Pick Westbrook

Chapter 432
"Play-offs!"

"Play-offs?!"

Xiao Hua, who heard these three unfamiliar words, touched his bald head, and couldn't guess what Li Lai meant.

He asked, "What do you mean?"

Li Lai asked rhetorically, "When has the broadcast rate and fan viewing rate been the lowest in the NBA over the years?"

Xiao Hua said without hesitation: "Of course it is the end of the season."

"Because most teams have already confirmed their playoff spots, they often rest key players in the final few games."

"Some players even acted directly. The Western team gave favors to the Eastern teams or the Eastern teams gave favors to the Western teams. They directly chose to rest all the main players and give each other a ticket to the last train of the playoffs."

"Honestly, it makes the end-of-season games look disgusting and even ugly, and the league's overall fan attendance will drop off a cliff during this time period."

"I even know some trading partners in the East and West, after the other party sent this ticket, they will take the initiative to offer a slightly loss deal in the off-season."

"It's a bit of a black box operation."

Li Lai nodded, he knew that Adam Silver had officially become the actual controller of the league this season, and his desire to initiate a change was very intense.

不然他也不会在今年休赛季的时候宣布将总决赛赛制从2-3-2变为2-2-1-1-1。

Silver wants to expand his influence in the league.

"The essence of the playoffs is to solve a series of problems that the NBA has always had at the end of the regular season."

"After the regular season, we will arrange a play-off to determine the rankings of the 7th and 8th in the division."

“我们从每个分区中选出第7-10名的球队，各分区第7和第8的球队先进行一次附加赛，胜者直接成为分区第7号种子。”

"It's worth noting that both the No. 7 and No. 8 teams need just one win to secure the No. 7 seed in the division."

“而排名第9和第10的球队在结束第一场附加赛以后，胜者还得与第7和第8名的败者再进行一场比赛，最后的胜者将成为分区第8号种子。”

"That is to say, the 9th and 10th teams must win both games to advance."

"It's fair to the teams in front of it, and it also means expanding the roster of contending teams to enter the playoffs, which will greatly reduce the number of teams that are poor in the regular season."

Xiao Hua, who heard this, couldn't help but his eyes lit up, and even shouted, "Wonderful!"

This proposal not only solves the problem of you playing me and me playing you at the end of the regular season, but also solves the number of poor teams in the entire regular season.

After all, as long as you score in the top 10 in the regular season, you may make it to the playoffs.

Xiao Hua has even simulated the future in his mind. If there are 7-10 teams competing for the playoffs, it will be more intense and bloody than the playoffs.

After all, as long as they make it to the playoffs, each team can earn at least tens of millions of dollars!

Who doesn't want it?

No wonder Li Lai said that this is a proposal to increase the NBA's viewing experience and increase the NBA's influence in the world.

"However, those teams that are already in seventh and eighth places may feel a little bit uneasy."

Xiao Hua couldn't help but said.

Li Lai also thought of this question. After all, there was a prerequisite for the appearance of the play-offs in the previous life, forcing the teams to agree.

But there is no such problem in the current NBA environment. It seems that it is indeed difficult to get all the team owners to agree to this proposal.

Li Lai thought for a while and said, "The regular season has just passed a quarter, and there is still a long time until the end of the season."

"Every team is very clear that even if they are currently in the playoff roster, those teams at the bottom have a high probability of being directly caught up by the teams behind."

"So no one knows whether this proposal will benefit them or not."

"But those owners are not fools. They should know what kind of revenue growth this proposal can bring to the NBA. It is a good move for every team."

On this point, Xiao Hua believed in Li Lai without reservation.

After all, before the NBA and various countries implemented online sales of authentic jerseys, sneakers and other commodities, the league's revenue was not obvious, especially for teams in the small ball market.

At least two-thirds of the teams are operating at a loss.

The Hornets and Bucks back then are the best examples.

And just 4 years have passed, and now the NBA has already lost count of how much extra money it has made because of online sales. What can be seen intuitively with the naked eye is that only 4/1 of the NBA's remaining teams are still operating at a loss.

The 4/1 team also includes the Lakers and Nets who paid high luxury taxes last season.

In fact, there are almost no teams that are in a loss-making position.

This is the value Li Lai brings to the league.

Therefore, Adam Silver believes in what Li Lai said at this time, this measure will bring considerable benefits to the league, and it will also bring considerable benefits to the teams in the league.

In addition, Adam Silver needs such changes and measures to give himself greater prestige in the league, such as his teacher David Stern.

So Adam Silver definitely nodded at this time and said: "I will persuade those bosses about this matter, and it will definitely be implemented as soon as possible."

When Li Lai nodded satisfied and was about to hang up the phone, Adam Xiao Hua suddenly remembered something, and cursed: "One yard for one yard!"

"What did you yell at the post-match press conference?!"

"Do you know that the whole of America is talking about your speech after the game, and those little fans are clamoring to be as strong as the Pelicans, not to be cowards on the court!"

"This is all the atmosphere you have brought along!"

Li Lai smiled helplessly, but he still didn't hide from this trouble, he said: "You have already fined me money, and you still care about these things with me?"

Xiao Hua said angrily: "Are you short of this money?"

"The latest global Forbes rich list has been released. You are ranked 136th with 77 billion US dollars. Are you short of money?"

"Wait, what's the purpose of someone as smart as you suddenly proposing a play-off?"

Xiao Hua suddenly realized that with the Pelicans' current No. [-] record in the league, it seemed that this play-off move would not help them at all.

Then why did Li Lai tell him so kindly?

Because of love? !
"Pooh!"

Xiao Hua couldn't help but spit, Li Lai, this bastard's great achievements in fighting against Eighteen King Kong are well known to the world.

Xiao Hua also didn't believe that Li Lai suddenly mentioned this because of his nonsense in the post-match press conference.

He knows Li Lai too well. This guy has always been fearless. How can he be afraid of this?
Li Lai was startled, and did not explain anything, but hung up the phone decisively.

Xiao Hua still didn't give up, and immediately went to check who the teams with the lowest records in the East and West are now.

"Orlando Magic 11th in the East, Boston Celtics [-]th in the East, Utah Jazz [-]th in the West, Los Angeles Lakers [-]th in the West"

2 month 13 day.

The last game before the All-Star break.

The Pelicans challenged the Lakers away.

Kobe announced his return from injury.

As early as last month, former Lakers president and team owner Jerry Buss signed a two-year maximum salary contract with a total value of 4850 million US dollars with Kobe.

At that time, Jerry Buss was already lying on the hospital bed, and his physical condition was already very poor, but he still insisted on completing the last early contract extension with Kobe.

Last week, Buss Jr. announced that Jerry Buss had left this world forever.

Li Lai was silent for a long time when he got the news.

He was not regretting the death of Jerry Buss, but worried about the current state of Jr. Buss, who had met several times but fell in love with each other.

"Bass, he is a very filial guy."

Li Lai specially sent a message of condolence to the other party, and it took a long time to receive a reply, but there were only two words of simple thank you.

Live Staples Arena.

Li Lai didn't see little Buss either. On the contrary, his older sister Jenny Buss appeared in the audience in the front row.

Kobe reached out and touched the soles of his shoes before walking onto the court.

The fans at the Staples Arena burst into applause immediately.

Because of the death of Old Buss, Kobe, who returned from injury, was not very excited, and most of the Lakers fans at the scene were the same.

"8 months! It's been 8 months, and we finally waited for Kobe's comeback."

"Without Kobe, the league always feels like it's missing a soul."

Kenny Smith couldn't help but said.

Barkley agreed: "During the previous recovery period, Kobe had already started training in a wheelchair, and the training intensity was not low."

"He told the reporters who came to hear the news that he had ruptured his Achilles tendon, but his hand was fine."

"This is Kobe, this is his Mamba mentality."

Kenny Smith used to think that the Mamba spirit was the spirit of a lone wolf, or the spirit of blacksmithing as some fans said.

Because Kobe always stubbornly believes that he has the ability to complete the offense at any time and under any defense.

This also led to Kobe's shooting percentage has not been very high, especially in the later stages of his career, his shot selection has also been questioned.

However, after experiencing the rupture of Kobe's Achilles tendon this time, Kenny Smith finally understood another meaning of the opponent's Mamba spirit after seeing Kobe, who suffered such a serious injury, still training hard.

It is also the meaning that can be mapped to the whole life.

"In the face of setbacks and difficulties, what is your choice?"

"Is it to face the difficulties, or something else?"

"Kobe, he had great talent, but it was never just talent that got him to where he is."

"Work hard! Fight hard! Never give up!"

on the field.

Kobe smiled and pointed at Li Lai. The two had played against each other many times in the playoffs, and they both admired each other very much.

Li Lai nodded, and then began to appreciate Kobe's performance on the court.

"There aren't many games left for this old guy."

Game start.

Pelicans regular lineup.

The Lakers starting lineup: point guard Steve Blake, shooting guard Kobe Bryant, small forward Wesley Johnson, power forward Pau Gasol and center Ryan Kelly.

In particular, Li Lai changed the Pelicans' previous tactical play before the game. From Paul holding the ball to sort out the offense, it became Leonard and Jimmy Butler's unlimited singles.

And there is only one singles partner for the two, and that is Kobe.

Leonard rarely took the initiative to ask for the ball. He faced Kobe's defense head-on after receiving the ball from outside the three-point line.

Kobe was as serious as ever on the court. His eyes were like snakes, and he watched Leonard's singles moves extremely firmly.

Although the fans jokingly called Kobe's disciple, Leonard's singles moves are indeed very similar to Kobe's, but as long as you observe carefully, you can find that there is a big difference between the two in singles.

Kobe's singles often start from the waist back, which is extremely obvious in the later stages of his career.

Leonard's singles mostly start from outside the three-point line, and his singles footsteps carry a lot of breakthrough steps.

Unlike Kobe's fake moves and a lot of singles footsteps, Leonard's singles footsteps change significantly less because he has a stronger body and more dominant shoulder width.

Therefore, Leonard's singles often consist of breakthroughs from beyond the three-point line followed by back turns, which can also give full play to his strong body and shoulder width.

Lower the center of gravity, break through one step and follow up singles, and then quickly and flexibly turn around and move to the free throw line.

Swish!
Leonard shot steadily, and his shot point was not high.

Kobe followed all the way without losing his position, but his body was obviously not as agile as before, and he didn't dare to exert his maximum strength immediately after returning from injury.

So Kobe couldn't fully keep up with Leonard, and could only watch the opponent shoot.

Swish!
Hit steadily.

Kobe smiled, patted Leonard's butt, and said.

"Your body is great at shooting guard, so the offensive skills you have are great for your body, but pay attention to the opponent's defensive positioning."

"If the opponent chooses to shrink the defense or double-team you, your offensive skills will be greatly limited."

Leonard was startled when he heard this.

Since Jordan taught him and Jimmy Butler mid-range singles last season, the two have never been able to contact each other.

The old hooligan has always been taught only once, so Leonard was not able to continue to receive mid-range guidance later.

He knows that Kobe is now actively guiding his mid-range offense.

Leonard asked for advice very modestly: "Then how should I break the opponent's shrinking defense or double-teaming?"

Kobe used his experience to tell Leonard: "Back!"

"When playing post-ups, you will have a view of the entire court, and you can also find the position of your teammates very accurately."

"At this time, opponents have to weigh carefully when using double-teaming and assisting defense, especially if you have such good teammates around you, they will never dare to let the other side double-team you easily."

On-site commentary desk.

Seeing Kobe and Leonard talking and laughing when returning to defense, Kenny Smith couldn't help but wiped his eyes.

"what happened?"

"I actually saw Kobe smiling on the court?!"

"How is this possible! He is the Black Mamba on the court, how could he still talk and laugh after being shot by the opponent head-on, is this still Kobe?"

Barkley was also shocked and said: "The key is that Leonard is said to be a robot and has never had feelings."

"When I saw him chatting with Kobe, he looked like a normal person!"

Switch offense.

Kobe took the initiative to ask for the ball in the low post, and Steve Blake passed the ball directly without hesitation.

Next is Kobe teaching Leonard's low singles teaching.

(End of this chapter)