NBA, Yao Ming is back!

Chapter 115 I'm willing to pay any price as long as we make it to the playoffs.

Chapter 115 I'm willing to pay any price as long as we can make it to the playoffs (Third update, please subscribe)

Seven preseason games have been played.

Yao Ming averaged 29 minutes per game, with 9.5 rebounds and 4 blocks. These are highly efficient stats.

Why look at it this way?

Why is there no score data?

Because Larry Brown doesn't care about scoring.

Even Yao Ming, in the preseason, quietly ranked second only to Iverson in scoring.

Nobody really cared.

Because the shots Yao Ming made weren't particularly memorable.

But it still got in.

And they rarely make a move.

The highest average number of shots per game was less than 10.

When I checked the score, I was shocked to find that it was a whopping 17 points.

You need to know how many points Iverson scored in this preseason game.

That means an average of just over 20 points per game.

Stackhouse, look back, he only has 15 points.

Ben Wallace, on the other hand, has played 7 games.

They didn't get a single point.

This is something that not just anyone can do.

Because his playing time was actually as long as 20 minutes.

This was a treatment he had never received in the Bullet Team before.

But now that I think about it, those people probably didn't know what they were talking about.

Look, now that Larry Brown is the upright and honest coach, with his little glasses and a constant smile on his face, I've become a star overnight, haven't I?

Besides, the Wizards changed their team name before I even left, before they even played a single game.

The bullet team no longer exists.

That further illustrates the point.

I simply haven't met a wise ruler yet.

As Oakley, who is like a half-father, put it—

For blue-collar players like us.

You need to find a coach who knows how to use it.

Just focus on playing well.

A coach who doesn't know how to use it, punch him.

Just switch teams and find a better leader.

Of course, this is Oakley's approach.

Ben still wouldn't do that.

He felt his emotional intelligence was quite high, at least much higher than Oakley's.

Don't believe me? Just look.

Coach Brown.

The small business owner.

Allen.

Aren't they all smiling at me?

Explain yourself.

She still has a very pleasing appearance.

What do you mean by vicious and ruthless?

Those are all misunderstandings about me.

In short, Ben Wallace felt that he was very happy here.

He even felt more and more—

Oakley, who was practically Yao Ming's father, got a beating from Yao Ming back then.

It's really —

That's awesome!

otherwise.

How did I end up like this?

My father traded his present for my future.

This was a full-blown attack.

It's worth it.

Oakley: ————

If he could hear what Ben Wallace was thinking, he'd probably be thinking of flying over right now.

During training, the 76ers have now achieved a subtle balance of understanding among their players.

Stackhouse stopped complaining.

He discovered that with Yao Ming and this muscular mushroom-headed guy around, his chances of taking shots actually increased.

Throughout the preseason, Larry Brown frequently used sweet talk in front of the media.

Stackhouse, who's all soft and weak.

She's become even more easily swayed.

Well, since the team is doing this so respectably, I'll be a respectable person too.

It's definitely not because of that Easterner.

It's definitely not because I almost lost 1 durability point from that mushroom-headed guy's elbow during training.

It's because he's not a good fit for this team.

They broke up amicably.

NBC pre-game studio —

Many people are currently making predictions about who will win the championship this season and the regular season standings.

The top 10 predicted for the entire league before the 1997-98 season are as follows:

1. The Utah Jazz have Karl Malone and John Stockton, and were the runners-up last season, making them the top favorite in the entire league.

2. With Bird as head coach and Miller and Schmitz as backup, the Indiana Pacers are considered the strongest contender in the East.

3. The Chicago Bulls are the defending champions, but due to Pippen's surgery and aging, they have not appeared at the top of the predictions for the first time since their two consecutive championships.

4. The Los Angeles Lakers have three superstars: Shaquille O'Neal, Eddie Jones, and Van Exel. They are incredibly talented and the second most likely team in the Western Conference.

5. Seattle SuperSonics – Gary Payton + Kemp, but their fighting strength is declining.

6. Miami Heat's Alonzo Mourning and Penny Hardaway form a top-tier, iron-willed defense in the Eastern Conference.

7. The New York Knicks – Ewing and Oakley – a veteran powerhouse known for its toughness.

8. San Antonio Spurs' 21st rookie, Robinson, is considered a rising star.

Hannah Storm (Host): Welcome back to NBAonNBC's new season preview! The Eastern Conference power rankings are fresh off the press, and the landscape has changed dramatically this year.

Isaiah Thomas: Everyone sees it now, the top spot in the East this year will most likely go to Bird's Pacers. Bird said before the season that he came to coach with the championship in mind. If not the championship, why would he aim for runner-up?

In terms of roster, they have a complete lineup and solid playing style this year. They have been in good form from last season into the offseason and are recognized as the top favorites.

The Heat, who followed closely behind, were no pushovers either. Their iron-clad defense dealt with any challenger; Riley's players were never afraid to go toe-to-toe with anyone. I think it will be no easier for Michael to win another championship than it was to overcome our Pistons back then.

Hannah Storm: The once-dominant Bulls have fallen to third place. There are plenty of jokes in the industry, saying that the Bulls are getting old, Pippen's injury is still unresolved, and it's uncertain whether he'll be able to play in the early stages of the regular season. Rodman is even more unpredictable; no one can guess what outrageous thing he'll do next.

This championship-winning roster is no longer at its peak; they may be powerless to sweep the East like they used to.

Hannah Storm: The top ten spots are firmly occupied by a group of established powerhouses, and the competitive pressure is palpable.

Let's put aside the top teams in the East for now and talk about the Philadelphia 76ers, who have been the talk of the town this season. They finished eighth to tenth in the East and are probably in a sprint to the playoffs.

Isaiah Thomas: First, they need to figure out who the core player is. If they haven't solved that, they shouldn't even think about the playoffs. Some people say they played well in the preseason, but what's the use of playing well in the preseason? I've played in the NBA for so many years, and I've never heard of the preseason being any useful indicator.

Hannah Storm: But I've heard they've been getting along quite well lately. Larry Brown is always praising Stackhouse.

Does this mean that their internal conflicts have been resolved?

Isaiah Thomas: It doesn't solve one thing. You've never played in the NBA, so you don't know that when a coach praises a player like that, there's a high probability that he won't stay on that team for long.

Hannah Storm: Oh, I see. I've seen Larry Brown often bragging about that 17-year-old rookie, and even that undrafted sophomore. Are they also planning to trade them?

Thomas: ————

But as a superstar retiring, he can't lose face.

If you don't play well.

It is indeed very likely that he will be sidelined.

Hannah Storm: What kind of contribution do you think this second overall pick can make to the team? Larry Brown said he's the rookie player he most wants to play for in his life, what do you think?

Thomas: I don't remember anyone on this team who didn't want Duncan. This year is called the Duncan year, which means that if we didn't get Duncan, it didn't matter who we picked. Sometimes you can't trust what coaches say, just like when you're buying clothes and the salesperson is praising your girlfriend to the skies.

Hannah Storm: But they made it really difficult for their opponents to defend in the preseason.

Thomas chuckled and made his prediction of victory: the preseason games are not a good reference, and there are no really strong players who want to perform in them.

Hannah Storm: But Jordan only made 2 of 14 shots.

Thomas: ————

Who knows what that bastard is up to?

And after the competition, he even praised those newcomers.

Is this still the black braised egg I know?

Thomas: They're going to be in trouble soon.

Hannah Storm: What do you mean?

Thomas: I spoke with Big Dog last night. He said he's been training all offseason and is looking to practice on people.

Thomas laughed and said: "I think the day after tomorrow we will see that Philadelphia's best approach this year is probably still to win as many games as they can."

They think they can solve the problem by having an Asian and an undrafted player.

I've been playing ball for so many years.

He forced his signature fake smile:

I've never seen it before.

At this moment, the three youngsters in Philadelphia, looking at Thomas's face, were all blaming Jordan for not giving him a harsher slap back then.

"They actually ranked us so low."

"Yao, tell me, is this really all we're capable of?"

Although Iverson had an arrogant look on his face, you could still tell from his words that Ai Tiantian was still somewhat insecure about herself.

That's normal, considering they achieved such results last year.

You should know that they weren't planning to tank last year.

Having already won the top score, why are you still slacking off?

That's really their level.

Historically, Iverson did indeed fail to lead his team to the playoffs for two consecutive years.

Knowing this, you'll understand why Iverson's words, though seemingly defiant, actually lack confidence.

Yao Ming possesses the soul of someone who once played the role of Old Man Deng.

Comforting a young person like you is a piece of cake, isn't it?

When talking to someone like Allen Iverson, don't tell him things like "Rome wasn't built in a day."

You also have to tell him that Rome was built in a day!

The closest synonym for "unruly and unrestrained" is "the soul of a chuunibyou" (a person with delusions of grandeur).

So Yao Ming looked at him and said with certainty, "He's a notorious jinx in the NBA."

"Look at his predictions about Michael's comeback, when have they ever been accurate?"

"So we should be happy that he said that."

"I wasn't sure if we were guaranteed a playoff spot, but after he said that, I'm absolutely certain we'll make it."

Iverson's eyes lit up considerably upon hearing this.

The truth is, Thomas and Jordan had a grudge, so when Jordan returned to the court, Thomas must have been predicting Jordan's future in the opposite direction.

Who can blame Jordan for being so competitive?

They really turned Thomas into a jinx.

However, Iverson, who usually reads books but probably never looks at the title page, is probably unaware that he only likes playing basketball.

They're either playing on the court or off the court.

It's all about fighting.

"Allen, youth waits for no one; you're at your peak the moment you step onto the court!"

"Pass me more penalty kicks, and I'll definitely help you get an assist—"

it is good!

Young people like Allen Iverson are most easily moved by these passionate words, immediately standing up, spreading their arms wide, as if the world were making way for them—

"Don't worry, I'll definitely help you get more rebounds!"

"With me on your team, you'll never have to worry about rebounding!"

Yao Ming: ————

Hey, hey, that's not what I meant.

But Ben Wallace next to him got excited, thinking about getting more rebounds.

I feel comfortable all over.

"Yao, Ben, let's lead the 76ers into the playoffs together."

"As long as we can make it to the playoffs."

Iverson's figure at this moment seemed to be bathed in the glow of the setting sun.

"I'm willing to pay any price."

Even though Yao Ming had played alongside James Harden, he couldn't help but feel his blood boil at the sight of such a scene and the allure of youthful bodies.

and----

Ai Tiantian.

You said it yourself.

As long as we can make it to the playoffs.

They're willing to pay any price.

You don't want that.

You broke your promise.

While the three little ones in Philadelphia were getting excited about the show, somewhere in Los Angeles...

There was one person who was clearly just holding a remote control, but anyone who didn't know better would think he was holding a 40-meter-long sword.

The young man was watching television, on NBC, in the fourth line—

The Los Angeles Lakers have a star-studded lineup of Shaquille O'Neal, Eddie Jones, and Fred Van Exel, with explosive talent, making them the second most promising team in the Western Conference.

The words he was muttering at that moment were:

I wasn't even included!

They didn't even mention me!

They didn't even give me my English abbreviations!

it is good!

It wasn't my fault!

It's the whole of Los Angeles!!!

At this very moment, Joe Bryant, having just finished showering and preparing a small barbecue, a beer, and a movie, was...

Looking at his son, who was full of resentment.

He tiptoed out, silently thinking to himself:

I think I should go back to Philadelphia.

Take care of this kid.