NBA's King of Talking

Chapter 283 Becoming the 1st in the Alliance

The Hawks' second unit isn't particularly strong, but their defense is still quite good, making it difficult for opponents to break them down. Due to foul trouble, Mills' playing time was staggered with Art Mayork's; he played during transition periods, which allowed the Hawks' offense to overpower their opponents, further widening the score gap.

At the end of the first quarter, the Hawks led 20-29 with their defense.

The first quarter set the tone for the game, with the Hawks employing playoff-level defense, which the Wizards struggled to overcome.

贾飞首节贡献12分3个篮板2次助攻1个抢断2个盖帽，表现非常出色。

In the second quarter, after Jia Fei returned to the court, the Wizards double-teamed him. However, after he assisted Korver to hit two three-pointers, the opponents dared not double-team him again.

The Wizards' offense just couldn't get going. Beal was shut down by Jia Fei, and Wall's weakness in mid-range and long-range jump shots was exploited, forcing the Hawks to shrink their paint area.

The Wizards couldn't hit three-pointers, couldn't hit consecutive three-pointers to change the opponent's defense, and couldn't stop the opponent, resulting in the game being completely passive.

At halftime, the score was 40-56, with the gap widening to 16 points.

The Wizards only scored 40 points in the first half, and it's almost impossible for them to win with that level of offense.

贾飞半场贡献17分5个篮板6次助攻1个抢断2个盖帽。

In the second half, the Wizards intensified their offense and became more aggressive on defense, making the game even more competitive.

Various fouls fragmented the game, and finally, after Art Mayork and Nene clashed, the two sides almost broke into an even bigger conflict.

Ultimately, Art Mayork and Nene were both ejected from the game.

When Art Mayork came on, he received a hero's applause from the home fans...

Jia Fei also clashed with Wizards players, and trash talk between them was inevitable.

Bao Pi sarcastically remarked to Jia Fei, "It's not a good thing for a young person to be too arrogant. You haven't even received any honors yet."

"Whether I'm arrogant or not isn't for you to define. I have no honors? Are you trying to say I don't have a ring?" Jia Fei retorted.

Baopi held up his finger, gesturing that he did indeed have a championship ring: "You'll only be qualified to talk to me when you have a ring!"

"Before the Big Three were formed, what were your achievements as the sole leader of the team? You think you're so great just because you got a ring by teaming up with other players? When I get my own ring, you'd better remember to take back what you said today!" Jia Fei was also a little angry. These veterans were acting like they were old and always living in the past, without any of the demeanor of veteran stars. Faced with such trash talk, he naturally chose to retort.

Bill retorted, "So what if you made an All-Star starter? Do you have an MVP award? Do you have a championship ring? Do you really think you can compare to Kobe or LeBron?"

"You can't even guard me, so just shut up!" Jia Fei didn't even lift an eyelid. If Bao Pi was just arguing with him, he might have lacked a strong rebuttal, since he didn't yet have a championship ring or any MVP awards. Besides, Bao Pi had indeed proven his ability back in the day, even though his individual leadership skills were mediocre. But who is Bill? Does he even deserve to comment on me?

Wall also retorted to Jia Fei, "You're being incredibly disrespectful to your seniors! It's impolite and shows a lack of magnanimity!"

Jia Fei retorted: "You should practice your shooting. A top draft pick who can't even figure out how to shoot properly, I'm ashamed for you!"

After saying this, Wall blushed and became agitated: "What right do you have to teach me how to train?"

"I'm too lazy to teach you. If you were my student, I wouldn't even have the face to show my face!" Jia Fei ignored him. This guy was a hopeless case.

The Wizards' players were starting to lose their composure, and the game was no longer in doubt.

The final score was 88-112, with the Hawks securing a resounding victory at home and avoiding a losing streak!

Jia Fei easily clocked out in three quarters, scoring 22 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, dishing out 10 assists, making 2 steals, and blocking 2 shots, achieving a triple-double to help his team win the game.

The Hawks defeated the Wizards at home, but the trash talk and clashes during the game were more interesting to fans than the result. Jia Fei's "verbal battle" performance further elevated his ranking in the league's trash talk scene, which ironically boosted his popularity.

With this victory, the Hawks maintain their top spot in the Eastern Conference with a record of 41 wins and 9 losses.

At the post-game press conference, when a reporter asked Jafiat Mayok whether his behavior during the game might result in a league fine, he confidently stated, "Art is my brother, and I will pay his fine. He didn't intentionally want to get involved in any on-court violence. He's a normal player; he just wanted to show his positivity and energy. I won't allow anyone to maliciously smear him!"

When asked by a reporter if he had developed a grudge against the Wizards, Jia Fei laughed and said, "Ultimately, this is just a game, and trash talk is part of the game. We don't have any personal grudges; we both want to beat our opponents, that's all."

The Hawks' next opponent is the Golden State Warriors, who are currently ranked first in the league. The two teams are only 0.5 games apart, meaning that if the Hawks win their next game, they will overtake the Warriors and take the top spot in the league standings.

The Eastern Conference leader versus the league leader – this game was already generating a lot of buzz even before it started.

On February 7th, this highly anticipated match officially kicked off.

The match was incredibly exciting; it was a fierce offensive battle where both sides showcased their unique strengths, making it extremely entertaining to watch!

Ultimately, the Hawks narrowly defeated the Warriors with six players scoring in double figures, winning this crucial battle for position and surpassing their opponents to officially take the top spot in the league.

From second-to-last in the Eastern Conference at the start of the season to now being number one in the league, the Hawks have truly made a remarkable turnaround. No one predicted before the season began that they would ultimately become the league's best team.

Of course, the season isn't over yet, and nothing is set in stone, but 51 games have already been played. Even if the Hawks lose all their remaining games (which is highly unlikely), they still have a chance to make the playoffs. Barring any major injuries, this team will most likely become the top-ranked team in the Eastern Conference.

After the game, when a reporter asked Jia Fei how he felt about the team surpassing the Warriors to become the league's best team, he smiled and said, "I'm very happy that we're currently the best team in the league, but the season isn't over yet, and we're far from being able to relax and be happy. Even if the season really ends and we get the best record in the league, it only gives us home-court advantage in the playoffs. Once the playoffs start, all the teams that make it to the playoffs will face a 0-0 series score."