amaotonovel Chapter 395 Fish in the Free Market, Westbrook!
Chapter 395 Fish in the Free Market, Westbrook!
From the start of the game, Wang Xiucheng and Giannis Antetokounmpo took over the game.
Wang Xiucheng scored 11 points in the quarter, helping the Nets take a double-digit lead.
Giannis Antetokounmpo's aggressive style of play also caused a lot of trouble for the Nets' interior defense.
Claxton, in particular, was substituted early on due to foul trouble.
Nash had no choice but to put Sharpe at center.
Although Sharp is not as tall as Claxton, he has a three-point shot, although his accuracy is not very high.
This allows Sharp to, to some extent, draw out the Bucks' center, Brook Lopez.
This gives both Wang Xiucheng and Durant room to make a breakthrough.
However, Brook Lopez also has the ability to draw the Nets' interior defense out of the paint.
This also gives Giannis Antetokounmpo room to break through.
Therefore, harm is mutual.
At the start of the second quarter, the Bucks began their counterattack.
At halftime, the Nets led the Bucks 62-52 by 10 points.
At the start of the third quarter, taking advantage of the Nets' unstable footing, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 7 consecutive points, helping the Bucks go on a 12-2 run and tie the game.
Although Wang Xiucheng and Durant scored consecutively in the fourth quarter, the gap between the two sides in terms of substitutes was too large.
The Bucks ultimately defeated the Nets 118-104 on the road.
While handing the Nets their third consecutive loss, he extended his own winning streak to 15 games.
This is also the second-longest winning streak in the entire league this season.
And there is the possibility of further expansion.
Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded another double-double in this game, with 33 points, 15 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Wang Xiucheng scored 31 points, along with 9 assists and 4 steals.
Despite limited playing time, Durant scored 26 points, grabbed 5 rebounds, and dished out 5 assists.
Although it seems that Wang Xiucheng and Durant together would still score more points than Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The problem lies in the substitute lineups of both sides.
The Bucks' bench scored a total of 46 points, with Middleton adding 18 and Carter adding 11.
The Nets' bench only scored 14 points, less than Middleton's combined total.
Sitting in the front row of the fan section, Nets general manager Sean Musk bit his nails as he stared at the cold score on the big screen.
His worst fears have come true.
That is the Nets' problem with bench depth.
The Nets have very limited trade options this season because they've already surpassed the spending threshold.
Durant's salary is $4412 million, Ben West's salary is $3545 million, and Wall's salary, which has been bought out, is $4090 million.
These three people alone have a total salary exceeding 1.2 million.
The salary cap for this season is only $1.23 million.
The luxury tax threshold is 1.5 million.
The Nets' total payroll exceeds $1.87 million.
It ranks only behind the Warriors and Clippers, whose salaries exceed $1.9 million.
The luxury tax payable is over 1 million.
Both Shawn Max and Tsai Tsung-hsin believe that the Nets' chance lies in the next season.
Because Wall's massive contract of over $4000 million will expire next season, the Nets' salary cap could fall below the luxury tax threshold.
Then the Nets can really make their move and try to trade for another superstar.
Then, together with Wang Xiucheng and Durant, they formed a new Big Three.
However, to the surprise of Sean Marx and Cai Congxin, Wang Xiucheng's joining the team had a much better effect than expected.
Their 19-game winning streak has made the Nets the team with the best chance of winning the championship.
Sean Max is very anxious. He really wants to strengthen the roster for Wang Xiucheng and Durant, especially the depth of the bench.
However, due to the luxury tax threshold, the Nets are finding it difficult to find teams that are willing to make trades with them and that are also interested in their players.
Therefore, Sean Marx set his sights on the buyout market.
He talked to several people during this period, but because the Nets could only offer minimum salaries, many people ultimately chose teams that offered higher salaries.
This is understandable.
Although the combination of Wang Xiucheng and Durant is very appealing, especially since the Nets' current ranking proves that they are a championship contender, joining them would give them a chance to win a title.
But most people still value money more, since winning a championship is only "hopeful," while money is tangible.
Finally, just a few days ago, Sean Marx received new information about the fish he had been waiting for.
In a previous three-team trade, the Jazz acquired Westbrook, Anderson, and Damian Jones.
The Jazz then waived Westbrook.
Westbrook has become a free agent.
Shawn Max called Westbrook's agent directly, wanting to invite Westbrook to join the team.
However, the Clippers also desperately want Westbrook to go to Los Angeles.
This puts Westbrook in a difficult position.
Westbrook is willing to go to either the Clippers or the Nets.
Both teams are title contenders.
Although he was resentful about Durant joining the Warriors, that's all in the past now.
Everyone is striving for the championship.
So Westbrook and Durant's relationship gradually recovered.
During the last Lakers-Nets game, Westbrook said in an interview:
"It was a very ordinary game for me. People still think there's something between us, but there's no conflict of any kind anymore."
"I have nothing but respect for his achievements in his career. I am very happy to see him recover from his injury."
That's why Shawn Max wanted to recruit Westbrook.
Of course, this was after talking with Wang Xiucheng and Durant.
The Nets are weak at both the point guard and center positions.
Benxi often plays for two days and then rests for three, which means Wang Xiucheng often has to play 40-minute matches.
Although Wang Xiucheng is young and resistant to weeds, he cannot be used in this way.
Therefore, Westbrook, as a free agent with extensive playoff experience, is a strong addition to the Nets' point guard position.
Westbrook has not yet made up his mind whether to join the Clippers or go to Brooklyn.
Sean Max looked at Durant and said, "Perhaps it's your turn to do something."
……
After playing the Bucks at home, the Nets faced the New York Knicks on the road the following day, in a back-to-back game.
This is the fourth time the two teams have faced off in the regular season.
The Nets have a 2-1 record in their first three encounters, giving them a psychological advantage.
However, the Nets have lost three straight games since the All-Star break, while the Knicks have won six straight games.
The two sides are in very different states.
This was evident from the very beginning of the match.
Playing at home, the Knicks started strong, scoring both inside and outside.
Grimes and Brunson both hit three-pointers in succession.
Wang Xiucheng and Durant on the Nets' side are able to keep up with the Knicks for now, with their inside drives and outside shots.
However, in the latter part of the first quarter, after Durant left the court, Wang Xiucheng was heavily guarded, and the Knicks did not hesitate to foul Wang Xiucheng multiple times to disrupt his rhythm.
Gradually, the score gap widened little by little.
The Knicks scored a whopping 47 points in the first quarter, while the Nets only managed 29.
In the second quarter, the Knicks' bench continued to fire on the Nets, maintaining their dominance.
At the end of the first half, the Knicks led 84-57 at home, a 27-point advantage.
The Nets rallied in the second half, but the huge score difference ultimately led them to give up.
At the end of the game, the Knicks defeated the Nets 142-118 at home.
The Knicks have won seven straight games, while the Nets have lost four straight.
This loss brought the Nets' record to 42 wins and 20 losses, dropping them not only from first place but also to a tie for third.
It seems the Nets are running out of steam!