NBA Building Cardinals

Chapter 303 304. Changing Yao Ming (8800 words)
With the deepening of the game on the field, the young players who came off the bench gradually entered the game state.

After Granger got the ball again, he also began to try his best to actively attack with the ball.

This is also something that Liu Rui had talked with Granger alone before the preseason. Liu Rui is quite familiar with Granger.

Knowing that Granger's character is very humble, he is relatively selfless when playing on the court.

Even though he averaged 25 points per game in his peak season, he has not been a single player throughout his career.

On the contrary, he prefers to share with his teammates, both on and off the court.

Selflessness is of course a good thing, but Liu Rui once said to the players that when you have achieved something, your selflessness will be regarded as selflessness by people.

When you're a rookie, too much selflessness just makes people feel like you're not taking your chances.

For Granger, Liu Rui also gave great expectations.

Playing on the court, he is not only calm and selfless, but also has a very gentle personality off the court. For this kind of player, no coach in the NBA will dislike him.

At present, the division of labor for each player on the entire bench is also very clear. Whether Ariza is playing as a starter or as a substitute, he will do his own thing well.

The offensive end is to seize the opportunity as much as possible and score more three-pointers, and the defensive end is to keep an eye on the opponent's offensive sharp knife.

And Wang Zhizhi's task is even simpler. On the offensive end, he is responsible for standing outside the three-point line to open up space, and making three-point shots after receiving the ball.

On the bench, David Lee tried to stand as high as possible to support the ball.

And David Lee has a very high golf quotient on the court, and he does a good job in high-post pick-and-rolls. Even though he is still only a rookie player, the golf quotient he has shown is already half a stature behind rookies of the same age.

The main offensive point of the entire bench is still in the hands of Granger most of the time, while Lu Wei is selective convulsion singles.

Although Liu Rui could see Lu Wei's sometimes unreasonable solo fighting off the court, he didn't interfere too much.

After all, Liu Rui knew it very well when he chose Lu Wei.

What I need is his ability. If I blindly change the style of play according to my heart, I'm afraid it will make him greatly discounted.

And although Granger is the first offensive choice for the entire bench, it is impossible for Granger to arrange all the offenses during the time when he is on the bench.

In addition to physical limitations, that is, the players Liu Rui selected through the draft, it can be said that each of them has a lot of room for development.

I can follow their playing habits of later generations and let them walk on the right path in advance, but at the same time, regardless of their future achievements, Liu Rui will strive to make everyone equal under Liu Rui's subordinates.

Although it is impossible to truly make a bowl of water level, at least it is good to have a clear conscience.

With the gradual improvement of the bench players on the field, the Bobcats have also changed from being submissive at the beginning to bold shots on the offensive end.

And this game can be regarded as the NBA debut of three rookies.

After the touch came up, there was a kind of aura that a newborn calf is not afraid of death. Instead, a wave of scoring directly stunned the Celtics' bench lineup.

With the help of this wave of offense coming from the bench, at the end of the first quarter, the Bobcats, who were still sweating a little, said:

31:23
Eight points ahead of the Celtics.

And this is just that the Bobcats made some long-range shots more casually. Although defensively, the Celtics did not show their real strength.

But judging from the timeout that Rivers called in the first quarter, it can be seen that even in the preseason, the Celtics still have professional defensive tactics on the court.

In this case, the Bobcats quietly scored 31 points in the first quarter.

This offensive firepower also made the home fans feel very excited.

Although this does not mean that after entering the regular season, the Bobcats can still play such a shocking effect despite playing so casually.

But at least it means that the Bobcats have really become stronger than last season! !
Liu Rui also high-fived the players who were leaving the field one by one on the sidelines.

I am also very satisfied with the performance of the players on the court in the first quarter.

Maybe it's been so long since I haven't played. When I first came on the court, I was indeed a little cautious, but as the game progressed, after the players let go, they became very decisive in their shots.

Regardless of the shooting percentage on the field, at least for decisive shots outside the three-point line, this is what Liu Rui wants to see.

And the Celtics are on the bench, and they don't have any scoring points with strong offensive capabilities.

Such as Tony Allen and Gomez, these are players who struggle to score.

As soon as the entire Celtics' bench lineup came up, only the nine-finger dunk king Gerald Green could catch Liu Rui's eyes.

But unfortunately, Gerald Green is only a first-year rookie this season. I am afraid that with Rivers' personality, it will be difficult to have too much playing time in the regular season.

As the referee blows his whistle on the field, it also announces the end of the short break, and the two sides will usher in the second quarter of the contest.

At the beginning of the second quarter, the fans at the home court of the Bobcats began to cheer up, and the enthusiasm of the fans rose to a higher level in an instant.

I'm afraid those who didn't know thought it was the MVP player who played.

You know, Joe Johnson didn't get such enthusiastic cheers when he played this season.

As the home court camera focused on the players who were about to play, in the second quarter, Liu Rui actually expanded his lineup rotation again, and sent in the long-lost fan lunatic! !

As soon as Crazy Fan appeared on the stage, the fans immediately became noisy.

This scene obviously exceeded Liu Rui's expectations.

Crazy Fan is so popular? ! !

Hearing the warm applause from the home fans, Madman Fan also smiled embarrassedly. Obviously, he didn't expect that he was quite popular with the home fans.

The preseason game is a training game for both sides, and it is more about tactical cooperation on the field and player warm-up.

But when both sides put on pure substitute lineups on the court, the disadvantage of the Celtics can be enlarged to be visible to the naked eye.

And after Crazy Fan played, he played very excitedly, continuing his usual convulsive character.

Facing Dandy Kao, he really didn't save any face, and he scored consecutive shots from inside and outside.

After he started to play, he took a step past the midfield line and threw the three-pointer directly. The key is that he really scored in such a shot! !

The scene on the whole field was that Madman Fan pierced through the Celtics' defense all by himself.

This made Rivers wipe off the cold sweat off the court, and hurriedly called another timeout.

Although Rivers doesn't care about winning or losing a preseason game, if it makes people score a few points in the preseason game, it will be another matter, and it will be a big shame! !
Seeing Madman Fan's performance after playing, not to mention Rivers wiping the cold sweat off his head off the court, even Liu Rui wiped his own cold sweat with his cuff.

I am ruthless, so cruel...

At halftime, the Bobcats went straight to:

62:46
16 points lead the Celtics.

The end of halftime directly made the game lose suspense.

The most frightening thing is that the Bobcats scored 14 three-pointers in the entire first half.

How terrifying this data is now, you know, even before Liu Rui's rebirth.

At that time, the single-game three-pointer record in the league, that is, in the game against the Wizards in 18, the Rockets scored 26 three-pointers in a single game, breaking the previous record of 25 three-pointers held by the Cavaliers and creating a new historical record.

In this game, the Bobcats scored 14 three-pointers at halftime. Although this is only a preseason game, the team's defensive pressure is relatively low.

And the data will not be recorded in the history of the NBA, but this outside firepower can definitely be called terrifying! !

After returning from the second half, Liu Rui directly put the main offensive force on the bench.

After all, no matter what, Liu Rui and Rivers have a little friendship after going through the playoffs last year.

In a preseason game, Liu Rui didn't want to make a big difference and make Rivers look ugly.

At present, Liu Rui is very satisfied with the outside shooting ability shown by the Bobcats on the field.

So there is no need to expose too much in the preseason, otherwise in the regular season, the teams will probably attach great importance to the Bobcats.

Throughout the second half, in the rhythm of playing on both sides, no, to be precise, the Celtics have been working hard to chase points, not wanting to make the point difference too noticeable.

The Bobcats played as they wanted on the court, throwing two three-pointers from the outside at every turn, more like practicing their own shooting outside the three-point line.

At the end of the game, the Bobcats got off to a good start to the season in the preseason, at home with:
124:109
15 points defeated his old rival Celtics.

After the game, the players of the two teams also hugged each other.

Liu Rui and Rivers were also talking on the sidelines.

"You..., you..., I haven't seen you in an offseason. The firepower of your Bobcats team is getting stronger and stronger. I don't think I even have the qualifications to be swept by you now."

Seeing such a young Liu Rui, Rivers also felt very speechless.

After this fight, Rivers felt that the Bobcats' outside shooting seemed to be more threatening than last season.

This made Rivers feel very depressed.

Because the Celtics this season are weaker than last season.

Last season, the two teams could still be called by the media as rivals duel, so in this season, I am really afraid that the gap between the two teams will become wider and wider.

"Haha, it's not that we have become stronger, but that your lineup has become weaker. Let me make a bold prediction. If the management doesn't give you reinforcements this season, I bet you won't make it to the playoffs."

In the last life, the Celtics did miss the playoffs this season.

So Liu Rui also intends to call Rivers in advance. As for whether he can persuade the management to make reinforcements in the early season, that is the Green Army's own business.

This is the only way I can help.

After the end of the game, in the first preseason game, the main players of the Bobcats only played for more than ten minutes, and they didn't play for too long, and the whole game was relatively cheerful.

刚刚在上个赛季入选了最佳防守阵容的华莱士，本场比赛出场了14分钟，进攻端7投3中，三分线外3中1，拿下了7分4篮板2助攻1抢断的热身数据。

球队本赛季的新援球星乔约翰逊，在这场比赛中出场了17分钟，10投6中，三分线外4中2，拿下了14分2篮板1助攻的数据。

A good continuation of the offensive touch of last season.

Several rookies selected this season have also handed over good statistics.

For this preseason game, the Bobcats can also be called bloodless.

In the next few preseason games, the Bobcats played against the Pistons, 76ers and Heat.

And these three teams are a level higher than the Celtics, and they are definitely proper playoff-level teams.

Especially the Heat, this summer, the Heat made a large-scale trade and reinforcement.

In August of this year's offseason, the Heat acquired "Fat Toutuo" Walker, "White Chocolate" Jason Williams, and small forward James Posey through multiple transactions.

The deal involved 5 players from five teams, making it the largest deal in NBA history.

This is also the second consecutive summer that the Heat have completed a big deal without sending away their biggest star.

A year ago, they got O'Neal from the Lakers, and now they get three players who can bring immediate contributions, and only paid one of the main players in the 04-05 season, Eddie Jones.

And with the reinforcement of the Heat in the summer, the current lineup of the Heat is also terrifying.

In one fell swoop, they have become the biggest favorites to win the championship this season, and they have been in the limelight for a while, even overwhelming the defending champion Spurs.

It also makes the Heat's main rotation players this season have a terrifying lineup of Shaquille O'Neal, Wade, White Chocolate, Fat Toutuo Walker, Glove Payton, James Posey, Iron Man Mourning, Haslem and Kapono.

This also made Liu Rui faintly worried. The Heat have undoubtedly become the biggest opponent of all teams in the Eastern Conference that want to enter the finals.

It can even be said to be like a nightmare.

Although from a long-term perspective, the current lineup of the Bobcats can be regarded as star-studded, but the difference is that the current lineup of the Bobcats is generally younger and needs time to grow.

Especially when it comes to the stage of the playoffs, it will be difficult to ensure that their state can always be so hot.

The Heat are different. Most of the Heat's players are currently in their prime.

Individual aging veterans can also play a big role in the playoffs.

So it can be said that it is very difficult to break out of the East. This is a mountain standing in front of all Eastern teams.

The remaining 14 teams in the East can only challenge as climbers.

Although Liu Rui has great confidence in himself and the team, it is undeniable that with such a young team in his hands, what kind of results can be achieved in the real regular season is something that Liu Rui could not have expected.

There is not even any place to refer to. After all, his own arrival can be regarded as intermittently changing history.

In history, no team has so many star seedlings entering the All-Star at the same time.

Of course, except for the benefactor of the alliance, Thunder...

Therefore, this also put a lot of pressure on Liu Rui. After all, it is one thing to be able to select a future rising star, but it is another matter to be able to make good use of him after selection.

In these three preseason matchups, even though both sides had reservations, the Bobcats still lost to the Pistons and the Heat.

Only winning the 76ers game also brought the Bobcats' preseason record to two wins and two losses.

Then in the next, the last preseason game of the Bobcats, that is, will be against the Houston Rockets.

This is also a Chinese derby deliberately arranged by the league.

Obviously, Liu Rui has gotten used to the alliance's usual methods.

Stern always likes to engage in these attention-getting things, but he has to admit that after they are produced, they can indeed attract many Chinese fans to watch.

This will make it easier for Stern to further expand the Chinese market and strengthen the NBA's ability to attract money.

For this game, the Bobcats will fly to Houston to challenge the Rockets away.

Regardless of whether the game wins or loses, the Bobcats can draw a successful conclusion to this season's preseason.

Before the game, Liu Rui also called Yao Ming.

Liu Rui is also concerned about Yao Ming's contract this season, and wants to ask Yao Ming's thoughts at this time.

After all, Liu Rui really didn't want Yao Ming to stay with the Rockets.

Because after counting the time, that idiot Morey is about to take office...

beep-beep-beep

"Hello? Coach Liu Rui?!"

"Haha, that's right, of course it's me. How is your offseason going? Is there anything sad? Telling it makes me happy, haha."

When he was on the team, Liu Rui would often joke with the players.

But in Liu Rui's heart, he still feels happier when he jokes with his fellow Chinese.

"Haha, don't bury me, Coach Liu Rui, alas, by the way, I just have one thing I want to ask you."

"It's about whether to renew the contract with the Rockets."

"Ah?! How do you know?!"

Hearing Liu Rui's words, Yao Ming was also a little surprised. Before he said what he wanted to ask Liu Rui, Liu Rui knew what he wanted to ask. Isn't he so amazing? !
"This kind of thing is not difficult to guess. In fact, I am calling you to ask you what you think, so what are your current thoughts."

Instead of directly answering Yao Ming's question, Liu Rui first asked Yao Ming what he thought.

"I... In fact, from the bottom of my heart, I don't want to leave, because I have to reintegrate into a new team and get to know new teammates. It's actually very troublesome to be in a foreign country."

"But I really don't want to stay in the current Rockets team, especially after seeing your coaching style, I think playing in that atmosphere is what I yearn for."

"So the general manager of the team also contacted me before, wanting to talk about the renewal of the contract, but I shirked it all, because now I haven't thought about it myself."

Facing Liu Rui, Yao Ming still said whatever he had.

After all, as compatriots from China, Liu Rui also helped him a lot, and there was no reason to harm him, and Yao Ming found that Liu Rui seemed to be very kind to him.

"Well... Actually, if I were to give you advice, I would also like you to leave the Rockets."

"With your current achievements and popularity in the league, as long as you choose to enter the free market, it can be said that a hundred flowers will bloom."

"At the very least, you never have to worry about finding a new contract."

"This year is the last year of your contract. In fact, I really hope that you can come to play under me at that time, if you have this opportunity."

After thinking for a while, Liu Rui still expressed his thoughts.

"Ah? If I can play under your team, that would be great, but the Bobcats just signed Joe Johnson with a big contract this season. The team's salary space should not be enough to sign me."

Hearing Liu Rui's words, Yao Ming was of course moved. If he can play under a Chinese coach, and he is also a coach that Yao Ming prefers, this feeling is obviously very good.

And in the Bobcats, there is another Chinese player, Wang Zhizhi.

"Indeed, the remaining salary cap of the current Bobcats team does not allow you to be offered a long-term contract."

"But in fact, there is no way. The team can trade you from the Rockets by signing first and then changing. However, you know, I don't want to take advantage of the Rockets for nothing."

"So there is another way left, but this way, you may have to wrong you. If you are willing, then next year, we still have a great chance to join forces."

After thinking about it in my mind, Liu Rui had already thought about this as early as the offseason.

So at this time, I also intend to share my thoughts with Yao Ming, but this method must sacrifice some things for Yao Ming, so I must make it clear in advance.

"Ah?! What method, what sacrifice?! If I can really play under your hand, I don't think there is anything wrong with sacrifice."

Hearing Liu Rui actually said that there is a way, Yao Ming seemed to have a little hope in his heart, and he felt more and more curious.

"That is, you may have to cut your salary by several million dollars, and then you can sign a 1+1 contract with the Bobcats, and the second year is a player option."

"In this way, not only can you avoid the luxury tax and join the Bobcats, but as compensation for your salary cut, you can also choose to opt out of the contract in the player option for the second year and sign a long salary."

"In this year under me, I can match the ball rights for you as much as possible and manage your load. If you want to get a big contract in the second year, you can leave at any time."

"If you still want to stay in the team, you can also re-sign a 1+1 contract."

Obviously, Liu Rui has thought about this idea many times.

And the 1+1 contract, at this time, basically no one has signed such a contract.

The real popularity of this contract method will start at the time of James and Durant in later generations.

"1+1 contract?"

Obviously, Yao Ming also had some doubts when he heard Liu Rui's words.

Because in this era, no one would sign such a contract. After all, people's thinking is still relatively stubborn at this time, and they think that the biggest guarantee is to sign a long-term contract with the team.

This is also the reason why Pippen only made so little money in his career. In his peak season, he signed a cheap contract with the Bulls for seven years.

It wasn't until Pippen got old that the contract expired, and he didn't know how much salary he had lost during this period.

As for the 1+1 contract, both James and Durant have signed with their own teams in later generations.

In this way, while being able to get a good salary, if there are better places and ideas, he can choose to jump out of the contract at any time in the second year, become an unrestricted free agent, and freely choose which team to join.

And the origin of this kind of contract, of course, is to win the championship.

Both James and Durant are the same. In order to win the championship, they voluntarily gave up their maximum salary or cut their salary to stay on the team, and chose to sign a 1+1 contract.

In this way, after winning the championship this season, he can directly choose to opt out of the contract next season and sign a long-term contract with a maximum salary.

Then the millions of dollars in salary cuts in the previous season can be directly earned back in the next season.

On the contrary, there was an extra championship ring, which increased his historical status.

So this is exactly the reason why the 1+1 contract later became the favorite of superstars.

This season, Liu Rui doesn't know how the Bobcats can play, but if Yao Ming wants to join next season, then add the current lineup of the Bobcats.

Then Liu Rui is absolutely confident to lead the Bobcats to the championship.

After all, Liu Rui only signed a two-year contract this offseason.

At first, this surprised general manager Smith, because it was the first time he heard that he wanted to take the initiative to sign a short-term coach.

But Liu Rui just smiled and didn't speak.

After all, Liu Rui has a vision that is 15 years ahead, and he is obviously professional in layout...

"Yes, I know that you will be surprised to sign such a contract, but I can only say that this is the contract that can give you the most protection."

"After all, you are currently at the peak of your career, and there are still many paths for you to choose from."

"But what needs to be paid attention to is that you must protect yourself."

"If you feel uncomfortable in your body, you can refuse to play for the team with injuries, because on the day you are really troubled by injuries, no team will offer you a pension contract with a maximum salary."

"Your end can only be to retire early, because this is a business alliance. I know you have a good personality, but sometimes, you still have to try your best to be a bad guy for yourself."

When it came to business, Liu Rui also became a little serious.

After all, Yao Ming is not a person who knows how to say no, which led him to repeatedly run back and forth between China and the United States, participating in various competitions, large and small.

After returning to the NBA, he has to play more than 35 minutes in each game, which is obviously very high for a league giant.

All of this is based on overdrafting Dayao's physical health, which leaves hidden dangers of injuries in the future.

Liu Rui, who knew all this well, also reminded Yao Ming emphatically.

Although injuries are as fierce as tigers, these things are not something people can control artificially, but as long as they are more careful and change their style of play, injuries can still be greatly avoided.

For example, the legendary Wiggins who can reach the age of 50...

This is why Liu Rui hopes that Yao Ming will not gain too much weight, because Yao Ming will lose his former flexibility after gaining weight.

The head coach puts him in the blue for more low-post attacks. As a result, Yao Ming's already fragile knees will only become more fragile.

Although the benefits of weight gain are visible to the naked eye, don't forget that in the entire league for so many decades, there has only been one O'Neal.

From my own point of view, it is obviously not a multiple-choice question whether I want to better defend O'Neal by gaining weight, or to extend my career without gaining weight.

The coach will not think about the player in order to lead the team to a better record, but just blindly turn him into what he wants.

Liu Rui doesn't think this is what a good coach should do.

There are many people who compare coaches to NBA players' mentors, but since some people can be called a teacher, there are naturally some people who call them misguided children...

"Well, well, I will try my best to protect myself on the court. Now Coach Van Gundy doesn't insist on me gaining weight, but I feel like he still has a little opinion on me."

Obviously, Yao Ming himself does not want to gain weight.

Because Yao Ming was able to become the number one pick in the NBA, in addition to the Chinese market behind him, it is also because Yao Ming himself has absolute strength.

And when he first entered the league, his strongest offensive method was not to use his height and tonnage to play hard at the basket. After all, Yao Ming was not strong at that time.

The reason why he became the No. [-] pick is that Yao Ming not only possesses the dribbling skills of a guard but also has a very soft touch while having such a tall height.

The most important thing is that as such a tall center, he can protect the frame and grab rebounds, and at the same time, he can also have the mobility far exceeding that of a center of the same height. This is Yao Ming's initial advantage.

Later, after gaining weight, Yao Ming was able to fight against O'Neal in the low position, but he did lose what he was most proud of in the past. In Liu Rui's view, this is no different from throwing watermelons to pick sesame seeds.

"I know you have a soft touch because you shoot more than 90.00% of the free throws of defenders."

"So you can practice more mid-range and long-range shots. Of course, don't practice outside the three-point line for the time being, because even if you practice, Van Gundy will not allow you to do so."

"However, you can work on your mid-range shots on both sides of the free throw line instead of just hitting the basket."

"You have to know that after Duncan entered the NBA, due to injuries, he took more mid-range shots than he hit the basket."

"Although the styles of the two of you are different, this is just what I want to express. It doesn't mean you have to play deeper under the basket to dominate the game."

"It's like the Bobcats team I lead. While you guys are trying to get closer, I'm already thinking of ways to go farther and farther."

"But do you think in the current league, who dares to treat the Bobcats as a weak team, and who dares not to take us seriously."

"Even though the Heat are strong and have Shaquille O'Neal, I don't think they want to meet me in the playoffs. This is my confidence."

Although Liu Rui's words were a little arrogant, everything Liu Rui said was true.

In this era, when people are still trying to find ways to play the basketball closer and try to finish under the basket, Liu Rui is already using tactics to play farther and farther, trying to find a way to finish at a position farther outside the three-point line.

This is obviously an anomaly in the eyes of others, but regardless of whether the style of play is anomalous, no team in the league dares to treat the Bobcats as a soft persimmon.

Even for the Heat, which is aiming to win the championship this season, Liu Rui knows that although the Heat are not afraid of the Bobcats, the Heat never want to meet the Bobcats in the first round of the playoffs.

As for why Liu Rui has such confidence, in the previous preseason match between the two teams, although the Bobcats lost the game, you must know that the main players of the entire Bobcats did not play more than 20 minutes, and in the end they only lost 10 points.

And the Heat team is quite aware of this point in their hearts. Once the Bobcats really want to go crazy, even if the Heat don't die, Liu Rui will let him shed his skin.

After all, the ultimate weapon in Liu Rui's hands, the big buffalo white, did not play a minute of playing time in the game against the Heat...

They chatted with Yao Ming for a while, and it was obvious that Yao Ming was more tempted by Liu Rui's previous proposal.

But after all, Yao Ming still has the last year of his contract this season, so no matter how much he thinks about it now, he can't change the fact that he will continue to play for the Rockets this season.

Liu Rui also didn't say much, the most he said was to warn Yao Ming to protect himself.

If you feel unwell, take the initiative to apply to the management.

I believe that in order to hit the playoffs, the Rockets will not gamble too much with Yao Ming's body.

After all, in this man-eating business league, players do sometimes have to display that shameless spirit.

If you are too talkative, it will make people think you are a soft persimmon...

　Now I believe that people's potential is unlimited, haha, the words owed in this chapter will be counted in tomorrow, and tomorrow will be repaid, try to write [-] tomorrow!So ask for a monthly pass!Ask for a recommendation ticket!
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　　I am exhausted physically and mentally. Sometimes I can’t stand it anymore and I go to bed early. I post it regularly every day, so I will list the rewards I received after falling asleep. I will thank you tomorrow. I will not miss them. I will record them in my notebook, thank you.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)