Pick Westbrook

Chapter 353 Reporting to the Men's Basketball Team
6 month 9 day.

Li Lai, Zhang Weiping, Hammond and Wang Lishen went to Jingbei, China.

Gong Luming and Lanxie's management team were already waiting at the airport.

After the game between the Hornets and the Lakers a few days ago, Su Qun, who knew the inside story, couldn't help but mention the news on the live broadcast.

"NBA champion bishop Li Lai will coach this year's Chinese women's national team men's basketball team to compete in the London Olympics."

As soon as this news appeared, the entire Internet was in an uproar.

Chinese fans without the ball joined the discussion about Li Lai coaching the Chinese men's basketball team.

"I'm afraid this is the biggest head coach ever hired by the Chinese men's basketball team?"

"Li Lai is a champion coach and holds two NBA championship rings. Whether it is coaching ability, tactical arrangement, or on-the-spot response, he has already received praise from countless coaches."

"The Chinese men's basketball team has hope for this year's Olympic Games!"

"Heh, a group of guys who worship foreigners, why does the Chinese men's basketball team have to find foreign coaches? Are domestic coaches not enough?"

"I agree. Although Li Lai has proved his ability in the NBA, the international arena is completely different from the NBA arena. Whether it is the rules or the way of playing, there are big differences."

"Do you know why the head coach of the American Dream Team is Mike Krzyzewski, nicknamed Coach K, instead of some Zen masters Phil Jackson and Larry Brown?"

"A life-and-death game is completely different from the NBA game, so the dream team will hire the old K coach who coaches the NCAA."

"But Li Lai has never coached the NCAA, or even coached a life-and-death game. Why should we trust him? Hire him?"

"The Chinese men's basketball team is finished. We will waste Yao's last peak period. The Chinese men's basketball team will miss the best opportunity to create records and miracles."

"."

Gong Luming naturally also saw the comments and hot discussions on the Internet, and he was a little worried about it.

It is true that Li Lai has achieved great fame and countless honors in the NBA, but that is the NBA after all, and the coaches are also NBA players.

In the Chinese men's basketball team, except for a few players who have been to the NBA, most players have never been to the NBA.

Therefore, Gong Luming was very worried about whether Li Lai's tactics would be suitable for the current Guojia team.

It would be a disaster if he arranged a defender to jump and dunk from the free throw line like he did with Westbrook at that time.

"there's always a solution to any problem."

Wang Fei patted Gong Luming on the shoulder and said: "The selection of Li Lai is a decision made by all of us, Dayao, Yi Jianlian, you, and me."

"We actually believe in Coach Li Lai's coaching ability, so we must maintain confidence in him."

After finishing speaking, Wang Fei pointed to behind him, and Gong Luming subconsciously looked at it.

Because the news that Li Lai is about to coach the Chinese men's basketball team has disappeared, his itinerary has also attracted the attention of most fans. There are not many fans who know that he will come to China today.

So there are also a lot of fans rushing to the airport.

"Because of Yi Jianlian, there are also a lot of fans in China who know and like Coach Li Lai."

Wang Fei said.

Gong Luming nodded, knowing that Yi Jianlian originally applied for a deal that year, and his ability and potential were questioned by most people before that.

It was Li Lai who saved Yi Jianlian's career and helped him reach the All-Star Game.

This season, Yijianlian has a player option. He can jump out of the original contract to chase a new and bigger contract. There are many teams interested in him.

Thinking of this, Gong Luming took a deep breath, and then his eyes became firm.

He knew that this time was not the time to doubt the original decision. Since the Chinese men's basketball team chose Li Lai, they should work together with the other party to the end and go further.

Call ~
When the plane stopped at Wuding Airport, Li Lai got out of the plane and walked down slowly. After smelling the familiar smell, he couldn't help but took a deep breath.

Zhang Weiping smiled and said in English: "Coach Li Lai is different from every foreigner who comes to China. You seem to be very familiar and kind to this strange environment."

"Do you want to try our specialties first?"

Zhang Weiping had a deep memory of Li Lai's fondness for Chinese food and wine at Yao Restaurant that night.

Li Lai glanced at Zhang Weiping with a smile, and said in very standard Chinese: "Director Zhang, take a break from drinking Moutai for a while."

"The matter of the women's team is the top priority. Take me to Beijing Sports University first."

As early as on the plane, Zhang Weiping had already told Li Lai in advance that the closed training place of the Chinese men's basketball team this time was Beijing North Sports University.

Guo Shiqiang has also been taking the players to train in that place.

The little girl Wang Lishen stretched a lot after getting off the plane, and then the bell rang: "The air in my hometown is better."

"The girl is finally back."

After stretching, Wang Lishen secretly glanced at Li Lai, then shook her head helplessly.

Originally, she hoped that Li Lai would accompany her back to China to have a good time, and then go to meet her family and relax together.

But now it seems that this is simply a luxury.

Moreover, if Wang Lishen's guess is correct, Li Lai came to China for a very important purpose.

Gong Luming rushed over with a group of people at this time, shook hands with Li Lai and said with a smile.

"It's been a long journey, coach Li Lai, let me take you to the hotel where you are staying to rest first?"

Li Lai looked at Gong Luming who was also speaking to him in English, and said directly: "No need, take me to the training place."

Gong Luming took a deep breath and was about to say that Li Lai is worthy of being a competent head coach, and went to work as soon as he got off the plane, but then he realized something was wrong.

He looked at Zhang Weiping with wide eyes and said, "Chinese? Does he know Chinese?"

Instead, Zhang Weiping looked at Gong Luming with wide eyes and said, "You don't know? It's Chinese with local characteristics."

Zhang Weiping immediately explained to Gong Luming that Li Lai had a Chinese teacher when he was studying, and he learned most of his Chinese from him.

Probably the Chinese teacher is a southerner, so Li Lai speaks Chinese with an authentic southern accent.

Gong Luming took a deep breath at this time and said: "Li Lai has no language barriers to coach the Chinese men's basketball team. He will definitely be able to fully convey his tactical intentions to every player."

Zhang Weiping nodded in agreement and said, "He may be the most suitable foreign coach for the Chinese men's basketball team."

Li Lai got into the convoy brought by Gong Luming, and saw Chinese male fans standing on both sides of the street along the way.

They piled up in groups of three or four, holding national chess in their hands and sticking to their faces, shouting: "The Chinese men's basketball team will make history!"

Just as the convoy continued to drive forward, something that no one expected happened.

A Chinese fan suddenly ran to the middle of the road and blocked the motorcade with his hands open.

Nourishes—

The car brakes suddenly.

Gong Luming couldn't help rolling down the car window and yelling, "You don't want to die!"

The fan ran over in a hurry, and Gong Luming was so frightened that he quickly shrank back into the car and raised the window repeatedly.

The fans found Li Lai, who was also sitting in the car, knocking on the window with a slightly anxious expression.

Gong Luming hurriedly motioned to the driver and said, "Drive away, don't cause any trouble to Coach Li Lai."

At this moment, Li Lai raised his hand to stop the opponent, and then rolled down the window to look at the fan.

Zhang Weiping thought to himself that Li Lai was really bold.

If this is in the United States, who would dare to roll down the window at this time?
But in China, there is no problem at all, because security is not at the same level.

Zhang Weiping knew that Li Lai must know the situation in China very well, so he dared to open the window at this time.

The fan, wearing Yao Ming's No. 13 jersey, looked at Li Lai expectantly and said.

"I know you can't understand what I'm saying, but I know you can feel it."

"It is the dream of all Chinese football fans to make history for the Chinese men's basketball team, and Dayao has worked hard for many years for this."

"Even though he played heavy games in the NBA, he never left the team for a day."

"What is it for? It is for the glory of the Chinese men's basketball team! It is for the dream that we want to touch generation after generation!"

"So help us create history, okay? Coach Li Lai, help us create history. You can do it, you can."

The fan held Li Lai's hand tightly, his eyes were reddish, and his voice was trembling.

Li Lai took a deep breath.

In the past, he blamed Yao Ming for caring too much about the women's team's game, causing his body to suffer a lot, which affected his achievements in the NBA.

But after experiencing the scene just now, he suddenly understood Yao Ming's actions very well.

He was no longer fighting alone, and he was no longer fighting for himself.

On Dayao's shoulders are the dreams and hopes of the entire Chinese people, and on his shoulders are the dreams and expectations of generations of Chinese basketball players.

This is a feeling that athletes from any country in the world cannot experience.

Yao Ming has always been responsible for everything.

"I see."

Li Lai also held the fan's hand and patted it lightly.

Finally, he gave the other party a promise and said: "When I leave, I will wait for you here."

The fan looked at Li Lai in shock, at the rolled up car windows and the car driving away, and then said loudly.

"Can he understand what I'm saying?! He can speak Chinese! Coach Li Lai can speak Chinese!"

Beijing Sports University, the training base of Chinese men's basketball team.

Guo Shiqiang sat on the side of the training ground with a sad face, completely indifferent to watching the players' training on the court.

Because Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian participated in the playoffs, the training is mainly to resume training, and at the same time they will also guide other Chinese players' techniques and skills.

The two brought a lot of very advanced training sessions in the NBA.

With the participation of two people, the players have been training very seriously during this period, so Guo Shiqiang naturally doesn't have to worry too much about the team's training.

In fact, from the official training of the Chinese men's basketball team to the present, the players have been maintaining hard training, even though the position of the head coach of the women's team has been pending, they still do so.

Because, all players know that this season is the closest the Chinese men's basketball team has come to their dreams.

--London Olympics.

"But, can he really coach the Chinese men's basketball team?"

Guo Shiqiang shook his head, he didn't believe it.

Guo Shiqiang has never met Li Lai, nor has he personally experienced the other party's coaching ability.

Although he has watched NBA games, because the small ball era created by the Bucks has completely changed the pattern of basketball, he has especially watched the games coached by Li Lai.

Guo Shiqiang agreed with those NBA coaches who praised Li Lai. The other party is indeed a talented head coach, worthy of a world-class coach.

But what does that have to do with coaching an international game?
Most basketball leagues are in line with the rules of international men's basketball competitions, only the NBA's maverick rules are completely different.

So Li Lai proved that his coaching philosophy can adapt to the NBA, but he never proved that he can coach games under the rules of the international men's basketball system.

He has never coached a game with this kind of rules and system.

"In the international arena, basketball games are a matter of life and death, and the pressure is much higher than that of the NBA playoff series."

"This year's London Olympics is Dayao's last battle for his country, and it's about glory."

"If Li Lai fails to show his ability in this area after coming to the women's team, or in the following warm-up matches and group matches, the opponent's personal tactics and coaching philosophy are completely unsuitable for the international arena or It is not suitable for the Chinese men's basketball team."

"I would replace him without hesitation."

"This is for the Chinese men's basketball team, for Dayao who has worked so hard for many years, and for every Chinese fan. I must take responsibility."

"Even if I get a bad name for it, I won't hesitate."

beep!beep!
The whistle of the car suddenly sounded, interrupting Guo Shiqiang's thoughts.

He looked outside the training ground, and several cars stopped slowly.

Yi Jianlian Hong Sheng shouted: "My coach is here!"

Immediately afterwards, Yi Jianlian ran out in a hurry, and then all the players of the Chinese men's basketball team looked around and looked outside the training hall.

They have known for a long time that the head coach of the Chinese men's basketball team will be a foreign coach.

Some players have a good relationship with Guo Shiqiang, so they are very dissatisfied with Li Lai's arrival.

Some players have a good relationship with Yi Jianlian and Yao Ming, so they are looking forward to Li Lai's arrival.

But no matter how the players of the Chinese women's team thought of Li Lai before Li Lai came, it did not prevent them from being curious about the NBA champion bishop at this time.

(End of this chapter)