NBA Building Cardinals

Chapter 9
"You are very talented, and I am very optimistic about your growth, but I have thought about it for a long time. In the new season, I will arrange for you to come off the bench and play the role of a sixth man." Liu Rui put away his smile and looked seriously at Okafor who had a smile written on his face.

"What?! But the coach..."

"Emeka (Emeka Okafor), listen to me first, I know what you think, but you can only play your best when you play as a substitute."

"I have thought about this process for a long time. Letting you play as a substitute is not to not reuse you, but on the contrary, because you are very important, so I need you to continue the firepower for the team when you come off the bench."

"Because in the new season the team will ask for an increase in speed, and this style of play will not bring out your strongest side, it will only make you make a lot of unnecessary back and forth runs on the court.

"And your passing skills are not outstanding. If you can't play to your advantage on the offensive end, it will not only greatly reduce the team's offense, but also make your statistics greatly inferior."

"My request for you is not only to win the "Best Rookie" of the new season, but also to make you the first player in NBA history to win the Best Sixth Man in his rookie season. It is also the double glory of the Best Rookie and the Best Sixth Man."

"This is the best proof from the fact that I will not limit your playing time too much. As long as it is not garbage time and you think you can still play, I will let you play, any time."

"But Emeka, you must control your weight to 260 pounds. If you are overweight, be careful and I will kick your ass." Liu Rui promised Okafor with a smile.

Because Liu Rui is very clear in his heart, even if Wallace is very strong, he can't ignore Okafor because of over-development of him.

The rest of the team had a bad life in the last life, but Liu Rui is confident that they will become better than before, so he doesn't have too much burden on his heart.

But Okafor is different. In his previous life, he was the proud son of heaven, the hope of the team, and he had unlimited firepower in his rookie season, and he had unlimited glory for a while.

Even though it was only a flash in the pan due to injuries later, it was indeed his peak moment.

In this life, due to the arrival of Liu Rui, the Bobcats are bound to change their style of play, and in the starting lineup, Liu Rui will arrange more speed-ups and three-point shots against the times, which is not conducive to Okafor's growth.

And if Okafor comes off the bench, not only can he get more shots with him as the core of the tactics, but also paired with Knight, a point guard who only likes to pass, can play the most comfortable game.

The most important thing is that when Okafor comes off the bench, he will encounter the opponent's rotation players to defend, perfectly avoiding the opponent's main inside line, which can greatly improve Okafor's shooting rate.

Just like the Clippers' super sixth man "Louis Williams" in the previous life, he can not only use his strongest point to hit your weakest point, but also perfectly cover up his own defensive flaws, which is quite like farming and avoiding horse racing.

With the sharp threat from outside the three-point line, the left-handed throwing knife Kareem, and the veteran Steve Smith can largely open up space for him and forcefully create a 1V1 situation.

This bench version of the triangle offense is able to dilute the point guard and cover up the deficiencies of point guard Knight's offensive end.

And Kareem's three-point firepower can make it difficult for defensive players to make a choice between Okafor and Steve Smith.

After Liu Rui researched this set of substitute play, in memory, at least this season can suppress at least half of the league's substitutes.

It can be said to serve multiple purposes.

For the first rookie season in history to win the award of the best sixth man, Liu Rui is of course willing to take it all in the hands of his disciples.

In the previous life, this honor was won by the Bulls rookie "Ben Gordon" this year.

And Liu Rui is very willing to see Okafor, who has unlimited firepower on the bench, beat Howard and Ben Gordon to win the best rookie and the best sixth man in the new season.

This will also become the capital of my own arrogance in the future. He, Okafor, the rookie who made history, my disciple of Liu Rui, I brought it out with one hand!
Liu Rui thought about it for a long time, and for his arrangement, he could definitely maximize Okafor's role.

"It's the coach!!" Okafor accepted this suggestion with excitement. It was the first award in history for the best rookie and the sixth man. Just thinking about it makes people excited.

And the coach also promised that playing as a substitute would not affect his playing time. On the contrary, he would definitely play more easily. Do I have to admit that I am not as good as those substitutes?
"As for other people, don't have psychological pressure. I dare say that for most of you, I can find a style of play that suits you. In the new season, I will let you continue to improve. I, Liu Rui, will do what I say."

"Yes!!"

Looking at the many players off the field, from rookies to veterans, who seemed to be rejuvenated, Bickerstaff felt like eating flies.

The passion faded, and Bickerstaff only felt that his back was soaked. This young man is really extraordinary! !

Bickerstaff has been in the league for 30 years, and he can be influenced by Liu Rui's few words, let alone the group of young players in front of him whose average age is only in their early 20s.

The new season has not yet started, and the team's momentum has been mobilized to the extreme. This kind of cohesion may really allow him to create history...

As he thought more and more, Bickerstaff gradually became relieved. If he is really a genius, he will never be able to suppress him. If he can really lead the Bobcats to make history, the media will definitely say that I, the chief assistant coach, have given him a lot of help in the future.

If he can only incite people's hearts, then there is nothing to be afraid of, he is in his arms! !
"Everyone is working hard today, so today's training is over here. Let's take a shower. I will invite everyone to dinner later. I hope everyone will work hard and make progress together in the new season." Liu Rui bowed his head to write and draw in a small notebook, not knowing what to record.

"Oh!! Great, the coach wants to treat you to dinner, haha ​​I must eat a lot, I will not be polite, haha!"

"Oh! God, if I knew I wouldn't eat at noon, damn it."

"Um, Mr. Liu Rui, this is terribly illegal. You know that the league forbids private conversation between coaches and players." General Manager Smith felt a headache looking at the cheering crowd.

What a crazy guy, he really gave himself too many surprises today, and he favors a guy who has been in the league for three years and still can't make it into the rotation.

Let the team's future Okafor play as a substitute, the most important thing is to convince the opponent, and now he has to openly invite the players to have a private meal. I really don't know what else he dare not do.

"It's okay, Mr. Smith, because today I'm going to cook myself and let you taste the mysterious food from the East. It will definitely make your tongue twitch! It's just a family dinner, so how can it have anything to do with private contact?" Liu Rui smiled brightly, thinking in his mind, should we have a hot pot? ?It must be very interesting to imagine how they don't know how to use chopsticks, one by one trying to grab the pot with their hands...

(End of this chapter)