In the 2006-2007 season, the Indiana Pacers ranked seventh in the league with a total of 990 frontcourt rebounds, and won such a number of frontcourt rebounds under the league's 10th PACE data, which can be called a frontcourt rebounding powerhouse.

However, a closer look at the personal data of the Pacers' players this season shows that the person with the most rebounds in the frontcourt of the team is Jeff Foster, the "unknown rebounding idiot" who has more rebounds than points, followed by O'Neal Jr., and third?

It turned out to be Granger, who was just beginning to make a name for himself.

With the exception of these three, none of the rest of the players had more than 100 rebounds in the frontcourt. Harrington, the starting power forward in the first half of the season, was able to average 2 frontcourt rebounds per game, but this was more due to his speed advantage in the No. 4 position, which does not show how brilliant his frontcourt rebounding skills are.

And now, the 76ers' lineup on the court is a really small lineup, except for Chen Mu, the rest of the players are all outside. The fourth position is topped by Carney, and he will definitely not suffer in terms of speed, and even has a big advantage. Strength has never been Harrington's strong point, and it can be said that Harrington has to grab rebounds in the frontcourt, which can be said to be as difficult as the sky.

Moreover, the current strategy implemented by the Pacers is to play alone with O'Neal Jr. as the center pivot point, and then use the three-point firepower of four players on the perimeter to support, which is similar to the Magic team that broke into the Finals a few years later, except that it is a "poor man's version" in each position.

It is precisely because of this that Chen Mu will make such a bold choice in Fang Cai's defensive round, even if he does not grab rebounds, he must prevent O'Neal Jr. from competing for frontcourt rebounds, so that Iguodala can contact the basketball at the first time and promote the fast break.

As long as O'Neal Jr. is lured out of the basket or stuck behind him, the rest of the 76ers can use their speed and bounce to rush for rebounds. After grabbing the rebound and pushing the fast break, the wings Korver and Carney can get a lot of room to play, and continue to bombard the opponent's basket with three-pointers and dunks.

This can be said to be a big gamble laid by Chen Mu on the field!

"Andre, you really reacted fast enough!"

After making eye contact with Iguodala, Chen Mu smiled and nodded in praise. Iguodala was naturally very proud, laughed, lightly pounded his chest with his fist, turned his head and stared at Jackson through gritted teeth, as if he was going to skin the other party and cramp.

"Chinese boy, what a victory maniac!"

O'Neal Jr. also reacted, and was apprehensive after taking the ball with his back again.

"If I choose to turn around and shoot at this time, because of the impact of injuries, my shooting percentage is the lowest in my career, and I am afraid that they will play a quick counterattack again."

Dribbling the ball and pushing it with force, O'Neal Jr.'s mind was racing, thinking about how to deal with it.

"And if you eat alone with your back feet, although I am confident that I can get some points on the head of the Chinese boy, but in this way, the outside firepower that the team has worked so hard to arrange will become an ornament, and the offensive space will not be opened, even if I personally attack the super god, it will not help."

Moreover, today's little O'Neill has long lost his personal supergod ability.

"And if you choose to pass the ball......"

With a thought in his mind, O'Neal Jr. did not turn to the frame after coming to the basket, but suddenly sent a hand-struck pass and rushed to the weak side of the mid-range.

"Smack!"

As soon as the basketball bounced off the ground, a pair of long arms appeared from the air, reached out to block it, and easily broke the basketball off.

It's Carney!

The Pacers were frustrated, and in order to maximize O'Neal Jr.'s strengths, the rest of the team roamed the area from the three-point line to the three-second zone, looking for open shots.

However, O'Neal Jr.'s passing is not top-notch, and the average of 2.4 assists per game seems to be good, but it is accompanied by 2.9 turnovers.

"If you pass the ball, you will be cut off......!"

Watching Carney sprint to the frontcourt, halfway through the game and Iguodala made a beautiful "two-by-one against the wall", and finally won the dunk, O'Neal Jr.'s heart was half cold, and he didn't know how to deal with it at all.

After a few more rounds, the Pacers' offense could not open the situation, but the 76ers maintained the strategy of "Iguodala as the center and did not waver", instigating fast attacks again and again, and the score was instantly overtaken and pulled away. Carlisle called a timeout and the two sides made substitutions.

"Chen, the card is great!"

As soon as he returned to the court, Cheeks looked at Chen Mu with a happy face, patted the latter's shoulder and said, "Although the number of individual rebounds is a little less, the team is running very well, and this is your credit!" ”

"That's right, brother!"

Iguodala brushed down 2 rebounds and 3 assists in this wave of fast breaks, and he also scored 2 points, so he naturally smiled, laughed and hugged Chen Mu's shoulder, and said loudly: "My rebounds are at least half...... No, it's all on your head! Ha ha! ”

Carney and others on the side are also quite grateful for Chen Mu's data sacrifice, fans may not be able to see it, but the players who are fighting on the field are very clear.

The reason why the team was able to play a beautiful counterattack was precisely because of Chen Mu's "non-persistence" in personal data.

To be able to play next to such a big boss is undoubtedly a great honor for a player like Carney who has just entered the league.

Top dog?

That's right, now in the 76ers, almost all players have recognized Chen Mu's status as the team's boss.

Judging from the data, although Chen Mu is almost the league's rebounding champion, he is not eye-catching in scoring data, not far from Iguodala.

If you count steals and cruising around to make up for the defense, those contributions that cannot be reflected in the data, Iguodala's contribution at both ends of the team's offense and defense will definitely not be lower than Chen Mu.

But what kind of qualities does the boss of a team, the real core, need?

How much contribution does a player have to make to be called "boss" by his teammates?

"Victory ......!"

On the bench of the Pacers, O'Neal Jr. finished his drink in one gulp, pinched the paper cup fiercely, gritted his teeth and looked at Chen Mu with a relaxed face on the other side, and said to himself: "This Chinese kid is a complete victory maniac!" ”

The timeout ended quickly, and neither coach continued to field the starters in order to save the strength.

After the bench players came on the court to fight, the Pacers' "old ball skin bench combination" did not take much advantage in the face of the 76ers' impactful "rookie egg bench combination".

The kings of Europe, Jasco Vysius and Carney, were the core of the bench of both teams, and under a confrontation, the 76ers' birds and beasts had a slight advantage. By the time the first half of the second quarter had passed and the two teams were ready to change to the starters, the score had reached 38-35, and the 76ers led by three points.

The subsequent game was like a copy of the first quarter of the game, Chen Mu almost completely gave up the individual heads-up, and instead picked up the role of setter and pitcher last season, using the footstep advantage to involve O'Neal Jr.'s defense and give the outside players space to impact the basket.

However, Rick Carlisle is not a paper tiger, and seeing that O'Neill Jr. can't open the situation at this point, he began to play the strong and weak side transfer. The main blocking and pick-and-roll cooperation between Harrington and Jackson, supplemented by Tinsley's quick breakthroughs from time to time, and Granger's cold-blooded long-range shot, the score was never pulled away.

By the end of the first half, the two sides had tied the game at 52, and Iguodala, who was an organizational forward, scored 11 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists in the half, in addition to 2 steals and 1 block, which made the opposing Stephen Jackson miserable.

Rookie Carney also found his groove under Iguodala's continuous fast-break urging, shooting three three-pointers in the half, and also contributing two violent dunks, and scoring 13 points in the half, a new career record, and looks like he has a good chance of hitting the first single-game 20+ in his career.

Behind the two physical fitness madmen, there is Chen Mu, who is as immobile as a mountain and like a military advisor. With 6 points and 5 rebounds in the half, a measly 2 assists and 1 block, Chen Mu's statistics look shabby.

But at halftime, Pacers coach Carlisle was still angry at O'Neal Jr., who defended Chen Mu.

"He's a second-year, a sophomore-grade recruit!"

Seeing Little O'Neal's deflated appearance, Carlisle became a nameless fire and rebuked loudly: "A player of this age, as long as he provokes a little, he will immediately fall into an emotional trap and start endless individual singles." As long as he plays as brainless as he did at the beginning, sooner or later we can turn the tide and try for the win. ”

"But what about you? Not only did he not be able to make this recruit lose control of his emotions, but he let his emotions collapse first, is this still our inner core?? ”

Carlisle's words are not rough, and after being pestered by Chen Mu in a way that completely disregards personal data, O'Neill Jr. has become the emotionally unstable person on the court. After taking the ball, he hesitated and hesitated, hesitated between passing and personal attacks, and was counterattacked by the opponent after successive mistakes. Little O'Neill's performance is not at all like the "Chen Mu Terminator" that Carlisle thought in his heart, but instead became the "background" that Chen Mu played in the palm of his hand.

Even the fans off the court can see that O'Neal Jr. has a mental problem, and every time O'Neal Jr. takes the ball and plays alone, he will be shouted by his teammates and fans, reminding him to be careful of Iguodala and Carney's occasional defensive steals.

If Carlisle hadn't changed his style of play in time, I'm afraid the Pacers would have trailed by about 10 points at halftime, and the second half would have been extremely difficult.

"Tactical change in the second half!"

Carlisle took out the tactical board angrily, and after some dotting, he arranged: "Al, you go and fight against the Chinese kid, it doesn't matter if you can't prevent it, just let him eat some sweetness, and then fall into the abyss of personal singles to complete the task." As for the other players, after the Chinese kid got a few points and felt warm......"

Carlisle's brain, which was filled with all the basketball tactics in the world, began to spin wildly, and continued: "Immediately wrap up the Chinese kids!" (To be continued.) )