Pick Westbrook

Chapter 26

"Phoenix, Phoenix, America West Arena."

"NBA08-09 season, the first preseason game."

"Bucks vs. Suns!"

As the commentator Albert's voice fell, the fans in the American West Arena broke out like a tsunami.

Although this is only a preseason game, it is the first game after the NBA truce for several months. The entire American West Arena, which can accommodate 19032 people, is almost full.

Seeing so many fans and spectators around for the first time, Li Lai was really shocked, but he quickly calmed down the shock in his heart.

Li Lai walked slowly towards the technical stage, and the head coach of the Suns, Alvin Gentry, walked towards him.

He is Popovich's brother!

The two were both assistant coaches under coach Larry Brown, and Gentry was earlier than Popovich. In 1988, he followed Larry Brown to coach the Jayhawks at the University of Sax.

After Larry Brown became the head coach of the Spurs in 1989, he also took away his disciple Gentry and invited Popovich to join the coaching staff.

It wasn't until this time that the NBA had Popovich.

"Young coach, hello." Gentry said with a smile on his face.

"Hello, Coach Gentry."

Li Lai didn't expect the other party to be so friendly, so he also extended his hand in response.

At this time, Gentry dodged the cameras on the sidelines and whispered in Li Lai's ear: "The Bucks played well in the summer league, and I am looking forward to playing against you.

But it's just a preseason game and let's not take it too far, just make fun of it. "

It turned out that this was the pre-war summation.

Li Lai quickly nodded in agreement, but thought in his heart: I'm afraid this won't be as your brother wished.

The preseason is also called the warm-up match. The original intention is to let the players find the rhythm and state of the NBA as soon as possible. In addition, every team will have new players to integrate in the new season, and new tactics need to be adjusted.

So there is also the name of practice game in the preseason.

Seeing that Li Lai was so sensible, Gentry couldn't help but patted Li Lai on the shoulder with satisfaction.

Game start.

The Suns' starting lineup: Point guard Singletary, shooting guard Allendo, small forward Boris Diao, power forward Amundson and center rookie Robin Lopez.

Looking at Nash, Stoudemire and Shaquille O'Neal sitting on the bench of the Suns, Li Lai shook his head again and again.

"How can such a good lineup not be brought up to practice, the Western Conference pattern this season is not easy to mix."

Especially after seeing Shaquille O'Neal, Li Lai hopes to play against the most dominant center in the NBA, even though he is 36 years old.

"There is not much time left to fight this legend."

Bucks starting lineup: point guard Westbrook, shooting guard George Hill, small forward Marshall, power forward Villanueva and center Yi Jianlian.

"This lineup is unscientific!"

Gentry was still wondering, how can everyone come to practice, but this guy Li Lai sent almost the strongest lineup of the Bucks.

Fortunately, Gentry wanted to understand in an instant.

Most of the Bucks sent rookies, except for Marshall, the other four players are still burdened with rookie contracts.

So there is nothing wrong with playing the preseason with such a young lineup, everyone should practice their skills.

And considering that Li Lai is a rookie coach after all, and he has dominated the league for many years, it makes sense to let the other party take advantage.

beep!beep!
Service from the center line.

The 213cm Robin Lopez grabbed the rebound.

Also a rookie in 08, Robin Lopez with the 15th overall pick has the same physical talent as his twin brother Brook Lopez, but his strength is quite different.

Especially in terms of defensive awareness and habits, Robin Lopez is more likely to take off for block data, while Brook Lopez prefers to stand and interfere.

This also allowed Robin Lopez to be the second best in the history of the school team in blocked shots in college, but poor in high-level defensive efficiency.

Singletary advanced with the ball, and the Suns played the first ball very simply.

Boris Dior made an off-ball screen in a high position, and Allen went out from the three-point line for a chance to catch the ball and make a jumper.

But George Hill followed up in time, and the ball interfered.

Duang!

There was a crisp iron strike, and Westbrook grabbed the rebound from the free throw line and went on a fast break.

"The Bucks are fighting back!"

The Suns haven't reacted yet, only Singletary can keep up with Westbrook's speed.

But Singletary, who is only 183cm tall, looks like he is a head shorter than Westbrook in the process of chasing and defending.

In addition, what level of athletic talent is Westbrook, so he can only watch the latter take off and score dunks.

boom!
This dunk stunned the fans in the American West Arena.

Gentry stood up from the coach's bench and looked at Li Lai, who was on the Bucks coach's bench, with a puzzled expression.

"If you don't practice tactics well in the preseason, you play fast break for me?

Come on, I'll give you a pen and paper, and you tell me what kind of tactics the fast break is that needs to be practiced in the preseason! "

Li Lai laughed at Gentry's dumbfounded look.

He said shamelessly to himself, "I'm sorry, the Bucks' tactic is fast break."

On the next possession, the Suns played a baseline double-cover tactic with Diaw holding the ball high.

Don't look at Dior, who is 203cm tall and looks like a big guy with a low IQ, but in fact, this guy has a very high basketball IQ, and his passing ability is also good among strikers.

"Dio passed the ball beautifully!"

After the pick-and-roll, Amundson made an empty cut inside, and Allen went out to the outside to shoot a three-pointer.

An offensive tactic of the Suns actually played two opportunities on the court. If this is placed in the playoffs, I am afraid that it will cause a burst of cheers from the fans.

Dior chose a more secure inside attack. Amundsen, who is 206cm tall, took the ball and turned around to show off a wave of dunks.

Barkley, who is also an inside player, shook his head and sighed after seeing Amundsen's inside offensive action.

"This offensive technique is really rough."

Amundson is based on defense in the NBA.

He has fast speed, strong explosive power, and strong jumping ability. He is a solid force in the team's defense, but his offensive methods are single, his mid-range shooting ability is not strong, and even butter hands appear when laying up.

If there are fans who have seen the NBA of later generations here, they will probably call him: Zhuang Shen, you are really pretending to be a god!
So after Amundsen received the ball, he raised his head and looked up at the moon with superficiality, then raised his hand to throw the ball and made a fake move, and then the moment he received the ball and started again.

Easy to connect to kill.

boom!
Yi Jianlian, who also moved quickly, gave the other party a big sturdy hat.

George Hill picked up the rebound, and Westbrook made another fast break.

This time the Suns learned to be smart up and down.

Singletary, Allendo, and Dior participated in the return defense.

It's just that George Hill, who knows everything, didn't give the three a chance to form a defensive position.

After seeing Westbrook accelerate to within the three-point line, he delivered a half-court long pass steadily to the basket level.

Westbrook lobs a tomahawk dunk!

"Another dunk!"

After landing, Westbrook clenched his fists like a Superman and showed off his muscles, and looked at his bench with his eyes straight.

"Who said I'd pee my pants the first time I played in the NBA!"

Maurice Williams looked downcast from the bench.

"This rookie is really proud!"

(End of this chapter)