Bab 150: The Overall Ability Score Reaches 95—Can It Hit Its Peak This Season?
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I just finished a 200 lines cod in notepad
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"The Bulls displayed a near-perfect defensive system, using excellent teamwork to dismantle their opponents easily."
"With a stat line of 30 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists against 29 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists, the stats were close, but the game result confirmed Wang Chong's comprehensive victory once again."
"The true surprise of the 2003 showdown between these two teams came from rookie Monta Ellis. He had an outstanding performance, shooting 10 of 22 from the field, going 6 of 7 from the free-throw line, and posting 26 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists, making him the Bulls' key contributor to victory."
"After this game, Monta Ellis' average points per game exceeded 16, with a field goal percentage of 43% in the regular season, firmly securing his role as the team's second-leading scorer. Who would've thought two months ago, at the start of the new season, that this player, who struggled on the court and faced heavy criticism, would rise to such prominence?"
The day after the Christmas game, the media was abuzz with commentary.
It was typical: the victor is celebrated, and the defeated are torn apart.
Aside from LeBron James, who posted excellent stats, the rest of the Cavaliers were heavily criticized. Larry Hughes and center Zydrunas Ilgauskas (Big Z) faced the harshest critiques.
In contrast, the guards Eric Snow and Damon Jones, who were outplayed by Ellis, didn't receive as much flak. Why? Because these two were already known as the most recognizable names on the Cavaliers besides LeBron. The roles they played were clear: temporary stopgaps since the Cavs lacked a solid point guard. So expecting miracles from minimum-salary players was unrealistic.
But for Big Z and Larry Hughes, the story was different.
Big Z had been an Eastern Conference All-Star reserve last year and was considered one of the best centers in the East. However, his performance against Tyson Chandler was underwhelming, with only 11 points and 10 rebounds, showing little dominance in the paint. This wasn't unexpected, though—Big Z had always been somewhat limited in his inside game, despite being 2.21 meters tall.
As for Larry Hughes, he was a star last season, averaging 22 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists per game. The Cavaliers had offered him a five-year, $70 million contract, making his salary $10.34 million this season—the highest on the team. Yet, his performance in the Christmas game was disappointing. He was shut down by Raja Bell, shooting just 2 of 12 and scoring a miserable 4 points, making him largely responsible for the team's loss.
While Big Z faced off against the formidable Tyson Chandler, Hughes was up against undrafted Raja Bell, a role player known for his defense. It was embarrassing, especially considering Bell's modest 12.3 points per game from last season.
Pre-game predictions leaned in favor of the Cavaliers, thanks to their seemingly stronger lineup. But reality painted a different picture.
At the post-game press conference, James spoke with a tone of resignation.
"We gave our best, but the Bulls were simply better. It happens—victory and defeat are part of the game..."
James tried to appear nonchalant, but his serious expression betrayed his frustration. After nearly three years of being overshadowed by Wang Chong, his rivalry with Wang seemed destined to go on indefinitely.
For Wang Chong, defeating LeBron had become a routine matter. However, crushing the Cavaliers by over 20 points was the real challenge. Monta Ellis's performance tore through the Cavaliers' defensive system, enabling Wang Chong to complete another system task.
The system reward was lower this time, but it still granted 1,000 points and a bronze badge.
Upon completing the task, Wang Chong used the 1,000 points to increase his ability score. Although he thought his score of 94 wouldn't improve much, the points pushed his overall ability rating up to 95, just 2 points shy of Durant's peak of 97.
Initially, Wang Chong believed it would take another two or three seasons to reach Durant's peak, but at this rate, one or two more tasks this season might push him to a 97! Reaching this level in just three seasons would be impressive by any standard.
But it's not unheard of in the league. For example, Jordan's third season saw him averaging 37.1 points per game, the highest since Wilt Chamberlain. O'Neal's second season had him posting 29.3 points and 13.2 rebounds per game.
Even James and Wade from the 2003 class hit an overall rating of 98 in 2K7, rivaling Kobe, based on their performances from the 2005-06 season. Yet, despite their 98 ratings in 2K7, Durant's peak rating of 97 is still comparable.
Wang Chong's random bronze badge from this system reward was a "Quick Shot" badge, which increased his shooting speed—a crucial skill for top shooters. With a faster release, Wang Chong could shoot more quickly, though the bronze badge had limited impact. A gold-level badge would certainly be more game-changing.
With this victory in the Christmas game, two days later, the second round of All-Star voting was announced.
Perhaps due to his win over LeBron or the overwhelming support from Chinese fans, Wang Chong continued to lead the Eastern Conference voting, widening the gap between him and LeBron. Wang Chong was now almost neck and neck with Yao Ming for the All-Star voting lead.
While his starting spot in the Eastern Conference All-Star team was nearly guaranteed, the real question remained: Who would secure the coveted title of All-Star vote leader, Wang Chong or Yao Ming?
The Bulls ended December with two more victories, including a significant win against the Phoenix Suns.
The Suns weren't as strong as they were the previous season, mainly due to Stoudemire's injury and Raja Bell's absence (who now played for the Bulls). Despite Nash's best efforts, the Suns struggled to match the Bulls' defensive prowess and fast-break tactics, leading to their defeat.
The Bulls' focus on defense and fast transitions gave them an edge over the Suns' fast-paced offense, and Nash, despite his passing brilliance, couldn't avoid turnovers in such a high-tempo game.
End of this chapter
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