basketball pope

Chapter 417 [Hehe, the opening game]

At the end of September, the training camps for NBA teams started, and this time there was nothing to do with Yang Rui.

The Suns changed their head coach, and their first target was Yang Rui. After being rejected, they chose Mike D'Antoni as a replacement.D'Antoni's reputation as the first assistant coach of the Wizards has soared. There are many teams in the free market poaching him. After consideration, he chose the Suns because he is familiar with O'Neal Jr.

The Wizards' coaching staff has only one assistant left on Jeff Hornacek, who has one year left on his contract.

Yang Rui brought Lao Huo to Washington, and it was only a year before he flew solo, which is indeed a bit inauthentic.Yang Rui will not join other teams as coaches this season, and the two cannot work together for the time being.In fact, as long as Abel Pollin fires Hornacek, he can give Yang Rui a critical blow, and Lao Huo's daughter will clean him up.

Fortunately, Pauline is not thorough enough to be a villain, and he is optimistic about Hornacek's ability and wants him to help players practice shooting.Yang Rui called him and made an appointment to cooperate again next season.

The head coach of the Wizards was replaced by Eddie Jordan, also surnamed Jordan, which is far less attractive than the "flying man".

Before the new season started, the Wizards have become the laughing stock of the league. Big-name coaches are reluctant to join. The management hopes that D'Antoni will replace Yang Rui as the head coach, but the old German refused.

Eddie Jordan was not well-known. He was the head coach of the Kings for one and a half seasons from 96 to 98. His record was 40% and 32.9%, and then he was cut.Regardless of ability or fame, he and Yang Rui are not comparable at all.

Eddie Jordan certainly doesn't want to compare, but the media reporters will not let him go, asking all the unanswerable questions.

The reporter asked: "You suddenly got the opportunity to coach the Wizards, are you confident to lead the team to defend the title successfully?"

Eddie Jordan looked dull, his eyes blurred, and his expression was like a sledgehammer.

If he said, "I will definitely be able to lead the Wizards to defend their title successfully." Tomorrow's news will say that he is beyond his control.

If he said "I have no confidence to lead the defending title".Then the reporter should laugh at the boss. Does he still want to work in the Wizards?
Eddie Jordan could only laugh and didn't answer.

The reporter asked, "How would you rate Jerry Young?"

Eddie Jordan was still sluggish, his eyes blurred, and his expression was like a sledgehammer.

If he says, "He's nothing special, I can replace him." Tomorrow's news will say he's over the top.

If he says "He's great, he's a super coach.".Then the reporter should laugh at the boss again. Does he still want to work in the Wizards?
Eddie Jordan could only laugh and didn't answer.

The scene was very embarrassing.The reality is so cruel. Except for the spare tire of the car, the spare tires are often painful, whether it is a spare tire for a person or a spare tire for the team.

It's not just the coaches that are weakening, but the Wizards' roster as well.In the summer free market, there were no outstanding veterans to choose the Wizards. After Alston and Tyron Lue left, Blevin Knight was signed at No. 1 to defend the point guard who was extremely poor.

In addition, the Wizards signed Cavaliers guard Milt Peragio, a 191cm tall, 88kg combo guard who started 46 games last season, averaging 5 points, 2.9 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.

After the Wizards signed Arenas, there was still room for salary, and the total salary was only 4000 million, but no one was willing to join.Leaving Hamilton, the team's No. 2 position is obviously weakened. The only good news is that the strong swingman Corey Maggette is left for 5 years and 3500 million.

Maggette is a restricted free agent, and the Warriors offered a contract to poach someone. If the Wizards do not match, he will also leave. Unfortunately, it is a restricted free agent and failed.

The Warriors' offer was purely for the disgusting Wizards. After sending Jamison and Bob Sulla away, they vacated the salary space. It was originally to renew Arenas, but it was a pity that it was a step too late.Hitting Maggette at a premium, if successful, will make the Wizards uncomfortable.After Jordan retired, Maggette's role was even more critical.

No big name is willing to join the Wizards, they can only keep people with high salaries and cultivate young stars.

There are many helpers in the right way, and few help in the wrong way. The Wizards even dare to calculate Michael Jordan and Yang Rui. What guarantees can other players get here?If it is not in the interest, it will definitely be sent away.

Compared with last season, the Wizards' home atmosphere has also become more deserted.When Jordan was there, fans were often dead, and now it's down to freezing.The opposite is true, and last season the fans were overjoyed.

After the training camp, the preseason started, and the Wizards had a good record, 5 wins and 2 losses.Stoudamire, Boozer, Marshall and others have good abilities, and the new Arenas also showed a strong attacking power.

In the first official strength list, the Wizards only ranked fourth, and this was because of the defending champion.

The best performers in the preseason were the Spurs and the Heat. Both teams won seven games and ranked 1st and 2nd.

The stars of the two teams came on stage one after another to run in.After O'Neal underwent major surgery last season, he was healthy and in excellent shape. He was sought after by fans in the preseason, and his popularity continued.

The Bulls also performed well, 6 wins and 1 loss, beating the Wizards, the only loss was to the Heat, and ranked third in the official power list.

The weaker position of the Bulls has been reinforced, and veteran shooting guard Kendall Gill has joined.The point guard brought in Tyron Lue, the Wizards' fringe last season, and Janello Pargo, the Lakers fringe.

The Nets ranked fifth, and the lineup has not changed, except that Byron Scott was expelled, and the replacement coach was actually assistant coach Lawrence Frank, which is said to be requested by Kidd.

Due to Kidd's detached status in the team, more and more people are evaluating him as a game tyrant.

The most disappointing team is the Mavericks with the most decline in strength, 4 wins and 3 losses. The problem of unreasonable lineup matching was revealed in the preseason. Nowitzki and Walker partnered on the inside, and Jamison became a substitute. The paint defense was a mess, and the pick-and-roll defense was terrible.In addition, there is Nash on the outside of the Mavericks, and there is no defensive expert at No. 2. The Mavericks' defense is difficult to think of in the first round of the playoffs.

Relying on last season's record, the Mavericks ranked sixth.

On October 10, the Wizards opened their home game against the Nets.

The game was already on fire, but the tickets were generally bought. Most of the fans were going to watch TV at home, because the media announced that the game was broadcast live on TNT radio. Yang Rui participated in the NBA as a commentary guest for the first time and went to the live studio.

Many people are curious, how Yang Rui will evaluate the Wizards and consolidate his status as the number one player in the basketball world.As a result, before Yang Rui explained, there were attractive tidbits at the beginning.

It is said that no matter the fans, players, coaches or management, they should be in a state of excitement and joy in the home opener of the defending champion.Because this is a moment to witness greatness, to witness the birth of the team's championship banner, and to award the ring.

Now, Abel Paulin is frowning, as if he is facing a big enemy.

According to the NBA process, those who have left the team, retired or have free time will come to the scene at the first home court of the championship team to participate in the awarding ceremony of the championship ring, watch the game, and build momentum for the home court.

So, Michael Jordan and Yang Rui both came, and before the game started, the two attended the ring presentation ceremony together.

When they came out, the two were greeted with applause from the home fans.Fans feel that the Wizards won the championship last season, and they have the biggest credit, and the owner Pauline is a shit stick.

Fans do not blame Yang Rui for leaving, and express their understanding. A boss who is stingy and unwilling to pay the luxury tax, a boss who is incapable and still wants to hold on to power, what qualifications are there to be the best coach?

The two greeted their former teammates with a friendly attitude, and they ignored Abel Paulin with a tacit understanding, full of gunpowder.

(End of this chapter)