Mountain Peak System: a Path to NBA-Chapter 521 - 173: Ten Thousand Year Number Two, The Second Center in the League (5K, Begging for Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets)

Chapter 521: Chapter 173: Ten Thousand Year Number Two, The Second Center in the League (5K, Begging for Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets)

As a seasoned basketball commentator, A-Smith is very certain that the NBA is undergoing major changes unseen in a decade.

Qin Yue’s performance since his comeback has deeply shaken this era.

In order to limit him...

The league even had to cooperate with various teams to tailor that "Qin Yue’s Law" for him.

But even so, in Smith’s view, Qin Yue’s dominance on the court can only be described as unbeatable.

Moreover, after the Warriors welcomed back Qin Yue, their even crazier offense has significantly impacted the current era.

Comparing the average number of possessions per game and three-point attempts of various teams in the league over the past few years, Smith found that the current NBA games are getting faster each year, with players firing from the perimeter more frequently.

In the 05/06 season, the average number of possessions per game for each team in the league was only 79, and three-point attempts averaged just 16 per game.

And this season?

Smith noted that after the games in November, the average number of possessions per game for each team in the league had increased to 89, and the average three-point attempts had also exceeded 25.

Although as the season progresses, the average number of possessions per team will inevitably experience a technical adjustment.

But Smith, who comments on games every day, is definitely among the first to sense the NBA game’s pace quietly accelerating.

This might be one of the best-looking NBA seasons in Smith’s opinion—after exchanging opinions with many colleagues, Smith is convinced of this.

In the eyes of Smith and his peers, the current era’s NBA not only has plenty of confrontation, but even teams that prefer a slow-paced half-court game can exhibit fluent offense compared to the era that defended just for defense’s sake.

Smith knows very well that different rules have created today’s NBA.

But it is the Warriors’ success that has become the key to the gradual transformation of various teams.

Will the pace of future NBA games be even faster?

Smith isn’t sure.

However, Smith believes that before the league further modifies the rules, 95 average possessions per game might be the current limit for NBA teams. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Because, with the tacit consent of David Stern, this era hasn’t entirely abandoned defense.

Teams merely play in an environment more favorable to offense.

Except for Qin Yue.

Having commented on many Warriors games this season, Smith knows better than anyone that since "Qin Yue’s Law" came into existence, this best player in the league plays in a different environment every night.

However, it is Qin Yue’s success that made Smith, a genuine Knicks fan, truly realize...

Before that summer next year, known for the most big fish in history, the Knicks had already developed quite a roster.

If the Warriors’ success accelerated the transformation speed of various teams in the league.

Then Qin Yue’s success made Smith see Kevin Durant’s incredibly bright future.

As in Qin Yue’s memory, by the end of the first two seasons of his career, the twenty-one-year-old Durant had already stepped half a foot into the peak of his career.

In November, while Qin Yue won the West’s Best Player of the Month with averages of 34 points, 14 rebounds, 11 assists, 4 blocks, and 1 steal, Durant also earned the East’s Best Player of the Month with excellent performances, averaging 31 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, and 1 steal.

In Smith’s view, besides not being as strong as 21-year-old Qin Yue and not giving people that dazzling defensive impression as Qin Yue did back in the day...

Just looking at the offense, Durant even surpasses Qin Yue at the same age.

After all, in Qin Yue’s rookie season, he was twenty-one in the first half but actually twenty-two in the second half.

And Durant?

This September, Durant had just turned twenty-one.

This means he still has an entire season before turning twenty-two to catch up with Qin Yue.

Undoubtedly, Durant has become the dream capital of all Knicks fans.

And with Durant, the Knicks, under Donnie Walsh’s careful planning, are also the most attractive team next summer for all the big fish entering the free agent market.

In fact, beginning last season, except for a few highly favored visiting players, Knicks fans have visibly become "xenophobic".

Indeed, as the Knicks, who used to be terrible, are filled with hope overnight, the speed at which New York fans change allegiance is that fast.

On December 4th, when the league’s best player led the Golden State Warriors to New York, all Knicks fans, including A-Smith, couldn’t help but look forward to the matchup of the Knicks hosting the Warriors at home.

By the start of this game, the Warriors led the league with an impressive record of 15 wins and 1 loss.

But compared to the last time Qin Yue led the Warriors to visit New York, this time, the Knicks, with a record of 11 wins and 5 losses in the opening phase under Durant’s leadership, have climbed to the fourth place in the East.

Three days apart, when one sees in a new light.

For this Knicks team, with three future MVPs, Qin Yue never underestimated them.

But...

"’KD’, do you like being number two so much?"

Madison Square Garden.

Before the game, when Durant actively came over to chat, Qin Yue suddenly said.

At this moment, Durant didn’t know why Qin Yue said this.

But as Durant’s senior, Qin Yue reminded him from the side: "Your big brother Shaquille O’Neal isn’t playing this game again? Aren’t you waiting for him to lead you guys as the dark horse this season?"