Pick Westbrook

Chapter 291 Slow down and play tactics for me
Taylor Swift naturally saw the news about the Bucks some time ago and knew that the team was sold beyond everyone's expectations.

At that time, she immediately thought of the high-spirited Li Lai she had seen on the court, and she was inexplicably worried about his situation.

As a result, within a few days, I heard the news that the Hornets had been acquired by Li Lai, and I couldn't help but pray for the other party's good luck.

Taylor looked at Li Lai and asked curiously, "What will this team be called in the future?"

Li Lai said very seriously: "The Pelicans."

Taylor blushed when she heard the name, thinking that this is the name in a poem she improvised just now?
Taylor, who was thinking wildly, didn't hug the small book in his hand, and slid from his chest to his feet, which happened to be where Li Lai was.

Li Lai picked up the small book. On it was a series of music scores, and the lyrics were being written at the bottom of the music scores.

Taylor said: "I have a little house on the shore of New Orleans that no one knows, and that place is my favorite place to create."

"I come here whenever I want to write a song."

After speaking, Taylor picked up the guitar beside her and started to play the tune of the song. Since there were no lyrics, she hummed softly.

Li Lai couldn't help but close his eyes and listen to this piece of music, a long time passed in a flash.

At this time, the boat also drifted to another shore.

There was a kind old man on the shore. After seeing Taylor, he waved and greeted Taylor with a smile. The two could be regarded as neighbors.

It's just that the old man who saw Taylor brought a strange man here for the first time was extremely surprised, and had some impressions of this man in his mind, but he couldn't remember anything.

"I remember seeing reports about him recently. Who is he?"

The old man watched the two talking and laughing on the shore, and Taylor started to play the guitar at the man's suggestion, but this time it was not just an accompaniment, her soft humming became a line of lyrics.

"Beautiful morning without dressing up, I became an ordinary girl next door, lost and lonely, young and miserable, eating breakfast as supper, strangers intruded into my troubles, falling in love was so simple, wonderfully like magic generally."

"I don't know how you feel, as long as you are by my side, nothing can stop me, I feel that youth is blooming"

After a long time, Taylor looked at the completed lyrics in his hand in amazement, and looked at Li Lai happily.

She remembered the purpose of Li Lai's trip today, so she said at the right time: "My song has been written, what would you like to call it?"

Li Lai paused, thought for a while and said, "22."

"22?!"

Taylor, who was originally frowning and slightly startled, suddenly thought of something, glanced at Li Lai with a deer in his heart, and whispered, "Okay."

Seeing that it was getting late, Li Lai also settled his thoughts, so he took his leave at this time.

The kind old man on the bank said cheerfully, "If I remember correctly, that little girl was born in 1989."

Li Lai smiled back at the old man and said, "That's why it's called 22."

The old man said: "I remembered, you just took over as the owner of the Hornets, and your name is Li Lai."

Li Lai nodded and saw the New Orleans Saints American football jersey the old man was wearing.

Last year, the Saints reached the final of the 44th Super Bowl, but it was a pity that they were defeated by the Indianapolis Colts 17-31 and missed the championship.

For fans in this city, they would rather support the Saints than the Hornets.

Because the Saints at least give them hope, and the Hornets never gave them hope.

"Since the establishment of the four major leagues in 1964, the city has never won a championship of the four major professional leagues."

"This is a cursed city, whether it's the Super Bowl or the NBA, we're always so far away from that trophy."

Li Lai said seriously: "I will bring a championship trophy to this city."

The old man who heard this sentence looked at Li Lai in surprise, then shook his head affirmatively and said, "You can't do it."

In fact, the Jazz had been established in New Orleans as early as 1974. At that time, the fans in New Orleans were very excited. They held up the tickets in their hands and shouted that we also have a team.

In the following years, the Jazz was rubbed on the ground by almost all NBA teams, and missed the playoffs for several consecutive years.

It's not that the Jazz's lineup was poor and the team was weak. On the contrary, the Jazz's lineup at the time was extremely strong, with star players like Pete Maravich, Truk Robinson and Spencer Haywood.

But unfortunately, they will always encounter a series of problems such as injuries, transactions, and conflicts in the locker room during the regular season.

Because of these problems, they would shout the New Orleans championship almost every season, but the actual result was that they couldn't even make the playoffs.

In the end, even the team's front office thought the city was cursed, so they moved to Salt Lake City in the 20s.

The city also ushered in a brief goodbye to the NBA.

Coincidentally, after the Jazz moved to Salt Lake City, they made the playoffs in their first season and even made it to the second round.

If this is the case, most people will only think that this is the bad luck of the city of New Orleans, and what happened to the Jazz should only be a coincidence.

But New Orleans' sports misfortune was far from over.

In the 1975 NFL playoffs, the Saints were scored by Terry Bradshaw, and then met Terry Bradshaw again in 1976, 1979 and 1980. In seconds, Terry Bradshaw received a throw-in from his teammate and got rid of the two-person pinch lore.

The ace team of the 80s, the New Orleans Saints, has since become an unsupportable idiot, unable to recover after a setback.

Even more unfortunate is that in January 1988, the Saints of the Jim Mora era competed with the Denver Broncos for the American League championship.

1 minute and 12 seconds before the end of the game, the Saints running back Bainer obviously had a chance to complete the touchdown, but inexplicably lost the ball at the 3-yard line, and the Saints lost the championship.

This series of misfortunes in New Orleans has also become the most memorable moment in the history of American sports.

The most helpless and aggrieved thing for the fans in this city is that New Orleans is the victim of almost every misfortune.

"This has been a curse for 48 years, and no one can lead us out of the sea of ​​suffering."

"We've always believed that New Orleans would wait for his savior, but that's all bullshit."

"Chicago has a savior, Los Angeles has a savior, every city in America has their savior, except us, New Orleans."

"This is the curse!"

At this time, the old man has fallen into the memories of the past, and he has no passion for the city at that time.

Yes, he resigned to his fate.

Not only him, every fan in New Orleans has resigned.

There will be no exceptions, no miracles, this is a cursed city, and any hero who comes here will suffer from a series of problems such as injuries, trades, and conflicts.

Li Lai was silent for a while, and fell into deep thought.

From the first day he stepped into the city, he felt lifeless.

It's not the deadness of the people who live here, but the deadness of the whole city.

This is the most prestigious and beautiful water city in the United States, you can't see a little bit of vitality and vitality in it.

Even if Li Lai took over the team and ended the Hornets' years of no management farce, the city was not excited about it.

"Sports hurt the city, and the city can only be saved by sports."

Li looked at the old man and said very seriously.

The old man had already guessed what the kid in front of him was going to do, he tried to continue shaking his head, but Li Lai interrupted him in advance.

"Don't rush to deny it. When the first game of the regular season starts, let's see if this team can bring new life to this city."

"You have to believe in miracles, what if they come true."

8 month 5 day.

League headquarters approved the name change application of the New Orleans Hornets.

The name change will also be delayed until next season as jerseys, advertising and other mature merchandise come into play.

This season will be the last for the New Orleans Hornets.

After the Hornets' name change application was approved at the league headquarters, Jordan immediately submitted the same name change application to the league.

The Charlotte Bobcats will be renamed the Charlotte Hornets next season.

The determination of this news immediately aroused the cheers of all fans in the city of Charlotte, because they finally waited until the return of their team.

On the contrary, fans in the city of New Orleans remained indifferent after hearing the news.

"Less than 1% of the team's first round of season ticket sales has come to fruition," Hammond said.

"Based on the current situation, by the time the regular season starts, season ticket sales are estimated to be less than 20%."

Standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows of the office in the New Orleans Arena, Li Lai looked at the arena below and the Mississippi River opposite, with no anxious expression on his face.

Back then, the Bucks also encountered such a situation. At that time, they persisted through such difficulties. For Li Lai, he was already immune to the current difficulties.

"Just one game, just one regular season."

"The city will be injected with fresh blood."

Ever since he saw Li Lai's miracle of bringing the Bucks to the top of the league in three years, Hammond now has great confidence in Li Lai's ability to do everything he promised.

Of course, in the past three years, Hammond has also met Li Lai, who is the hardest and most diligent.

Hammond continued: "Last season, the Hornets' home arena attendance rate was 75.7%, the lowest in the league."

"Except for the Bucks, Lakers, and Heat visiting super championship teams, the Hornets' home arena attendance can reach 100%, and the rest of the home games are horrible."

"It is worth mentioning that during the absence of Chris Paul due to injury, the Hornets' home arena was less than 30% full."

"This is an extremely terrifying statistic, and you can only see a few sporadic figures in the arena."

Hammond would like to say that the current situation of the Hornets may be more annoying than the Bucks back then.

At that time, although the Bucks had a mediocre record and a mediocre team lineup, they still had the support and love of the fans for the team.

But now this Hornets team has not only just announced the reconstruction, but there are no fans supporting this team. At most they are supporting Chris Paul.

8 month 15 day.

Li Lai asked about the situation of Li Ning's factory, and learned from Wang Lishen that because the Bucks won the championship again and Curry was elected FMVP, the order of sneakers has been booming.

Coupled with the fact that Li Ning has signed players such as rookies Kyrie Irving, Kemba Walker, and Klay Thompson this season, it is already difficult for a factory in Milwaukee to complete the production of sneakers.

Li Ning's company headquarters hopes that Li Lai can expand the construction of the factory and make a geographical layout of it.

The two cities of New Orleans and Milwaukee almost span the entire United States. If the sneakers are produced on both sides at the same time, all regions can be taken care of to the greatest extent.

Under Li Lai's instruction, foodie Wang Lishen came to New Orleans to build a new factory.

The initial investment is 6000 million, and the entire factory will be completed in three phases. The fastest completion of the first phase will take about three months.

Of course, the first thing Wang Lishen did when she came to New Orleans was not related to work. She begged Li Lai to take her out for a meal, and she also made a great wish to eat all the delicacies in New Orleans.

Because the construction of the factory took a long time, the thick-skinned Wang Lishen simply stayed at Li Lai's house.

Of course, during the period, Wang Lishen inevitably complained about Li Lai's small and ordinary house, but luckily there were two rooms, otherwise Li Lai would have to sleep on the sofa.

8 month 17 day.

Li Lai met with Cuban. He made a plan for the future development direction of the Kulai company, and at the same time hoped that Cuban's team would start the research and development of the Kulai APP.

Cuban was a little confused about Li Lai's proposal and idea.

Kulai Freight is just a courier company. At present, it has developed extremely rapidly, and it can be regarded as the leading leading company in the United States.

But now this courier company actually wants to conduct online research and development, focusing on the work and operation of mobile phone software. What is the significance of this?
"Could it be possible to check the phone before picking up the courier?"

"No one in the United States will do this. They are all waiting for the courier to come to their door."

Li Lai naturally knew that Cuban did not understand the deep meaning of his plan.

He can say responsibly that within two years, everyone will look at their mobile phones before picking up express delivery in the future. The reason they don't look at it now is because online sales and e-commerce are not fully popularized.

Li Lai is well aware of the future prospects of online sales and development, so he took the initiative to discuss with Cuban in detail for one night, and fully confided his thoughts.

After listening to all Li Lai's thoughts, Cuban was shocked for a moment, looking at the other party in shock and said.

"You don't want to start a courier company, you are planning to build a top online sales platform in the United States!!!"

Li Lai didn't hide his thoughts at this time, and said, "That's right, this is the final appearance of Kulai Express Company."

"I hope that within 2-3 years, countless companies will be able to log into the Kulai APP and sell their products online."

"We not only have to take on the role of building an electronic sales platform for the other party, but also take on the freight of these commodities."

"This is a complete industrial chain!"

"So, our freight transfer station will have to expand again from now on."

9 month 1 day.

Hornets training camp begins.

Hammond announced at the behest of Li Lai that the entire training camp will be open to the outside world, and all fans can come to the training camp to watch the Hornets' team training.

Chris Paul, Patrick Beverley, Leonard, JR Smith, Willie Green, Jimmy Butler, Vince Carter, Rashard Lewis, Louis Amundson, DeAndre Jordan, Jason Smith, DJ Mbenga.

All the players of the Hornets for the new season are here.

Stevens looked at the player in front of him expectantly, and then glanced at Li Lai expectantly.

During the summer league, Stevens summed up a lot of tactics and experience about the Hornets, but he didn't choose to tell Li Lai the experience in the first place.

In Stevens' view, this Hornets team is a team with great defensive potential, especially the perimeter defense. The new season will definitely become a nightmare for many teams.

Of course, in terms of interior defense and the team's overall offense, Stevens believes that the Hornets have big problems.

These problems are not expected to be solved by Paul alone, but in Stevens's view, this is still an acceptable picture.

It is enough for a team to have its own strengths and characteristics. It is impossible to think about everything. There is no such perfect team in the world.

Stevens didn't choose to tell Li Lai these things, but also wanted to know if the other party's views were the same as his.

Stevens also wanted to know whether Li Lai, known as the leader of the NBA's young coach generation, had any real skills.

Du Feng on the side took a deep breath.

This is his first NBA coaching tour. Although he only participated as an assistant coach, he has learned a lot from Stevens during this time.

Du Feng was also looking forward to learning some real skills from Li Lai in the future, but worried whether the other party would be willing to teach them all.

Li took a look at the gate of the training camp and said: "I announced before the opening of the training camp that the entire team training of the Hornets will be open to the public."

"But sadly, none of the fans chose to come and watch us train."

"I don't know how you guys feel, but I'm excited right now."

"I want our fans to take a good look at our abilities after the start of the regular season and let them know that it would be a lifelong regret if they didn't choose to watch our training at this time."

Paul was silent at this time, he was used to New Orleans fans treating the Hornets like this.

In fact, since the Hornets have no boss and the team's record has plummeted again, this team has no fans, so there are so many people who are unwilling to take over the Hornets.

Paul looked at Li Lai and suddenly felt that Li Lai was a little silly.

"I heard that the Nets have also sold, and a Russian businessman took over. After the 2011-12 season, the team will officially move to Brooklyn, New York."

"No matter how you look at it, the environment and future of the Nets are much better than the current Hornets."

As for the other Hornets players, they all have their own ideas in mind at this time.

JR Smith is here to get a big contract. He has already made up his mind. No matter what the Hornets' next team tactics are, he only needs to score and play good data.

Of course, JR Smith also needs to worry about the terms Lee set for him.

Thinking of this, JR Smith looked at Li Lai and felt angry.

"If no team is willing to take me over this offseason, I won't sign your messy contract."

This is Vince Carter's first day at the Hornets. Looking at the team's atmosphere, he doesn't think this is a strong team.

On the contrary, Vince Carter has already begun to doubt what Li Lai told him to believe in the power of belief. He even thinks that Li Lai is a big fool.

Patrick Beverly cherishes this opportunity to stay in the NBA very much, and he hopes to leave some good impressions in the mind of head coach Li Lai.

Beverley wants to stay in the NBA, and the Hornets in the rebuilding period are his best choice.

Coupled with the fact that this team has Chris Paul, a top-five point guard in the league, Beverly also wants to stay with the opponent and learn something.

Rashard Lewis has no feeling for this team, and he is even thinking about when to apply for a buyout from the Hornets management.

With his ability and experience, at the age of 32, he should join a team that can win the championship.

Such as the Heat, Lakers, Mavericks, Spurs
Rookies Leonard and Jimmy Butler are much more excited, and they can't wait to have their first team training in their careers.

Little Jordan kept looking at Paul beside him.

He was thinking, whether Li Lai said he could jump, catch the ball, jump and catch the ball when he recruited him, whether he could really play with Paul's help.

Louis Amundson, Jason Smith, DJ Mbenga and other players, they don't even know whether they can stay with the Hornets this season, or whether they will be involved in a trade in the middle of the season.

So there is also no sense of belonging to the Hornets.

Li Lai looked at the players who had their own thoughts, and knew that the team was still scattered and needed a lot of things to get together again.

For example, the consecutive victories in the regular season, the confidence given by the fans, or the addition of a big contract.
"In the new season, we will become a strong defensive team. Our core tactics are defensive tactics. We will definitely become the best defensive team in the league."

At this time, Li Lai set the playing style and tactical direction of the entire team for the new season.

All the players murmured, because Li Lai has always been a coach who is very good at offense in the reputation of the entire league.

Defense doesn't seem to be his housekeeping skill.

However, Stevens nodded in agreement, secretly thinking that Li Lai is not a person with a vain reputation, and he has exactly the same ideas as himself in terms of team play and tactical direction.

At this time, all the players had new ideas in their hearts.

For example, JR Smith, he is thinking about whether his defensive ability can adapt to this Hornets.

Li Lai continued: "We will also become a strong offensive team in the new season."

what! !

Hearing these words, Stevens was agitated.

He looked at Li Lai in disbelief.

How can a team be a strong defensive team and a strong offensive team at the same time? Even those championship teams dare not say such a thing. Why is the rebuilt Hornets?
The players in front of them also had the same thought.

This Hornets team is already very good if they can play well on defense or offense. Why can they play well on offense and defense at the same time.

Li Lai smiled lightly, seeing the emotions of the players and Stevens. He raised his hand and said without explaining, nor did he need to explain.

"In the 2011-12 season, the first day of the Hornets' team training match, the group confrontation began!"

"Group A: Point guard Chris Paul, shooting guard Leonard, small forward Vince Carter, power forward Rashard Lewis and center DeAndre Jordan."

"Group B: Point guard Patrick Beverley, shooting guard JR Smith, small forward Jimmy Butler, power forward Lou Amundson and center Jason Smith."

After speaking, Li looked at Stevens and Du Feng.

Stevens volunteered and said: "I will coach Group B!"

beep!beep!
The referee blows the whistle to signal the players on both sides to get ready and the game is about to start.

Li Lai took out the tactics board and arranged the first tactics for Group A.

"High pick-and-roll tactics!"

The players were not surprised when they heard the name.

Having played many games in the NBA and NCAA, they are already very familiar with this tactic.

So they looked at the tactical board very calmly, ready to see who will be the ball handler, who will be the pick-and-roll player, and how the route will be after the pick-and-roll.

But after seeing Li Lai's tactical arrangement, everyone's eyes widened, and even Paul looked at Li Lai in shock.

"This kind of high pick-and-roll tactics, we have never played before!"

Game start.

DeAndre Jordan jumped high to grab the offensive ball from Jason Smith.

"Jason Smith is 213cm tall, and Jordan Jr. is 211cm tall. It stands to reason that Jason Smith should have a higher probability of jumping the ball."

"But in fact, in terms of wingspan, jumping ability and bullet speed, Jason Smith is not Jordan's opponent."

"So Jordan easily won the jump ball just now."

Du Feng chose to stand with Li Lai at this time, intending to observe the opponent's tactical arrangement and coaching style.

Du Feng had seen Stevens' coaching ability as early as in the summer league and was full of praise for him. He bluntly said that even Stevens, who has never coached an NBA team, has very solid and profound coaching skills.

Du Feng now wants to see how strong Li Lai, who is already the champion bishop, can be.

Paul attacks with the ball.

Leonard's bottom line goes around the pick-and-roll and then pulls to a 45° angle to the right.

Leonard has a certain three-point shooting ability. Although such a run did not produce effective offensive opportunities, it did have a preliminary cut to the opponent's defensive formation.

Vince Carter landed in the left corner, and Rashard Lewis made an off-ball cut after setting a pick-and-roll for Leonard.

His empty cut also attracted the attention of many defensive players.

At this time, Jordan suddenly accelerated to lift outside the three-point line, and Paul started to accelerate at the same time and made a ball-holding screen in the high post.

"This tactic was played beautifully!"

Stevens couldn't help his eyes light up when he saw the offensive tactics played by Group A, and he shouted in surprise.

The same high-post pick-and-roll tactic, Stevens has seen it countless times before, and even he has arranged this tactic for the players to play many times.

But after seeing the high pick-and-roll tactics Li Lai designed for the players, even the proud Stevens felt ashamed.

"Because Jordan mentioned the high post, Jason Smith followed, so Paul would have a great opportunity to get to the basket."

"Whether he chooses the middle distance or the layup, Paul's ability is extremely easy. This is also the offensive method and offensive area he is most familiar with."

"Li Lai is worthy of being the champion bishop. Not only is his tactical design exquisite, but he can also allow players to shoot in familiar places. He taught me a good lesson in just the first round."

Just as Stevens was admiring, Chris Paul threw the ball into the sky with one hand beyond everyone's expectations, and Jordan Jr. jumped up and down after the pick-and-roll.

Looking at Jordan's take-off height and take-off range behind him, Jason Smith quickly hugged his head.

This level of jumping ability is no longer something he can defend against. I am afraid that except for first-class centers such as Warcraft Howard and Tyson Chandler who have a little hope of being able to defend, the rest have no possibility.

boom! ! !
"Empty catch dunk!"

A powerful dunk made Paul jump excitedly.

He has found that Jordan and his pick-and-roll are more threatening than Tyson Chandler and his pick-and-roll.

Especially in terms of ending, Jordan is definitely the top player in the league that Paul has ever seen. I am afraid that only Warcraft Howard may be better than Jordan in this regard.

This dunk also stunned all the players.

This is not the first time they have seen the power of high pick-and-roll tactics. Nash and the bully Stoudemire used this trick to defeat all teams in the league.

However, the pick-and-roll between Paul and Jordan is even more special, if you want them to tell what is special.

"Probably the level of violence and visual enjoyment."

"This is the most exaggerated high pick-and-roll I've ever seen!"

Stevens let out a long breath. At this moment, he had already admired Li Lai so much.

He thought he had seen through the tactics Li Lai designed for the players, but he didn't expect that there would be surprises in the end.

Group B attack.

Stevens crossed his arms and yelled at the players to start running.

Jason Smith dropped low, JR Smith circled the screen, and Jimmy Butler made an air cut.

This is a common tactic in which the center plays in the low post and plays singles at the same time, and it is also the basis of the tactical foundation that most coaches should master.

Li Lai saw Stevens' solid coaching skills. With his current ability, he could even coach a lowly team in the league. After a season or two of hard training, it shouldn't be a big problem to become a top-notch coach in the league.

In terms of personal ability, there is also a big difference between Stevens and Tyronn Lue of the Bucks.

Tyronn Lue is a master of tactics. He is proficient in almost all tactics, and he is extremely good at handling the relationship between players and coaches.

All the Bucks players, except Li Lai, also like Tyronn Lue the most.

Unlike Stevens, he does not have as rich tactical reserves as Tyronn Lue, but his ability to analyze tactics and solve tactics is obviously stronger.

This is also his unique ability characteristic.

"Stevens will help me, just like Tyronn Lue can help me."

Li Lai walked to the side of the court and gestured for a single defense, and at the same time asked Paul and Leonard to assist in zone defense.

Stevens frowned when he saw this.

Because Beverly and Butler's three-point shooting is not stable, and they don't have the ability to shoot three-pointers quickly.

So in the case that Jordan was already able to limit Jason Smith very well, Paul and Leonard also stood in the zone defense position, which can not only block the passing route, but also suddenly attack Jason Smith. Double-teaming can also quickly return to the defensive player.

"There's something about this defensive tactic!"

Jason Smith chose a turnaround jumper, and was slapped by Jordan with a big cap.

Paul grabbed the defensive rebound, and when he was about to push for a fast break, Li Lai pressed his hand to signal.

"You play defensively and counterattack, how can the opponent defend?"

"This is team training, slow down and get used to tactics!"

(End of this chapter)