Chapter Fifteen: A Stadium Filled with Hushed Whispers! Lin Tian's Debut with the United Center!
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Name: Lin Tian
Age: 22
Height: 191 cm
Weight: 84 kg
Physical Evaluation: Vertical Jump B-, Speed S+, Strength C+, Stamina B-, Explosiveness A+, Coordination A-, Awareness A+
Overall Physical Rating: A-
Offensive Evaluation: Shooting B, Dribbling B-, Passing A+, Driving B, Low Post D, Dunking B, Fast Break S
Overall Offensive Rating: B-
Defensive Evaluation: Rebounding D+, Steals A-, On-Ball Defense D+, Blocks C-, Help Defense B, Positioning C-, One-on-One Defense B-
Overall Defensive Rating: C-
Traits: All-Seeing Eye, Pretty Boy, Lightning Speed
Skills: Pick-and-Roll Shooting Level 2 (632/2000), Quick Passing Level 2 (121/2000)
Items: 1992-93 Jordan Experience Card (3 minutes)
Experience: 550
Mission: Play over 20 minutes in 10 consecutive games
First of all, Lin Tian’s passing skill, which he painstakingly trained during college, has already reached Level 2. However, perhaps because this skill is still quite “basic,” his passing attribute rating hasn’t improved.
Additionally, after a month of hard training, Lin Tian finally gained 1 kg, no longer appearing so frail.
At the same time, his strength, stamina, and one-on-one defense skills have all made some progress under the guidance and targeted training from Jordan and the coaches.
The only regret is that apart from the 1992-93 Jordan three-minute experience card, Lin Tian didn’t acquire any new items or skills—everything he earned during training was experience points.
It seems that to advance rapidly, he still has to wait for the official season to begin!
Speaking of which, the significant improvement Lin Tian made after just one training camp is undoubtedly thanks to Jordan’s focused attention and the relentless daily challenges he imposed.
Even though Jordan still refuses to call Lin Tian by name, acting as if he can’t remember him and doesn’t want to be bothered, Lin Tian feels that this most paranoid legend in NBA history has already accepted him as a worthy teammate—he’s just too stubborn to admit it!
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On October 20th, the Chicago Bulls will host their first preseason opponent at the United Center: the Milwaukee Bucks!
The Bucks haven’t made the playoffs for four consecutive years now. Since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar left that harsh place years ago, they have never returned to being a top team in the league.
Currently, they boast All-Star power forward Vin Baker and last year’s number one draft pick, “Big Dog” Glenn Robinson, but their roster still falls far short of the Bulls’.
One team aims to sweep the entire league; the other hopes just not to be swept.
The gap in strength between the two sides is overwhelming and multifaceted!
Yet despite this disparity, the Bulls’ season opener attracted more than 19,000 fans, filling the United Center to capacity! Even before the game began, the crowd roared and cheered wildly, eager to support their team and players.
Chicago truly ranks among the top five basketball cities in the United States. This atmosphere surpasses what many teams can muster even in the playoffs!
When the game started, the noise and cheers from the fans were deafening and earth-shaking!
Fueled by the crowd’s support, the Bulls’ “Iron Triangle” along with Langley and Harbaugh in the starting five quickly took the lead.
In the first quarter, the returning Jordan shot 7-for-5 from the field and made both free throws, scoring 14 points.
He reduced the fierce “Big Dog” to a lovable little teddy bear.
The Bulls finished the first quarter leading 25-17.
In the second quarter, the Bulls gradually tightened their defense, making every Bucks’ offense a struggle. By halftime, Chicago led Milwaukee by 14 points!
Throughout the first half, Lin Tian had been awaiting Coach Jackson’s call. Jackson rotated through ten players but never gave Lin Tian a chance to enter the game.
It wasn’t due to suspension—his suspension would only start in the regular season. He was eligible to play in the preseason.
Lin Tian wasn’t anxious; he knew his moment would come soon enough!
With five minutes remaining in the third quarter, the Bulls led 60-38, a 22-point advantage, when Jackson finally remembered the rookie sitting on the bench. He called Lin Tian’s name, telling him to warm up and get ready to enter.
During a dead ball, Lin Tian left the technical area and stepped onto the NBA game floor for the very first time!
“Phew! We don’t want any pretty boys here!”
“Kid, don’t get so scared you pee your pants!”
“As long as you don’t mess up, we’ll be satisfied!”
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“Don’t be nervous—we don’t expect anything from you anyway!”
“Phil, when are you going to trade this kid away and get us a washing machine instead?”
...
What greeted Lin Tian was not cheers or encouragement, but a barrage of boos and jeers!
Chicago fans genuinely disliked this fresh-faced rookie with rosy lips and white teeth!
They wanted the team to draft a few more tough, gritty players like Rodman—at least then Jordan wouldn’t feel so isolated against the Jazz, Knicks, or Pacers!
What could Lin Tian possibly do?
Get punched in the head and bleed brain matter during a confrontation?
Lin Tian didn’t take the hostility from Chicago fans to heart. Calmly, he rubbed his ear and then swaggered onto the court.
Just a little booing—he was confident that within five minutes, the jeers would be drowned out by continuous cheers and applause!
At that moment, the Bulls’ lineup on the floor was Lin Tian, Kerr, Kukoc, Wennington, and Buchler. It was clear that Jackson was looking out for Lin Tian, as his two best training camp partners, Wennington and Kukoc, were both on the court!
“Lin, don’t be nervous! Chicago fans are actually very friendly—they’re just joking with you,” Wennington continued in his big-brother role, patting Lin Tian on the shoulder before passing him the ball.
“Come on, kid, show us what you’ve got!”
“If you can’t make it in the NBA, better go home and farm! Don’t waste the team’s spot!”
“All you’ll get here is a free championship you didn’t contribute to! Just leave quickly!”
As soon as Lin Tian received the ball, the boos erupted again, just as fiercely as they had for Jordan and the others in the first half!
In his first possession on the court, Lin Tian faced the Bucks’ backup guard Eric Murdoch. He didn’t rush to attack but calmly dribbled the ball upcourt and passed it to Kerr.
Kerr caught the ball and immediately launched a three-pointer—the ball swished through the net!