The Godfather of Basketball

The performance of one game does not explain anything, but Kuzma has a strong ability to seize opportunities. In the next two games, he scored 9 points and 4 rebounds in one game and 12 points and 3 rebounds in one game.

In these few games, he not only showed his characteristics of stable shooting, but even showed his front-up ball-handling offense and low-post post-up play, and he has mastered these skills well.

After Tucker returned from injury, Tang Tian was a little reluctant to take him out of the rotation.

He expanded the original 10-man rotation to 11. Kuzma can do three things and still get a lot of playing time.

The Nets are becoming more and more mature, and their record is also rising steadily.

The time came to March 1 in a blink of an eye. On this day, the league ushered in the last critical time node, the buyout deadline.

Tang Tian and Jones are both staring at this market. Although the team's rotation is sufficient and even a bit surplus, injuries and status are things that no one can predict. Add an additional veteran with playoff experience , no harm to the team.

This year's buyout market is a bit lively.

Both the Nets and the Rockets are the teams most likely to beat the Warriors, and they both expressed their desire to sign in the buyout market, so there are naturally more players seeking buyouts.

Corey Brewer of the Lakers, Greg Monroe of the Suns, Brandon Wright of the Grizzlies, Joe Johnson and Derrick Rose of the Jazz, Tony Allen of the Bulls, Belinelli of the Eagles and more.

Among these people, except for Monroe, almost all of them expressed their willingness to play for the Nets in private.

This is also completely understandable, none of these veterans has ever won an NBA championship ring, the Warriors have no shortage of people, and the Nets are the most likely to beat the Warriors, so they naturally flock to them.

Tang Tian didn't set his sights on these people. What the Nets need now is a No. 4 with experience in the playoffs. However, shortly after the buyout deadline, an unexpected situation occurred to the team.

Irving had discomfort in his knee.

In his previous life, Irving was reimbursed for the season due to a knee injury after joining the Celtics, so Tang Tian was more cautious in using Irving before, because with Rondo, he can do the same.

But Owen was still injured.

The good news is that this is not a season-reimbursable injury like in my previous life, and I only need to rest for 1-2 months to fully recover.

1~2 months, which is almost the first round of the playoffs.

The recovery time was acceptable, and Tang Tian was not in a hurry to use honor points. Anyway, for him, the second half of the season itself was mainly about rest adjustments.

However, Irving's accidental injury changed his goal in the buyout market.

Rondo and Murray's point guard line is sufficient, but to be on the safe side, it is safer to sign an extra third point guard.

After screening the wave of buyout players, Tang Tian finally asked Jones to contact Rose's economic team.

Rose is now basically unpopular, and some fans are still sighing because he was cut.

After getting an inquiry from the Nets, he agreed without saying a word.

He has been fighting for the championship his entire career, and now he has such a good opportunity, he has no reason to refuse it.

Soon, the two sides reached a one-year minimum salary contract, signed until the end of the season.

Rose became the last signing of the Nets before the playoffs.

Speaking of the offseason, Tang Tian chose the latter between Rose and Rondo, but he didn't expect that they all joined the team in the end.

After signing Rose, the Nets' roster for the playoffs was also determined.

Point guard: Irving (injured), Rondo, Dejounte Murray, Rose

Shooting guards: Jimmy Butler, Donovan Mitchell, Wade

Small Forwards: Paul George, PJ Tucker

Power forwards: Yi Jianlian, Markkanen, Kuzma

Centers: Jokic, Oden, Willie Reed

The 15-man roster, if these players are all at their peak, they don't need to play in the finals, and they can directly give the Nets a championship ring.

But those are just fantasies. Both Wade and Rose have reached the end of their careers and don't have much immediate combat power. With regular rotations and Warriors games, the two sides are at most 50-50.

After determining the playoff roster, the next two months will be a complete adjustment for the Nets.

Tang Tian will not blindly insist on the record. The current record of the Nets is enough for them to secure the top spot in the Eastern District, and there is absolutely no need for him to do so.

Irving was injured, and Rondo naturally became the starting point guard.

After the Bulls were forced to shoot three-pointers last season, although his current three-pointers are still not very reliable, they are still close to the league level. If opponents dare to let him go, he can really make three-pointers.

He can also help Jokic share some organizational pressure, and the effect of starting is not bad.

Rondo played the starting lineup, and the teenager Murray benefited the most. He has learned a lot from following Deron and Rondo in the past two years. Now that he has the opportunity to show it, he has fully shown it.

Excellent defense, stable mid-range offense, fierce rebounding, strong reading ability of the game, plus the original tall point guard, this is simply a young version of Livingston.

Like Murray, Tang Tian began to give the young players some necessary training in these games.

Markkanen and Kuzma also got more opportunities to play.

These are players who could come in handy in the playoffs.

Of course, in addition to young players, veterans like Wade and Rose also get opportunities to play.

Tang Tian didn't have too many demands on their performance, the main purpose was to let them find their feeling and status in the game.

If you really reach the finals and meet the four-star warriors, the series will definitely be a fierce battle. It is really hard to say how much strength the young players can play in that situation. At that time, they need their veterans to be able to stand up at critical moments. Go up, so maintaining the necessary state is a must.

Rose's knee seems to be recovering well. Although the defense is still not very good, the offense looks good. The occasional flash breakthrough can make people see his peak.

Wade is the most surprising thing. Although he played in the Cavaliers for half a season, his competitive state has remained very high, and he has done well in defense, fast break, and even shooting.

Tang Tian even felt that it would not be a problem for him to average more than ten points per game if he gave the hand right.

A veteran at this age can still be in this state. It can be seen that Wade has made a lot of hard work off the court that others cannot see.

The starting strength is strong, the young players are full of talent, and the veteran is in excellent condition.

After spending the last two months of the regular season, Tang Tian has more confidence in the team's victory over the Warriors.