After training for a while in the morning, it was noon. I took a rest for an hour after lunch and started training in the afternoon at two o'clock.
In the afternoon, a team training match was arranged to practice tactics and let the lineup get used to it.
The main player is the yellow vest. According to Wang's idea, Danny Fortson put on the substitute's white vest, facing off against the substitute power forward and edge player Corey Blount.
Lao Wang faced off against his own substitute Sean Lukes, who was also a marginal player with little ability.
"Jerry, can't the inside be reinforced? Is there still room now?" Magic Johnson asked.
Jerry West shook his head and said: "There is no space left. There is less than one million left. And we can't find any useful insiders. Te Yinlong Hill is also our first-round pick next year."
Magic Johnson also understands that good insiders are hard to find. Nowadays, a meat shield earns several million a year, and any second-rate insider earns six to seven million. They will be snatched up just like this. Otherwise, these few
I found it a long time ago.
The era of flying men has passed, and now is the era of behemoths. In order to fight against the two behemoths, insiders are more valuable and harder to find.
West added: "Not only us, but several strong teams at our level now have a hard time reinforcing because other teams are not willing to give us a chance to reinforce.
In addition, the league does not support our continued reinforcement, especially the introduction of stars. The last time I traded Mr. Stern, I have been pursuing balance. He can allow the league to have the current six championship teams, three from the east and three from the east.
A balance, otherwise those big deals would never go through."
"Like David Robinson going to the green team?" Magic Johnson laughed.
"Of course." West smiled.
"Peng!"
At this moment, just one minute into the training match, something changed on the court. Richmond missed a jump shot from the outside, and the rebound was very long. Danny Fortson and Corey Blount rushed for the rebound at the same time and collided.
At the same time, Blount was knocked to the ground directly by Fordson. He fell so hard that he couldn't get up for a while.
"drop!"
Assistant coach Rambis blew the whistle.
"Hey, rookie, what are you doing?"
Blount was knocked over by a rookie and had his rebound taken away. Feeling humiliated, he got up and angrily pushed Fordson.
"Hey, old bird, I just grabbed rebounds and didn't do anything." Fordson's temper seemed to be very bad, and he pushed back.
"Okay, shut up! Just calm down." Lao Wang immediately shouted and suppressed the dispute between the two.
He glanced at Blount. This player was in the Bulls before. He had seen him on Jordan's team, but he didn't have a chance to play.
However, Fordson's rebounding action was a bit rough. As a rookie, he could easily be called for a foul.
Next, the training match continues.
Lao Wang himself didn't perform much and didn't play much. He mainly observed his teammates, especially his future partner, rookie Fordson.
After a 20-minute training session at halftime, Fordson grabbed 7 rebounds on Blount's head, while Blount only had 1 rebound, which was a big difference. Moreover, Fordson also scored 8 points on Blount's head.
After further observation, Lao Wang is still satisfied with Fordson. The rookie's rebounding ability is indeed good, his scoring ability is not bad, he has a mid-range shot, and his defense is very fierce and hard-working. However, he is more optimistic about Fordson's rebounding ability.
At the end of the half, Fordson was really like a beast, wandering around the court, sweeping up the first rebound, and even rolled to the floor to grab the rebound.
Moreover, Fordson's mobility is quite good, and his positioning skills are also very good. He doesn't look like a rookie at all. This seems to be his talent. He seems to see the shadow of Rodman in Fordson.
"It would be nice if it were five centimeters taller."
He was a little regretful that Fordson was still a little short, and his short height would also limit the height of his ceiling.
Te Yinlong Hill, who was one step away, was a little surprised and said: "Old K, I thought I was good at rebounding. I didn't expect this kid to be better at rebounding. He should be a monster born for rebounding."
"Haha, then our team's rebounding will not be a problem from now on." Lao Wang laughed.
Hill smiled and nodded: "You, me, and this rookie, the Lakers will never lose in rebounding against any team."
At the end of the forty-minute training match, Fordson played 35 minutes and grabbed 13 rebounds, while Blount only had 3. The huge difference made Blount lose the idea of competing with Fordson.
This training game made Jerry West quite satisfied with the Fordson trade. He exchanged the crazy Fan who was not suitable for old K for a rebounding expert, which was quite successful.
Fordson can both rebound and defend, allowing Old K to sit under the basket. He also has a certain scoring ability and has a mid-range shot, which has already met his original requirements for the main fourth position.
However, he still wants Te Yinlong Hill to start, and the rookie will hone his skills on the bench first.
The next day, the Lakers continued to run in through training games.
Lao Wang also began to show off his new skills, low-post back play and low-post basket attack based on the plum blossom step, which blinded everyone's eyes.
In the low position on the left wing, after receiving the ball, he uses his left foot as the axis, first swings up, and then swings down. This is the swing method used to deal with the opponent in the three steps of walking.
Under the swaying left and right, Luk Lang behind him had completely lost his position. Then, while dribbling, he made a sudden and fast shot, and with a bang, he hit the basket and hit a dunk.
.
In several consecutive attacks, at the basket and in the low post on both wings, he used club steps to get rid of the defender and then dunked. Lukes was too weak to prevent him even once. He only used a foul to stop one of Wang's attempts.
attack.
In fact, because the opponent was too weak, he had not yet fully demonstrated his current skills and could not attack facing the basket.
West, who was observing the players, shouted in surprise: "Old K, your playing style has changed? That's not how you played in the preseason."
"He didn't take any shots at all in the preseason," Harris said.
Lao Wang smiled and said: "Yes, I have been training my pace, and I made a big improvement in the offseason that just passed."
Harris sighed: "Old K, your style of play, coupled with your physique, is simply a super dream!"
Old assistant coach Potka said excitedly: "No, he will be a combination of Dream and O'Neal."
"Old K, is this the plum blossom step, the plum blossom stand you have been practicing for two years?" Kobe suddenly shouted.
"Plum Blossom Step?"
Everyone heard it. Although they didn't understand what it meant, they thought it was very powerful.
"Yeah." Lao Wang nodded.
"Old K, I want to learn too, please teach me quickly. I have already said that I want to learn, but you have been hiding your secrets and not teaching me." Kobe excitedly ran up to Lao Wang and shouted.
If he can use this kind of flexible pace, he will have another skill to get rid of defenders, and this is better. Not only can he get rid of opponents on the outside, but he can also use it to get into the paint area. He can definitely knock down the inside.
defender.
By the way, I will practice a lot later and knock down old K too.
"You won't be able to learn this in just a few years. You should practice other skills first and then become the main force. What's the rush now?" Lao Wang pushed Kobe away angrily.
"Don't worry, I will kill Mickey soon." Kobe immediately shouted.
Richmond's old face darkened, "Old K, did you fool me here to serve as a whetstone and stepping stone for Kobe?"
After the training match, today's training also ended, and the players returned to the locker room.
Rick Fox's wardrobe was opposite Lao Wang. He looked at Lao Wang who was untying his belt, and suddenly asked: "Old K, can I attend your K martial arts gym party?"
"Are you in V?" Lao Wang raised his head and asked.
"I got it. I got it when I first arrived in Los Angeles." Fox said excitedly.
"Okay, I will notify you via text message of future parties at the Los Angeles branch." Lao Wang said with a smile.
"Awesome!" Fox said excitedly.
"Rick, are you a party animal?" Lao Wang asked curiously.
Rick Fox shrugged and said, "Average."
"Then you are so excited?" Lao Wang asked doubtfully.
"Because there were many stars at the party at the K-Martial Arts Hall in Los Angeles. I want to be a movie star. This is my dream." Fox said excitedly.
"What?"
Not only Lao Wang was stunned, but others were also stunned.
Fox said excitedly: "I rejected the contract from my home team, the Celtics, and joined the Lakers just for this dream.
You may not know that the contract given to me by the Green Team was larger than that from the Lakers. The Lakers only gave me 2.75 million for two years, while the Green Team gave me 16 million for four years. But for my dream, I chose the Lakers."
"..."
Lao Wang and others couldn't close their mouths.
"Is this the attraction of Los Angeles?" Lao Wang murmured.
"Is your agent trying to kill you?" Richmond couldn't help but ask.
"He fired me as the boss, and I don't have an agent now." Rick Fox said helplessly.
"Pfft, haha..." The locker room burst into laughter.
…
In the days before the start of the new season, major media and some retired stars conducted various analyzes on the new season.
"In the East, although the Knicks are in the same first tier as the Pacers and Celtics, with O'Neal and Jordan teaming up, they should be slightly higher by half a tier. The Pacers and Celtics are indistinguishable.
In the West, the Lakers, Jazz, and Trail Blazers are in the same first bracket. The dream is still young, but no one can guarantee what kind of performance the No. 1 pick can perform, so the Trail Blazers should be slightly weaker. Between the Lakers and Jazz,
The Jazz's lineup is the most stable and should be the strongest. Although the Lakers have the current number one player, K, their lineup has been almost completely rebuilt and their strength should be slightly inferior to the Jazz's."
The above is ESPN's analysis of the top six in the new season. Finally, it also predicts the probability of winning the new season. The Knicks are 19%, the Lakers are 18%, the Jazz are 17%, the Pacers are 16%, the Trail Blazers are 15%, and the Celtics are 19%.
14%, other teams combined 1%.
None of the six teams in the first tier has a chance of winning more than 20%, which has not happened in recent seasons.
ESPN, which has always been very optimistic about Jordan winning the championship, still ranks Jordan's Knicks first this time, but the difference is very small, which shows that they are not sure.
Celtics star, current Timberwolves chairman and retired superstar McHale said in an interview with the media: "In general, the future will be a pattern of two giants from the East and the West competing for hegemony. Under this general pattern, the new season will usher in the top six.
A small pattern of competition for hegemony.
As Mr. Patelli said, the era of one person, one city has passed, but we must adapt to this new era.
What I want to say is that the league must pay attention to the development and interests of small teams so that it can truly achieve a balance, rather than returning to the era when the league only had eight teams.
Looking at ESPN's championship probability rankings, the other 23 teams add up to only 1%. I think this situation will intensify the trend of stars flowing to big markets."
Spurs superstar Iceman Gervin took the initiative to contact the media for interviews, complaining somewhat: "The changes in the offseason are very unfair to the Spurs. We lost David Robinson and the team was forced to rebuild.
Of course, this is not the team’s fault, nor his fault. I think the league has not properly handled the relationship between big ball markets and small ball markets, and the league should provide more support to small ball markets.”
In New York, Stern noted that some people have come out to complain that the league is ignoring smaller teams.
But in fact, he has already considered the balance very much. However, the disadvantages of small ball markets are simply unavoidable. He can only try his best to protect the interests of small teams while maintaining the development of the league.
"It's time to introduce a luxury tax."
The luxury tax system is currently implemented by only Major League Baseball among the four major sports leagues. He feels that the NBA should also implement this system and has been blowing the whistle among team owners.
With the luxury tax system, some big teams cannot sign players recklessly. Even if they have Bird Rights contracts, once the salary cap is exceeded, the excess will have to pay high luxury taxes, and these luxury taxes can be compensated to small players.
team, allowing small teams to invest more.
On October 29, the Lakers ushered in the media meeting day before the new season.
Lao Wang was standing in the C position in a crisp suit. On his left was Rock Richmond, beyond that were Rick Fox and Kobe Bryant, on his right were Chris Mullin and Mark Price, and the others were lined up on both sides.
Kobe looked at his position. Well, he has improved. He is only two positions away from the C position. Sooner or later, he will be in the old K position.
"Kachakacha..."
The dozens of invited media are all selected major media, including American and international media, and they are full of influence.
"Old K, ESPN believes that the Knicks have a higher chance of winning the championship than the Lakers. Do you agree with their view?" a reporter asked.
"How many times have ESPN's predictions been correct? To be honest, I no longer believe in their professionalism. They should change their editor-in-chief to someone who knows more about basketball." Lao Wang said with a smile.
"So what do you think the Lakers' chances of winning the championship will be in the new season?" the reporter asked.
"1." Lao Wang raised his right index finger.
"1?"
Except for Zhang Lili and some Chinese reporters, the other reporters were a little confused.
"Old K, do you think the Lakers only have a 1% chance of winning the championship?" A reporter asked loudly, ignoring the order of questions.
"Are 1 and 1% the same? I think there is a hundred times difference between them, don't you think?" Lao Wang said with a surprised look on his face.
"Damn, he was 100 percent right."
"What he said was not one percent, make no mistake."
The reporters who reacted shouted.
"Ha ha……"
Seeing Wang Tiejun teasing reporters, Zhang Lili and others laughed.
"Old K, bragging doesn't work. When facing opponents like Black and White + Sabonis, Big Dream + Duncan, O'Neal + Jordan, Ewing + Reggie Miller, Admiral + Antoine Walker, you should speak with your record.
." A reporter shouted loudly.
"You are right, sir, but I also have Richmond, Chris Mullin, and Mark Price beside me. Our four all-star lineups, how can we still lose to them?" Lao Wang said disdainfully.
"Ha ha……"
Seeing Lao Wang bragging, the reporters below all laughed.
Who doesn't know that the two veterans Chris Mullin and Mark Price have long since lost the ability to be All-Stars, and there are still four All-Stars. Whoever believes in them is a fool.
At this time, the Knicks are also holding their own media meeting day for the new season.
"Michael, if you meet old K again in the Finals in the new season, are you confident that the Knicks' lineup will defeat his Lakers?" a New York Sports reporter asked.
"Our lineup is very strong, but we cannot underestimate the Lakers, old K+Richmond, and two veterans Chris Mullin and Mark Price. They are very competitive. But we also will not underestimate ourselves. We
We will fight with all our strength, and we will always be confident in defeating any opponent." Jordan said firmly.
"Michael, do you agree with ESPN's prediction of winning chances?" a reporter from New York Sports asked.
The look on Jordan's face did not look relaxed, and he said solemnly: "The prediction of winning probability is not important, I don't value that very much.
But the new season will be a very fierce competition, and each of us must keep high spirits and play every game well.
What I want to say is that we are ready. This offseason, Shaq and I worked out together and we monitored each other..."
O'Neal had a bitter look on his face. Thinking of the past few months of offseason, he felt like he was breaking down.
"O'Neal, stop being lazy and get up to train. Old K is shitting and peeing on your head. Do you still want to lose?"
"Shark, well done! But that's not enough. Your weight must be controlled at 135 kilograms, just like old K. Only then will you have a chance to beat him. Hurry up and train! Hurry! Hurry up, move quickly..."
"Shaq, do you still want to win? Then move quickly, don't sit there and breathe."
"Damn it, do you want the championship? Run quickly, you're still twenty laps away."
In the past three months, he had been beaten with a whip all over his body. He was frightened when he heard Jordan's roar.
However, after hellish training, his weight has come down and is now 138 kilograms. Although it has not reached the 135 kilograms mentioned by Jordan, it is already very good. He lost more than ten kilograms in one offseason.
Now, he can run as fast as he did in his rookie season, jump as high as he did in his rookie season, his physical fitness is better, and he seems to have endless energy.
Now he has the confidence to push old K to the floor and rub him.
"Shark, you seem to be a different person compared to last season. What's the reason for this change?" At this time, the next reporter asked a question on his head.
"Train, train, train," he shouted with a tigerish face.
"Shark, do you hate training?" the reporter asked.
O'Neal laughed and said quickly: "Of course not. What I like most is training. Now I can see what New York looks like at four o'clock in the morning every day."
"Aren't you going to get up to pee at four o'clock in the morning?" Everyone cursed in their hearts.
"By the way, I have a new nickname, you can call me Dajia Lian Wang." O'Neal shouted proudly.
"Daiga Lianwang?"
Everyone looked at each other, what kind of bullshit nickname is this?
