Guoshu basketball

Chapter 102 Before March Madness
Li Du's growth is gratifying, but it will take at least two or three years for him to mature his skills in all aspects and judge the situation on the court. Kobe can only keep this good wish in his heart and wait for Li Du to mature gradually.Right now, what they have to face is the NBA "March Madness".

After the All-Star Game, the trading channel was closed, and the season was halfway through, and all the teams were in full swing preparing for the playoffs.The entire month of March will be the most intense competition and the craziest fighting in the entire regular season!
It's a pity that the Lakers have been hoping to strengthen the inside line but they have not been able to find it. In fact, the Lakers' current inside lineup is not weak anymore. Bynum is gradually rising. Turiaf is a very useful player who dares to fight. As a blue-collar insider, although the "parallel import champion" Kwame Brown has some buttery hands, he can also provide some help for the Lakers on both ends of the offense and defense.

But what the Lakers management, Kobe, and Lakers fans want is not such an insider. What they want is an insider who can help Kobe reach the championship and become the pillar of the team!
Such insiders need to make great contributions on both offense and defense, and each one is the treasure of each team!In the current NBA, such top inside players can be counted on one hand.

In addition to Shaquille O'Neal who has gone away to Miami, there are only Yao Ming, Duncan, Wolf King Garnett, Stedmire, Nowitzki, Dwight Howard, Paul Gasol and others. , each of them can be regarded as not for sale of the team!

Of course, in the commercial league of the NBA, there has never been anyone who cannot be traded, but to get these few, the price the Lakers have to pay is beyond imagination.This is why the Lakers have not been able to trade their favorite insiders since the beginning of the season.

In the office of Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak, looking at the final 13-man roster in his hand, Kobe asked angrily: "Mitch, what's going on? You didn't promise at the beginning of the season that you would Find a good insider? Look at this list! How far do you think we can go in the playoffs with the current lineup?"

Facing Kobe's questioning, Kupchak had no choice but to respond with a wry smile: "Kobe, sit down first, don't be angry. Listen to me, you also know how hard it is to find a good insider now, and there are only a dozen or so in the entire league. Each position is the treasure of the team, we have worked hard for so long, and no one will let go!"

Kobe sat down with a sullen face, "It's not that I insist on intervening in the team's operations. It's that our opponents have become stronger and stronger over the years. I also understand that if I am alone, let alone the finals, I am afraid that I will enter the Western Conference." The finals are very difficult! I need help, and the Lakers can no longer let the fans down, otherwise, we will become like the Clippers!"

Kupchak forced a smile: "Isn't there Li Du, this kid is quite amazing, and everyone knows that you appreciate him too."

"Li Du is indeed a good helper!" Kobe's face was still ugly, staring at Kupchak and said: "But don't forget, no matter how strong he is, he is still a rookie, and he is an outside player. With me on the outside, the Lakers will not be weak. ! What’s more, now we have Li Du! But what about our inside line? The team can’t expect me to score 81 points every night!”

When Kupchak was in trouble, the Zen master walked in. He glanced at Kobe who was full of anger, and said slowly: "Kobe, it's no use getting angry now, we still discuss how to win in the next game." A better ranking. Which team do you think we have a better chance of winning in the playoffs?"

Kobe looked at Kupchak, then at Zen Master, suppressed the anger in his heart, and said in a deep voice: "It doesn't matter which team I play against, anyway, it doesn't matter if I play against anyone!"

Zen master heard Kobe's arrogance and dissatisfaction, and he didn't care. He stood by the window and looked at the Lakers players who were training below, and his tone was still unhurried: "Indeed, with your current strength, no matter who you are against in the entire league, Whoever has the advantage in the matchup. And we also have Li Du's amazing defense, and our Lakers can be said to be the best in the league on the perimeter! Unfortunately, there are five people on the basketball court!"

Of course Kobe understood that Zen master was beating himself, and he gradually calmed down after venting his anger, but it was impossible for him to admit his mistake directly, so Kobe remained silent for a long time.The Zen master didn't urge him, just looked out of the window quietly.

Finally, Kobe said: "Phil, which team do you think we should play better?"

For Kobe, this was equivalent to an apology, so the Zen master looked at Kobe with a smile and said: "Actually, our lineup this season is similar to last season. We lost to the Suns last season. Their crazy and fast offense is really difficult." Defense. This season, I think we should still play the Suns!"

"Oh? Why?" Zen master's words made Kobe stunned for a moment, and then he understood that the Lakers this season is indeed similar to last season, relying on Kobe to support the game, but there is also the biggest difference, that is, they have Li Du!
Seeing Kobe's expression, Zen master knew that he had understood, so he nodded and said, "Kobe, you are mature! You are right! Our biggest gain this season is Li Du, whose defense can seriously limit any Although he is only one-on-one to limit the opponent, Li Du cannot rely on his own defense or offense to change the team or the entire game. Facing the other top eight teams in the Western Conference, Li Du's role on the field will be small A lot, because they have more than one offensive initiator. Only the Suns, their offense is completely dependent on Steve, and we have won the two encounters with the Suns this season. What kind of husband's restrictions are there!"

Speaking of this, Zen master took a deep breath: "When we meet the sun again in the playoffs, Steve will probably cry! You go down and tell Li Du later, no matter who the opponent is in the playoffs, tell him not to play again." With some reservations, let's go all out!"

Seeing Bryant nod seriously, Kupchak was taken aback.Li Du is now the favorite for the best rookie, and if nothing else happens, he will also get the best defensive player of the season!According to the latest NBA official statistics, Li Du's defensive efficiency is quite terrible. Under his defense, the combined shooting percentage of all his opponents does not exceed 20%!Because of Li Du's existence, the Lakers lost a lot of points for the entire team!

Did such a terrifying Li Du not give his best in the competition?
The Zen Master patted Kupchak and said with a smile, "Mitch, there's no need to be so surprised. Li Du is a monster! Did you forget how fierce he was at the beginning of the season? Why didn't he stand out so much later on? ? It’s not what those reporters and commentators who don’t know the so-called said, everyone has found out how to deal with Li Du, but we have discovered Li Du’s weaknesses, and hope that after he systematically learns basketball skills, he can strengthen in all aspects!”

Kobe also said to Kupchak: "Mitch, you may not know, I played one-on-one with Lee seriously, ten offenses, and I only scored one goal! This is because I relied on my own experience to beat him at the time. Rich, opportunistic reasons, if I confronted head-on, I’m afraid I won’t be able to score a goal! That is, after that time, I asked Li Du to restrain himself as much as possible on the court. After all, he still has a long way to go. Pushing him out in front of everyone is not doing him any good."

Watching the back of Kobe and Zen Master leave, Kupchak was silent for a long time, finally, he gritted his teeth, picked up the phone on the table and called out: "Halperin, help me make appointments for some balls that I intend to trade before. Team manager! This time, let's take a gamble!"

　Two updates will resume tomorrow
　　
　
(End of this chapter)