Zhiba NBA

Chapter 5 ([-]) Before the First Battle

After completing the deal with the Raptors, Wang Yuanfei was very enthusiastic and offered to help Dell Curry contact him to buy a house.The old Curry has been in the NBA for many years, and he has seen a lot of warmth and warmth.He is well aware of the fact that he is just an addition to McGrady.Seeing this staff treat me so kindly now, I can't help being very moved.Unexpectedly, this little fox has other plans, and all his attention is on the 12-year-old eldest son of the old Curry (everyone who has watched the NBA should know-Stephen Curry, the future MVP).The little fox has always believed that it is necessary to establish a good relationship in advance.

Speaking of age, Jason Wang is only more than 2 years older than Curry, and naturally forged the fruit of friendship in life.

On September 9, Dawson sold Drew, the only pure point guard among the main rotation players, in exchange for the Bulls' future 8 second-round picks and saved expenses (a real transaction in history).

On October 10, Reed signed with a three-year $11 million contract (instead of the usual basic salary contract for the second-round pick, according to the current minimum salary contract Reed's annual salary can only get 3), Reed was very moved by this.So far, the construction of the Rockets for the new season has been completed.

***
Wang Yuanfei simply didn’t watch any of the preseason games. McGrady is also a “veteran” who has played in the league for three years. He doesn’t need to practice at this level of competition. Reed played bravely. His three-point shooting ability, which was criticized in college, has made great progress.Head coach Tomjanovich said with satisfaction that the second-round pick has exceeded expectations and can enter the main rotation.

After several months of running-in, the new season finally started on October 10.The Rockets faced their arch-rival Timberwolves at home.This Wolves team is based on the young Garnett as the core, supplemented by the young Szczerbiak and Billups, and has considerable strength.

The starting lineup of the Rockets is relatively average. Superstar Hakeem Olajuwon is 38 years old, sophomore Kenny Thomas and 21-year-old Tracy McGrady are a bit immature, Wilt Williams can barely play in the rotation on other teams, and Mobley is forced to play as a point guard.The bench is even more barren, with two main substitutes, one old and one new, 36-year-old Curry and rookie Reed Jr.The inside substitutes are basically the five scumbags.

The barrenness of this lineup is exactly what the management wants to see. The top management has already reached a consensus that they should play a moderately bad record this season in order to get a better draft pick.Since the relatively strong Falcon, Cato, and Anderson all went to Toronto through McGrady's trade, and Turkoglu is far away in Turkey, as long as the Rockets perform normally, they can achieve their wish and get a high draft pick.

"Kenny, Garnett will definitely spout trash talk later. You are still young, so you have to put your mind right." Big brother Olajuwon still reminded the younger generation.

"Don't worry, boss, I already had experience last season. Tell our rookies, Reed, you have to be careful. People like Garnett like to dunk on rookies' heads." Thomas chattered, and Reed listened carefully.

"Kenny, you look like the team's old captain, haha." Mobley couldn't stand it anymore, and interrupted: "The key today is to see you defending Garnett."

"It's impossible to completely guard against a player of Garnett's level." As soon as Tang Shuai spoke, the players immediately fell silent. "Does Kenny have a strategy?"

"I have no idea at all. He is so tall, his arms are longer than mine, he is faster than me, and he can even dribble past me. His ball handling skills are not what a 6-foot-11 (more than 210 centimeters) man should have." Thomas scratched his head. He was only 6 feet 7 inches, and Olajuwon, who was only 7 feet in the team, was taller than Garnett and had the same long arms.

"Does Mr. Jason Wang have any insights?" Tang Shuai suddenly clicked on Yuanfei who was typing on the keyboard. "I know it's my job, but I think the chief data analyst should not be limited to discussing signings with the team manager?"

"Then let me take the liberty to say a few points." Yuan Fei said without fear, "I don't want you to win too many goals, but I also don't want you to lose too badly. First of all, I want to say that I hope that the main rotation players can play beautiful games, and then let the bench players lose the game. After we accumulate for a while, Mr. Dawson and I will form a championship team."

"Hey boy, that's not what we want to hear," Thomas grumbled.

"The actual question is how Mr. Thomas defends Kevin Garnett. I want to ask a question first, is Garnett a good scorer?" Yuan Fei asked.

"Of course, he averaged more than 20 points per game last season."

Yuan Fei looked down at the computer screen and said: "In fact, the previous season, that is, the 99 season, he had more than 20 points. Last season, he went further and averaged 22.9 points per game. But I don't think he is a good scorer."

"What? You don't think 23 points per game is a good scorer? You want him to average 30 points per game? Do you think he's Michael Jordan?" Thomas was completely confused.

"If a person averages 30 shots and 25 points per game, can he be called a good scorer? Obviously not. Since Garnett joined the league, his true shooting (true shooting percentage or translated as true shooting percentage) is 52.8%. The league average in the previous season was 52.3%, so Garnett is almost the league average. That is to say, on the offensive end, his scoring efficiency is similar to that of ordinary players."

"Is your stats wrong? Garnett, a beastly strong guy, is just average in the league? And he's also good at free throws. It's hard to stop him with fouls."

"What's the problem? He likes to shoot mid-range shots, and he's not accurate. More than 70% of Garnett's offenses come from outside the three-second zone, and his shooting percentage is only in the early 40s (Note: This is 24-year-old Garnett, whose shooting skills are not yet at their peak), which is below the league average. And if you put him on the basket, his long arms will make you suffer."

"So what should I do?" Kenny Thomas seemed to realize something.

"When he is back to the basket, lower his center of gravity, hold the bottom plate, and don't let him push you. When facing the frame, stand in a good position to prevent him from dribbling through you, but allow him to shoot under your defensive pressure. Give him a chance to shoot mid-range. It is difficult for you to block him anyway. It is better to let him shoot. But to consume him, don't forget that after our Hakeem is 38 years old, Garnett has become one of the best inside defenders in the league. Only by consuming him on the offensive end can we make him feel tired on the defensive end. .”

"Hey, boy, I can't pretend that I didn't hear that." Olajuwon laughed loudly: "I'm not old yet!"

"Let the offensive end be handed over to Tracy and Cardino." Tang Shuai spoke at this time. "Jason's presentation was very creative. It's the first time I've heard such fresh insights in my years of coaching."

"One more thing, sir." Yuan Fei said: "Don't forget the agreement with the manager."

"I will remember." Tang Shuai agreed with a sullen face.

***
In Yuanfei's previous life, in the 2000-2001 season, McGrady, who had just joined the Magic, tasted what it was like to be the boss.Grant Hill was seriously injured and only played 4 games.McGrady averaged 40 minutes per game, contributed 26.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks.McGrady was overused, which planted the seeds of injuries for his future Rockets career.

Yuan Fei roughly remembered these stories, so he and Dawson reached a consensus to limit the playing time of core players.Moreover, although the Rockets' bench is weak, McGrady and Mobley are very strong in the starting lineup. If they go well and win too many games, they will not be able to get a high draft pick.

So Dawson reached an agreement after putting pressure on Tang Shuai. McGrady, the core player in the Rockets' future plans, should not average more than 33 minutes per game.

***
"Listen guys, this Rockets team is weak, and Dawson's old man is probably confused." Timberwolves coach Saunders told the players: "They took the best player on the team for the Raptors' sixth man and took two key players. The draft is also very bad. I think their two rookies are fake imports (Turkoglu started having nightmares at home in Turkey; Red sneezed in the locker room). Without this trade, the Rockets would be our postseason. (Wolves win 47 wins and the Rockets 45 wins and [-]th), but now their plan is to overthrow and rebuild, and it’s a mess. Our plan is to make the playoffs and reach the top four in the West! We must get rid of them!"

"Understood, boss!" Kevin Garnett yelled.He's a trash-talking bad boy, but he respects Coach Sanders.

"Nesterovic, you are one of the few big men in the league who is not weaker than that African (referring to Olajuwon). Resist that old man! He is old!"

"Yes, coach!" replied the Slovenian giant.

"Tyrrell, Mobley is the opponent's best player. He is likely to appear in the 1st position. Can you guard him?"

"He has the size of a No. 2, but I'll get him," Tyrell Brandon said.

"Rookie, you will be playing against the supernova of the same period, he is a top-paid player, try to guard against him!"

"I will work hard." Chauncey Billups, the future Finals MVP, said submissively.He has just transferred to the Wolves, and his reputation cannot be compared with that of his contemporary McGrady.

"Szczerbiak, their third position is scum, use your three-pointer to blow them up!"

"Kevin, I don't want to say anything to you. They made a mistake selling Cato, you don't have to fight that muscular guy. Their starting lineup is likely to be 2nd grade Thomas. So..."

"I'll chew him to the bone!" Garnett said savagely.

"Come on, lads!" Sanders yelled.He likes these disciples, and he believes from the bottom of his heart that after two to three years these players grow up enough to challenge for the championship.

"BeatRockets! Beatthem!"

***
In the locker room of the home team, a lazy man seemed to hear something and opened his dead fish eyes.

"Killthem!" he said lazily.

Only Olajuwon, who was very close, heard it, and he smiled.What kind of combat power does this rookie have?Is he stronger than Francis?Does it live up to management's expectations?
"Come on, Tracy, it's your home debut. Do well!"

"Okay, Captain."

　It can be said that there are very few second-round picks who can play their worth.Reid is one of the best.Wang Zhelin and Zhou Qi are the second-round picks in 2016, I hope they can play their worth, come on!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)