NBA Legends Manager

Chapter 378
The reinforcements of each team have basically been decided, and they are waiting for the signing. The 7 NBA Summer League started in July. This time, Presti arranged for Cole to be the head coach, and the lineup from the team is: Antetokounmpo, Middleton, and Gobert. As for Davis, Presti directly refused to let him go. His strength is a bit bullying!Presti told Kerr: "These three are very talented. It doesn't matter whether they win or lose in the summer league. The main thing is to train them!"

Cole believed in Presti's words. After all, the rookies Presti valued hadn't made a mistake so far, so Cole did his best to train these three in the summer league!
Of course, the final result is a total defeat!And lost 8.7 points per game!In several games, Antetokounmpo averaged 14 shots per game, Middleton took 15 shots, and Gobert also took 10 shots with an inside barrier!And the hit rate of the three is Gobert's high point, which can reach 48%, while Antetokounmpo and Middleton are less than 42%!
But there are also good things. In the last game, Middleton made 8 of 6 three-pointers!In the penultimate game, Gobert had 6 blocks and 12 rebounds, while Antetokounmpo was all water!

Presti couldn't help laughing after watching all the games. Who would have thought that such an Antetokounmpo would become a future leader in the league?

At the end of July, the U.S. men’s basketball team invited Paul George for a training camp. At this time, Presti directly told Paul George to give up this training camp. In his previous life, Paul George suffered a 7-degree calf fracture during this training camp. In order to avoid this situation, Presti thought it would be best not to participate in this training camp!Because even if you are avoiding it, as long as you play, this possibility will exist!

Paul George was stunned: "Why? This is a good opportunity to improve your skills, besides, why should I not go?"

Presti said: "To improve your skills, you can find 1-on-1 training with famous players, or you can train and run in with your teammates. The reason is that the arm is sore and has fluid accumulation and needs surgery!"

"Coach, you haven't told me why not go?" Paul George is very confused now, why didn't he stop Curry, didn't stop Davis, etc., but just let himself not go?
"Huh" Presti took a breath, then looked at Paul George and said very seriously: "Because you have more important things to do, your three-pointers this season are a bit unstable, especially at critical moments, that training camp can't help you improve these, go find famous people, ask them for advice, next season you will bear the heavy burden!" Of course, Presti can't say that you are likely to be seriously injured if you go, and you think it is a curse.

Although Paul George was still puzzled, it was reasonable. After all, his key shot was indeed too weak, so he nodded and agreed.

In mid-August, all powerful players in the NBA signed contracts, except for Howard and Smith, most of them stayed on the team.It is very difficult to find restricted free agents this year. All teams will match the contract, even if the maximum salary is offered!
Most of the Hornets players went on vacation, and they are still holding the O'Brien trophy!He tweeted everywhere, and Presti liked every one of them. He is very aware of the hard work of the players this past season!
Of course, Presti was not idle either. He was also taken by Anjali to go on vacation. He visited various places, and then went to his cheap father-in-law. Needless to say, he asked Presti for his opinions on building a team.What's more, even your king can't dig players who are capable of winning championships.

On October 10th, the Hornets called a media day, and the new season is about to start!

Presti arranged for everyone to take a makeup photo. After the photo was taken, Presti asked the starters: Curry, Thompson, Paul George, Green, Davis, David West, and Jimmy Butler to take a core makeup photo.

At this time, Presti looked at Antetokounmpo off the field, and Gobert's eager little eyes smiled unconsciously, then walked over and patted their shoulders and said: "You will soon become the absolute core!"

"Ah, coach." Antetokounmpo touched the back of his head a little embarrassedly, and Gobert was even more embarrassed. Presti in front of him is currently a legend in the NBA. Now there is a saying in the league that there is no one he can't afford to train. People he gives up training are destined to be given up by other teams!

Presti thought for a long time last night, thinking about how to arrange Antetokounmpo, a backup center like Gobert, not to mention iron!If there are some special situations, such as a guard with strong tearing ability or a strong center, Presti will even let Gobert play number five, while Davis will play number four!
Middleton can replace Jimmy Butler at any time. Based on Presti's understanding of Jimmy Butler, he will definitely ask for a maximum salary. If he didn't have a championship before, he might cut his salary for the championship in this kind of team, but now he is definitely not happy!He is worth the maximum salary, but Presti doesn't want to give it because he has too many good players!
Therefore, this season Presti will first let Miles talk to Jimmy Butler. If he insists on a maximum salary, then Presti will decisively reduce Jimmy Butler's playing time, and then divide the time between Antetokounmpo and Middleton!

Presti’s plan for Antetokounmpo is to focus on training this season and integrate into the team as soon as possible. In the Bucks in his previous life, Kidd trained Antetokounmpo by allowing him to attack with the ball, combine sudden points and shots, and even let him play as a point forward. The standard James style of play is "one star and four shots!"
Later in the 2018-2019 season, the Bucks got Lopez. A center often didn’t have a single board, and Antetokounmpo got the rebounds.

Presti will not let Antetokounmpo play like in his previous life. After all, there is a super point guard like Curry in the team. He directly intends to let Antetokounmpo play the position of a backup small forward first, practice ball handling, pick and roll, support passes, face-up breakthroughs, and shooting; the defensive end coaches defense against pick-and-rolls, assists in blocking shots, controls backcourt rebounds, and launches counterattacks with one pass!
And let Antetokounmpo gain weight, and after his strength and body shape come up, he will continue to return to his best position, power forward!When the small ball market arrives, Antetokounmpo's body is an absolute BUG!Four outside lines open up space, and one letter is left on the inside line. No one can stand it!

In the previous life, Antetokounmpo, even a heavy power forward like Griffin could push to the basket, and then dunk!At the same time, Presti also plans to let Antetokounmpo practice three-pointers. It is best to practice two bottom corners, because the bottom corner is the easiest position, but Presti knows that this should not be too urgent. After all, Antetokounmpo has not practiced for 5 years!

As for Middleton, he also plays small forward, but Presti did not arrange tactics for him alone. This season, Presti mainly let him practice shooting. After stabilizing his shooting, he will practice holding the ball!Because at present, the substitute is headed by David West, so there is not much need for so many people with the ball!Because Antetokounmpo has been practiced later, Middleton doesn't need to hold the ball anymore!

After the makeup photo was taken, Presti accepted an interview. When asked whether he would set another record in the regular season, Presti shook his head and said: "We have proved that we will do it, and we have done it. Compared with setting a record in the regular season, it is obviously more important to establish a dynasty!"

The reporter asked again: "You lost center Whiteside this season, and you drafted Gobert again. Obviously you want him to fill Whiteside's vacancy. Can he shoulder such an important task?"

Presti said with a smile: "I'm not afraid to tell you that I have been paying attention to Gobert for a long time. His physical talent is very good. I believe he will become an All-Star center!"

The reporters exclaimed that Presti actually valued Gobert so much, and Gobert, who was watching the interview, was also taken aback for a moment, then ecstatically, secretly clenched his fists, he will definitely do it!In fact, Gobert is a person with strong self-esteem. In his previous life, he shed tears because he was not selected as an All-Star. After his return, a series of highlight performances are jaw-dropping!
Then the reporter interviewed Curry, Thompson, Paul George and other core players, and of course the answer was to create a dynasty!
In the public training session the next day, Presti once again showed the power of the Hornets to the outside world!
Presti divided the team into two groups, Group A is Curry, Thompson, Paul George, Green, Davis, the substitute is Middleton, and Antetokounmpo, Group B is Livingston, Bradley, Jimmy Butler, David West, Gobert, the substitute is Belinelli, Ray Allen, Jason Smith
Presti didn't formulate any special tactics for the two sides. Simply put, it is free play, commonly known as X** fight!Then it's time to change!

Before the game, many people thought that the Hornets' Group A would beat Group B hard, and even if they didn't beat them hard, they would beat them all!The result was a surprise during the game. Bradley kept sticking to Curry, which made Curry very uncomfortable. Curry was forced to play without the ball, and Green held the ball at the top of the arc to organize.After that, Group A made several shots in a row. Thompson hit the iron, Paul George hit the iron, and Curry also hit the iron!

Group A changed tactics and began to storm the basket. At this time, Gobert's talent showed up, and his long arms interfered wildly, which made Group A hit the iron several times!
And the offensive end of Group B is very simple, hand it over to David West!Then Gobert grabbed rebounds at the basket at any time, Bradley and Livingston stretched space outside, and Jimmy Butler cut at any time!

At the end of the first quarter, Group B actually took the lead!
In the second quarter, Group A regained a little touch and played more smoothly, but the offensive of Group B has not weakened. In fact, there is something very interesting. Jimmy Butler often discussed with Paul George in his previous life. Bradley is the best defense against Curry. Green replaced David West as the starter.Others are also playing very seriously. Presti has already said that as long as you are in the game, you must go all out!At the end of the second quarter, the two sides tied!
Entering the second half, the two sides began to come on the bench. Paul George and Curry were replaced by Antetokounmpo and Middleton, while Ray Allen in Group B replaced Livingston, and Belinelli also replaced Bradley.

Both sides lost the point guard, but A still has Green as the organizer, while the organizer of Group B is Jimmy Butler!At this time, the two sides are still playing inextricably. The reason is that Davis in Group A began to be double-teamed, and Middleton and Antetokounmpo on the outside were really crying when they hit the basket, and the shooting in Group B was much better!Ray Allen, Belinelli, Jimmy Butler are all good outside!

At the end of the three quarters, Group B is slightly ahead!
In the fourth quarter, Presti made both sides completely undefended, and it can be used as an exhibition match. It is not good to get injured in the open training match!As long as you can play the tactics you trained before, it will be fine!
In the exhibition game, the Hornets did not disappoint. Many people think that the Hornets are not ranked in terms of dunks and explosions, because there are no flying players in the team. The Thunder have Westbrook, all kinds of dunks!The Bulls have Ross rushing in without slowing down and changing direction without hanging up the basket, the Heat's Janeway connection is visually stunning and so on!
Today, the Hornets directly overturned these, Paul George steals Jimmy Butler's pass to the frontcourt and directly dunks 360 degrees to pay tribute to Carter!Davis also received a pass from Curry and received a back button!

Of course, these are not the most exaggerated, the most exaggerated is the three-step dunk on the three-point line of Antetokounmpo!This directly stunned the fans!Is that human being?This is a beast!Seeing this many team general managers have begun to regret it, since they went to investigate Brother Antetokounmpo, why not take a gamble!
Presti is very satisfied with the team's performance. The previous core obviously cooperated with each other more skillfully. For example, when Green held the ball at the top of the arc, he directly crossed the basket!And Thompson also quickly cut over, caught the ball and scored!Standard ball leader, if there is no tacit understanding of this ball, it will definitely be a mistake.
For another example, Curry started playing again, went to the frontcourt and passed directly to Paul George next to him, and Paul George understood it when he saw Curry's eyes, turned around to catch the ball and made a hit!
The tacit understanding of the substitute is also very good. When David West played low singles, Jimmy Butler had already rushed to the basket. David West immediately got a base into his hands, and he caught the ball and moved forward easily.Another example is Livingston and David West playing a pick-and-roll. After David West disassembled and moved laterally, and received a pass from Livingston, he didn't stop and turned around and passed to Ray Allen in the right corner!The catch is another open opportunity!
Of course, the performance of a few rookies is not bad. Although the shooting rate is not high, the tactical execution is still very good. For example, Middleton can often run out of open positions and make empty cuts at the basket!Presti knows what kind of player they can be, iron now, that's just a process of growing up.

(End of this chapter)