While negotiating with the Heat, the Hawks began a new year's journey that is compact but has relatively weak opponents.

On January 1st, the Hawks and Wizards started the first game of the new year.

101 to 92, the Hawks narrowly defeated the Wizards.

Liu Mang scored 26 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals and 4 blocks. During the defensive phase, Liu Mang held Arenas to 30 shots and only scored 16 points.

It may seem like the point difference is small, but fans who watched the game know how badly the Wizards played.

At the end of the first quarter, the Eagles beat the Wizards 38-11, leading by 27 points in the first quarter!

Arenas can be said to be furious with everyone in the regular season this season. He played 36 games. Although he only scored 40 points 4 times, he scored more than 30 points in 25 games and never scored less than 20 points in one game.

But... Arenas shot 0 for 10 in the first quarter today...

Liu Mang's defense was not that good, certainly not as good as Prince's, but he was able to defend against it.

The main reason is psychological. Arenas shrank when he saw Liu Mang. The more he wanted to prove himself, the more shots he took and the more iron he gained. Liu Mang had 3 steals and 2 blocks in the first quarter, which really tortured Arenas.

of.

However, after Liu Mang started taking a break in the second quarter, he couldn't help but complain about these teammates.

It was so lawless that it took the lead of more than 20 points at the beginning, and it was 60 to 51 at halftime. The point difference was only 9 points, and the opponent scored 40 points in a single quarter...

Jamison is really amazing, scoring 22 points in a single quarter, beating Marion and Granger.

Jamison made 17 of 31 shots and 7 of 12 three-pointers, scoring 46 points. However, it was of no use if Jamison went crazy alone. After Liu Mang reappeared in the third quarter, he stabilized the situation again, although Liu Mang went down in the final quarter.

Later, Arenas fought hard in garbage time and raised the score to 30, but the Eagles still won.

Liu Mang played 23 minutes and made 9 of 15. He easily scored 26 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals and 4 blocks, helping the Eagles win.

…

After playing the Wizards, the Hawks have a day off. They have a back-to-back home game on the 3rd and 4th, playing the Grizzlies and Rockets, two teams in the Southwest Division. Then they have a day off on the 5th, 6th, 8th, and 10th.

No., three games in five days, playing against the Timberwolves, Celtics, and Bucks.

It was okay when we played back-to-back games. We had just entered this rhythm and had not yet experienced any physical problems with the team. We won back-to-back games at home.

Liu Mang scored 20 points against the Grizzlies, but only played 23 minutes. He made 6 of 11 shots, 4 of which were three-pointers. He easily defeated the Grizzlies, who were third from last in the Western Conference. He scored 39 points against the Rockets, which was a shortfall.

One point tied the 40 times last season. Iguodala defended Liu Mang very well. This opponent knew him too well. Liu Mang tried his best and scored 39 points on 13 of 30 shots to help the Eagles.

Won five consecutive victories.

But the remaining three games were three consecutive away games played every other day, especially the Timberwolves who had just beaten the Grizzlies and Rockets back-to-back. Although Liu Mang scored 45 points, tying last season's 40 points, he scored 45 points.

It was the eighth time this season that he scored 40 points, but McGrady made 2 of 12 shots today and only scored 6 points with 5 turnovers. The Eagles lost to the Timberwolves 87-99 away from home.

This was purely due to his own poor condition. Liu Mang finally understood why the Mavericks lost to the Grizzlies and Celtics.

But in the next game against the Celtics, Liu Mang only scored 30 points, and the Eagles beat the Celtics by 33 points.

The last game of the brutal schedule was against the Bucks. Reed, who was playing alone, performed well in this game. He scored a triple-double of 39 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists, and led the team to defeat Liu Mang, who scored 35 points.

Led by the Eagles.

…

…

The Eagles started the new year with 4 wins and 2 losses, which is generally not bad.

The record has also improved to 24 wins and 13 losses, which is a clear advantage compared to the Raptors' record of 22 wins and 17 losses.

The Heat have dropped to eighth in the Eastern Conference, and the Hawks are now basically stable in third place.

The Eagles' coaching staff and Liu Mang's thinking is just to stay steady.

It was a rare time that he did not get the first place in the Eastern Conference. Liu Mang felt the record of the middle and upper reaches of the Eastern Conference and understood that entering the playoffs in the Eastern Conference... is really not that difficult. The top four is not particularly difficult, but the first place in the Eastern Conference is still there.

It’s really not easy. The first and second place in the Eastern Conference are often very far behind.

The Bulls, currently ranked second in the Eastern Conference, have 29 wins and 10 losses, two games ahead of the Hawks and three fewer losses.

Currently, there are only three teams in the league that have lost less than 10 games: the Mavericks, Lakers, and Cavaliers.

After three consecutive away games, Liu Mang returned to Atlanta with his teammates. There will be five games in the next 10 days. It is not as compact as the first ten days, but the opponent has become stronger.

It has reached the middle of the season, and many teams are beginning to feel a little tired. The Eagles are relatively better off. The schedule ahead is easy, but it also indicates that the next step is a cruel test.

First, there are three home games, the Nuggets, Suns, and Jazz. Among them, the Suns and Jazz are back-to-back home games. Then there is a two-game away game, back-to-back away games against the Bulls and Magic. The weakest Magic team is a tough opponent.

, despite their mediocre record, which has just improved to a 50% winning rate of 15 wins and 15 losses, and climbed to fifth place in the Eastern Conference, they are very tough!

The main reason is that the 34-year-old Grant Hill miraculously maintained an appearance rate of 70%. He played in 21 of the 30 games. The games he did not play were all the second games of back-to-back. In the last year of his big contract, the Magic

Also use it sparingly.

Moreover, Hill averaged 10 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists and 1.4 steals in 26 minutes per game, playing a crucial role in the Magic's entry into the playoffs.

They are not easy opponents to deal with.

…

"Iverson, Anthony, wow, we finally have to play against them." McGrady came to the arena early this morning to practice shooting and was very excited.

"Are you going to guard Iverson or should I be guarding you?" Liu Mang asked a very important question.

"Ace, you are the favorite for the best defensive team, come on." McGrady gave a decisive compliment.

"No, no, no, Tracy, you are already a master of secondary defense. It's better for you to do it." Liu Mang responded immediately.

Guard against Iverson, damn it!

The person Liu Mang hated guarding the most was Iverson. He would rather be elbowed by Kobe than have his leg broken by this guy.

"Ace, you..." McGrady stared at Liu Mang speechlessly, "You can't guard against me, how can I guard against you?"

"..."

"..."

Liu Mang and Maddie looked at each other and fell silent.

Suddenly, a figure flashed through Liu Mang's head...

"How about putting La Jian on guard?" Liu Mang made a suggestion.

"Ace, is this okay?" Maddie said, but her eyes also lit up.

Who wants to guard Iverson, who is getting better in the mid-range and can pass the ball?

"Tracy, this is an experience for Rajan. Only by fighting against the strongest opponent can he become stronger!" Liu Mang said sonorously and forcefully.

"...Ace, what you say is always right!" Maddie was speechless for two seconds and immediately agreed.

The two high-fived and it was decided!

…

After a while, Mike Woodson came, and Liu Mang and Mike Woodson talked about asking Rondo to guard Iverson.

Mike Woodson thinks it's okay: "Rajan has enough speed and defensive awareness. Ace, you can just take a rest. You have been too tired from your recent offensive games."

Although Mike Woodson has clearly rejected the Eagles' contract extension, many teams are already waiting to poach players at the end of this season.

But in his position, he has to do his job. Mike Woodson did not just deal with the current assistant coach job casually just because he was ready to change teams and become the head coach.

A very important thing for the Hawks this season is to allow Liu Mang to rest more and recuperate. Liu Mang has consumed a lot of his body by playing at least until the Eastern Conference Finals every year for the five seasons since he entered the NBA.

Rondo's offensive end... just like that, basically no progress, free throws are slightly better, but almost half a season has passed, and his free throw shooting rate is just 50%, which is 48% compared to the total shooting rate.

The shooting percentage, this free throw shooting rate is eye-catching, and the 12.5% ​​three-point shooting rate is even more eye-catching.

Rondo has made 16 three-pointers so far this season and only made two... According to the data table on the NBA official website, Rondo averages 0 three-pointers per game because he averages less than 0.1 per game...

But Rondo's defense has improved significantly, just like the passing he is becoming more and more familiar with, as if God provides food for him, passing and defense have natural instincts.

With Rondo who can keep up with Iverson's speed, Liu Mang's burden will be lighter, and Mike Woodson thinks it is feasible.

After Mike Woodson had a chat with Liu Mang and decided to use Rondo to defend Iverson this time, he went back to the office. Liu Mang continued to compete with McGrady in shooting.

McGrady is really no match for Liu Mang in this regard. McGrady's various skills, in addition to relying on breakthroughs in physical fitness, other skills such as shooting or footwork, have all reached the top of the top. When they are closest to the top, they have stagnated.

His talent allows him to quickly master any technique, but the upper limit is there. He cannot practice to the extreme like Liu Mang, Kobe, and Duncan.

This leads to the fact that if McGrady is healthy and has no good helpers like he did with the Magic in the 2002-03 season, he can use his ability to excel in all techniques to achieve epic efficiency, but in a situation that requires

When playing in a strong role-based team, apart from passing the ball, he may not be as outstanding in other aspects as a player like Klay Thompson who is extremely focused.

However, McGrady’s comprehensiveness allows him to do things that players like Klay Thompson can’t do most of the time. For example, if Klay Thompson has an abnormal three-point touch, he will be a sinkhole, while McGrady has many

method of adjustment.

Each has its own advantages. For Liu Mang, a pure pitcher is of course not as good as a Ma Ma Ma who can throw out whatever he doesn't want to do.

Another shooting duel between Liu Mang and Tracy McGrady was about to begin, and Mike Woodson suddenly came back in a hurry.

"What's wrong Mike, did the coach say that Rajon won't be allowed to play more?" Liu Mang suddenly felt in his heart.

McGrady is also in pain, no one wants to guard Iverson!
To be continued...