Chapter 90

After defeating the New Jersey Nets, led by Chuck Daly, with a score of 98 to 87, the Utah Jazz achieved a remarkable 12-game winning streak to start the season!

For the Jazz, no one had ever imagined that this team, which was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs last year by the Seattle SuperSonics, could perform so strongly at the beginning of this season. Although the team had two superstars, Karl Malone and John Stockton, if it were just because of these two, why couldn't the Jazz achieve such a strong start last season?

It's important to note that many people believed the team's strength had actually declined this season, especially after excluding Lin Han. Compared to last season, the team's strength was considered to have declined, but with the addition of Lin Han, the team underwent a significant transformation. After the game against the Nets, almost all basketball experts in the United States began to discuss what had happened to the Jazz this season.

At the time, the media, which had been planning a 'anti-Lin' campaign due to Lin Han's actions against Charles Barkley, changed its tone and began to analyze the reasons for the numerous teams' strong starts this season.

It's worth noting that, as of now, there are other teams in the league that are just as crazy as the Jazz. For example, the Houston Rockets, currently leading the Western Conference, are even more insane, having already achieved a 13-game winning streak after the Jazz's 12-game streak. Besides the Rockets led by Hakeem Olajuwon, the Seattle SuperSonics also have a 12-1 record. The New York Knicks, despite being humiliated by Lin Han recently, have a 10-2 record and just defeated the former Eastern Conference powerhouse Detroit Pistons 112-85. As a result, Pistons' bad boy leader Bill Laimbeer, unable to bear the humiliation from the Knicks and the team's subsequent 7-game losing streak, retired in frustration. The team's rebuilding efforts seemed hopeless, and the legendary NBA tough guy was forced to retire by the young and fierce Knicks.

The reputation of the New York mob, which had been damaged by Lin Han, was somewhat restored. Clearly, the Jazz are not the only team with a strong start in the current NBA.

The main representatives of this trend are the championship contenders. If the Phoenix Suns replace the Jazz, it would be even more fitting. The teams that have had such a strong start this season are those aiming for the championship after Michael Jordan's retirement. These teams, whether the Rockets, Suns, Knicks, or SuperSonics, have stable rosters, consistent playing styles, and strong team strength, with no issues of team chemistry. Their morale was further boosted by the news of Jordan's retirement, making them unstoppable. If not for the Suns' starting small forward Duane having been banned for drug use and an important swingman being injured, the Suns would not have the current record.

Besides these well-prepared championship teams, there are issues with the mid-level playoff teams. For example, Tim Hardaway's serious injury caused the Warriors to fall from a top team, and the Nets' Pete Maravich's death in a car accident left a hole at shooting guard, leading to team chemistry issues. The Pistons, after trading away troublemaker Dennis Rodman, experienced internal division, and the team's poor performance forced Bill Laimbeer to retire. The team's superstar point guard, Isaiah Thomas, is currently semi-retired and not playing. Although the Pistons have added potential rookie Alan Houston and former Spurs player Elliot, and have a leader like Joe Dumars, the team is currently a mess.

This is the current state of the league: championship contenders are rising, playoff teams are struggling due to various issues, and some weaker teams like the Timberwolves and Mavericks are already preparing for the next draft. In short, the wealth gap is widening, and the middle class is lacking.

Of course, this is just the beginning of the season. As the schedule progresses, things will improve. For example, the Nets will eventually gel, the Warriors will return to form, and the Spurs will improve after resolving the issues between Rodman and the team. However, this will take time.

Although Jordan's departure marks the beginning of a new era in the league, the most intense competition will not be at the start but after all the teams are fully prepared.

Therefore, the day after defeating the Nets, when the Jazz faced the Pistons, who had already lost 8 consecutive games, the game was different from previous encounters. The Pistons and the Jazz had a history of rivalry over the Dream Team selection involving Isaiah Thomas and John Stockton, but this time, the rivalry was different.

Isaiah Thomas, the core of the rivalry, was sitting on the sidelines in a suit, unable to play, and Bill Laimbeer had just retired in frustration. Dennis Rodman had been traded to the Spurs, and the Pistons' rebuilding efforts, aimed at bringing in box office and attractive basketball, had left the team far behind the Jazz. The rivalry no longer existed.

On the surface, the rivalry seemed to be gone, but in reality, it was not.

When the game started, Lin Han was surprised to find that his team's starting point guard, John Stockton, had such a strong offensive desire. Stockton's aggressive play even shocked Lin Han.

Clearly, the Jazz point guard had been bullied by Isaiah Thomas in the previous two seasons. If not for Karl Malone's elbow, the situation would have been worse. Although he couldn't get back at Thomas, he could take it out on the Pistons' young point guard, Lynch Hunt.

Lynch Hunt, a decent 10th pick this season, was no match for Stockton. While it might seem unfair for Stockton to vent his frustration on Lynch Hunt, who could blame him? Stockton, a leader known for his ruthless tactics, was just being himself.

Or, as Stockton put it, he was teaching Lynch Hunt how to be a qualified point guard in the NBA, which was a good thing.

Of course, the game's outcome was not much of a surprise. Besides Stockton's revenge on the Pistons, another highlight was the matchup between Lin Han and Alan Houston. However, as a high draft pick this year, Alan Houston had limited playing time and opportunities due to the presence of Joe Dumars.

The 1993 draft class is widely regarded as one of the best, with players like Lin Han, Hardaway, Laettner, Mashburn, and Chris Webber already becoming stars and team leaders. Even the lower picks, such as Bradley, Chaney, Bobby Hurley, Wen Baker, Rodney Rogers, Lynch Hunt, and George Lynch, as well as Jazz's Brian Russell and Lakers' Nick Van Exel, have become starters. However, Alan Houston, despite his talent, had the misfortune of facing Joe Dumars.

In this game against the Pistons, Lin Han's opponent was the legendary Pistons guard Joe Dumars. Although the other Pistons players were not motivated, Dumars, as the team's only veteran, could not let the "next Jordan" go unchecked.

Dumars, who had faced Jordan head-on and won the NBA Finals MVP, made Lin Han experience a different style of defense. Fortunately, Lin Han's main game is catch-and-shoot, not dribbling or breaking through, so it was manageable. However, being closely guarded by Dumars was uncomfortable, and Dumars himself was struggling to defend Lin Han, who kept making shots in his face. Dumars wanted to suppress Lin Han, just as they had suppressed Jordan, to restore the Pistons' lost spirit. Unfortunately, without Laimbeer, Rodman, or Thomas, he was powerless.

While Lin Han's skills were still lacking, preventing him from shooting was impossible unless the Pistons returned to their glory days with the entire "Bad Boys" team, not just Dumars.

At the end of the game, Lin Han could see many things on the face of the legendary Pistons guard: disappointment, helplessness, and a hint of nostalgia. Ultimately, there was a surprising determination left on his face.

The Pistons and Dumars still had something worth fighting for, which seemed different from the frustrated Bill Laimbeer.

Regardless, when the game ended with a score of 117-90, the Jazz's 13-game winning streak marked the complete fall of a once-dominant team.

This is the NBA, where the rise and fall of teams always changes with the times. Now, it is no longer the era of the Pistons and the "Bad Boys."

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