Countdown to Thompson's comeback! January 10th Knight vs Warrior Waiting for the Buddha to Return!
With 30 points against the Nets and a big double-double against the Jazz with 16 points and 14 assists, Stephenson, who returned to the Pacers, made himself the core of the Pacers' team.
If that game against the Nets is a fairy tale of the Pacers and the coincidence of the master and disciple, then against the Jazz you will really doubt why he can't play in the NBA at this level.
After all, the occasional outburst of the player is normal, and Thomas Jr. scored 19 points on the first night of his return to the Lakers, but he still can't escape the fate of being cut.
At that time, I probably felt that the veteran's flash of inspiration might be like this. But when Stephenson returned to the Pacers, his performance once again refreshed people's perceptions.
In the first game of the Pacers' home game, the master and disciple came off the bench in front of Indiana fans, shooting 20 points in the first quarter of 6 minutes, 9 shots and 8 in the single quarter, and 30 points, 3 boards and 5 assists.
What is the concept of 30 points for Stephenson? It was his second-highest career score and the second single-game scoring score of 30+ in his career. His career-highest score was five years ago, when Stephenson, who played for the Grizzlies, played overtime to score 33 points.
This contrast is enough to see the wonderful chemistry between Stephenson and the Walkers.
After the game, the Pacers even began to solicit votes for his all-star selection. Indiana fans also cheered the veteran on the stage. Coach Carlisle also admitted after the game that Stephenson and the fans have established a "real, magical connection".
Playing at home again today, he played 7-of-12 in 28 minutes off the bench, including 1 of 3 from three points and 1 of 2 from the free throw line, with a total of 16 points, 6 rebounds, 14 assists, 4 steals and 1 turnover, plus or minus +12.
It is worth mentioning that 14 assists per game is a new career high for Stephenson, and four steals also tie his career record.
With his help, Sabonis Jr. also scored 42 points. Carlisle praised: "Stephenson was fantastic, Stephenson gave the team a different atmosphere. Today, Sabonis Jr. can get a career-high 42 points, which has a lot to do with Stephenson. Stephenson was very selfless and it was great to see that. ”
But then you see what Stephenson said: "Sabonis Jr. has greatly improved his reading ability on the court, and his ability to find vacant positions on the inside has also improved a lot." He keeps doing that, and I mean, he probably gets 40 points every game. ”
It seems that the boss of the team is very pleased to see the growth of young people. Seriously, if you just watch the game, Stephenson is really a superstar in the Pacers, the key moments are in his hands, and the offense is all up to him.
The 31-year-old comrade who returned to Indiana for the third time is always elusive.
In fact, before returning to the Pacers, Stephenson also played 6 games in the Eagles. At that time, the NBA outbreak broke out, the league veterans packed their bags, one after another ten-day short contracts to find jobs, and Stephenson was uninvited.
He had the opportunity to go to the Nuggets, but the Nuggets chose the latter between him and Davon Reed. It wasn't until the Eagles extended an olive branch just before Christmas that he got his wish to put on the NBA shirt again.
But during the Hawks' short ten-day contract, Stephenson didn't make any waves, and only scored 11 points in total, so the Hawks did not choose to renew his contract.
But two days later, the old owner Walker came up and gave him a job. The first two away games were the Cavaliers and Knicks, and the master and brother played tepidly, with 6 points and 5 points in one game, until the team returned to Indiana, the place he knew best, and Stephenson began his explosive journey.
The Hawks trip went unnoticed and the road was so-so, but at the Pacers' home, Stephenson was back in that uninhibited state.
It's hard to define all of this as a coincidence, except that the bond between the master and the indiana is too deep.
Prior to this season, he hadn't been in the NBA for two years. Since overdrawing exposure with the Los Angeles Lakers, Stephenson has not been able to secure another NBA contract. So in 2019, Stephenson, who was holding a fan in one hand and turning a handkerchief in the northeast two, came to Liaoning, hoping to play his beloved little guitar in the CBA.
But it turns out that although the guitar and the lute are both instruments, not everyone can compatible Chinese and Western instruments. However, as an "NBA refresher class", the master and disciple have accepted a socialist transformation.
After the baptism of the CBA, is it not casual to play the NBA? So the first game showed everyone the scoring ability learned from the first guard in Asia; the second game showed everyone the passing ability of Paul Anshan; in this order, I guess the third game was going to show everyone Han's rebounding and blocking.
It is said that Stephenson of parallel time and space said in an interview: "You know, I once studied in the CBA in China on the other side of the ocean, in the CBA everyone will not be accustomed to you, it is a place where the masters such as the forest fittest survive, and now back in China, back to the NBA, I just want to give back to my hometown industry, and teach what I learned outside to the NBA children." ”
Of course, What impressed Stevenson the most was his ability to be funny on the court.
In 2010, the Pacers picked two No. 10 picks, Paul George with the tenth pick in the first round and Stephenson with the tenth pick in the second round.
Whether it's Paul George or Stephenson, both have to do with one person, the former Pacers and a Granger.
For example, Stevenson's first start in the first two seasons was because of Granger's injury. And the explosion of Stephenson in the third season of his career was also because of Granger. Granger played just five games this season with a knee injury, and Stephenson quickly took the position. He played in 78 games, starting 72 games, averaging 8.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game, and averaged 9.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game in the playoffs.
In the 13-14 season, Stephen averaged 13.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game, shooting 49.1% from the field and 35.2% from three-point range.
Another statistic you can hardly believe, before Westbrook rose to become a triple-double, this season's triple-double was Stevenson, who scored 5 triple-doubles and nearly made it to the All-Star.
It was also this season that the name of "NBA No. 1 Zhan Blow" was launched. In the 2014 East Finals, the Pacers and the Heat met again, and in the second quarter of the fifth game of the series, the master and brother blew air into James's ear, successfully frightening the old Zhan. Since then, the "NBA First Zhan Blow" famous earthquake universe!
Followed by a series of next meal operations such as magical fake fall, throwing himself in the face, the identity of the NBA comedian was successfully confirmed, and the successful experience was also brought to the CBA.
Sure, no matter how many magical maneuvers Stephenson has, there's no doubt about the Walker's love for him. Going round and round in the league, Stephenson was back on the Pacers in 2016 with 12 million in three years.
The reporter asked how he would feel when the DJ called out your name on this return, and he said without hesitation: "It should be similar to Jordan's comeback." ”
The context is self-explanatory.
But the only thing to emphasize is not to try to understand the inner world of the master and disciple. When you identify him as a clown on the pitch, he will always give you a 20+10 luxury stats; when you think that his prodigal son may bring surprises, he will often make some next meal operations.
But the only thing that needs no doubt is the deep bond between him and the walkers. After that game against the Nets, Stephenson said a lot, a few of them touching.
"It's home, I have a house here, I've never left here, it's incredible to play here, it's like playing in front of my family." Stephenson said so.
"I used to make a lot of jokes on the pitch now I just want to play well." But it is estimated that only the walker can make him say these words.
Thompson's sentence of two minutes, I grew two years older. The splash is finally back!
Past Readings: What? The coach was really warming up
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