Chapter 57 Seattle SuperSonics
"I came to Washington this time to help Michael train Kwame, Brown, that little virgin!"
"I'm not here to be a sparring student. I'm here to teach him how to be a man, not a crybaby who always hides in his mother's arms!" [The latest updates are all in search.]
"Is his defense very good? How many times has he been in the NBA's best defensive team? How many times has he won the best defensive player?"
"What? He is a rookie? Yes, you admit that he is a rookie. You say he is a rookie. What experience can he have, so Michael asked me to teach him how to be an old bird!"
The hair was dyed colorfully, and the bad boy Dennis Rodman, who had perforated tattoos on many positions on his body, stood at the exit of Reagan Airport in Washington, facing various reporters who were lying around. It seemed that he was here to save the whole world. This world could not be transferred without him, especially me.
But at this time I was flying towards Seattle, and we were going to challenge the supersonics led by Gary Payton at Seattle's Key Stadium.
Seattle, the capital of Kings County, Washington State, is located on a narrow piece of land between Putere Bay and the 18-mile long Lake Washington. The waters of Putere Bay and Lake Washington meet in Union Lake in the north of downtown Seattle. The rainy and foggy weather make Seattle look greener than other cities in the United States. The rivers, forests, lakes and fields near Seattle are very rich. The mountains and flat grounds are covered with dense and almost pristine forests. The city is decorated with quiet harbors, rivers, green trees, and colorful streets. In the green mountains surrounding the city, dozens of lakes of varying sizes are hidden. The trees are lush, the grass is green, and even the rain and the gentle breeze are breeze-green.
In 1995, Seattle was rated as the "Best Place of Residence in the United States" by Monetary magazine, in 1996, it was rated as the "Best City of Living and Working" by Fortune magazine, and in 1998, it was recognized as the city with the highest quality of life in the United States.
This is a beautiful city, and it is also a city with a long history compared to Americans. It has produced many miracles. The famous Bill Gates and Microsoft came from here. He also left behind many legendary stories, and even the city name is so legendary - the name of an Indian tribe chief.
But this does not mean that the Seattle Supersonics' stadium Key Stadium also has the beauty that matches the city of Seattle.
Supersonics owner Schultz is known for being stingy. Similarly, the stadium rented by his team also reveals its slimness everywhere. Looking at the entire museum, none of them has a unique design that deserves a special book. It can only be said to be an ordinary stadium that cannot be more ordinary. The official website of the stadium is even more commercial, with 80% of the pages related to commercial activities (ticket sales, investment, advertising, etc.), far exceeding the layout of other stadiums. There is almost no introduction to the history and facilities of the stadium. This made Mr. David Stern call the loan contracts of the Supersonics and Key Stadium "the worst loan contract in the league" during the All-Star Weekend.
Whether good or bad, we don’t live here or take a vacation here. Everything here has nothing to do with us. The only thing that has something to do with that team in the ragged arena that once once dominated.
The Supersonics were born in Seattle and is the headquarters of Boeing, the world's largest aircraft manufacturer. When the team was established in 1967, Boeing was developing and manufacturing supersonic passenger aircraft, and the team founded with the help of Boeing also chose the name "SuperSonic". The Supersonics entered the NBA from 1967 to 1968, and in the 1970s, it won the championship in 1979. The Supersonics had ups and downs in the 1980s, and began to resurrect again in the 1990s. The Supersonics quickly reached their peak under the leadership of the superstar glove Gary Payton. However, this peak period was always accompanied by tragedy.
In 1994, under Gary Payton, Sean Kemp, Kent Keel and coach George Carl, the Supersonics achieved the best regular season result in the league - 63 wins and 19 losses. However, the invincible Supersonics in the regular season were not good in the playoffs. When facing the lowest-ranked No. 8 seed Denver Nuggets in the first round, they lost three games in a row after winning two games, and were eliminated in the first round, shocking the basketball world. The Supersonics became the first No. 1 seed team in NBA history to be eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. In 1995, the Supersonics won 57 and 2.
He entered the playoffs again with 5 losses, but was once again eliminated by the Los Angeles Lakers, who ranked lower than himself. In 1996, the Supersonics completed the regular season with 64 wins and 18 losses. This time, they were lucky to reach the Finals. But they met the then Invincible Legion, led by Michael Jordan, in the Finals. As a result, they lost with two wins and four losses. The entire series was full of tragedy. The only person they didn't defend was the man who couldn't attack Dennis Rodman. They let Rodman grab too many rebounds.
In the following 1997 and 1998 seasons, the Supersonics were still strong, winning 57 and 61 wins in the regular season respectively, but they were eliminated in the playoffs, and they met the Bulls of God. In the 1998-1999 season, the God retired, but the Supersonics also passed its peak period. Sean Kemp switched to the Cavaliers in exchange for the alcohol-destroying Wen Baker. As for the later generations who held the 100 million yuan contract for the NBA, Rashad Lewis is still very immature now.
This season, the old "gloves" Gary Payton scored 22.1 points and 9.0 assists per game, and he also became an All-Star player for the 8th time, surpassing the previous record of SuperSonics player Sikma. Although his scoring and efficiency are the lowest in the past three years, it is undeniable that he is still a daunting glove, whether it is defense or offense. Perhaps he does not have gorgeous superb skills, does not have too many passionate dunks like Steve Francis, and he does not have John Stoke either.
He was as calm as he was, but he was the one with the most distinctive personality and the most comprehensive skills among the point guards in the 1990s. He had not taken away a ring from the NBA, but he left countless scenes worth remembering, fierce steals again and again, passes the ball again and again, relaying the "Rain Man" Kemp again and again, shaking his head and talking trash after shooting again and again. He was the only one in the era when the point guards were born, and no one could replace him.
Of course, the unique gloves are to be handed over to the unique Michael Jordan. Their opponents in the 1996 Finals may have endless topics to talk about again.
The Key Stadium is really old, and it is no longer worthy of an NBA team. The worn-out wardrobe exudes a damp smell, and it seems to have a little moldy smell. The clothes rack in the wardrobe is the cheapest clothes rack of the street stall. The worst thing is that the stools for players to change clothes are not wooden, but cement. What makes people even more angry is that the heating is not damn hot. When changing clothes, you can feel the coldness on your butt.
Bobby Simmons and Brandon Haywood were muttering in a low voice about the Key Stadium. I lay on the folding mattress prepared by Gary Fox, allowing Gary Fox to lift my body.
The old fried dough sticks Christian Letterner and Richard Hamilton each squeezed into a corner of the folding mattress and changed their clothes.
"Hurry up, so many people are waiting to change their clothes!" Michael Jordan stood aside with his clothes waiting.
"Okay! OK!" Richard Hamilton stood up and said.
My mattress has become a hot commodity. I used to laugh at me as a child who can't live without beds, but now I'm competing for my mattress. I felt a little moved and jokingly shouted: "The mattress usage fee is 100 US dollars per person. Pay the money first and then use it. More discounts are needed!"
"I have to pay for this!"
"What do you know? Kwame is a rookie. She is very nervous recently. She can understand that she needs some money. We need to support Kwame! Let me have a ten dollar first!" After Christian Letterner said, he sat on my back and said in a comfortable look: "The human skin cushion is so comfortable!"
"Murder!" I shouted loudly in a panic.
"Stop making trouble!" Michael Jordan shouted with a serious look on his face after changing his clothes.
Everyone hurriedly honestly, even the old fried dough stick Christian Letterner stood up from me. There were probably no one in this world who was not afraid of Jordan. His poisonous tongue could definitely make people crazy.
"Change your clothes quickly! The coach is going to set up tactics!" Michael Jordan saw that the scene was quiet and continued.
"In this game, Kwame, you have to stand at the fourth position when you defend, defending Van Baker, Supersonics center Jerome James has no offensive ability, so give it to Brandon Haywood, Supersonics may go to Rashad Lewis, Christian Letterner, you come to defend, Gary Payton, Michael, you come to defend, Brent Barry is handed over to Richard Hamilton..."
The Supersonics' record this year is not very ideal, but his inside height is definitely an advantage. Center Jerome James is 216 cm tall, power forward Wen Baker is 211 cm, small forward Rashad Lewis is 208 cm tall, Doug Collins is decisively changing the formation. A fierce battle is about to begin.
Chapter completed!