super small forward

Chapter 37 37. This is Spurs
The Clippers and Warriors, in the eyes of NBA fans, these two teams can be regarded as strong teams, but they are not particularly strong, and they are not among the championship contenders anyway.

Next, the opponent of the Lakers is different. Last year's runner-up, the San Antonio Spurs who won the championship by one free throw.

Liu Ren said before the game: "We hope to avenge last year's playoffs. The opponents are very strong. They almost won the championship last year, but even if they are such opponents, we will not be afraid. I believe in myself strength and my teammates."

Ambition?There is no shortage of Liu Ren in this stuff, but he is full of competitiveness.

After being eliminated by the Spurs in the playoffs last season, Liu Ren felt the frustration of not being able to win no matter how hard he tried.Instead of breaking him, this frustration inspired him.

He just didn’t say it, it’s not that he forgot about that loss. He trained day after day in the summer without slacking off. He worked hard every day to adapt to his body’s strength and regain his touch. get eliminated.

More importantly, if the opponent is Duncan's Spurs, Liu Ren does not want to miss a game. Although this guy is jokingly called the No. 21 rookie, everyone knows that Duncan's days in the NBA have entered the countdown, and he can compete with this guy in a few years. The first power forward in history has played against each other.

Generally speaking, most teams choose to turn a blind eye to the provocations of their opponents. This is called stability in people's eyes.

but……

The Spurs, a seemingly stable team, have a sudden change in style.

"Hmph, a kid who just got middle class is starting to get proud?" This is Parker.

"Let him wait and see how we kick his ass." It was Ginobili.

"Tell him that the future is his, but now let's watch us old guys play." This is Duncan.

"Tell him, I'm going to make... Tim, what should I say?" Leonard, an honest boy, didn't remember the lines.

"Ahem." Duncan, an old man with facial paralysis, was a little embarrassed to see the performance of the little facial paralysis. Young people still need to hone their acting skills!I didn't remember the lines, it seems that I practice a lot.

Duncan made a few perfunctory remarks and fled the scene with the other two carriages and a small facial paralysis.

"..." The reporters were still speechless about the Spurs' slight immunity in recent years.

The core four of the Spurs returned to the rented UCLA arena for training to prepare for the evening game.

Ginobili made a three-pointer, and said with some regret: "Greg's vision is really accurate, that Chinese Liu played really well this year, it's a pity we didn't get them in the summer, otherwise he and Kawhi will definitely be able to form a front line. Squeeze the Heat."

"It's not difficult to suppress the Heat's outside line. We still have Kawhi and Danny. The point is that we can't make mistakes and play well in every game." Duncan said lightly, unlike the funny-bihua just now, as if nothing can affect to him.

"Tim, you also watched it. Yesterday's game between the Lakers and the Warriors, Liu's performance was really scary. The Lakers are really lucky. Kobe just got injured, so he gave them another Liu." Digging in the past is simply a mistake.

"Don't they all say that God prefers Los Angeles? Which one of them is not like this. Magic retired and two teams sent OK, and O'Neal came and Gasol." Ginobili pouted.

The three veterans of the Spurs were talking about Liu Ren, while Leonard on the side was practicing three-pointers with a seemingly expressionless face. When picking up the ball, he muttered: "Liu..."

On the other side, Popovich and Buford, who were drinking coffee, were watching clips of Liu Ren's preseason games and the first two games of the regular season.

Liu Ren's impact is comparable to that of James. Judging from the unscrupulous inside play, Liu Ren's impact is stronger than James. What is worse than James is that he does not have almighty organizational skills.

James' versatility has advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is that as long as there is a team with him, at least the regular season record can be guaranteed to compete for the division championship. As long as the teammates are not particularly bad, he can drive them.The disadvantage is that he is the team's strongest in almost every ability, offensive and defensive rebounding assists and even the ability to protect the frame are the team's strongest, so it is difficult to find help for him. An inside defender is not as good as him in defense, a point guard with strong organizational skills is not as good as him, and even a rebounder is not as good as him.

This caused him to have to play games in a big way, which caused a very heavy physical burden. If it weren't for his rare physical fitness in history, he would have been exhausted long ago.

Liu Ren is now only attacking the basket every game. The rebounds are incidental. In his opinion, the rebounds flying in his direction from the sky are the ones he should pick up.

"If I had known it earlier, I would have sent a contract worth tens of millions. Greg, do you think we still have room for ten million?" Buford said dejectedly.

Buford listened to Popovich's words and went to recruit Liu Ren. He gave a mini-middle-class offer. He gave Duncan a 3-year 3000 million contract, Ginobili a 2-year 1400 million contract, and Dior a 3-year 2700 million contract. I can give Liu Ren a middle-class quotation.

In Buford's view at the time, a mid-level contract for a player whose last season was almost the last of his career was already very generous.

If he knew Liu Ren's current performance, Buford would definitely discuss with these people. These people would definitely be willing to take less than 100 million yuan a year and give Liu Ren a higher price.

Is it good luck to let Buford look forward to Liu Ren these few games?Buford is not the kind of incompetent general manager. He is not blind. A player like Liu Ren who relies on his body and mind to attack the basket can only play better and better. I didn’t see him running back from time to time after the start of the regular season. Is Biao a three-pointer?

"Don't think so much, it's just three years. And we have Kawhi, he is no worse than Liu, but we have been winning. The Lakers don't have our winning atmosphere. After three years, we have a great chance to rely on us The team atmosphere won him, and Tim and the others will probably retire by then, and we have enough room to give a big contract.” Popovich has a long-term vision. If you don’t get Liu Ren this year, you won’t get it. The Spurs It is the strongest team in the league right now. He is very confident. It doesn't matter if he doesn't get Liu Ren for the time being. The most important thing now is the championship.

"I was wrong. I thought I was looking for a substitute for Kawhi. I didn't expect Liu and Kawhi to form a pair of guns, which is an excellent defensive combination." Buford smiled wryly.

On the Lakers side, watching the Spurs' interview video, it feels like crows are flying all over the sky.

"Has the legendary Spurs' Doo-bi band group finally formed?"

(End of this chapter)