Sorry the university kept me very busy as the 22nd is the last day, I have to do all the exams and activities since finals.
Guys there is already content on patreon, if anyone wants to become a chunin jonnin, hogake or God Shinobi.
patreon.com/Chuga320 (Have than 50 additional chapters)
—————————————————————————————————————————————
Former teammates faced off in a thrilling matchup as Wang Chong's 50 points outshined Kobe Bryant's 45, leading the Bulls to a 106-98 victory over the Lakers and securing their third consecutive win. The game, widely anticipated as a scoring duel between two superstars, ended with Wang Chong not only outscoring Kobe but also outperforming him in efficiency, guiding his Bulls team, with an arguably weaker lineup, to a stunning victory.For Wang Chong, this game was a monumental achievement. Not only did it prove his ability to lead a team as its centerpiece, but it also served as a statement to his former teammate Kobe that leaving the Lakers was the right move. As the undisputed core of the Bulls, Wang Chong was finally able to showcase his full potential.
Questions began to swirl around the Lakers' management. Had they made the right decision in sticking with Kobe over Wang Chong? Wang Chong's scoring prowess was clearly on par with Kobe's, yet he was more efficient and younger—attributes that could have better positioned the Lakers for future success.
Critics pointed fingers at Kobe, accusing him of taking 40 shots in an unnecessary scoring battle with Wang Chong, which contributed to the Lakers' defeat, despite having the upper hand. Some observers even recalled last season, when Kobe's pursuit of power over Wang Chong led to the Lakers' decline. The verdict was harsh: Kobe, now 27, needed to mature as a leader, especially in the high-pressure environment of Los Angeles, where every mistake is magnified.
Wang Chong, meanwhile, faced much less scrutiny. At just 21, the young star was embraced by fans and media alike, who were more forgiving of his occasional setbacks. With his team performing above expectations, Wang Chong continued to receive praise.
The difference in their situations was stark. Kobe, with four championships to his name, was still seeking individual accolades to bolster his legacy, such as scoring titles and MVP awards. However, many questioned his leadership without the support of Shaquille O'Neal, who had been the Finals MVP during their championship runs.
Wang Chong, on the other hand, had nothing left to prove to his former team. His 50-point performance against the Lakers solidified his place as a star. Now, all he needed to do was maintain his form, and his standing in the league would only rise.
On November 20, the Bulls returned home and defeated the Orlando Magic 95-79. Despite Dwight Howard's impressive 17-point, 19-rebound game against Tyson Chandler, the Magic couldn't overcome their team's weaknesses. With declining stars like Steve Francis and Grant Hill leading the offense, the Magic couldn't match the Bulls' superior teamwork.
The Bulls' win streak extended to four games, improving their record to 5-4 after a rocky start to the season. The team was starting to click, with even Monta Ellis showing improvements after earlier criticisms.
However, the winning streak came to an end on November 24 when the Bulls lost 104-99 to the San Antonio Spurs. The game was a hard-fought battle, with the Bulls pushing the defending champions to their limits before falling short. Despite the loss, the Bulls' improved performance was evident, proving they were becoming a force to be reckoned with.
Two days later, the Bulls bounced back, defeating the Houston Rockets. With Tracy McGrady sidelined due to injury, Yao Ming stood as the Rockets' lone star. Yao dominated the paint, scoring 30 points and grabbing 12 rebounds, but Wang Chong's 34-point performance led the Bulls to victory.
The Bulls then went on another winning streak, defeating the New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, and Atlanta Hawks to close out November with a record of 8 wins and 5 losses, placing them fourth in the Eastern Conference behind the Detroit Pistons, Miami Heat, and Cleveland Cavaliers.
While LeBron James had a stellar month, averaging 28.4 points, 6 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game while leading the Cavaliers to a 10-4 record, it was Wang Chong who was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month. His dominance was undeniable: averaging 33.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 4 assists per game with an impressive 54% shooting percentage and a three-point percentage over 40%. His efficiency ranked first in the league, and his scoring average surpassed Allen Iverson's, coming in just behind Kobe Bryant's league-leading 33.6 points per game.
James's fans might have been upset, but Wang Chong's numbers spoke for themselves. Even though his team's record was slightly behind the Cavaliers, Wang Chong's individual stats and his ability to lead a less-talented Bulls squad to a strong start earned him the honor.
As December began, the Bulls continued to improve, winning games against the Mavericks, Wizards, and Raptors. On December 9, the Bulls faced the Lakers again, this time at home. In their second and final regular-season matchup, the Bulls once again triumphed, with Wang Chong contributing 26 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists. Kobe, meanwhile, put up 23 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists in the losing effort.
Wang Chong had now beaten Kobe and the Lakers twice in a season, firmly establishing himself as one of the league's premier talents. His rise continued, while the Lakers and Kobe faced mounting pressure as they struggled to maintain their dominance.
The data between the two teams was evenly matched, but the Lakers still lost due to a lack of team coordination.
After a month of regular-season training, the Bulls' tactical system became more cohesive. Every player understood their role on the court. Shooting guard Raja Bell focused on defending the opposing team's key players while positioning himself as a spot-up shooter, particularly from the corner three-point range. Luol Deng also played a defensive role and would make off-ball cuts to the basket on offense, where he excelled. Monta Ellis and Tyson Chandler had simpler roles: Ellis was primarily an offensive player, and Chandler concentrated on defense and grabbing rebounds.
Tyson Chandler's offensive points mainly came from second-chance opportunities and open looks under the basket. Monta Ellis, on the other hand, lacked the height and weight to be a defensive force, but his speed made him a valuable asset on offense, particularly as he adapted to the NBA's rhythm. After initially struggling, Ellis learned to read the court better and avoided reckless drives to the basket.
One of the team's most effective strategies was the pick-and-roll play between Ellis and Wang Chong. This tactic was inspired by the future Golden State Warriors' Curry-Durant pick-and-roll. Although not as deadly as the Curry-Durant combination, it was still enough to frustrate opposing teams. When Ellis drove to the basket after a screen by Wang Chong, the defense often had to make quick decisions, creating opportunities for either Ellis to attack or Wang Chong to shoot uncontested.
As Ellis adapted, his performance improved significantly. By December, he averaged 15.4 points per game, second on the team after Wang Chong. His shooting percentage of 41.5% could still improve, but his growth was evident.
Ellis, a second-round pick in 2005, wasn't a highly anticipated player, and his rough start during the first week of the season led to heavy criticism. Many even considered benching him, but Wang Chong advocated for giving him more time. Despite being young, Ellis had the potential to grow quickly, especially if given early responsibility. His speed and ability to attack the basket were undeniable, and his overall abilities would develop with time.
Wang Chong recognized that most NBA players who succeed were destined to be stars before they entered the league, while very few truly improved their skills after joining. Ellis, however, was showing signs of rapid growth. His early struggles didn't last long, and by the second half of November, he had established himself as a key player for the Bulls, providing much-needed offensive support alongside Wang Chong.
Wang Chong had a larger plan in mind: preparing the team for the playoffs, where the intensity and defensive pressure would increase. He needed Ellis to become a dependable ball-handler to avoid putting all the offensive burden on himself.
This foresight impressed the Bulls' management and coaching staff. Wang Chong had recommended both Raja Bell and Monta Ellis during the offseason, and although initially met with skepticism, both players became essential to the team's success. The Bulls had risen to fourth place in the Eastern Conference, and head coach Skiles began to admire Wang Chong's influence on the team's tactics and lineup choices.
As December arrived, All-Star voting opened. On December 16, 2005, the first round of voting results was announced. In the Western Conference, Yao Ming led with 729,000 votes, followed by Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady. Yao Ming's strong support from Chinese fans had been consistent, even leading the NBA to eventually adjust its voting process.
In the Eastern Conference, Wang Chong led with 680,000 votes, surpassing even LeBron James (660,000 votes) and Shaquille O'Neal (640,000 votes). While Wang Chong's fan base from China played a role, the support from Chicago fans also contributed to his vote count. James, however, was once again unhappy about finishing behind Wang Chong.
O'Neal's performance had begun to show signs of decline, with averages of just over 20 points and 9 rebounds per game. While his shooting efficiency remained high, his dominance was waning, raising questions about whether he could still lead the Miami Heat to a championship, as he had promised when joining the team.
Wang Chong wasn't sure if the Heat would win the title this season. Regardless, O'Neal had already gained an extra championship in 2004, thanks to Wang Chong's presence. Winning a fifth championship would further solidify O'Neal's legacy, but for now, Wang Chong's focus remained on developing his skills and the Bulls' roster.
Wang Chong was realistic about the Bulls' chances. Although confident in his abilities, he knew the team wasn't ready to contend for the finals this season. His goal was to build a championship-caliber team in the next two to three years, with himself as the cornerstone.
End of this chapter
Note: Hi if you really like NBA novels, you can support me either in this pg with stones, reviews etc, or in patreon since the niche of sports and specially NBA is very small is Webnovel since people prefer to read Naruto, Pokemon, comics etc.