Chapitre 64: NBA Regular Season Opening Game! Wang Chong in the Starting Lineup
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Kobe Bryant could not play in the Lakers' regular season opening game. When Wang Chong learned the news, the corners of his mouth almost stretched to his ears. This was truly a stroke of luck!
Wang Chong didn't care at all about how Kobe's situation in Eagle County would play out. He secretly hoped Kobe would get charged, thrown in jail, and miss the entire season.
From his analysis of Kobe's performance during the 03-04 regular season and playoffs, Wang Chong felt confident he could step in, take Kobe's spot, and maybe even do better.
At the very least, he wouldn't hog the ball or take wild shots in the finals, denying O'Neal opportunities to dominate.
Imagine this: being the team's second option but averaging nearly six more shots per game in the finals than the primary option, all while shooting 25% worse! Absurd, right?
However, the possibility of Kobe getting jailed was slim. He'd likely use his money to settle things out of court.
But for this first game, at least, Wang Chong was the direct beneficiary of Kobe's absence.
In the locker room before the game, Phil Jackson emphasized utilizing Wang Chong's off-ball movement and pick-and-roll plays to create more scoring opportunities. The goal was to open up the mid-range and prevent the Mavericks from double-teaming O'Neal in the paint.
Nobody, not even Payton or Malone, objected to this plan. They had no issues with Wang Chong's stellar performance in the preseason.
Unlike Kobe, Payton and Malone were here to win a championship. They didn't care about getting touches or putting up big stats. In fact, if Wang Chong could play at a star level, they'd be more than happy to defer to him.
For this game, in Kobe's absence, Phil Jackson arranged the following starting lineup:
Point Guard: Gary Payton
Shooting Guard: Devin George
Small Forward: Wang Chong
Power Forward: Karl Malone
Center: Shaquille O'Neal
It was no surprise that Wang Chong was in the starting lineup. When he was traded to the Lakers, everyone knew he would be the team's main small forward for the new season. After all, the Lakers' wing depth had always been a weak point, with only average players like Fox and Devin George filling the role before.
As a starter, Wang Chong enjoyed the privilege of being introduced to the crowd. Despite being the least experienced of the five starters, he was introduced first, even before Devin George, who would be his backup this season.
Standing in the player tunnel, Wang Chong could already hear the buzz from the crowd. Despite having gone through the NCAA finals, the summer league, and the preseason, his heart was still pounding.
This was the NBA regular season, after all, a whole different level. The noise from the Staples Center alone suggested the arena was packed.
This legendary arena could hold over 20,000 people, and when it was full, the noise made by the fans was enough to shake anyone.
O'Neal noticed Wang Chong's nervousness and gave him a hard pat on the back.
"Kid, don't overthink it. Stand tall, greet the fans' cheers, and enjoy the moment!" O'Neal encouraged him.
As O'Neal spoke, the arena lights dimmed, and the DJ's booming voice filled the space.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Let us welcome the 6-foot-10, 230-pound small forward, the new rising force of the City of Angels—Wang Chong!"
"Here goes nothing!"
Wang Chong took a deep breath, put aside all distractions, and ran out of the player tunnel.
The moment he stepped out, the spotlight hit his face, blinding him momentarily. However, the deafening cheers and applause from the crowd drowned out all other sounds.
The electrifying atmosphere was enough to set Wang Chong's blood on fire.
"NBA! Here I come!"
Meanwhile, the Mavericks' starting lineup was quite unconventional. After trading their main center, Raef LaFrentz, for Antoine Walker from the Celtics, they were left with a weakened interior.
Mavericks' head coach Don Nelson made a bold decision, opting to play without a traditional center and letting Nowitzki take the role.
Nowitzki, standing 7 feet tall and weighing 245 pounds, had the physique to play center. However, his playstyle was more finesse than power, which presented a mismatch against O'Neal.
But, honestly, how many centers in the league don't seem overmatched when facing Shaquille O'Neal?
As a result, the Mavericks' new starting lineup was:
Point Guard: Steve Nash
Shooting Guard: Michael Finley
Small Forward: Antoine Walker
Power Forward: Danny Fortson
Center: Dirk Nowitzki
With two forwards over 6-foot-7 in the frontcourt, the Mavericks' lineup had shades of a future small-ball approach. But with Nash running point, they couldn't quite replicate the seven-second offense that would become famous with the Phoenix Suns later. Nevertheless, they were still the fastest-paced team in the league.
This lineup concept was a bit too forward-thinking for the time and didn't mesh well with the league's prevailing style, resulting in a slightly worse season for the Mavericks in 03-04. They posted a 52-30 record and were eliminated in the first round by the Kings.
Frustrated by their postseason struggles, team owner Mark Cuban made Steve Nash the scapegoat, allowing him to leave for a modest four-year, $40.26 million contract.
Nash, however, found new life with the Suns, revolutionizing the game with his run-and-gun offense, earning two MVP awards, and proving to be an incredible steal.
But that's a story for another day.
Right now, the Mavericks were about to pay for their bold lineup choice—especially against the Lakers.
The Lakers' front line, featuring Wang Chong (6-foot-10) and Malone (6-foot-9), had a noticeable size advantage over the Mavericks' forwards, Walker and Fortson (both around 6-foot-7).
But the real mismatch was inside. Nowitzki, playing center for the first time, stared nervously at the imposing figure of O'Neal in front of him, swallowing hard.
He desperately wanted to say to his opponent, "Bro, go easy on me; I'm afraid of pain."
This was no exaggeration.
With Nowitzki's relatively slender frame, O'Neal could probably snap him in half with a solid bump.
That said, Nowitzki wasn't completely outmatched. He had one weapon that gave O'Neal fits—his range extending beyond the three-point line.
Young O'Neal could run the floor and cover a lot of ground defensively, but the heavier, older Shaq of the Lakers, tipping the scales at over 340 pounds, would have a tough time chasing Nowitzki out to the perimeter.
(End of this chapter)
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