Basketball Dragon

Chapter 36 Adaptation
Li Hai's dunk was completed on the No. 14 rookie selected by the Jazz this year, power forward Chris Humphries. His excellent jumping made everyone's eyes shine.

Li Hai only played 5 minutes in this game, with 2 points and 3 rebounds.

Another Chinese player, Battelle, only played for 2 minutes at the end of the third quarter without scoring.

However, when the two sides replaced a large number of substitutes in the third quarter, the Knicks won by 14 points and won the first game of the preseason with 89:83.

In the second game against the New Jersey Nets, Li Hai got a chance to play at the beginning of the second quarter. This time he played for 14 minutes and scored 7 points and 5 rebounds.

The starting small forward Tim Thomas has good offensive power, but his defense is a mess. Coach Wilkens likes Li Hai's attitude of desperately defending.

The Knicks were swept by the Nets in the first round of the playoffs last season. This preseason also tasted a bit of revenge, but the Nets didn't take it seriously. After leading in the first half, they let Jason Kidd rest. Although the Knicks won the game, they were not happy enough.

The Knicks won the Mavericks again in the third preseason game. In the fourth game, Coach Wilkens was not obsessed with winning or losing. He began to increase the playing time of marginal players. The Knicks also lost to the Timberwolves.

In the fifth preseason game, which was also the Knicks’ last preseason game, before the game, the head coach Lenny Wilkens called Li Hai to him, “Lee, you will start this game at position 3.”

Happiness came too suddenly. Except for the soy sauce in the first game, Li Hai played more than ten minutes in the next three games. He belonged to the team's eighth player. He didn't expect to be able to start the last preseason game.

And the other starters have not changed, only the No. 3 position has become him.

The Dallas Mavericks also changed their starting lineup this time. The No. 1 position became this year's No. 5 pick, Devin Harris, who was also a guard specially traded by the Mavericks. This guy was defeated last year and only signed a one-year minimum salary. This year, he took a 2-year contract of 6 million. Visky, the 3800th position is center Eric Dampier, who was dug over by the Mavericks with a big contract.

The Knicks took the lead in getting the chance to attack. Perhaps because they thought Li Hai was very good these days, Marbury even dribbled the first ball to Li Hai after halftime.

Li Hai suddenly had the feeling that he had returned to his college days. Josh Howard, who was defending him by the opponent, was impeccable. He glanced at Crawford who was stretching out his hand to ask, and his body was suddenly squeezed inside.

Josh Howard's defense was very good. Li Hai suddenly started, and he didn't lose his position. A pair of long arms completely blocked Li Hai's way forward.

But he underestimated Li Hai's strength and determination. Li Hai was a substitute player in the last game, and he had not directly confronted Li Hai.

Li Hai squeezed directly to the side of Josh Howard with great force, and made a throw at the same time as the referee's whistle sounded, 2+1 success.

Josh Howard's face suddenly changed. He was able to become the Mavericks' starting small forward when he was a rookie last year, relying on his excellent mid-range shooting and better defense.

Now that his defense is crushed by a first-year rookie, he definitely can't forget it.

It was the Mavericks' turn to attack, and Josh Howard kept running. After the ball reached Nowitzki, he also understood what the little brother was thinking, and took advantage of his height to pass the ball to Josh who was desperately slipping over from the baseline. Sh-Howard hands.

Josh Howard makes a shot, but he releases it again, a fake.

This feint was forced, and Li Hai followed him closely.

Josh Howard immediately turned around and prepared to back-up Lehi. He has good post-up skills and strength. In the Mavericks, in addition to defending the opponent's forwards and guards, he often had to help Nowitzki Defending the opponent's power forward, poor strength is not enough.

But he leaned against Li Hai and sat inside for a few times, but he didn't move much. He didn't expect that this yellow-skinned boy would have such a strong force.

Josh Howard feinted twice and ended the attack with a turnaround jumper.

However, under Li Hai's excellent defense, he missed the ball a bit.

The defense was successful, and Li Hai immediately rushed to the opponent's court with his teammates. He reached out for the ball. Unfortunately, he is no longer the starting point of the tactics. He is just a rookie. Marbury chose to face the defense of the three and forcibly advance basket.

In the next game, Josh Howard obviously paid more attention to Li Hai, showed his persistence in dealing with top swingmen, and strictly guarded Li Hai.

During the contest with Josh Howard, Li Hai clearly felt the difference between the NBA and the NCAA, as well as the difference between the NBA's main players and the bench players. That sophomore was really strong.

This time he played 16 minutes in the first half, but only scored 6 points and 4 rebounds.

And these 16 minutes, like playing 30 minutes in the NCAA, made him a little exhausted.

Is this the level of the world's top leagues? Li Hai was so excited that his whole body trembled.

As long as he does a little better, he can definitely do better.

"Coach, please continue to give me chances in the second half, I am confident to do better." Li Hai begged solemnly.

In fact, Coach Wilkens thought it was enough. He probably already had some concerns about Li Hai's level, so there was no need to fight again. But seeing Li Hai's firm gaze, Coach Wilkens felt that he could give him more time. .

Could it be that he is old? Wilkens laughed at himself. He is not a coach who changes his mind just because of a player's request, but Li Hai is the kind of team player he likes.

"I will definitely be able to score under your defense."

"It's impossible, rookie, but I've already scored 12 points on you."

After a halftime break, Josh Howard felt that his reaction in the first half was a little too aggressive, perhaps stimulated by several big contracts in the team. He was a first-round pick and signed with the team for four years. If you get a big contract, you have to wait a few years.

At the moment when he was distracted, Li Hai cut in and completed a beautiful empty catch.

"Damn it." Josh Howard focused again.

"Come on." Li Hai smiled, "I won't let you score easily in the second half, I've seen through your methods."

"Then try." Josh Howard reached out for the ball again, and now that Nowitzki went down to rest, he could get more possessions.

Just when the ball was passed, Li Hai suddenly jumped out from behind him and slapped the ball.

(End of this chapter)