The hosts of the forum were: "Magic Johnson," "Big Bird" Larry Bird, "flying pig" Barkley, and..."The Big Shark" O'Neal.
The "Black and White Duo" of the 80s, the "Yellow and Green War" between Magic Johnson and Big Bird, was a fierce rivalry fought year after year.
Magic Johnson's playing style was more flamboyant.
Big Bird had a harder mouth, and the key was... he always succeeded in pulling off the 'X' (braggadocio) he intended.
For a time, neither could claim superiority.
Meanwhile, the flying pig and The Big Shark often tangled in the paint, and the two even came to blows.
The only player who could, no, who dared to knock O'Neal down and pin him to the ground, was probably the fearless "flying pig" Barkley.
Seeing this group of people.
Fans in front of their TV screens couldn't help but inwardly complain: Are we sure this group of people won't start fighting if they hold a forum together?!
"Ahem..."
Barkley cleared his throat and spoke first: "Before we officially begin, I need to make an explanation.
The so-called small ball era prototype means... today's offense is increasingly focused on the perimeter, especially the number of players shooting Three-point Shots is growing, and they are becoming more accurate.
And the players doing these things are mostly smaller guards. It feels like the era is transitioning from the interior to the perimeter, entering the small ball era.
Alright.
Now, let's talk officially.
As a member of the '84 Diamond Generation,' and one of the standouts from the same draft class as that Black Hard-boiled Egg.
I am very honored and proud.
In our era, it was mostly physical battles in the paint, and there wasn't much offense from the perimeter.
Even that Black Hard-boiled Egg, even with his "God's Weapon," it was still a mid-range jumper.
As for the Three-point Shot, it was truly uncommon.
However... in today's age, there are more and more players shooting the Three-point Shot, and quite a few are accurate from deep.
Ray Allen, Peja, Rashard Lewis, and so on.
These players' reputations as "Top Shooters in the League" are already household names.
Speaking of a more recent player.
Stephen Curry, a Davidson Student last year and the Warriors' Seventh Overall Pick this year.
The legend he created during the "NCAA March Madness" was built shot by shot with incredible Three-point Shots!
It's unbelievable.
I don't know how he manages to keep making shots from that far away.
In our era, this was practically impossible.
Furthermore... there is the core player of this forum's topic, this year's Undrafted Player, Su Yan.
This Shooter from Dragon Country.
We don't need to dwell on why he is an Undrafted Player.
However... in his first 2 NBA games, he averaged 7 Three-point Shots made per game, with extended range, super-long, and Unreasonable Three-point Shots being commonplace.
For us, perhaps making even one is difficult.
For Su Yan, it is as simple as drinking tea or water.
He can even use a Step-back Three-point Shot to Game-Winner the "thunders big three," helping his team pull off a 20-point Big Comeback.
This is too crazy.
This fundamentally doesn't look like the offense a player should be able to produce.
But... the times are progressing, just as I said earlier, from Ray Allen, Peja, and others, to Stephen Curry, and then to Su Yan.
These increasingly accurate Three-point Shots seem to be the prototype of the small ball era.
I agree with this perspective."
After Barkley finished speaking.
O'Neal raised his hand and first complained: "flying pig, if you want to talk about the small ball era, just talk about the small ball era.
There's no need to praise yourself first.
And there's no need to feel that being in the same draft class as Michael Jordan is such a glorious thing."
He had to jab him first.
What the hell... my self-praise is none of your business?
Barkley rolled his eyes at him; if they weren't at a forum, he would have started a fight with O'Neal.
O'Neal raised an eyebrow, looking smug; the feeling of getting one over on the flying pig was truly great.
He then got straight to the point: "As the number one draft pick in '92, and the 'Three-peat Overlord' in '00, '01, and '02.
The most dominant Center in NBA history, perhaps without exception.
When I dominated the league, a Shooter was definitely a role player; they were like assassins.
They didn't have a strong presence on the court.
They were good at hiding in the shadows, waiting for when we encountered tight defense in the paint and couldn't score.
We'd kick it out.
Find these Perimeter Assassins, let them make long-range shots, help the team complete the offense, and relieve offensive pressure.
They didn't need possession.
They just needed to find their spot and wait quietly—that was my understanding of a Traditional Shooter.
But now.
The role played by Shooters in the team is becoming more and more important. Players like Ray Allen and Peja have even become team cores.
Before, they waited to shoot, or were forced to shoot.
Now... everyone designs tactics around them, finding ways to give them opportunities to take a Three-point Shot.
That is the difference.
Even so, they mostly proactively got opportunities for Catch-and-shoot Three-point Shots or Open Three-point Shots.
Beyond that.
That is Stephen Curry. His performance in "NCAA March Madness" last year was not only brilliant but also extremely unique.
Accuracy from Three-point Shot range is one thing.
More importantly... he can shoot a Three-point Shot while handling the ball.
Shooters of Ray Allen and Peja's caliber, who have dominated the NBA for many years, don't take many Pull-up Three-point Shots either.
At most, they take Transition Trail Three-point Shots.
But Stephen can. Not only does he take Pull-up Three-point Shots, but he takes many of them, and his accuracy is quite astonishing.
This is another level of improvement.
The kind that leaves people speechless. Of course... Stephen has not yet proven in the NBA that he possesses this ability to shoot Pull-up Three-point Shots.
So far this season.
His performance has been somewhat poor, and his Three-point Shot accuracy is mediocre.
He still needs to grow, but it also indirectly shows that players' utilization of the Three-point Shot is escalating further.
This is also a prototype of the small ball era.
Next is the most important point. You might think that the Pull-up Three-point Shot is perhaps the end point of the Three-point Shot's evolution.
Su Yan's appearance once again breaks the mold.
Not only does he take Pull-up Three-point Shots, but he also forcibly extends the Three-point Shot range from near the arc to beyond one meter, or even further.
In the future, will there be shots from 2 meters, 3 meters, or even the logo area?!
This gives people too much room for imagination.
Of course... the current Three-point Shot technique in the league is still stuck at the accurate catch-and-shoot stage of Ray Allen, Peja, and others.
Stephen and Su Yan have yet to prove themselves.
Therefore, it confirms the view that this era already has a trace of the small ball era prototype!!!"
"Well said, that makes a lot of sense."
"Magic Johnson" applauded in praise.
Barkley curled his lip. Although he agreed with what O'Neal said, he still proudly retorted: "You only know how to brag about yourself too.
'Three-peat Overlord,' without that "black mamba," you wouldn't have become an overlord!"
"Heh heh!"
O'Neal gave a cold laugh, said nothing, and slowly extended four fingers toward Barkley!!!
WTF!
Don't hit a person in the face, and don't expose a person's shortcomings when scolding them.
Always leave a way out, so you can meet again in the future.
Barkley naturally knew that O'Neal was holding up four fingers to say he had 4 championships, implicitly mocking Barkley for having none.
The biggest regret of his entire NBA career was never winning a championship.
O'Neal's action was tantamount to rubbing salt in his wounds.
He was furious.
He instantly lost his cool.
Furious, he laughed and retorted: "It's nothing, it's nothing, it's normal to praise yourself!
The flying pig did it too!!!"