Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters

The Bucks and Timberwolves, as "seeded teams" from the Eastern and Western conferences, were both ranked among the "championship contenders" in the preseason outlook of major media outlets.

However, overall, the Bucks were more mature.

They were not a team undergoing a major restructuring like the Timberwolves.

The Timberwolves looked more like the Bucks at the beginning of last season, lacking stability and chemistry in their gameplay.

"The Timberwolves' offense lacks coherence, you can see they are fighting individually, and defensively they lack necessary chemistry, both of which are fatal in front of the Bucks, who are very mature at both ends,"

commented the ABC analysts on the performance of both teams at the start.

After the game began, the Bucks quickly got into the groove, while the Timberwolves were playing the same old tune.

For the past few years, the Timberwolves were Garnett's one-man team.

The offense went through Garnett, the defense depended on Garnett, but come playoffs, when Garnett's offense faltered, they could only exit in the first round.

Unexpectedly, after welcoming a group of helpers, apart from Big Dog Robinson having his moments, the overall performance of a recovered Szczerbiak was abstract to say the least, and Olowokandi was a major disappointment. As a center, he lacked highlights in defense, positioning, and rebounding, and his offensive hook shots were inaccurate.

The Timberwolves regarded Olowokandi as an upgrade over Rasho Nesterovic. Rasho got annihilated by a 50% fit Shaquille O'Neal who averaged 28 points and 15 rebounds per game in the playoffs last season, becoming the main culprit for the Timberwolves losing three consecutive games after leading the Lakers 2-1 in the first round—how could there be such a waste who couldn't even withstand O'Neal? They had to make a change!

Now it turned out that Olowokandi couldn't even handle a rookie center from the Bucks, let alone go up against Shaquille O'Neal.

On offense, they fought individually; on defense, it all depended on Garnett.

Despite being touted as the most talented team in franchise history, the Timberwolves displayed the classic odd taste of the Garnett-era Wolves.

At the end of the first quarter, the score was 27-15, with the Bucks leading by 12 points at home against the Timberwolves.

Yu Fei effortlessly grabbed 11 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists, and then comfortably took a break off the court.

"What do you think of the Wolves' team?" Karl asked Yu Fei seriously for his opinion on the opponent.

Based on the first quarter's display, Yu Fei did not hold the Timberwolves in high regard, as their lineup was the kind that had an apparent ceiling.

Cassell could manage the game, defend, and even organize the offense to an extent, being a sly pure point guard. Big Dog Robinson was inefficient in offense, virtually absent defensively, and most importantly, as a wing who liked to isolate at the high post, he was simply too laid-back to shoulder the main offensive responsibilities of a championship-contending team. Szczerbiak still needed time to rehabilitate, and the acquision of Olowokandi was a fundamental failure.

"Unless they have other players off the court who can bring about variability," Yu Fei said, "otherwise, I don't think they can make it into the first tier."

Karl's view of the Timberwolves aligned with Yu Fei's.

Moreover, Karl noticed that Yu Fei seemed to be deliberately ignoring Ray Allen on the court, "You didn't pass the ball to Ray even once."

"Until he apologizes to me, he can forget about getting any assists from me,"

Yu Fei warned Ray Allen so bluntly, something Karl did not expect.

In Karl's view, this was the moment Yu Fei finally became clear about Ray Allen's true nature. He had reasons for disliking Ray Allen, and now, Yu Fei had come to the same conclusion.

"I won't interfere with this matter; you rest well,"

Karl promptly brought in Devean George to play the small forward position, had Sprewell act as a makeshift point guard, and replaced Ray Allen with Michael Redd.

Redd, who had endured the entire first quarter, did not want to miss out on the opportunity.

In the minutes that followed, Redd showcases changes to his teammates.

Last season, Redd was a dedicated shooter.

Even though he had displayed offensive skills beyond shooting, he remained focused on perimeter shooting.

Thus, Redd's 44% three-point shooting percentage contributed to the Bucks having one of the top ten three-point outputs in the League.

Yu Fei liked this kind of dedication in a man.

If Redd could forever concentrate on perimeter shooting, he would be the most suitable player for Yu Fei across the entire League.

But contentment, a fundamental human quality, is rarely found in professional sports.

After all, this field is about striving to surpass limits.

For the highly commercialized NBA, being a pure shooter meant being relegated to a role player's status, forever out of reach of a maximum contract. Redd would not forget how long the Bucks deliberated before matching his contract.

His contract was only four years for 12 million US Dollars, hardly more than a basic salary, not even a mid-level one, and at the end, it still required Yu Fei to publicly state his position to make the owner nod in agreement to match the contract.

Nothing could be more uncomfortable than this.

Why would the team disrespect him so much? Simply because he was a shooter. If he had been as versatile as Ray Allen, able to bring multi-faceted aid to the team, they would treat themselves like stars.

The decline of Ray Allen, the rise of Yu Fei, and Redd's critical performance in the finals all led to this development.

Redd did not want to continue being a pure shooter and backup to Ray Allen.

This was the signal that he wanted to send with his actions after entering the game.

On court, Redd did not act like a shooter but rather appeared as a combination of Ray Allen and Sprewell.

He shot three-pointers, drove to the basket, and even called for pick and rolls.

Karl never knew anyone else on his team could have such privileges apart from Yu Fei.

However, because Redd succeeded in consecutive shots, Karl couldn't really say anything.

It was Yu Fei who noticed the changes in Redd's statistical data.

He started with 6 shots and made 4, all successful ones inside the three-point line, while the missed ones were his strongest suit, the three-pointers.

The rhythm required as the main shooter with the ball and as a shooter receiving the ball are completely different, which is why Redd's three-point touch has declined.

Of course, two shots are not enough to prove anything.

But this is basic basketball logic.

The rhythm of playing with and without the ball is different, unless you have a compatible shooting mechanism—that's what makes Curry a freak of nature.

Redd clearly doesn't have the same technical reserve, and although he has indeed proven his ability to score an average of 20 points per game as an offensive player, do the Bucks miss his 20 points?

What the Bucks need is a sharpshooter that the opponent must guard closely.

This is where Ray Allen's value lies, as he can attack with the ball like Sprewell and still maintain a three-point shooting percentage of 40%. If Redd could do that, then he would have the potential to climb higher.

Therefore, until Redd truly becomes like Ray Allen, capable both as the main attacker and the main shooter, the problems he brings belong solely to Karl.

The only thing Yu Fei could think of was to use him to agitate Ray Allen.

"Hey, I guess it won't be long before Redd Hot becomes the focus of the media, and I wonder if someone in our team will be jealous of him by then?" said Yu Fei with a friendly smile, "You think, as a substitute he averages 20 points per game, plays better than some starters, how should the media praise him?"

Mason, with muscles for brains, naturally couldn't catch the sarcasm in Yu Fei's words.

Ratner, however, was well aware of what the young master was suggesting and followed up by saying, "They would probably say he's better than Ray."

"Exactly, he plays some games much better than Ray," said Yu Fei with a smile to Ray Allen, who looked sullen, "What do you think, Rey-ray?"

"Rey-ray, why don't you say something?"

"Not happy?"

"Oh, I get it, you must be upset because I don't pass you the ball," said Yu Fei casually, "Actually, I'm doing it for your own good."

Ray Allen could tolerate the previous insinuations, sarcasm, and taunting.

But this, he really couldn't stand.

Not passing me the ball, ignoring my open position, playing selfishly, and it's all for my own good? How generous of you, should I thank you?

Ray Allen coldly retorted, "Not passing me the ball is for my own good?"

"Before, you were unhappy because I was getting too much praise, right?"

Ray Allen fell silent.

"Now, if I play a little selfishly, the media will criticize me, so you won't be angry anymore, will you?"

To utter such preposterous statements and still maintain internal logic? Ray Allen didn't know if it was he who had a problem or if it was Yu Fei.

But he could be sure Yu Fei was spouting nonsense because earlier on the court, Yu Fei had clearly and unmistakably told him that this was his punishment. Now he says it's for his own good?

Moreover, changes had already occurred on the court.

Initially, Redd's dominant style of play was effective, but that high field goal percentage wasn't sustainable.

The Timberwolves tightened their defense against him, and then, they brought back Hedo Turkoglu, another player they acquired during the offseason in a multi-team trade.

It must be said that the early-century Kings Team was brimming with talent, and a potential player like Turkoglu, because of fierce competition in the same position and a Princeton system that couldn't fully utilize his strengths, showed promising but limited moments in restricted playing time. Since his rookie contract had only one year left and the Kings weren't willing to offer a large contract for an extension, they had no choice but to trade him away.

Other teams, including the Timberwolves themselves, failed to recognize his value.

Taking Turkoglu was a reluctant choice for the Timberwolves, as the main improvement they received in that trade was Big Dog Robinson.

At least that's what they thought at the time.

However, Turkoglu, the tall point forward, took control of the game, targeting the lack of organization in the Bucks' offense with Yu Fei off the court, and Redd not following tactics.

Suddenly, the Bucks were on the back foot, with their lead being steadily eroded.

Five minutes into the second quarter, Yu Fei returned to the court.

If the Bucks' starting lineup had a clear advantage, then the problems exposed during the transition with their second unit were also alarming.

Redd was no longer the shooter without distractions.

This was the issue with the Bucks.

They needed to reorganize their second unit.

The Timberwolves, in contrast, saw a glimmer of life from their bench amidst a listless starting lineup.

For two teams with lofty ambitions, these five minutes were far more valuable than the first quarter.

What was beneficial and what was harmful—everything was crystal clear.