Super Evolution of Basketball

Chapter 176 Houston Rockets

Yuan Qingshan naturally couldn't hear what the people in the office on the second floor were talking about downstairs, but he guessed one thing accurately, the atmosphere was a bit tense, and there were signs that Coach Scott's days in the Lakers were numbered.

Scott has actually been prepared for this. This year is an inflection point for the Lakers. He knows that it will be difficult to persist until next season.

In the draft, the Lakers took out almost all of their immediate strength and packaged the No. [-] pick in exchange for the No. [-] pick of the Timberwolves. This seems to be a transaction of two high-ranking picks. In fact, the Lakers also took advantage of the slightly longer contract.

The management's attitude is obvious: don't think about the record this season, the first is to rely on Kobe, and the second is to strive for another No. [-] pick.

Anyway, at the end of the season, an explanation must be given to the Los Angeles fans. At that time, the head coach Scott may be the best victim. If the record is not good, the head coach will be fired. Isn’t this what NBA teams often do?
Kupchak sat on the main seat, staring at the bald black man in front of him, he thought to himself, why is this guy so stubborn?Wouldn't it be nice to just lead the team to a bad performance? If you're lucky and get another No. [-] pick, maybe Boss Jim Buss will be in a good mood and really agree to sign with him?
"Scott, let me explain it clearly, why don't you listen to Boss Bass?" Kupchak took out a ballpoint pen from the pen holder, and pointed it at Coach Scott aggressively.

Coach Scott was puzzled: "I don't understand what you mean?"

Boom!Kupchak hammered the desk hard: "Enough, you know I'm talking about rotten, rotten!"

Coach Scott looked at the man in suit and tie in front of him as if he was looking at a stranger, and said in his heart that this kind of thing about giving up the team and giving up the dreams of young people, how did you say it?
Kupchak casually threw his pen on the table, and continued: "In the draft, we gave away all the long-term contracts, isn't it just to clean up the burden and start again next season?"

Sure enough, they gave up this season long ago.

"After the season is over, the Kobe guy will retire, and the end of his sky-high contract means that our space will be liberated all at once."

Sure enough, they have long been looking forward to Kobe's retirement.

"And this season, our most sensible choice is to play poorly and try to get another No. [-] pick. At that time, with two No. [-] picks and two super giant spaces, the Lakers dynasty will come to the world again!"

Kupchak became more and more excited as he spoke. His rhetoric was very skillful, and it seemed that he had brainwashed Jim Buss more than once.

Coach Scott said coldly in Kupchak's almost fanatical speech: "We played very well this season. If it is bad, I can't explain it to my players and those fans."

Kupchak stared at him: "Your player? Make it clear to me, it's a Lakers player, a Lakers fan!"

Scott did not refute him, but continued: "I can't explain it to Kobe, I can't explain it to a rookie who is full of energy!"

Before Kupchak came today, he was prepared to be unable to persuade Scott, and it turned out to be the case, so it would be useless to say more.

Kupchak got up and walked out of the office, down the stairs, and out of the practice facility, without looking at Scott or his fellow Lakers.

Coach Scott sat alone in the office to settle his emotions. He didn't want the players to know what happened just now, and he didn't want them to know that the management had given up this season.

About half an hour later, he slowly walked down from the second floor. Yuan Qingshan looked at his solemn expression and felt that every step he took was heavy.

"Completed all 100 laps? Let me tell you, there are surveillance cameras in the training hall. If I find anyone playing tricks, the punishment will be doubled!" The moment Coach Scott stepped on the wooden floor, he changed back to his usual appearance. The conversation with Kupchak just now was completely sealed in his heart.

"We really finished the run, Coach, the three of us were the last to finish the run," Towns said.

Scott nodded: "Okay, let's proceed to the regular project."

……

Coach Scott just arranged a lot of routine training that day, without saying a word. After two days of rest, they ushered in one of the Texas juniors led by James Harden, the Houston Rockets, at the Staples Center!
James Harden is now in the limelight. Since he left the Thunder in 2012 and came to the Rockets, his career has suddenly ushered in a qualitative leap.

First entered the All-Star bench, the third team, and then rushed into the All-Star starting team in the 2013-2014 season, the first team, and has not fallen out since then, and is currently one of the six super giants.

The team's second head, Dwight Howard, is still recognized as a super center in the league so far. Last season, he contributed 15.8 points and 10.5 rebounds in the regular season. In the playoffs, he even had super data of 16.4 points and 14 rebounds.

The Rockets' configuration is very balanced. In the other starting positions, SF Ariza, PG Beverly, PF Capela, both offensive and defensive.

Among the substitutes are Terrence Jones, Motie Junas, Jason Terry, Thornton and other practical players and bench gangsters, and their strength should not be underestimated.

Staples Center, the game begins.

Jump ball by Howard and Whiteside.

Whiteside slipped a little bit, and Howard passed the ball to Beverly on the left.

Beverly dribbled the ball and stared at the frontcourt, and his teammates settled down one after another. The first ball at the beginning of the game usually used positional warfare to test the opponent's reality, but Yuan Qingshan saw a wave of excitement from Beverly's face.

Since the start of the game, the Lakers have repeatedly defeated strong opponents, and their record has reached the second position in the Western Conference. They are only behind the Warriors. They seem unstoppable, but the head coaches of other teams know very well that the Lakers are just overdrawing their main players.

It is not yet December, and the season has just started for a month. As the schedule slowly deepens, the main players of each team enter a period of fatigue. When it comes time to test the depth of the team's overall lineup, the Lakers will definitely be left behind.

At that time, if they want to add reinforcements, I'm afraid they won't be able to, because the Lakers have already handed over all their chips in the No. [-] pick deal.

McHale also had the same idea, so the tone he set for the game before the game was to rush up and exhaust the energy of the Lakers, and it was really impossible to play positional battles.

The Rockets didn't want to give the Lakers a chance to breathe from the first ball.

Beverley rushed to the frontcourt quickly, flicked his left arm, and passed the ball directly to Harden on the left wing.

Harden is now on the three-point line, facing Kobe's defense.

Yuan Qingshan glanced around from the corner of his eye. The Rockets' two outsiders, Beverly and Ariza, had no intention of running. However, the two insiders, Howard and Capela, got their positions early and were ready to grab rebounds.

The situation is delicate.

Harden first made a tentative step. Kobe quickly adjusted his center of gravity to prevent him from rushing in. Harden's European step was comparable to Wade's lost step. Kobe knew that Towns and Whiteside couldn't handle it.

However, he did not break through.

Is Harden going to face Kobe with a strong shot on the first ball in the game?

Immediately afterwards, under Yuan Qingshan's shocked gaze, James Harden suddenly took a step back and shot quickly.

(End of this chapter)