials have made continuous rule adjustments, and everyone has noticed, and we all know that they want to favor LeBron.
But why him?
This is what everyone doesn't understand!
He's already been handled by Su Wan, and yet they still want to favor him?
Even now, to favor him, they don't care about losing face, changing rules mid-series.
This...
The Clippers' coach was very angry and said: "If the officials want the Forest Wolf in the semi-finals, then for the upcoming games, we simply don't have to play!" — After four games in the series, the score was tied at 2-2. The Clippers' side was already struggling with team chemistry, which led to a lack of coordination; during critical moments, low-level mistakes easily occurred.
Now with the rule change, it made those in the paint even more nervous.
This...
Not being angry would be odd!
But his outburst eventually earned him a fine from the League.
LeBron's statement remained the same: "This is a rule change directed at the entire League, and they need to follow the new rules; we also have to follow the new rules. Dwight Howard is also part of this. I've never really understood why whenever something like this comes up, everyone thinks I benefit from it!"
Feeling more wronged, LeBron finally said: "Everyone knows who truly benefited from the rule change!"
The first time was Su Wan!
The second time it was all the shooters, and "Porcelain King" like James Harden!
He did enjoy some benefits.
But with "SOMA" steps, and those increased shooting spaces, and "drawing fouls" techniques that made flopping easier, do these benefits really count as benefits?
Yet...
He still has to endure the harshest ridicule!
The media keeps saying that the League keeps changing rules to favor him!
Favor his grandma's leg!
LeBron looked up at a 45-degree angle to the sky, trying not to let tears fall from his eyes.
Now every time he talks about this topic, he just wants to sing a song:
So aggrieved~
But inside, he must be feeling very pleased.
When he saw this rule change, a thought popped into his mind:
Success!
Now as long as he charges into the paint and there's no player in front of him, basically they can only use their hands to interfere with his shot, and if there is body contact in such a situation, then it's the defender's foul!