NBA Absolute Flood Dam

Chapter 1302 Boss, you have a chance to step on us again

However, Li Ba took the initiative to talk about Jimmy Butler, and said: "Although this rookie is not strong, he can do dirty work and is really active in defense. Let the trainer polish his defensive skills. It must be given to these young people. Some opportunities."

"Of course." Peyton nodded.

After training that day, the players were about to go back to the locker room, and Payton stopped a few rookies.

"Andre, you have to be ready to start as a center forward."

Drummond's eyes were wide open, with an expression of disbelief on his face, unable to speak.

The other rookies looked envious and jealous, but they were not stupid. The head coach must have something to say to them if he keeps them, maybe the opportunity is not yet determined?

Payton continued to say to Drummond: "Of course not at the beginning of the season, I need you to adapt to the atmosphere of the game before you have a chance.

And I'm going to cut your possessions, you're going to put all your energy into the defensive end, that's what I'm asking of you.

If you can do it, then you have a chance to start. If you can't, you will sit near the drinking fountain. What is your answer? "

"I I I..."

Although Drummond was a little disappointed, he still nodded again and again: "Coach, I can do it, and I promise to do a good job on the defensive end."

"OK, next, Chandler Parsons, your position will be small forward, you will have a chance on the bench." Payton said again.

There is no chance to start, but Parsons is still very happy. After all, he is only a sophomore, and he is even happier without him playing power forward. He doesn't like the position of power forward.

"Jimmy..." Payton looked at Jimmy Butler.

"Coach?" Butler looked at Payton, feeling apprehensive.

"Ice Hammer said that I want to arrange the training content of defensive skills for you. This is your chance. He is very optimistic about your defensive enthusiasm. The team will formulate a special training plan for you."

Payton said.

"Thank you boss!"

Jimmy Butler shouted happily to Li Ba.

He didn't have this kind of treatment in his rookie season. The team treated him with a laissez-faire attitude. How could he formulate a special training plan for him?

"Work hard. Although your talent is not good and your potential is limited, you must seize the opportunity in front of you." Li Ba encouraged.

On the 27th, the Suns reached an agreement with TNT on a regional broadcast contract.

The duration of the contract is not very long. It is not as good as the Lakers in a world-class super city. It has only been signed for four years. This means that TNT signed this contract entirely because of Li Ba's influence.

And this contract also stipulates that if Li Ba leaves the Suns or retires in the fourth year, the contract will be automatically terminated.

The total contract amount is 4 million U.S. dollars for 5.62 years, which can bring the team an average of 1.4 million U.S. dollars in operating income per year.

With this income, coupled with Adi's capital transfer, the operation of the Suns will be no problem at all.

With the return of Li Ba, the team's operations have entered a channel of explosion.

For example, the sales of jerseys, Li Ba ranked first in the league, such as sales of season tickets, which have long been sold out, and sales of other peripherals are very hot.

Ross Bruce, the president of operations, told Li Ba very happily that since the new season, the team's peripheral sales have extended from the continent to several surrounding continents, which is the radiation of influence.

In the next few days, the media made guesses and rankings for the new season championship.

As the defending champion, the Heat have been recognized by the media, and ESPN ranked first in the championship predictions, with a 44% chance of winning.

The Lakers are second at 38%.

The Suns are third with 33%.

The Spurs are fourth at 28%.

Thunder is fifth, 18%.

When Li Ba was interviewed by the media, he complained: "Is this funny? The Thunder have an 18% chance of winning the championship? I just said that the professionalism of ESPN is questionable."

"How high do you think the Thunder should be to win the championship?" The reporter asked rhetorically.

"How high? No, no, I want to say that the Thunder has no chance of winning the championship. ESPN and all the media that think the Thunder belongs to the championship level are non-professional media."

Li Ba continued to complain.

"Why?" the reporter asked.

"What do they have? Just Durant and Westbrook, two rookies, can win the championship? Nonsense!" Li Ba said with a look of disdain.

"So how many championship-level teams do you think there are in the new season?" The reporter asked again.

"The Suns, the Heat and the Lakers, there are only three teams, there are no other teams." Li Ba said.

What Li Ba said made many people dissatisfied.

"Boss, let's save face, we played well anyway, don't step on us, okay?" Westbrook called.

"You idiot, I'm here to relieve you. The media put you at the level of a championship team. That's killing you." Li Ba scolded.

"That's it, then boss, you have a chance to step on us again." Westbrook suddenly realized.

"As stupid as Harden." After hanging up the phone, Li Ba complained about the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Mavericks owner Cuban was very upset. When facing the media, he said: "The Hammers should not exclude our Mavericks from the championship team. We definitely have the strength to win the championship. This is a kind of discrimination. I protest! "

He has to fight. The league is negotiating with the major broadcasters about the number of live broadcasts in the United States. This interest is becoming more and more important to the team now, and it accounts for an increasing proportion of operating income. What should I do if I allocate a few less games?
The Spurs also had the same idea as the Mavericks. In order to gain some attention, the management immediately arranged for the publicity department to hold a press conference to refute Li Ba's statement.

Popovich went into battle in person and fired at Li Ba. Unfortunately, his influence is only in the league. Among the fans, his influence is not one percent of Li Ba's. He didn't make any splashes, and Li Ba didn't even bother to respond.

On the 28th, before the start of the regular season, the league announced the number of live broadcasts across the United States.

The defending champions, Nike's Heat won 42 games, the Lakers won 43 games, and the Knicks won 40 games. These are the top four teams.

No.1 is the Suns. There are as many as 70 live broadcasts in the United States, and only 12 games do not have full live broadcasts.

Among them, TNT has 28 games, ESPN has 30 live broadcasts in the United States, and ABC has 12 games.

Judging from the number of live broadcasts across the United States, most of the Suns' games have been favored by broadcasters. The remaining 12 games should be played against some of the worst teams, so no broadcasters are interested.

As soon as the game was announced, the media was in a big uproar, shouting that it was unfair, and the expensive broadcast rights income would further trigger vicious competition among the teams, making the strong strong and the weak weak.

Nike is also very angry. The combination of the Heat and the Lakers, which spent a lot of money to help build, barely surpassed the Suns. Are these broadcasters out of their minds?

However, behind these broadcasters are large conglomerates, and Nike can't do anything about it.

(End of this chapter)