Guard Gary Payton II, who is about to turn 30, managed to get through his first and relatively complete NBA season, and he also played 12 playoff games for the first time, including two starts, averaging 16.9 minutes per game, 6.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.2 steals, shooting 65.9% from the field and 53.3% from three-point range. After a fantastic season with the Golden State Warriors, Payton II signed to the Portland Trail Blazers on a three-year, $28 million contract.
As a failed draft, with perseverance and unlimited passion, Payton II honed his excellent offensive and defensive skills and finally gained a foothold in the NBA. "It was a great experience, and I won the title faster than my dad." Regarding this victory, Peyton II, code-named "Handcuffs", said so.
And his father is one of the NBA's 75 biggest stars, the famous iron-blooded tough guy - "Glove" Gary Payton.
As one of the best defensive guards in the history of the league, Gary Payton reached the peak from the 1993-94 season, and he was named to both the NBA's Best Team and the Defensive Team for nine consecutive years, and all nine defensive games were one, of which the 1995-96 season was Payton's most glorious personal glory.
That year, Payton was named the league's steal king and won the award for Best Defensive Player. Payton and "Rainman" Sean Kemp are a powerful combination inside and out, and they led the Seattle Supersonics to an impressive record of 64 wins and 18 losses, ranking first in the Western Conference, and a record 72 wins and 10 losses in the league after the Eastern Conference overlords the Chicago Bulls.
In the playoffs, the Supersonics first defeated the Kings led by Mitch Richmond, then Lectra owned the Rockets of Olajuwon and Drexler, and fought seven Games with Carl Malone and John Stockton jazz in the West Finals, crossing the border and advancing to the Finals. What they ultimately have to challenge is the Bulls.
At that time, the Bulls were intent on going further when morale was booming and achieving the glory of three consecutive championships. Michael Jordan, dressed in red, still looks so indestructible, and Scotty Pippen and Dennis Rodman next to him are also daunting, they have not encountered any difficulties in the knockout rounds, and have cut down the Heat, Knicks, and Magic, of which the Bulls have only lost one.
As the core of the outside line between the two sides, the contest between "Strongest Spear" Jordan and "Strongest Shield" Payton is particularly interesting. In order to protect Payton, who has always had a leg injury, head coach George Carr arranged for Jose Hawkins to defend Jordan in order to reduce Payton's defensive pressure and let him comb the supersonic offense more as the team's brain.
The personal offensive and defensive duel that the audience was most looking forward to did not take place as scheduled, and the supersonic arrangement also spoiled Jordan. On the competitive stage of the Finals, facing Seattle's defense, Jordan seemed to play more easily than in the regular season. At the end of the first three games, Jordan shot 29-of-63 from the field and shot 46 percent from the field, almost stripping the supersonic backline alive.
George Carr paid the price for his stubbornness to lose three straight games. Gary Payton has offered to fight several times during this period, not only to contribute on the offensive end, but also to personally act as an arrow and lock the offensive core on the opposite side, but the "conceited" George Carr seems to be unmoved.
Until Payton knocked again on the door of Karl's coaching office.
"If you don't let me defend him again, I'll stick to him myself, and I'll keep going." The gritty Payton spoke fearlessly, and he finally saw the coach nod.
So in the fourth game, we saw Payton's unique defensive style, he always went around in front of Jordan when he fell low, straightened his arms, lowered his center of gravity, and used all his strength to make Jordan feel multiple discomforts. That's probably the best way to defend Jordan, because he has ten thousand ways to score, and to limit him, it's best not to let him get to the basketball in the first place.
But Jordan is still scoring, those delicate and light little skills, can let him put the ball into the basket anytime and anywhere, he is the strongest basketball player on the planet, payton can not completely lock him. Years later, Jordan himself mentioned Payton in the documentary: "He's not a problem. ”
But Payton's almost non-stop card slots, fights, and trash talk made Jordan physically and mentally exhausted, and he solidly defended Jordan into 23 points on 6-of-19 shooting, 26 points on 11-of-22 shooting, and 22 points on 5-of-19 shooting in the last three games. In the final game, Payton gave Jordan a record low shooting percentage and scoring in his finals history.
"Defend Jordan, you must drag him down, exhaust him." Payton said when talking about how to defend Jordan. Supersonic long-man strikers stepped forward, and they took turns helping Payton consume Michael, and when Payton circled the front card slot, there were always teammates who rushed to cut off the bulls players and throw a high hanging ball to Jordan.
While Jordan's individual offensive efficiency was greatly affected, the Bulls' teammates stepped up in Game 6, and they grabbed 24 frontcourt rebounds under Rodman's leadership, punishing the Supersonics for the pinch tactics used against Jordan.
After stubbornly resisting the supersonic speed of two games, they eventually lost to the Bulls, but all the players in green robes can leave the game proudly in the red ocean of Chicago, they are not unsuccessful, they just lost to the best team in the world in the end. As a leader, Payton's defense not only makes opponents afraid, but also appreciates by juniors. Kobe Bryant asked Payton for defensive tips, and the effect was immediate, and almost every year kobe bryant was selected to the best defensive team. After leaving the supersonics, Payton also came to the Lakers to partner with Kobe Bryant, joined hands to impact the championship, and finally realized his dream in the Heat after the failure.
Payton, who came from the top of the list, has been working diligently in the league for 17 years. At the beginning of his career, his first head coach, Celtics star KC Jones, often pressed Payton on the bench: "If you don't play well, just sit here honestly." Later, George Carr also used his harsh coaching style to force Payton to practice a reliable three-point shooting. Payton, who has a strong psychological quality, never fears these difficult challenges, he will only turn these seemingly cold teachings into garbage words and greet opponents on the court. After breaking through rising star Grant Hill, Payton shook his head and said, "I cross you like crossing the road in the morning." ”
Now, Payton, who has been retired for 15 years, sits on the sidelines, watching his son fight on the field, and he looks a bit like he used to. Peyton II's eyes are full of pride, and he also dares to accept the challenge given by the coach, and he can release all his energy on the pitch, looking at him, it is as if he has returned to his youth.
Payton's thoughts came back to the summer of 1996, when he was in the Key Arena in Seattle, face to face with Jordan, whispering something into the latter's ear, afraid that these harsh words would have the slightest omission: "You know, I can buy a Ferrari just by defense." ”