basketball boulder

Chapter 45 Kabbah Comes Back
On November 11, the Heat went to Seattle with a record of 18 wins and 3 losses.

The Seattle SuperSonics are a jump-shooting squad led by Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis.

However, Ray Allen missed the game due to injury.

The Heat eliminated their opponents without bloodshed, and their overall record became 4 wins and 7 losses.

Subsequently, the Heat defeated the Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors, and Phoenix Suns consecutively, winning four consecutive victories.

The total record is 7 wins and 7 losses.

However, on November 11, the New Orleans Hornets led by "Big Beard" Baron Davis ended the Heat's winning streak.

The total record is 7 wins and 8 losses.

There are still two games left in the full month of November.

November 11, Heat VS Eagles (away).

On November 11, Raptors VS Heat (home).

Another unfriendly back to back.

The coaching staff and management attach great importance to these two games.

Because the team is now ranked ninth in the Eastern Conference.

As long as you win these two games, you can enter the top eight.

The current top eight in the east and west are:
West: Lakers, Mavericks, Kings, Mosaics, Spurs, Nuggets, Timberwolves, Jazz, Suns.

East: Pacers, Hornets, Pistons, 76ers, Bucks, Nets, Raptors, Celtics.

That night, Li Lei was practicing three-pointers in the arena.

At the same time, there are Haslem and Wade in training.

One of them is coordination.

Wade passed the ball to Li Lei who was running, and Li Lei caught and shot the ball under the interference of Haslem.

At some point, Pat Riley brought Da Fan and Spoel along.

Riley applauded to attract everyone's attention: "Boy, you worked hard, very good."

Riley has high demands on the players and can be said to be very strict.

If anyone dared to be lazy and paddle, Riley would directly reprimand him.

Superstars like Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Ewing all have to obey him.

However, Riley never said a harsh word to the team's few rookies this year.

Because there was no need for him to ask, these newcomers took the initiative to practice more, and their attitude was quite correct.

"Tell you the good news."

Riley said: "Caron will be able to play in the next game. The team doctor has done a comprehensive examination and thinks there is nothing wrong with him."

Really good news.

But Wade and Haslem looked at Li Lei worriedly.

Caron Butler played small forward.

He was the team's unshakable starter last season, averaging 15.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game, making him the team's second scorer.

His return will have a huge impact on Li Lei's starting position and playing time.

After all, a game lasts only 48 minutes. Butler plays for about 36 minutes, and Li Lei has 12 minutes left to play.

"Dwyane, Udonis, you go back first, we have to talk to Stone."

Riley said.

Wade and Haslem looked at Li Lei worriedly, then turned and went to the locker room.

"Stone, what are your thoughts on Cuaron's return?"

Riley asked.

Li Lei smiled: "I'm very happy, the strength of the team has improved again."

Riley also smiled: "Oh, what if the team arranges you to be Caron's substitute?"

Li Lei was not too surprised, and had expected it a long time ago: "As long as it is the team's arrangement, I will obey it."

Just kidding, besides obeying the team's arrangement, what else can he do now?
Going against the team, especially a dictator like Riley, is courting death.

"very good!"

Riley nodded: "God will not disappoint those who work hard."

Riley left an endless sentence, turned around and left first.

Coach Da Fan also looked at Li Lei appreciatively, and followed Riley away.

If Li Lei wants to make a fuss, although he is not afraid, he still has a headache.

And he also likes Li Lei very much, there is no coach who doesn't like disciples who work hard and have high execution ability.

What's more, his younger brother Jeff told Coach Dafan to take care of Li Lei all day long. If there was a conflict between the two, Dafan would not be able to explain it to Xiaofan.

Spoelstra didn't leave, and hugged Li Lei's shoulder: "Stone, let's talk."

Who of the Heat's coaching staff likes Li Lei the most is Spoelstra. After all, Li Lei was discovered by Spoelstra.

The better Li Lei performed, the better Sipo's vision was.

The two came to Shiba's office.

Spoel closed the door and asked with a smile, "Stone, you should still be worried."

Li Lei nodded.

Now that Sipo saw it, there was no need for him to hide it.

Riley and Da Fan may have noticed it too, but what they want is Li Lei's statement.

Spoelstra continued: "Don't worry, the team still depends on its strength. As long as you perform well, playing time is not a problem. The starting position belongs to you after all. But if you want to be depressed because of this, you will disappear from the NBA sooner or later."

Li Lei nodded.

The NBA is a realistic place where strength is everything.

That night, Li Lei received another call from his agent, Bill Duffy.

This guy actually already knew about it, and it was very detailed. It seems that this guy has a lot of energy in the NBA.

His persuasion is basically the same as Spoel, only more thorough.

"The NBA is a business. If you have strength, you have value. The Heat don't want you, but many people want you. So every minute you play, you have to perform well, and you must not treat it negatively."

Li Lei felt a lot better.

Training session the next day.

The coaching staff announced that Caron Butler is back and will start the next game.

The players all looked at Li Lei worriedly.

This young man is not bad. They all like him very much. They are afraid that something will happen to Li Lei.

Li Lei had figured it out a long time ago, and took the initiative to go up and hold Butler's hand: "Caron, welcome back. Let us work together to kill all opponents."

Butler was worried that Li Lei would compete with him for the starting line-up, but now that Li Lei said that, Butler felt embarrassed instead.

"Stone, kill them together," Butler said.

Everyone laughed.

Grant said: "The two little guys have a lot of ambition."

Old Jones also laughed loudly: "Young people, you have to be more passionate."

Li Lei himself was relieved. Butler seemed like a very gentle guy, and he shouldn't be difficult to get along with.

He remembered the information Bill Duffy told him last night: Butler lived in a bad environment since he was a child, he was exposed to drug dealing at the age of 10, and he had been arrested as many as 15 times before he was 15, so the school was unwilling to accept him.

Later, his mother Marty "moved Meng's mother three times" and finally raised Butler to adulthood.

Butler's inspirational story is comparable to Iverson's.

Perhaps it is because of such a great mother that Butler can maintain a tender heart in a harsh environment.

Since signing a big contract last year, Butler has been engaged in philanthropy, and the sports news has repeatedly reported him as a "good guy."

On the 17th, the Heat arrived in Atlanta ahead of schedule.

Dior came to the hotel to pick up Li Lei, Wade, Haslem, and Alston for dinner.

After dinner, Dior took everyone to his apartment again, and invited everyone to taste freshly ground coffee.

In addition to the coffee machine, there are expensive video cameras, French literature books, and books related to fashion design in Dior's room...

This guy has so many interests and enjoys life.

(End of this chapter)