Pick Westbrook

Chapter 340 Because You Are The Leader Of This Team

"We're back in New Orleans!"

on the plane.

The players of the Hornets were extremely excited. Beverly hugged Butler and Leonard kept making troubles, as if the Hornets had won the championship.

The facially paralyzed Leonard couldn't help but giggled under Beverly's deliberate provocation.

Jimmy Butler spoke fluent street trash talk, mocking the Grizzlies for not being able to beat them even with the help of referees.

Paul is smiling and his eyes are full of desire. As long as he wins the next game, he will reach the conference finals for the first time in his career and touch the floor of the Western Conference Finals.

In the cabin where the coaching staff was, Du Feng heard the players' laughter and early celebration in another cabin, and he couldn't help raising his head to look at Li Lai and said with a smile.

"I'm afraid no one in the world would have thought that we could make it to the conference finals."

"No, most people didn't even expect us to make the playoffs."

Stevens recalled that at the beginning of the season, commentators generally believed that among the teams in the middle of the West, the Clippers were the stronger team, and the Hornets were far from being inferior to each other.

But by now, no one would have such an idea again.

The Hornets are led by Paul, plus DeAndre Jordan, Vince Carter, Beverly, Jimmy Butler, Leonard, JR Smith, Diaw, Oden.
All the players work together to make this team better and better.

Stevens couldn't help chuckling, even when he officially started the preseason with the Hornets, he also had the idea that the team would have a high probability of failing to compete for the No. [-] pick.

But the facts have proved that Li Lai has his own pride, and he will never allow his team to perform poorly.

"What are they doing."

At this moment, Li Lai suddenly raised his head and said.

Contrary to the relaxed expressions on the faces of Du Feng and Stevens, Li Lai's face is calm at this moment, and even looks a little serious.

Du Feng laughed and said, "The players are very excited because they are about to reach the Western Conference finals."

Li Lai looked up at Du Feng at this moment and said, "When did we make it to the Western Conference Finals?"

Before Du Feng could react, he continued: "Now the big score leads 3:1, and the next game will be our home game."

"So the Hornets are sure to win?" Li Lai looked at Du Feng angrily.

The latter also reacted quickly. In the history of the NBA playoffs, there are not no tragic cases where a 3:1 lead was overturned.

In the Western Conference semifinals in 95, the Rockets reversed the Suns 1:3.

The Rockets didn't have a good time that season. Although they just successfully won the NBA championship last season, there are still many problems.

The chemical reaction is not good, the players are injured, and the record is behind. Many players in the team are considering changing teams and big contracts.

And their opponent, the Suns, not only has the flying pig Charles Barkley, but also the best second team Kevin Johnson, AC-Green and other powerful players.

The Rockets achieved a shocking reversal under such circumstances of internal and external pressure and encountered a desperate crisis, and won the final championship trophy and defended their title.

Coach Rudy Tomjanovich's classic saying was born in this round of the series: Never underestimate the heart of a champion!
In the first round of the Eastern Conference in 03, the Pistons reversed the Magic 1:3.

The young McGrady led the Magic to the eighth place in the Eastern Conference and faced the Pistons with the first record in the Eastern Conference in the playoffs.

Just when everyone thought that the Magic would create a black-eight miracle and McGrady was about to ascend to the throne, the sentence that I was already preparing for the next round of playoffs caused McGrady and the Magic to pay a very heavy price.

Stevens said: "In the history of the NBA playoffs, there have been a total of 8 shocking reversals from 1:3 behind."

“分别是68年东决，绿军1：3逆转费城！70年西决，湖人1：3逆转太阳！79年东决，华盛顿子弹队1：3逆转马刺！”

“81年东决，绿军1：3逆转费城！95年西部半决赛，火箭1：3逆转太阳！97年东部半决赛，热火1：3逆转尼克斯！”

“还有03年东部首轮，活塞1：3逆转魔术！06年西部首轮，太阳1：3逆转湖人！”

"I don't want us to be the ninth."

Li Lai nodded. He knew very well that the Grizzlies were not an underdog in the league. It would not be easy for the Hornets to lead the opponent 3:1.

Moreover, this Grizzlies team is the counterattack team of the Spurs in Black Seven, and they will not be like those teams that are destined to go through the process in one round in terms of toughness and mentality.

The Grizzlies will never give up on the next game.

"Being nailed to the board of historical stigma is secondary. I am angry that the players are so indulgent before the end of the series. No matter in terms of heart or self-discipline, this is not what a strong team should have."

Seeing Li Lai was so angry about this matter, Du Feng finally realized the seriousness of the problem.

Stevens knew his head coach's fiery temper after being provoked, so he quickly suggested: "The morale of the players is high at this time, which is also a good thing."

"If you criticize it at this time, I'm afraid it will cause bad influence and results."

Du Feng hurriedly nodded in agreement. As a player, he knew very well what it felt like to be poured cold water on players in this state.

So I suggested: "How about letting me supervise the players and work with them, so that they can calm down and go all out to win the next game?"

Li Lai thought for a while, and agreed to Stevens and Du Feng's proposal, and he also handed over the matter to them.

5 month 22 day.

Western Conference playoffs semifinals, Game [-].

The entire New Orleans arena was packed, and the fans were extremely excited.

Since the Hornets moved to New Orleans in 2002, they have never reached the conference finals. If they can win tonight's game, it will be of great significance to the entire city.

In the center of the lake in Crescent City, an old man wearing a Saints jersey suddenly erected a huge billboard there.

It read: Do you still believe in fate and curse?Join the Hornets to break the curse that hangs over the city.We can't help it!

Inside the arena.

Beverly was still arrogantly taunting the Grizzlies, and even ran to the opponent's bench to practice three-pointers, and kept chattering.

Jimmy Butler waved his hands extremely hard to incite the emotions of the fans on the scene, and shouted loudly: Western Conference Finals, here we come!
With the shouts and screams of New Orleans fans, the game began.

As soon as the Grizzlies came up, they showed their defensive skills and the momentum of breaking the boat. The continuous rotation of defense was in place, so that the Hornets only scored 4 offense in the first 1 rounds.

Li Lai immediately adjusted the tactics on the offensive end, asked Paul to call out Gasol to play, and frequently consumed the opponent's physical strength on the offensive end.

The game between the two teams has reached this stage, and all the skills, tactics and player characteristics have been completely shown off.

That is to say, which team's players can better execute the team's tactics tonight, and which team's players can seize the opportunity tonight and feel better, then that team will be more likely to win the game tonight. game wins.

Biting defense in the penalty area, stumbling and fighting on the outside.

The players of the Grizzlies and Hornets have already adapted to this way of playing.

At the end of the first quarter, the Hornets still took a slight lead with their flexibility and calling out Gasol's style of play.

25: 22.

The second game.

According to the usual style of play, at this time the Hornets players need to keep an eye on Zach Randolph's inside offense.

And the players who completed this tactical strategy were Beverly and Jimmy Butler who double-teamed the inside defense.

Of course, there is also Leonard, who will be replaced early, and he will also participate soon.

Originally, Li Lai was not worried about the Hornets' defense at this time, but what he didn't expect at all was that Beverly and Jimmy Butler failed to help defend the inside twice in a row, allowing Zach Randolph to successfully score. .

Zach Randolph was a little confused, and it was obvious that the Hornets' defensive bite tonight was far inferior to the previous 4 games.

Especially the kind of ruthlessness on the defensive end, the Hornets' rotation is completely gone at this moment.

On the spot commentary stand, Barkley frowned and said: "If you only talk about defense, the Hornets' bench players can bring a terrifying sense of oppression to the opponent more than the starting players."

"After all, Beverly and Jimmy Butler are too brutal and rude in defense. Any player can't help but feel guilty when facing them."

"But this game tonight, I didn't see the Hornets' rotation players have such momentum on the court."

Kenny Smith looked at Beverly and Jimmy Butler on the court, and also found some problems on the defensive end of the two.

The running is not timely, the assistance defense is not in place, and the double-teaming is not detailed enough
The characteristics of the Hornets on the defensive end in the past completely disappeared tonight.

More importantly, Kenny Smith obviously found that the Hornets' rotation players were a little weak, which is very inappropriate in the playoffs.

The Grizzlies took this opportunity to blast a wave of 11:2 offensive highs.

This is the playoffs, and this is facing the Grizzlies, who are not good at offense at all, and let them play a high offensive slot!
beep!beep!
Li Lai called a long timeout in front of the technical stage with his hands on his hips.

He stood near the center line panting heavily and looked at Beverly, Jimmy Butler and others, and the two quickly shrank their necks in fright.

The appearance of Beverly and Jimmy Butler at this moment is in stark contrast to the arrogant appearance on the plane that day.

All the Hornets players surrounded Li Lai, and Du Feng frightenedly handed the tactical board to Li Lai, who took it and threw it on the ground angrily.

"You guys are amazing!"

"Why don't you taunt the Grizzlies?"

"Why don't you shout to reach the Western Conference Finals now!"

"40:52! 12 points behind!"

"How to fight, how to win!"

All the players were silent at this time. They were very clear about the state of their teammates and opponents on the court, and they could observe extremely carefully.

In tonight's game, some of their players did have big problems on the court.

Stevens knew who those players were, but he didn't point it out at this time. He believed that Coach Li Lai would definitely not point it out at this time either.

Because in such an important playoffs, it is a very bad picture to make such accusations in front of all the fans around the world.

"Beverly! Tell me what you did on the court tonight!"

Beverly, who had always been a mad dog, saw Li Lai's terrifying eyes at this moment, and lowered his head guiltily.

He really didn't rotate his defense in place tonight, and that's the only thing he can do on the court who is not good at offense.

"You finally returned to the NBA, and you want to leave here so much?"

Li Lai's words made Beverly raise his head in shock.

In 1988, Beverly was born in a single family in the black capital of the United States. In order to support the family, Beverly's mother had to associate with many men.

Those men are not very good people, Beverly has learned a lot of street gangsters from them, and is very skilled.

Beverly, who grew up in such an environment, has no dreams, no love for the world, and his physical talent is not outstanding. He should have spent his life in a daze, but he has always stubbornly wanted to play basketball.

Even though he was abandoned by many NBA teams after the draft in 09, he chose to go to the European League many times, unwilling to give up his dream easily.

Because he wants to make money too much.

People like him can only get ahead by playing basketball. This is the only way most low-level people in the United States can change their destiny.

Beverly wants to buy a house for her mother.

It doesn't need to be too big, it doesn't need to be too good, it just needs to be a house.

Beverly watched Li Lai's eyes suddenly moisten, and he suddenly realized how big a mistake he had made, and how wrong it was for a player to make a mistake in such an important playoff game.

"coach."

Li Lai looked at him, waiting for the next sentence.

Beverly knew what Li Lai wanted to know, so he said frankly: "Yes, we went to the bar street in New Orleans to relax last night."

"You know, we're all bachelors, that's the only place we can go."

Li Lai let out a long breath, and he guessed so.

"us?"

Beverly looked at Li Lai and realized that he had slipped his tongue. Originally, he wanted to get it back, but looking at the coach's clean eyes, he couldn't tell a lie.

Jimmy Butler admitted: "Coach, don't blame Beverly, I brought up this matter, and I did it."

In the playoffs, players go out and mess around before the game, which is a taboo for any team.

What's more, Li Lai announced the ban on smoking, drinking, and sexual indulgence as early as the start of the playoffs, and Beverly and Jimmy Butler both knowingly committed crimes, so they will inevitably be punished in the team.

Li Lai said suddenly, "Who else is there?"

Both Beverly and Jimmy Butler shook their heads affirmatively at this time.

They are very clear that that player is a problem player, and no player was willing to take over during the off-season last season.

In the end, Li Lai accepted the other party and offered a good middle-class contract.

Both Beverly and Jimmy Butler have heard about the terms of the contract. If his mistakes are revealed at this time, something more serious may happen.

Li Lai looked at the two people who were silent, and then glanced at Du Feng who was supposed to be staring at these players.

Du Feng said quickly: "That night Leonard hoped that I could tell him about the tactics of the Grizzlies, so we discussed together for a long time."

Leonard, who has always been expressionless, lowered his head and raised his eyes at this moment, and secretly glanced at Li Lai, feeling extremely panicked.

Li Lai heaved a long sigh. He didn't expect that even Leonard, who always seemed honest and honest, would get involved.

"It's your choice, let's talk about it after the game."

"If you lose this game tonight, you are the team's sinners."

"Chris, you have to take full responsibility for their affairs, because you are the leader of this team!"

(End of this chapter)