Almighty Coach

by Stayrr

How could a poor graduate student without any background or connections become successful? With a coaching system? An upgrade? This is not a computer game, but real life we’re talking about! This will be a fantasy based on reality. Dai Li will fight back against all those who would mock and humiliate him with his astonishing and awe-inspiring training skills. From a nobody he’ll t

20. 593

Read Almighty Coach - Chapter 593 - I Am Unwilling online free - Light Novel Full

Chapter 593: I Am Unwilling

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Raymond sat alone in his basement with an old VHS in front of him. There was a box full of videotapes next to him.

Video home systems and videotapes used to be standard equipment in American families, but they had become irrelevant. Most had been thrown into basements as Raymond's had been.

Raymond picked up one of the tapes, feeling nostalgic. He blew off the dust and placed it into the VHS.

To his relief, the old equipment still worked. The old CRT TV in the basement had lost its clarity. The colors had become very distorted.

Raymond appeared on the TV screen as an 18-year-old. He had just graduated from high school and participated in the NBA draft. He was selected ninth, by the Toronto Raptors, in the first round.

Videos of games from back then were hard to find, but Raymond had kept the videos of his season as a rookie.

I was really young back then. Raymond looked at his tender face in the video and smiled.

Raymond switched out the tape. On the next one, Raymond was going up against the Indiana Pacers.

I remember that game. I got 10 points and 11 rebounds. It was the first time in my career where I got a double-double. I was only 18 years and 5 months old. I was the youngest in the NBA to ever a double-double.

Raymond changed videotapes again. The next one was a game against the Nets. At that time, the Nets were still the "New Jersey Nets."

This was the game that I scored 22 points. It was the most a rookie had ever scored in a game at the time.

My rookie season is worth remembering. I averaged a 45% field goal percentage per game. I had the highest field goal percentage of any player under 21 in the history of the NBA. Now, I have the record for the highest field goal percentage in a single season.

Raymond picked up another videotape. The word "Magic" was marked on it. Raymond knew that this was a record of when he transferred to the Magic.

He picked up the videotape, put it into the VHS, and began to reminisce about his past.

I still remember that season. I wasn't 21 yet, but I still averaged 26 points per game. I was the third person in NBA history to average 26 points before turning 21.

Exciting highlights came on the screen. It was as if Raymond was able to find a way to get the ball in the basket every time he got his hands on it.

I got two NBA scoring titles in two seasons. I was the fifth player in NBA history to get a 401010.

He only had recordings of the two seasons he got scoring titles. His career was not recorded on the videotapes, but Raymond remembered the time he scored 13 points in 35 seconds. In the final 35 seconds of the game, he had scored three three-pointers and four other baskets to turn the fame around. It was remembered by countless fans.

Raymond suddenly felt a strong urge to play basketball. He stood up, walked out of the basement, and went to the villa's basketball court. He picked up a basketball, started shooting, and made a few perfect layups.

I was very hot and it didn't take long for Raymond to start sweating. He still felt unsatisfied, as if there was something lacking.

Raymond stopped and looked at the basketball in his hand.

How long's it been since you experienced this feeling of victory? Raymond heard Dai Li's question in his mind. He looked at the lonely basket in front of him but felt that he himself was lonelier.

I miss the feeling of victory! Raymond sighed. He realized that even though he had retired, he still wanted to feel victorious.

When I want to play, I can go to the Rockets' training grounds at any time to have fun. I can only feel victorious when I'm playing a real game in the NBA. Raymond suddenly had an impulse. He threw the basketball, hurried back inside, and found Dai Li's business card in the living room.

Raymond picked up his mobile phone and dialed Dai Li's phone number.

"Hey, is this Coach Li? This is Raymond…"

…

It didn't take long for Dai Li and Johnson to get to Raymond's home.

"Coach Li, if I join the Clippers, what position can you give me? Can you guarantee that I enter the rotation? I don't want to be a benchwarmer," Raymond said.

"I can guarantee that you will enter the team rotation," Dai Li nodded without hesitation/ "If you are in good shape, I intend to put you in the starting lineup."

"Starting lineup?" Raymond shook his head bitterly, "I can't even fathom that. I am injured. I'll be thankful for being able to play just a few minutes."

"I know. You have a severe back injury, a waist injury, a knee injury, foot injuries. In addition, your inguinal hernia, wrists, elbows, hips and left foot have all been injured in the past. However, these are not problems," Dai Li smiled and waved his hand. "Even your congenital scoliosis is not a problem in my opinion."

"Coach Li. You are not kidding, are you?" Raymond said in disbelief.

Raymond had played basketball for many years. Naturally, he accumulated some injuries. He chose to retire because of his back injury. After he had a minimally invasive surgery on his knees, he did not fully recover. In actuality, he was not considered that old for a shooting guard or small forward.

Raymond's most serious issue was his congenital scoliosis. In the past, some experts predicted that he could play basketball for another three or four years at most. Raymond was picked in the ninth in the draft because of this problem. If the congenital scoliosis were to disappear, Raymond would definitely be able to play at an even higher level.

Dai Li took out the brochure he had prepared.

"I am known for my excellent rehabilitation training. Over the years, I have helped many well-known athletes undergo rehabilitation. Many of the athletes suffered injuries that affected their careers. All of the cases above are successful cases."

…

Dai Li and Johnson left Raymond's villa.

"Raymond looked very excited," Johnson said.

"Of course. The two biggest enemies of professional athletes are time and injury. Time is beyond anyone's ability to overcome. We can't do anything about it. Injuries are different. Injuries have always been an obstacle for athletes. Any athlete who has sustained an injury will be excited about healing themselves" Dai Li replied.

Johnson nodded and then asked, "Who is our next target?"

"Have you brought your swim trunks?" Dai Li asked.

Johnson immediately understood what he meant. "Why are we heading to Miami? To look for Chris Noel?"

"Yes, we need players inside the three-point line. This is the era of small ball play. The requirements for players inside the three-point line have changed. Those able to move quickly that can switch to defense quickly are popular. The players with three-point shooting ability are also very popular. Chris Noel is the best power forward in the NBA right now," Dai Li replied.

"Noel is different from the others. Other athletes left the court because of injuries. Chris Noel had to leave the game because of an illness. The blood clots in his body may be fatal and they may cause thrombosis. They could even cause a pulmonary embolism and myocardial infarction. This is a disease that needs treatment. It can't be solved through training," Johnson said.

"There is a problem with his anticoagulant function. If his body has no blood clots, these symptoms will not appear. He will then be able to pass the NBA medical examination, right?" Dai Li said. "It is up to you to talk about the contract. Leave the NBA medical exam to me."

…

Chris Noel was two meters tall. He was a power forward and an occasional center. He had been selected for the NBA All-Star team 11 times. He had also won two NBA championships. He was definitely an A-list star player.

Noel was one of those players who played rapidly inside the three-point line. As a guy with a big build, Chris Noel could shoot outside the three-point line as well. He had won the NBA All-Star Weekend Shooting Stars Competition three times in a row. In his career, he had a 40% field goal percentage for three-pointers in a season.

There were a lot of fans who criticized him for not being aggressive enough, always shooting from outside the three-point line and not going inside. The truth was that he was very good at getting rebounds. Considering that it was the small ball era, power forwards who were able to shoot from outside the three-point line were definitely the most popular.

Like other stars, Chris Noel suffered from a lot of injuries, but it was a disease that eventually made him leave the court. The doctors found a blood clot in his lungs. They may cause pulmonary thrombosis.

The worse news was that he had a problem with his anticoagulant function. This meant that blood clots would appear in his blood vessels and enter the meridians of the main arteries The biggest problem was the potential blocking of the pulmonary artery, causing pulmonary embolism, or blocking of the cardiovascular system and causing heart disease. These were both deadly.

Although anticoagulation drugs could treat this disease, anticoagulation drugs also caused an increased risk of bleeding. It was not easy to stop the bleeding once it started. Playing basketball already increased the chances of vascular bleeding so had to choose between anticoagulation drugs and continuing his career.

In the end, the National Basketball Players Association issued a medical report to confirm that Chris Noel suffered from a career-ending injury. This report meant that Noel was leaving the NBA. Although Noel had never announced his retirement, his team, the Miami Heat, announced that he had been laid off and promised to retire his jersey.

…

In Miami, there were tons of bikini babes on the beach. In the evening, the nightclubs were filled with people indulging themselves.

Noel's mansion was right by the sea and it had a three-story pool. There was also a private marina by the sea.

When Dai Li and Johnson arrived, they found a sign hanging on the door.

"Is Noel selling his house?" Dai Li subconsciously asked.

"It seems that getting cut from the Heat really upset him. He is not planning on continuing to stay in the city," Johnson said.

"That's better for us. We have a better chance of convincing him," Dai Li said. He rang the doorbell.

…

"Chris, we want to invite you to join the Clippers." Johnson was afraid that Chris misunderstood what he meant. "Don't join the management or coaching staff, but join us as a player. We want to ask you to make a comeback."

"Comeback? Why would you use those words? I haven't retired yet!" Chris Noel patted his chest.

"You haven't retired yet!" Johnson said, a little embarrassed. He was actually a little stunned. The Heat had already retired Noel's jersey and he had the gall to say that he wasn't retired.

Dai Li asked, "Mr. Noel, as you are not retired, are you interested in joining the Clippers?"

"Of course! I still have a villa in Los Angeles. I wanted to sell it, but I couldn't. Now I can just move in," Noel replied.

Dai Li and Johnson looked at each other. They didn't think things would go so smoothly.

Noel went said, "I can go to the Clippers, but I want to be part of the starting lineup!"

"That is not going to be a problem," Dai Li agreed quickly.

The speed in which Dai Li agreed made Noel felt uneasy. In his current condition, he wouldn't be able to pass the NBA's medical examination. He couldn't even get on any teams, let alone play in their starting lineups. If Dai Li were not the head coach of the Clippers, Noel would think he had encountered a conman.

Noel asked doubtfully, "Coach Li, you know about my current physical condition, right? I am referring to the blood clots."

"Of course I know," Dai Li nodded.

"Then you should know that, in my current condition, it is impossible for me to pass the NBA's medical examination. The NBA officials will not allow me to play," Noel continued.

"I know," Dai Li nodded again.

"If you know that I can't get back on the court, then why would you agree to my requests?" Noel asked, puzzled.

"We're still quite a few months away from the new season. If you come to Los Angeles to train during these few months, I'm confident I can help you recover," Dai Li spoke very candidly.

"Through training? Are you kidding?" Noel clearly did not believe what Dai Li said.

"We can sign the contract first. If you can't pass the NBA's medical examination before the start of next season, then we will lose a lot of money. I don't think anyone would use a few million dollars to make a joke, right?" Dai Li said.

Noel thought about it and saw that what Dai Li said made sense, so he nodded and agreed.

"Our team manager Johnson will contact your agent about the contract." Dai Li thought for a while and asked, "I have one last question. I thought I would have to pay a lot of money to get you to join the Clippers. I didn't expect you to agree so readily. I want to know why you made your choice so quickly."

"You saw the sign at the door, right? I have no plans to stay in Miami. I've actually already planned to go to Los Angeles. I have a big villa there," Noel answered.

"Is it because the Heat kicked you out?" Dai Li asked.

"That's just one of the reasons. I have been in this city for many years. I love Miami. I would have also liked to stay on the Heat. I have a group of teammates who I am familiar with here. We have won two championships together. I thought I would grow old in this city, but now I have those damn blood clots!"

Noel took a deep breath and before saying, "I should have retired like a superstar, with glory. I could have enjoyed the flowers and applause. I wanted a perfect retirement ceremony. Instead, I was lying in the hospital wearing a patient gown, waiting for others to announce that I can no longer play. I was treated like an abandoned orphan!

"I am not willing to leave the court like this! So I said to myself, if I can, I will definitely return to the court!

"I am unwilling to stay down!"

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Chapter 594: Because of Talent

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

In his office at the Ohio State University, a large man was sitting in front of his computer, working hard.

He was seven feet tall and broad shoulders. The desk in front of him looked tiny in comparison. A normal-sized mouse in his hand looked like like the size of an egg in an ordinary person's hand.

"Gray, it's time to leave." His colleague had already decided to head out.

"I will go after finishing this form," Gray said.

"Okay. I'm leaving now, though," his colleague replied. "School hasn't started yet, you don't have to work so hard."

"I want to get familiar with the work of assistant coaches as soon as possible. I have never been a coach before, I was just a player," Gray said.

After the colleague left, Gray continued on with his work.

His cellphone started to ring. He saw from the caller ID it was a strange number.

I don't know this number. Is it a telemarketer. Gray thought about it and chose to reject the call.

However, five minutes later, the man called again. Gray chose to answer this time.

"Hello, is this Mr. Gray? I am very sorry, I originally intended to contact you through an agent, but I heard that you had dismissed yours," the person on the phone said.

"I am Gray. May I ask who you are?" Gray replied.

"My name is Johnson, the general manager of the Clippers. I am in Columbus now. I was hoping to meet with you…"

…

Johnson put down the phone and turned to Dai Li. "I made an appointment. We'll meet him at the hotel restaurant tomorrow night."

"We have a day left then. Let's go sightseeing, I heard there are many places worth visiting in Columbus," Dai Li said as he stood up.

Johnson changed the subject and asked, "Do you really want to choose Gray?"

"Of course. I remember, when he was drafted, he was hailed as a rare talent that only appeared once every 50 years. Some people said he could surpass Brown, the best in the NBA! He was named "Mr. Basketball USA" in high school. Besides Brown, the only other person who has done that is Gray."

"It's true that he's an amazing talent, but his injury is equally astonishing. He only played 105 games in the NBA because he got injured so much. How can we make use of such a fragile person? We are a basketball team, not a nursing home," Johnson said.

"Did you forget that I specialize in rehabilitation training? We all know that Gray's main problem is leg length discrepancy and I have experience in this area. I trained Shawn Ford, the Olympic champion. He also has a leg length discrepancy," Dai Li replied, a smile on his face.

"Basketball and sprinting are different. There is no contact in sprinting, but basketball has physical confrontations between players. This is especially true of players within the three-point line. They have to fight opponents and keep jumping to get rebounds." Johnson shook his head. "As a seven-foot man, Gray's weight is close to 290 pounds. This weight is a burden for his waist, knees, and ankles. Leg length discrepancy makes it even worse. In a fierce physical confrontation, there's no way that he won't get injured!"

"I know everything you just said. I have seen Gray's medical report. I am confident that I can solve his leg length discrepancy issue. I can't give up on his talent. I believe he can realize his potential on my team!"

Dai Li took out his phone. He found a picture and handed it to Johnson. He said, "This is the data on Gray from when he was in the NBA. He could do the lane agility drill in 11.67 seconds and sprint three-quarters of the court in 3.27 seconds. Can you imagine that this is a person who is seven feet tall and weighs 285 pounds? This kind of agility means he can switch from defense to offense very quickly. With him on the team, we can do what the Rockets do and keep employing the tactics of quickly switching from defense to offense.

"Gray's great at both offense and defense. He can attack from the low post area, play under the basket, get rebounds, and block. Combine that with his agile pace, and he has all the qualities of a really good center player. In the Blazers' last season, he scored 11 points, got eight rebounds, and got two blocks in only 24 minutes. He had a field goal percentage of 60%. If you extrapolated this data to encompass 36 minutes, it would be 16.7 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks. As long as he stays healthy, he might become a very good center. In the worst case scenario, he is a top defensive player."

"Everyone in the NBA knows everything you just said. Before Gray entered the NBA, everyone thought he would be an amazing center player in the future. It is different now. The small ball style reigns supreme. There is no need for an amazing center player in small ball. Now the scoring paint protector strategy is the most popular," Johnson said.

"Did the small ball style of playing that eliminated the need for good centers, or is it the lack of good centers that made people adopt a small ball style of playing?" Dai Li asked.

"Um…" Johnson found out that this was a question that was difficult to answer.

Very good centers dominated the NBA quite recently. Johnson experienced that era. He knew how terrifying an amazing center could be. The NBA now had many players who played very well within the three-point line but they were lacking in good centers.

Their ability to score aside, just their ability to attack from the low post area was terrifying. There were no solutions for defenders dealing with going head-to-head with good centers at the time. Centers who were able to play one-on-one in the low post area were all excellent. Now, barely any centers were able to attack from the low post area. There were definitely not any centers who made the defenders feel helpless.

Of course, having centers play in the low post area wasn't popular anymore. The most popular method for players who usually played inside the three-point line was to shoot a three-pointer from the outside. They also might rush underneath the basket and score after getting a pass from a teammate. Those who were able to get rebounds were regarded as key players inside the three-point line.

So no one knew whether the small ball style eliminated the need for good centers or if it was a lck of centers that started the small ball style. If an amazing center appeared, then people would see whether a good center could break a team that utilized small ball tactics or if the small ball style could overcome the center.

…

Gray was confused about Dai Li's offer. He had long been regarded as a fragile man who couldn't play in the NBA. That was why he came to the university to be an assistant coach. Who would've thought that, just as he was hired, he would receive an offer from the Clippers?

The next night, Dai Li meet with Gray. As Dai Li expected, Gray was an S athlete. If he wasn't injured, he could've become a dominant player in his generation.

"Coach Li, are you guys serious about this? Don't you care about my history of injuries? I may get injured again after playing just a few games," Gray asked with a sullen look.

"It seems that you are very concerned about your injuries." Dai Li looked very relaxed. "If you join us, your injuries will be handled by our coaching staff. All you have to do is to make use of your talent!"

The word "talent" struck Gray's ears. This changed his expression slightly.

When Gray was in high school, he was hailed as the most talented player. He was called the best high school player of the year and was even named "Mr. Basketball USA." At the time, Gray had shown absolute dominance and was even nicknamed "the Great." The nickname of the number one ranked player in the NBA was only "Emperor," but Gray was able to be nicknamed "the Great." This highlighted how optimistic everyone was about his chances of dominating the NBA.

After entering college, Gray's name was synonymous with "natural talent." When people talked about him, they talked about his talent. Everyone believed that when he fulfilled his potential, he would dominate the NBA.

Before the NBA draft, both the talent scouts and media praised him. They said that he possessed all the skills of the outstanding centers in history. Even the most critical of scouts praised his talent. At the time, he not only had an imposing stature, but he was able to jump as well. His speed and flexibility were not inferior to smaller athletes. Finally, he entered the NBA.

Before he was able to make use of his talents, his leg length discrepancy coupled with the intensity of the physical confrontations within the three-point line caused him frequent injuries. His leg length discrepancy did not impact him in high school or college. He was injured for two of his four season. In the other two seasons, he only played 105 games.

Gray became a fragile man in the eyes of many. He was regarded as the "possible champion." Ever since then, whenever someone mentioned the word "talent," Gray thought they were ridiculing him! It became a very harsh word.

Because of his talent, Gray had once been lifted up into heaven. The, because of his talent, he became the target of others' ridicule. His previous nickname, "the Great." had become a joke that others talked about after a meal.

When Gray heard the word "talent" from Dai Li, he felt an indescribable sense of sorrow and grief. He was not able to face this word.

Gray was silent for a long time. After a while, he said, "Coach Li, can you let me think about it?"

Dai Li could feel Gray's insecurity in his answer.

He had fallen from the heavens to the pits of hell. Now, no one cared about him. Anyone Gray's position would feel insecure.

Dai Li shook his head. "I want you to make a decision now. If you overthink this, it will just make you hesitate! If you want to return to the court and fulfill your potential, then the only thing you can do is rush forward courageously. Once you have the think of backing down, you have already failed!"

Dai Li's words enflamed Gray. This gave Gray the wrong impression. He felt that he was standing on a tall ladder and the steps beneath him were collapsing. He couldn't move backward, so he could only move forward constantly.

Dai Li then said, "In my eyes, you are still the talented Gray, but you have not fulfilled your potential. I don't think you are willing to leave the court to just be an assistant coach in college. You are destined to become a superstar. You should not wither away here! The opportunity is in front of you. Seize the opportunity to fulfill your potential and you can still become an NBA superstar!"

…

Gray eventually stopped resisting his desire to be a superstar. He agreed to join the Clippers and Dai Li left Columbus satisfied.

In the airport lounge, Dai Li wrote several names in his notebook.

"Center: Gray, power forward: Noel, small forward: Raymond, shooting guard: Hall, point guard: Wood. What do you think of our starting lineup?" Dai Li asked.

"If they are all healthy, this is an all-star starting lineup," Johnson said.

"In addition, we have the best sixth men. Osef, the talented rookie Kumar, and the inconsistent Naismith…" Dai Li continued.

"Don't forget Ronny. We can renew his contract," Johnson reminded him.

"Get rid of Ronny!" Dai Li said, shaking his head.

"What are you talking about?" Johnson thought he had heard him wrong.

"We have Raymond, Hall, and Osef. If they are healthy, then do you think we have to let Ronny stay?" Dai Li asked with a smile.

"I understand, but you need to prove to me that Raymond can play in a normal NBA game. Otherwise, Ronny is our best choice on the front line," Johnson said.

"You can rest assured." Dai Li voiced changed. "I am not very sure about the players inside the three-point line. Although Gray is outstanding, he has only played in 105 NBA games. He isn't very experienced. We still need to find an experienced alternative for players inside the line. You can help me pay attention to the market or find other teams to make a deal with."

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Chapter 595: Strong

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

During the offseason of the NBA, the market was full of rumors. Possible new signings, contract renewals, and transfers were discussed. Unless the team announced something themselves, it would be difficult to distinguish what was true.

Most of the team's staff was on vacation. The new players recruited by Dai Li )Hall, Raymond, Noel, Gray, Wood, and Osef) did not go to Clippers training, but instead went to Dai Li's fitness training center. They currently did not meet the physical requirements set by the NBA. It would take some time to restore them to their previous states.

Many athletes trained at Dai Li's center. With so many stars training there, no one was surprised that these NBA players started going there too. Even though rumors were abundant in the offseason, no one suspected they were joining the Clippers.

At the same time, the Asian Games had also started. In this Asian Games, the Chinese men's basketball team was determined to become the champions.

The overall standards of basketball in Asia were relatively low. There were not many teams that could play well. The group stage of the competition was divided into four groups. Advancing through the group stage was not hard for strong teams. For example, the three opponents of the Chinese team were from Central Asia and Southeast Asia. These teams were so bad they had basically gotten a free pass through the group stage.

The Chinese team easily advanced to the top eight and then entered the quarter-finals. The Chinese team faced a team that got second place in another, so their opponent was not that strong. The team easily advanced to the semi-finals.

Their opponent in the semi-finals was the team from the Philipines. They were finally playing a decent opponent.

In actuality, the Philippine men's basketball team was not strong. In fact, none of the countries in Southeast Asia were athletic countries. However, in recent years, the Philippines had naturalized many American basketball players. Some mixed-race players played on the Philippine team.

The U.S. military had been stationed in the Philippines for many years. Everyone knew about the U.S. military. Their soldiers weren't able to control their sexual desires. For example, the U.S. military stationed in Japan often had sexual scandals. After the Vietnam War, there were a large number of mixed-race babies in Southeast Asian countries where the U.S. military had been stationed.

There were large numbers of American troops stationed in the Philippines, so it was expected that they would have many children of American descent.

Some U.S. soldiers stationed in the Philippines were responsible and fulfilled their duties as fathers. They brought back the children that had Filipino mothers to the United States, made them Americans, and gave them an American education. Most American troops were not this responsible. They would leave their own children who were born in the Philippines with the Filipino women. These children lost their father from a young age. Their mixed-blood appearance also subjected them to judgment from other Filipinos.

However, the genes of these soldiers were better than those of most Southeast Asians when it came to physical activities. Therefore, when these mixed-race players grew up, some became outstanding athletes.

However, these basketball players did not receive formal basketball training at an early age. They, of course, did not have the chance to receive basketball training when they were young. Therefore, their skills were rusty and they were far from having the skills of a professional player. These players mainly relied on pure physical strength. They jumped higher than others, ran faster than others, and had a stronger outburst of energy when needed. This was more than enough to dominate the native Filipinos in the Philippine national league.

Most of the naturalized players were unable to make it in the United States or Europe. They wouldn't even be able to last in the Chinese or Japanese leagues. They were only able to play in the Philippines.

…

In the Philippine team's locker room, the players seemed very relaxed. Meanwhile, their head coach looked dignified.

As the head coach of a national team, he knew that the Chinese team was strong. In the absence of Australia and New Zealand, the Chinese team and the Iranian team were the strongest teams in the competition.

He looked at his players, especially the mixed-race players, and saw that they were still joking around. They were not serious about the upcoming game. This made him a little angry. However, he did not use his authority to get the players to get serious. In fact, his title as coach was almost worthless.

The key players on the team were naturalized, with dual American and Philippine citizenship, but the Filipino nationality was just for show. They might not even know the name of the President of the Philippines. Why would they care about what a Filipino head coach said?

More importantly, the strategy that this team had was very bad.

In the past, the players on the Filipino team and other Southeast Asian teams were not tall enough. It was considered good for the center to be at least two meters tall. Many of the players were around 160 cm. Such heights were disadvantages for the players. Their shots were easy to block. If their shots missed, they wouldn't be able to get the rebound. When they got into a physical confrontation, they were at a disadvantage. So the Southeast Asian teams always had to deploy the fast break strategy. The players played smart and executed their tactics well.

Of course, it wasn't possible to make this happen through pure willpower. In a confrontational sport, if one was not as strong their opponent, then the only way to win was a strategy. To put it bluntly, if their bodies were inferior, they could only rely on their smarts to play ball.

The current Philippine team's physical fitness had improved a lot, but their tactical literacy and tactical execution had gotten worse. The Filipino team's physical fitness was much better than before. In the Philippine league, they could easily get 34 points by relying on their physical strength.

Since they could easily dominate the other players without having to think, they didn't need to use any tactics. It was similar to a high-level professional video game team encountering a team of newbies. They easily defeated their opponents so they didn't put in any effort towards cooperation. Everyone on the team just tried to get as many kills as possible.

This was the case for the Philippine team. In the group stage, no strategy was used at all. Almost everyone relied on their physical strength. They were all eager to try to improve their statistics as well. The opponents were really weak, so they were basically abused by the Filipino team.

This gave the Filipino team players the illusion that Asian teams were weak. To defeat their opponents, they didn't need a strategy, only physical strength.

The players on the Filipino team were accustomed to playing solo. Their tactical literacy and tactical execution had degraded. Even if they were holding the ball, they had no awareness.

Basketball was a five-person sport. It required cooperation between players. For the five people to work as a single entity, they needed to employ some sort of strategy.

There were many "systematic players" in the NBA. They weren't skilled, and their physiques weren't great, but they were able to do well through a systematic approach. Their statistics reflected that.

There were also players whose statistics weren't great. They might have played for more than ten years, but their numbers weren't even in the double-digits. They were still able to last in the NBA. There would always be teams that were willing to sign them. They were also able to get pretty good contracts. Most of these players had strong tactical execution. They were able to do precisely what the coaches wanted them to.

On the other side of the spectrum, there were players who had good physiques and were skilled but were less intelligent. They would be eliminated. Many fans always wondered why teams didn't want some of the players who had good physiques, techniques, and performance stats. The reason was probably that their tactical execution was poor.

If they were not superstars and they were not able to carry out the coaches' tactics, they might hold back the entire team. Of course, if they were superstars, they would be able to affect the entire team's performance positively. In that case, it was not necessary to talk too much about tactics.

These players on the Filipino team were the kind of people who had no knowledge of tactical execution. If they had a strong understanding of it, they wouldn't need to stay in the Philippine domestic leagues.

…

Both teams entered the venue. The players in the Filipino team were still talking and laughing, while the Chinese team was more serious.

"The players on the Chinese team are really tall. They have more than one seven-footer in their team!"

"What's the use of being tall? They are all thin bamboo poles. I could easily shove them down!"

"Why do I feel that the Chinese team is much stronger than our previous opponents?"

"Even if they are stronger, they aren't stronger than us. We can definitely defeat them."

The players of the Filipino team discussed this quietly.

…

In the stands, the Iranian players were watching this game.

An hour ago, in the same venue, the Iranian team had defeated the South Korean team and advanced to the final. The winner of this game would be their opponents in the finals. They must, of course, observe them carefully.

The Chinese team and the Iranian team were old rivals. Both sides often encountered each other in Asian competitions. Iran had players playing in the CBA. Both sides were familiar with each other.

"Why do I feel that the Chinese team's players are stronger than they were a few months ago?"

"I agree. Look at the big ones, they have muscles. They didn't have them before in the CBA league."

"It seems they must have gotten better training than the teams in the CBA! I think the Filipino team should prepare to lose."

"This is expected. the Filipino team is no opponent for the Chinese team. Weren't we always planning on facing the Chinese team in the finals?"

…

While everyone was talking, the game had begun.

The Filipinos' first attack was, of course, a solo attack.

A mixed-race player held the ball and rushed forward. In his opinion, this was similar to the games in the Filipino league. The Chinese defensive players were like paper. be able to handle a physical confrontation with him.

However, he did not expect the Chinese team's defensive player would rush forward to meet him. It was as if they were not worried about getting into a physical confrontation with him.

Be careful not to get hit by me! The Filipino player thought. He then rushed forward. He wanted to give the defender a bit of trouble.

The next moment, their two bodies slammed together. The toughness of the Chinese team's defender surprised him. What surprised him, even more, was that the defender's body seemed to be stronger than his.

With his experience in the Philippines, Asians could not compete with him physically. However, he met an exception today. Although the opponent was Asian, he was much stronger than the Filipino players.

His rush ended in failure. When he stopped, the Chinese defensive player was already in front of him. He had no openings to shoot, so he had to pass the ball.

After several passes, the basketball came to the hands of a Filipino player inside the three-point line.

The player inside the three-point line, Eppes, was a naturalized mixed-race player. He was six feet and nine inches tall. He grew up in the United States. He had once played in the NCAA at Western Kentucky University. He also tried to enter the Austin Spurs' NBDL team. He later participated in the Philippine League PBA draft. When he became a professional player in the Philippine League, he gained a very high status.

Being able to play in the NCAA, and being able to participate in the NBDL tryouts, indicated that he had a good physique He had been exposed to American basketball culture since his childhood. This was something that could not be matched by an Asian player. In the Filipino national league, Eppes used his outstanding physical talent to become a player that was hard to defend against inside the three-point line.

It was a pity that, although Eppes had played for many years, his technique was still a bit rough. He made no progress throughout the years. Of course, with his physical strength, playing in the Filipino League did not require any technical abilities.

Eppes caught the ball in the low post area, but he didn't possess the skills to attack the low post area. He could only rely on his body to rush at the basket. This was a trick he used in the Philippines' domestic league. The Filipino players would be stunned. They would not be able to stop his offense and he would always easily rush towards the basket to do a layup or dunk.

Today, Eppes felt that he was facing a wall, despite using his body to push against the other party, the other party was still with him. He did not retreat and he did not move from his position.

At this moment, Eppes felt that he had returned to the United States. The opponents he met there had physiques comparable to his and each of his opponents dared to get into physical confrontations with him. This meant that a player who had bad technique became useless and it was difficult for him to score.

"hen did the Chinese team become so strong? Eppes thought anxiously.

The time for the offensive was almost over and Eppes had no choice but to force a layup against the defensive players.

He may be a giant in the Philippines with his height of six feet and nine inches. Faced with a team of seven-footers, he had no advantages. His layup was blocked.

…

After the first half, the Filipino team was 12 points behind. The audience was not surprised by this result. After all, the Chinese team was the top team in Asia.

However, the course of the game had been unexpected. In everyone's opinion, the physical strength of the Filipino team players was better, and they would undoubtedly focus on this fact and use it as their advantage. The reality was that the Filipino team had no advantages when it came to physical confrontations. On the contrary, this Chinese team preferred to engage in physical confrontations. They were aggressive in their defense. They used their bodies to push against the Filipino players.

In the stands, the Iranian coach was furrowing his brows. He was able to sense that the Iranian team was not going to do well from what he had seen from the current match.

This Chinese team is much stronger than before. The naturalized players on the Filipino team are restricted in their movements when faced against the Chinese team. The players inside the three-point line are not afraid to get into physical confrontations. This is not good news for us. The Chinese team has never lacked players with big physiques. Their players inside the three-point line are more talented than ours. Our players inside the three-point line are still quite green. If we have to play against the Chinese in the finals, our players inside the three-point line will not be able to last.

The head coach of the Iranian team sighed. Worry flashed in his eyes.

"Coach, what's wrong? Why did you sigh?" A player next to him asked.

As the head coach of the team, he certainly shouldn't infect the players with his negative emotions. He should not damage his own prestige with his ambition either. The Iranian head coach quickly explained, "I think the Filipino team's tactics are really bad."

"You said it. Everyone is playing by themselves. The fast and flexible tactics that were used by the Filipino team in the past has been completely abandoned. Teams that relied purely on their physique can only do well in Asia. When you get to the international stage and you meet a team whose players have the better physique, you will definitely lose," the player said.

…

In Los Angeles, Dai Li came to the office early and watched the Asian Games basketball match between the Chinese team and the Iranian team on the Internet.

The Chinese team really defeated Iran! The young men on this national team are much better than I thought. The players inside the three-point line are quite daring and the players outside the three-point line are very accurate.

The Chinese team won the game, so Dai Li was in a good mood. He closed the live stream of the game and went to the training ground.

The training for the new season is about to begin. It is time to use the athlete patch on my new players!

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Chapter 596: A New Lease on Life

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Dai Li stared at the list of players in his hands and thought it over.

Wood is a 20-year-old who has the knee of a 50 or 60-year-old. His knee is useless. He needs an athlete patch to recover.

Hall has no menisci in either knee, so he will require an athlete patch.

In addition to the injuries he has accumulated, the most serious problem for Raymond is congenital scoliosis. He also has to use an athlete patch.

Noel has a problem with anticoagulant function. His body lacks anticoagulant hormones. This can also be solved with an athlete patch.

Gray has leg length discrepancy. His situation is the same as that of Shawn Ford, but Gray's is more severe. If the athlete patches for him were included, I would have to use five athlete patches this season. That is a really high cost.

There is also that Osef fellow. If all goes well, he should be able to play in December.

Osef was unlike the others. The others suffered injuries that caused their bodies to not work as intended. The athlete patches could be used to supplement the missing functions in their bodies. However, Osef was in his current state due to his use of drugs and his unhealthy lifestyle.

The harm caused by drugs to the human body could not be cleared up in a day or two. After a normal person quits taking drugs, it takes six to twelve months for the body to recover. To be completely restored to a healthy state, it takes at least two years.

As an athlete, Osef was physically better off than most ordinary people. He trained every day. His metabolic rate was much higher than an ordinary person's so his recovery after detoxification would be faster than usual. However, the intensity of an NBA game was extreme. It was not enough for Osef to recover if he wanted to be able to play in the NBA. He needed to receive more training.

…

Hall felt that his one month of physical training had been monotonous. He was a basketball player. Making him stay in the gym all day to work with all kinds of equipment would annoy him after a while.

Fortunately, the new season was coming up, so Hall was allowed to go to the Clippers training base to familiarize himself with his future working environment.

Hall had felt like he was going to suffocate if he didn't get his hands on a ball soon. He couldn't help but give the ball in his hands a kiss or two. Another person who felt like suffocating from a lack of basketball was the superstar, Raymond. It would've been easier to go a month without eating than it was for him to go a month without a ball.

The two of them went to the training center of the Clippers and started playing one-on-one against each other.

Players who were at such a high level naturally had a strong desire to win. Neither side was willing to admit defeat. Both of them had an impressive scoring ability. They were proficient in various scoring techniques. They were also able to use scoring methods that others would find unreasonable. Therefore, a one-on-one between the two was truly a sight to behold.

On the sidelines, besides Dai Li and Cassel, was Johnson.

Johnson had been an NBA player when he was younger. He could see the conditions of a player just by watching them.

Johnson saw that the two people on the court were full of energy. They were entirely unlike two retired and injured veterans.

"Have they recovered from their injuries?" Johnson asked. He could not be sure but, as a former NBA player, his intuition told him that Hall and Raymond had recovered.

Dai Li did not answer, but asked in return, "Why? Do you think so?"

"Seeing them play one-on-one right now is like seeing them play a few years ago when the Rockets played against the Blazers. If the two of them had been put on a team together back then, they would be the best backcourt combination in the Western Conference," Johnson said.

"So you should forget Ronny! We don't need him anymore," Dai Li said with a smile. He patted Johnson's shoulder and said, "Ronny is still a restricted free agent. I suggest we trade him for a substitute player inside the three-point line while he still has value. I really need someone to fill that position right now. We could also use him to get next year's draft pick"

…

This kind of one-on-one match was more physically exhausting than an official game. In official games, players didn't have the ball for the entirety of an offense. Teammates shared the responsibility of attacking. It was the same when it came to the defense. A player didn't constantly defend, there were always teammates to share the pressure. In a one-on-one game, everything was up to one person; there was no one to help.

Moreover, the opponent was a top athlete. Trying to go on an offensive and trying to defend in a game like this was even more physically exhausting. After ten minutes of competition, Hall and Raymond were already panting. They both went to the side to rest.

"How is it? Are your knees okay?" Raymond asked, handing a bottle of water to Hall. "I know that after losing menisci, every acceleration, every sudden stop, and every jump puts the knees under extra pressure."

Hall gently rubbed his knees and then shook his head. "I don't feel anything in the knees. Only my calf muscles are sore. That's probably because we were too intense when we played just now, right? A while ago, I'd have to be carried out on a stretcher right now. How about your back injury?"

"I don't feel anything either." Raymond subconsciously twisted his upper body and then said, "To tell the truth, before I retired, I suffered pain in my back muscles. My congenital scoliosis caused very serious injuries. Even after playing for so long today, I don't feel anything at all."

"When I was going one-on-one against you, I could tell that I didn't lose too much speed or explosive power. As long as my knees don't hurt, I can play like I used to," Hall said. "I have heard before that Coach Li is the best rehabilitation coach in the United States. Now I see it is true. Staying in that room and doing a month of recovery training was worth it."

"I agree with you. That back injury has been bothering me for many years. I looked for top rehabilitation coaches in the United States, but they couldn't help me. If I were coached by Li, maybe I would not have had to retire. I might have had several championship rings by now!" He then looked around and searched for Noel, but he did not find him.

So Raymond asked, "Where's Noel? Where did he go? Why can't I see him?"

"He might have gone to the hospital for a medical report. You know that the blood clot in his body needs to be monitored from time to time. If a blood clot occurs in his artery, it will kill him," Noel replied.

…

In a famous private hospital in Los Angeles, Noel was sitting in the doctor's office. He was looking at the doctors nervously, waiting for them to announce the test results.

The doctor looked at the test report in his hand. He furrowed his eyebrows and his face expressed disbelief.

The doctor's expression made Noel more nervous. He was worried his condition had worsened.

Finally, the doctor said, "Mr. Noel, the blood clots in your body have disappeared."

"Disappeared? What do you mean?" Noel asked.

"They may have melted away or been absorbed by your body. I think it is incredible. The clot should not have disappeared so quickly." The doctor hesitated for a few seconds. Then he asked, "Mr. Noel, have you taken more anticoagulant drugs recently?"

"No." Noel shook his head. "In fact, I have stopped taking anticoagulant drugs. I remember that you said that anticoagulant drugs will have side effects and that I can stop taking them for a while to avoid the side effects from damaging my body."

"You stopped taking the medication, but the blood clots in your body disappeared? My goodness, what is going on here? I have been a doctor for 30 years, and I have never seen such a thing." The doctor couldn't figure it out how this could happen.

"Doctor, if I have no clots in my body. Can I stop using anticoagulant drugs?" Noel urgently asked.

The doctor thought for a moment and replied, "If no new clots form in your body, and your body's indicators are normal, you don't need to continue taking them."

"Does that mean I can play again?" Noel asked.

"I can't answer this question. It depends on whether the NBA will approve. If necessary, I can give you a medical report to prove that there is no blood clot in your body," the doctor replied with a smile.

…

In the bathroom, Wood stood under the shower head and let the water fall on him.

Wood's body couldn't help but tremble. It wasn't fatigue or the water in the shower that made him shake; he was excited.

Like the other players that joined the Clippers, he had been training for more than a month. He faced the fitness equipment all the time and didn't have any chance to play basketball.

When he had returned to the court today, he realized that his explosive power was back!

Wood, a star player at this level, was proficient in all scoring methods, but what he relied on most was his explosive power. After his knees got injured, he lost his speed and explosive power. He had lost that skill.

Now, after a month of physical training, he was able to showcase his talent once more.

Wood thought that this was a dream. If he were dreaming, he would rather not wake up.

"I can finally see the effect of this training!" Wood muttered to himself.

Wood certainly didn't know that Dai Li had used an athlete patch on him. Today, Wood had received a new lease on life!

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Chapter 597: Shelter for the Old and Weak

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

"According to an announcement made by the Clippers, the team has signed a one-year veteran minimum salary contract with free agent Osef. They are paying him 2.32 million dollars. This season, Osef will return to the Staples Center in Los Angeles wearing the Clippers' jersey. Is this true or is it fake news? That guy has ruined himself with drugs and got a girl pregnant. Can he still play?"

"The Clippers' announced the news and gave a lot of details. The specific amount of money was included. I think there is a nine out of ten chance it is true. Weren't there some reports the past few days that Osef had begun preparations for a comeback and that he resumed training. He is training at the fitness center owned by the Clippers' head coach! It doesn't surprise me at all that Osef will be joining the Clippers."

The news of Osef signing with the Clippers was revealed before training camp for the upcoming season started. The veteran minimum salary was not high, but it was a chance for Osef to regain his dignity.

At the end of last season, there was a rumor that Osef had joined the Clippers. The current news confirmed those rumors. Thus, people were not surprised.

Osef had a bad record. Once your reputation had been contaminated by drugs it was hard to earn it back. No one believed in a drug addict and no one was optimistic about his comeback. Many people saw the signing as a bad decision.

The sports commentators gave the signing a very low rating. Among the scores of more than a dozen sports commentators, the best rating for this signing was only a C. It didn't even receive a C.

Just two days later, the Clippers announced another signing. They signed the free agent "Yellow Mamba" Hall for two years at $8.5 million.

8.5 million for two years. An average of more than 4 million a year, this price was less than the regular middle-class contracts and more than lower-middle class contracts. The second year of the contract was the team's option. If Hall did not perform well, the Clippers would not continue with his second-year contract.

Of course, for Dai Li, it was not possible to only use Hall for one year. An athlete could use three athlete patches. This meant that Hall would not be troubled by his lack of menisci for three seasons.

Dai Li was planning to give Hall a one-year contract first so that he could show his strength and, after that, give him a two-year contract. After all, Hall was a star player, and he should get a salary that matched his strength.

Right after this signing was disclosed to the media, it received a wave of criticism.

"Hall is not the 'Yellow Mamba' of the past. He doesn't have any menisci in his knees. He can't run and he can't jump. He's useless. I really don't understand why the Clippers would sign him."

"Two years at 8.5 million. It would be better to try to train a few rookies. That way, they might be able to get one or two useful players."

"If Hall could still play, he wouldn't have retired. First, they signed Osef, and now they signed Hall. I really don't understand what the Clippers are doing this year!"

People were not optimistic about Hall's comeback. Not only had he lost the menisci in his knees, but he had returned to play after he had lost his menisci before. He could not adapt to the intensity of an NBA game.

Hall was unable to continue to play. Now, Hall was a few years older, so his comeback was less likely to succeed.

The news of the Clippers' signings did not end there. The next day, the sports section was dominated with headlines about the Clippers.

"Legendary star Raymond announces his comeback!"

He was a two-time scoring champion and seven-time All-Star. A superstar in the NBA, Raymond was a player who could indeed be described as a "legend."

Countless Raymond fans were excited by this news. Many people did not care whether Raymond could match his old stats, they only cared that Raymond was returning.

People began to guess which team Raymond would join, which team would hand him an olive branch. Some people were worried that no team in the NBA would accept Raymond. After all, Raymond had played for many years. He was injured and had been retired for a while. The current Raymond might not be able to handle the fast-paced rhythm of an NBA game.

This worry was superfluous. A few hours after Raymond's announcement, the Clippers released the news that they had signed a three-year contract with Raymond at $25.8 million. The third year was a team option.

The salary was not what Raymond valued most. He was not short of money. He had earned hundreds of millions of dollars in his career. He was more concerned about the starting position that Dai Li promised. After all, Raymond was a superstar; he still had an ego. If the team was willing to guarantee his starting position, he didn't mind getting a lower salary.

From the perspective of the Clippers, a two-year, $25.8 million contract for a superstar like Raymond was certainly a very cost-effective deal.

No one else felt that the current Raymond was worth 25.8 million for three years.

Sure enough, after the Clippers announced the signing of Raymond at this price, almost everyone felt that the Clippers were stupid, acting like rich kids with too much money to spend.

…

In the Clippers' training hall, Raymond sat on the sidelines, holding a few newspapers in his hand. His face was very blue.

Raymond was very unhappy. They said that he was not worth 25.8 million for three years. Some people even said that he should only be valued at the veteran minimum salary. This was an insult to Raymond!

On the other side, Gray looked depressed as well.

The Clippers announced that they had signed Gray at the veteran's minimum salary, but the news did not attract much attention. They were focused on Raymond.

Gray felt very lost, he hated being neglected. He was formerly "the Great" who lived up in the clouds, someone who people had high hopes for. Now, he had become a grain of unremarkable sand that no one cared about.

Noel rushed over.

"Noel, how did it go? Did the league approve your return to the court?" Raymond asked.

"The league still has some concerns. They asked me to provide at least half a year's medical reports to prove that there are no new clots in my body, but I only have a one-month medical report," Noel shrugged helplessly.

"That means you have to wait at least five months before you can play. It will be January of next year by then!" Raymond counted with his fingers.

Noel nodded, "The team's performance in the first half of the season depends on you. I can wear a suit and cheer for you from the sidelines."

…

The NBA was giving a press conference at their headquarters in New York.

The NBA spokesperson sat on the podium and answered the reporter's question with a smile. "Indeed, we received an application from Noel to compete but, for his sake, we asked him to provide a six-month medical report. This way we can be sure he is fully healed and able to play once more."

"If Noel returns to the court, can he join another team or does he have to return to the Heat?" A reporter asked.

"Noel has been cut by the Heat, so he is now a free agent. Any NBA team can choose to sign him, but without the approval of the league, he can't play."

The cellphone of one of the reporter shook a bit. He immediately it out. He was surprised.

"The Los Angeles Clippers announced that they have signed a contract with Noel!"

"The Clippers again? They signed Hall, Raymond, and Gray a few days ago. Now even Noel has signed with the Clippers!"

"What are the Clippers doing? Why have they signed on so many retired players? Can they still play?"

The crowd began to mutter.

…

On a sports program, a commentator was talking to the camera lens.

"The management of the Los Angeles Clippers this summer: I can only give them a D grade! They had enough money to renew their contract with Ronny and sign a few players from the free market, but they didn't. Look at who they have chosen!

"Osef, a drug addict who cheated on his own wife; Hall, a disabled player without menisci in his knees; A retired and injured superstar, Raymond; A fragile man with leg discrepancy, Gray. Last but not least, they signed Noel, a person with blood clots.

"In my opinion, this is just bad management. It might be the worst management of the NBA this summer. They have no potential for new stars, they have not recruited ready-made stars, and they have not renewed their key players. Instead, they signed players who have been eliminated by the NBA.

"If you have some money, you can buy a brand new Ford or a second-hand BMW. Instead, you go to the scrapyard and look for a car that cannot be driven! Okay, it is a Porsche, but it's a Porsche which has been scrapped. This is really just too stupid.

"I'm only making an analogy and didn't mean to offend the players. There is one thing that I must say. The current Los Angeles Clippers don't seem like an NBA team, but a shelter for the old and weak!"

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Chapter 598: A Complicated Transaction

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

"'Shelter for the old and weak?' The new season hasn't even begun and we already have another nickname!" Dai Li pointed to the magazine in his hand.

"You seem happy. They are not praising us. Wait, what do you mean by 'another'?" Johnson asked.

"We were called 'Los Angeles' Overtime Team' last season. You heard about that right?" Dai Li replied.

"I'm not in a joking mood. I am the general manager, so I am responsible for the choices we made. If the players we signed this summer perform badly, it's on me," Johnson said.

"I understand. If the players do not perform well, you will have to take the blame for me. Have you not seen, with your own eyes, how good these players are now?" Dai Li smiled. He then asked, "How is the situation with Ronny going?"

"I inquired about it. there are teams that are interested in him, but they are worried about the price. There are no teams that can offer a 20-million salary right now. Those who give a price can only offer 10 to 15 million, at most. Those teams are worried that we will match their offer," Johnson said.

"What about Ronny? Is he still insisting on a $100 million contract?" Dai Li asked.

"Ronny's agent has expressed his willingness to agree to a $90 million offer for five years and asked for the player option for the last two years," Johnson replied.

Dai Li thought about it and asked, "Do you think we can use Ronny to get a first-round draft pick next year?"

…

A few days ago, when the Clippers had just announced that they signed a contract with Osef, Ronny's agent contacted him immediately.

"Ronny, have you seen the news? The recent rumors are true. The Clippers really signed Osef," the agent said.

"I just heard. What's wrong? You think that addict can replace me?" Ronny said disdainfully.

"Osef certainly can't take over your position but, if he gets into the rotation, he will definitely steal your playing time. Imagine getting less time per game. Will you be able to maintain your statistics?" the agent asked.

"What should I do?" Ronny asked.

"I think we should agree to 90 million over five years!" the agent replied.

"Damn it. You were the one who convinced me to demand a high salary. Now, you're telling me to agree to a lower price. You swore that the Clippers would agree to our demands and I would get a higher salary. Now, we have to accept their offer of 90 million over five years. We are back to square one! You good-for-nothing agent!" Ronny screamed angrily. He felt deceived.

"I admit, I was blindly optimistic about this year's situation. The past two years, many players received top contracts, but this year's market is not as good as the last two. I am also a victim. If you don't get a high salary, I lose a lot in commissions, right? I didn't expect the Clippers to be so sly, either. They deliberately made it seem like they would match any offer so that other teams didn't make you an offer. They were actually just stalling," the agent explained.

"I don't care about any of that. What I want now is a contract as soon as possible!" Ronny took a deep breath and calmed down. Then he said, "Five years at 90 million is fine, but the last two should be a player option. I'm want to be able to get out of it early. I need a high salary!"

…

Two days later, the agent heard that Hall signed with the Clippers. The agent contacted Ronny again.

"I've been in talks with team management. They think that 90 million over five years is too high." The agent said this feeling somewhat guilty.

"What? They were the ones who offered me a five-year contract for $90 million. They went back on their words?" Ronny became very angry.

"The Clippers just signed Hall. Although Hall is a shooting guard, he is six feet and six inches tall. He has a good overall technique and he is strong. He can be a substitute cornerman. The Clippers believe that they have enough substitutes for the frontline…" The agent trailed off helplessly.

"They said that and you just believed them? Hall has no menisci in either knee. He is crippled on the court! He's just replacing me by himself? Ridiculous!" Ronny said.

"Of course I know everything that you just said. The Clippers just want to use this as an excuse to force us to lower our price," the agent said.

"I will not lower the price! 90 million over five years. I have already given a lot, I will not give one more inch," Ronny said with contempt.

"Just in case, and I'm saying just in case, Hall really is able to play, he would take up the playing time of other players. The important thing here is that the Clippers will have more choices in who they choose to play!" said the agent.

Ronny understood what the agent was saying. "You want me to lower my price again?"

The agent advised him sincerely. "Ronny, you have to understand that the NBA is a business. Business is a process of mutual concessions. I think we should lower the price again! My bottom line is 85 million over five years."

"85 million over five years?" Ronny became angry. "They offered me that at the end of last season. I held out for months, but the price is still the same. Are you playing me?"

"You have to know the NBA market is not doing well this summer; there weren't many high priced contracts. We can't do anything about it…" His agent tried to persuade him by speaking as sincerely as possible.

…

All of the sports world was talking about Raymond's comeback.

Raymond and Hall were different. Hall was the shooting guard. Raymond was the swingman. He could play as a small forward. When the news broke that the Clippers promised Raymond a spot on the starting lineup, it became clear why he chose to join the Clippers.

"They gave Raymond a spot in the starting lineup. Which position will I play? Do they want me to sit the bench?" Ronny asked angrily.

"Raymond can also play as the shooting guard. Maybe he will play one of the backcourt positions in the starting lineup…" His agent comforted him and waited until Ronny calmed down. "I have more bad news. The Clippers rejected the $85 million offer!"

"What?" Ronny had just calmed down, but he was once again ignited. He was angry. He asked, "What are they offering?"

The agent hesitated. "Four years at $45 million. The last two years are a team option!"

"Damn, they are doing this deliberately. This is an insult. Fine. Tell them I will not sign this contract! Even if they offered $85 million or $90 million, I won't sign with them!" Ronny ranted.

"Ronnie, you need to calm down. You have to understand that you are now a restricted free agent. If you do not accept the Clippers qualifying offer, after October 1st the contract will still take effect. You have to continue to play for the Clippers. Unless they withdraw their qualifying offer, which would be giving up their signing rights and making you a completely free agent. They will never do that."

"Damn! This is outrageous! I won't stay with them. Help me contact other teams to what they are willing to offer me. I have to leave the Clippers!" Ronny said fiercely.

"I think there should be teams that are interested in you, but they won't offer a very high salary," the agent said.

"I don't care if I lose some money, I have to leave. I don't want to stay on the Clippers!" Ronny said decisively.

…

According to the rules of the NBA, players who had just completed a four-year rookie contract could become a restricted free agent. The team needed to give a qualifying offer before June 30 in order to have priority in choosing the player. If the qualifying offer was not given, the player would become a completely free agent. If the team withdrew their qualifying offer, the player would also become a completely free agent. The offer amount had to be 125% of the previous contract or the minimum salary plus $200,000, whichever was higher.

After a team gave their offer, the player became a restricted free agent. At this point, he could communicate with the team to renew the contract. Other teams could also give their offers and the original team could match any of them.

If no team issued an offer to the player and the team did not reach an agreement for a new contract with the player, the previous qualification offer would take effect on October 1. The qualification offer was a one-year contract. When the player signed the contract for this qualification offer, he would still be a restricted free agent. Before March 1 of the following year, other teams could still give him offers. The team had the right to match their offer.

After March 1, the player would become a completely free agent. By the end of the season, after the player had fulfilled his contract, he could sign with any team without restrictions.

If the player did not accept any offer, including the qualifying offer from his own team, after one year the team could give him the same qualifying offer. The player would still be a restricted free agent. In other words, if the player did not get a high valued contract and he did not want to accept the team's qualifying offer, then he would always be a restricted free agent. The team could always match the offers of other teams.

…

The Clippers' management was in the the middle of a meeting.

"The Nuggets general manager contacted me. They want Ronny. They want to offer Ronny a contract, but they are worried we will match their offer. He contacted me to find out our position," Johnson said.

"How much are the Nuggets willing to spend?" Dai Li asked.

"Four years, $60 million. That's an average of 15 million a year. We can match this number with our current finances. We are still a ways off from the luxury tax threshold," Johnson replied.

Dai Li frowned and thought about it. He asked, "If we match the offer of the other teams, can we still trade Ronny?"

"Yes, but you need to get Ronny's consent," Johnson replied.

"I think the Nuggets' Blocked Shot Leader Karaby is very good. He is tall, has a good arm, and is good at blocking shots. He is one of the best defenders in the league. Although he is not too strong, his feet are very flexible, and he is able to switch to defense quickly. His technical skills are very suitable to the small ball style," Dai Li said.

"Are you describing the Karaby who was famous five years ago?" Johnson shook his head. "He is 35 years old. His only assets now are his long arms. He can't jump anymore and his feet don't move as quickly as they did. He has been injured a lot recently. He hasn't completed a full season in three years. Now, he's just trying to get by in the NBA until his 'retirement' contract ends."

"You mean to say that signing a contract with Karaby would be a waste? In that case, we should add that we get the Nuggets next year's draft pick! If we have a draft pick, we can fix the bad contract and we still get an instant boost to our team's strength. I'm guessing the Nuggets will agree to this proposal," Dai Li said.

"I know what you are thinking. You want to match the Nugget's offer, and then trade Ronny to the Nuggets for a draft pick right?" Johnson asked.

Dai Li nodded. Johnson shook his head. "That's not allowed by the league. According to the rules of the NBA on the veto of trade deals, the restricted free agent who stayed due to the team giving a matching offer can't be traded during the season unless the player gives his consent. The team the player goes to must not be the team that the home team matched their offer with. That means if the Nuggets give Ronny an offer and we match it, Ronny will have a veto on the trade deals next season. even if Ronny agrees to the trade, we can't trade him to the Nuggets. So your idea won't work."

"So that's how it works." Dai Li thought for a few seconds. He smiled. "Since we can't directly trade with the Nuggets, we can get help from a third party!

…

"Ronny, I just received an offer from the Kings for $60 million over four years," the agent said with enthusiasm.

"Only 60 million in four years!" Ronny was very dissatisfied.

That was an average of $15 million a year. It was much lower than his desired salary.

"They only guarantee 52 million," the agent went on.

"What? We lose a further 8 million?" Ronny became more dissatisfied. He shook his head and said, "I will not sign the contract!"

"Ronnie, we need to consider this offer. It might be the highest offer we can get," Ronny's agent advised. "If you don't accept it, then we can wait until October 1 for the qualifying offer to take effect."

"Then I will wait until the qualification offer takes effect. Anyway, other teams can still give me offers before March 1!" Ronny said.

"Do you think other teams will still have the finances to do so?" the agent asked.

"I can endure another year on the Clippers. By next year, I will be a completely free agent, so I can get a high salary!" Ronny vowed.

"That would require the Clippers to give you opportunities to perform." His agent sighed and said, "Last season, you were the key player on the Clippers and your stats improved. Next season, the Clippers will know that you want to leave. Do you think they will still let you be their key player? Will they continue to give you opportunities to handle the ball and shoot?"

"This…" Ronnie knew that the agent was telling the truth. If he didn't get enough opportunities to handle the ball or shoot, it would be impossible to get good stats. In that case, he could say goodbye to the chances of getting a high salary.

"Ronny, you are still young. You will have many opportunities. We might as well agree to the King's offer. Wait for your next contract and I can definitely get you the best salary!"

…

After a restricted free agent received offers from other teams, the team had three days to consider whether they wanted to match it.

However, the Clippers matched the offer on the second day.

"Ronny, the Clippers matched the King's offer," the agent said.

"That means that I stay on the Clippers for the next four years? No, I want to be traded. I don't want to play for the Clippers! They are scammers, a group of untrustworthy bastards! Even if they gave me $60 million, I don't want to stay in the Clippers!" Ronny said.

"Not $60 million, but $52 million." The agent sighed and said, "According to the rules of the NBA, the Clippers only need to match the guaranteed part of the contract!"

"Bastard, those bastards! They took another 8 million. I won't sign this contract!" Ronny yelled.

"Ronny, there is only one person in the history of the NBA that rejected a team's matching offer. In the end, he lost his foothold in the NBA. Fortunately, he was a Rocket player so he went to the Chinese basketball league. The league doesn't allow such things to happen. There are no flaws in the process of offering and signing contracts. If the players don't follow the rules of the NBA, it makes a mess of the restricted player market. You don't want to be an enemy of the NBA, do you?"

"But I don't want to stay on the Clippers! How about this? Go tell the Clippers to trade me!"

…

The next day, the agent came to Ronny's home again.

"The Clippers have promised to trade you to another team. However, as you have the right to veto any trade next season, the Clippers want to take your right to trade. They told me that there are not many people who they can choose to trade with," the agent said.

"I don't care where I go. I just don't want to stay on the Clippers!" Ronny did not hesitate to sign away his right to trade.

…

That day, there were two new stories in the media. Both were about Ronny.

The first news was that the Clippers matched the King's offer for Ronny. The other was that Ronny was traded to the Nuggets for the veteran Karaby, the first round of their draft picks, and four million dollars in cash.

…

"Coach Li, I didn't expect you to complete the transaction this way. Let the Kings offer a contract to Ronny, set the guaranteed amount at 52 million, and then match the offer. You were sure that Ronny did not want to stay on the Clippers. You then made use of the opportunity and traded him to the Nuggets. Through this trade, we gained a first-round draft pick. This also benefits the Nuggets. They originally planned to sign Ronny at 60 million over four years. Now, they only need to spend 52 million," Johnson said.

"The Nuggets were willing to pay us an additional four million in cash, as our reward for helping them save money," Dai Li said.

"And the Kings. We need to thank them for offering a contract to Ronny," Johnson said.

"The Kings owed us a favor. Last draft, we helped them in the second round," Dai Li replied.

Johnson remembered that, in the recent draft, the Kings wanted a rookie from the second round. They exchanged a second-round draft pick with the Clippers for the rookie. Because of this, the Kings had owed the Clippers a favor. The Kings had just returned it.

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Chapter 599: Blocked Shot Leader

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Karaby found out he was being traded when he saw the reports on the news.

Karaby might have felt slighted, but he was used to it. The 35-year-old had completely fallen out of the team's rotation last season. Even during unimportant games, the head coach was not willing to give him too much playing time. He had only played 24 games the entire season.

Karaby had been brilliant when he was younger. He was 6.9 feet tall and had a wingspan of 7.5 feet. Everyone thought he was born to play basketball

Karaby had entered the NBA as a model player. He received was named the blocked shot leader just two years in. Although he was never on the All-Star team, he was named blocked shot leader four times, won NBA defensive player of the year award, and the best defender twice. Looking at the honors that he had received, Karaby was definitely one of the best defenders in the NBA.

Karaby was capable in scoring and he could even make three-pointers. However, due to his defensive ability, he never had many chances to shoot.

As a player that played inside the three-point line, he was relatively light. He was only 235 pounds. Many players on the frontline were stronger than him. For this reason, he was more vulnerable to injuries. This greatly reduced his overall performance in an otherwise brilliant career.

However, it was because of his lightweight that Karaby's movements were flexible and quick. With his excellent wingspan, he could guard against the smaller players and also supplement the team's defense. These features were suitable in an era where the small ball style was popular. However, all this was only relevant when Karaby was younger.

The aging of basketball players who had larger physiques was much more serious than the aging of smaller players. Five years ago, Karaby was named the NBA's blocked shot leader. Now, the only thing he had left was his wide wingspan and his vast experience in the NBA. Due to his age, his body was no longer as nimble as it was. It was not possible for him to jump like a young man. He had also never been a strong player inside the three-point line. He wasn't even fit to act as a human shield underneath the basket.

The Nuggets gave Karaby a five-year contract for $55 million. For a 35-year-old, this was the last contract before his retirement from his professional basketball career. However, Karaby deteriorated faster than the Nuggets expected. As he aged, his injuries became more frequent, reducing Karaby's effectiveness on the court. Eventually, he was taken off the team's rotation.

Karaby's current two-year contract for $23 million was not very high, but for a player who couldn't get on the court and had to sit on the sidelines, it was garbage.

Karaby knew that this contract was basically his pension, so he was not planning on competing with the younger guys. As long as he could live comfortably, finish getting his pension, and then retire from the NBA, he was satisfied.

…

Karaby's agent contacted him for the first time after the transaction,

"I can't believe the Nuggets actually traded you to the Clippers. There weren't any rumors about this. I only saw when I watched the news," the agent complained.

"That's how I learned of it too. The Clippers haven't contacted me yet," Karaby said. "I am hesitating whether or not I should go to Los Angeles to report in."

"The deal is done. You have no power to refuse," the agent said.

"No. I mean I don't know if it's worth it to go to L.A." Karaby sighed depressingly. "I think the Clippers will dismiss me. I just saw the Clippers' roster. They already have 17 people. This means they have to dismiss two people. I will be one of them."

"It is a possibility. Ronny and the Clippers have already fallen out because of the contract renewal. That's why the Clippers used Ronny to trade for a draft pick. Your current contract has no value. There are still two years left. If they wanted to free up their finances, they would have to wait for a year. It's better to dismiss you straight away," the agent said. He was not considerate to Karaby at all.

"I am waiting for the news of my dismissal from the Clippers. I thought I would be playing for another two years before retiring. Now it seems that I won't even get to play this season. I have to retire in advance," Karaby said, sounding helpless.

After he ended the call with his agent, Karaby sat alone in his living room and recalled the glorious moments in his career. It was as if he was saying goodbye to basketball.

His phone suddenly rang. The number on it was odd but Karaby did not think much about it. He answered out of habit.

"Is this Karaby?" The person on the line asked.

"Yes, I am Karaby. Who are you?" Karaby asked in a neutral tone.

"I am Dai Li, the head coach of the Clippers. You probably know who I am, right?" the person on the line said.

Karaby was shocked.

Is the Clippers coach, Dai Li, going to inform me of my dismissal personally? Karaby thought.

However, Dai Li said, "I think you already know that you have been traded to the Clippers. When will you come to Los Angeles to report in?"

"Go to Los Angeles to report in?" Karaby was surprised again.

From the sound of this, they might not dismiss me, Karaby realized.

Dai Li then said, "If possible, I hope that you can come to Los Angeles early. I have developed a training program for you. It may help you to restore you to your youthful state."

…

"There will be a total of six months this regular season. From November of this year to April of next year. The playoffs will end in June next year. That means that a team has eight months of competition from the start of the season to the end of the playoffs."

Dai Li wrote an "8" as he was speaking.

According to the calculations of the age-reducing card, to last for eight months, he needs to be five years younger. Karaby is 35 years old, and if he becomes five years younger, he will have the body of a 30-years-old. If I remember correctly, Karaby was the blocked shot leader in the NBA five years ago!

Dai Li couldn't help but laugh when he thought this.

The current Karaby would be useless. However, if Dai Li used the age-reduction card on Karaby and made his body five years younger, Karaby would be back at his peak. He would be the blocked shot leader in the free-throw lane, just as he had been in the past.

Everyone thought that my biggest gain in the deal with the Nuggets was the first-round draft pick. In fact, Karaby is my biggest gain!

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In the NBA preseason, each team has a warm-up match.

At the end of each season, each team made considerable changes to their lineup. Some teams even changed their coaches. So the NBA held preseasons to let the teams have a chance to try out their lineups. It allowed them to get familiar with the how every player and team played. It helped with determining the actual lineups in the regular season. It also helped increase the communication between the players and the coaches. It helped them get into the mindset that was needed for the arduous regular season.

Typically, the preseason lasted two weeks. In those two weeks, a team played about eight games. In recent years, the NBA increased its internationalization efforts to cater to the tastes of overseas fans. It sent teams to play preseason games overseas, in addition to inviting overseas teams to come to the United States to participate in the NBA preseason.

The Los Angeles Clippers were selected by the NBA to play a preseason game in China this year. After all, the Clippers were owned by the Dingtian Group. Being sent to China was no surprise.

The Clippers were playing the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavericks signed a preseason contract with a Chinese player. That meant that the Chinese player could participate in the preseason on behalf of the Mavericks. The NBA officials would naturally not give up this opportunity to cater to Chinese fans, so they arranged for the Mavericks to go to China in the preseason.

Going to China for the preseason was an opportunity for the NBA to expand overseas. It benefited both the NBA and the teams. The players, however, had to travel long and far. They had to travel half a globe, from the United States to China. After they got used to the time difference, they had to compete in two different cities and, at the same time, partake in promotional activities. Some players also had to participate in sponsored activities. Their schedules were full. Under such conditions, they did not feel the positive effects of the warm-up games.

Da Li took the team on a vacation in China. As for the preseason, he treated it as a performance.

The Clippers had been called a "shelter for the old and weak," but the current team of "old and weak" was filled with star players who knew how to play. They were still very popular in the hearts of the fans. They could easily get fans to cheer for them simply by returning to the court.

When the Clippers returned to the United States, the preseason was half over. After they got used to the time difference and resumed their training, the Clippers only played two preseason games in the U.S. By then, the NBA preseason was already coming to an end.

For the Clippers, this was an obvious loss. Other teams had played eight preseason games. They had time to get used to and adjust their lineups to achieve an optimum result. However, the Clippers went all around the world. They were not in a condition that was fit for competition.

…

Cassel went to Dai Li with a form in his hands.

"Coach, from the preseason stats, Wood has played the best. It seems that he has restored 70-80% of his peak skill. As the season progresses, he should get better and better. As long as he doesn't get injured again, he may be playing like an MVP again soon.

"Hall's situation is much worse than Wood's. He hasn't played for a long time. His speed and explosive power are recovering. The most important thing is his handle of the ball. You know, although Hall is able to make three-pointers, he's best at scoring pull-up jumpers. Although Hall's current scoring rate in training is very good, during actual games, his scoring rate pull-up jumpers is just over 30%. This is a failing score. Getting a feel for the ball is something that needs time. I think Hall needs more time to find the rhythm of the game.

"The worst is Raymond. In fact, his situation is similar to that of Hall. Although his body has recovered, he has not yet gotten used to competing. Raymond hasn't played the game for a long time. It will take some time for his body and spirit to get used to the tension. He is a superstar so, in the preseason games, the opponents put more pressure on him. His field goal percentage was the worst amongst them.

"Gray is recovering very well. He is indeed a brilliant man with a large physique, but his problem is that he has too many fouls. He has only played about 100 NBA games. As far as experience is concerned, he is really a second-year rookie. His lack of experience is a major disadvantage on the court. He might receive six fouls within 30 minutes. In this respect, there aren't many ways to help him. Any inexperienced guy with a large physique playing inside the three-point line will get fouls. It is the only way he can learn. This is the price that he has to pay.

"Fortunately, we still have Karaby in the three-point line. When Gray gets into trouble with the fouls, Karaby can prop up our defense in the free-throw lane. From his performance at the preseason, Karaby did not seem like a 35-year-old veteran at all. I think he is just as good as he was five years ago.

"In addition, Kumar's performance surprised me. During the NBA Summer League, he was strong and adaptable. In the preseason, he scored the most points for the team other than Wood. He has begun to adapt to the rhythm of an NBA game."

Cassel gave this simple report on the players' performances in the preseason. Osef had not been able to get on the court yet because of his history of drug abuse. As for Noel, he would not be able to get a six-month medical report until January, so he did not play in the preseason.

Cassel said, "Coach, the regular season is about to begin. We have only briefly practiced a few tactics. We have not yet made it clear what kind of tactics we're using this season."

"Our strategy will be simple. Just pass the ball to someone," Dai Li said with a smile.

"What do you mean?" Cassel asked, puzzled.

"Isn't it a very common tactic in the NBA? Passing the ball to someone…" Dai Li left his words hanging.

"And then what?" Cassel asked.

"And then? Nothing." Dai Li shook his head. "Someone will score. The Lakers and the Cavaliers, didn't they used to have superstars who did this all the time?"

Cassel gave laughed drily. His expression was clearly asking, Are you telling a joke?

Dai Li continued. "Strategy in the NBA has been constantly developing. Many coaches have their own systems. These are what I am worst at. We can still learn and apply tactics that are simple. Complicated tactical systems can't be learned by watching a video. We are far worse than the other teams tactically!"

"So you want the players to play solo?" Cassel shook his head. "I don't agree with this. We can't give up on tactics just because you haven't mastered them."

Dai Li explained. "What I am best at is physical training. I can let athletes play at their best while they are out competing. Our team is unique. We have gathered a group of all-stars…"

"They were all-stars," Cassel corrected.

"Well, if I can get them back to their previous states, we will have a group of all-stars. Do you think we need to teach a group of all-stars how to play?" Dai Li did not wait for Cassel to answer. "They could become star players before. That not only means that they have excellent skills, but also that they have an extraordinary ability to read the game. They can lead a team and win."

"That doesn't mean we don't need to plan a strategy." Cassel shook his head.

"Of course we need a strategy, but there is no way that we will be able to create a complex tactical system like the Spurs. We need some simple, effective tactics to increase the chemistry between the players. Then, we need to give the players more freedom when playing. They were once leaders, they know better than me how to lead a team to victory," Dai Li replied.

Cassel expressed disbelief. "You want to let the players decide what to do? What's the use of us coaches? Do we just sit on the sidelines and watch the show?"

"We can give advice, as well as make some adjustments to the players. When it comes to the court, we should trust the players. They are all-star players, they have enough experience in the game. They know when they need to do what they need to do. The game is always changing and the player's judgments are based on experience. Sometimes their decisions are better than ours," Dai Li explained.

"I still can't agree with you. We are coaches, so we should provide players with a tactical plan. That is what we do." Cassel was stubborn.

Dai Li shook his head helplessly. "Please tell me, what kind of strategy should we arrange for the players? The complicated cooperation of the Spurs? The Warriors 'death lineup'? The Rockets' magic style of play? These are popular tactics, but they require a deep tactical understanding of basketball. With my level of knowledge, I am can't understand them. Do you have such a deep understanding? Can you make our players like the Spurs? Will the ball go through the hands of each individual and then reach the basket? Can you make our players like the Warriors? Can they pass rapidly between players and then shoot very difficult three-pointers? Can you make our players like the Rockets? Will they only score outside the free-throw lane and the three-point line? Do you have the ability to create a new, better tactical system?"

Cassel was left speechless. If he could, he would not be an assistant coach.

"So you are saying that it's not that we don't want to plan a strategy, but we don't have the ability to do so? We are not 'tactical masters.' Therefore, we can only use one type of play style." Dai Li extended a finger and then said, "We can only hope that the players' personal abilities are strong enough. We can only use the 'all-star' strategy!"

After listening to Dai Li, Cassel wanted to refute him, but he could not do so.

Dai Li continued. "What's strange about expecting star players to succeed? During the early days, a single superstar could dominate a game. Later on, it was standard to have one superstar outside the three-point line and one inside the three-point line if a team wanted to win the championship. Even later, the 'Big Three' model won championships. Today, the Warriors have the so-called 'Big Four'. Why can't we build a 'Big Five,' 'Big Six,' or 'Big Seven'? Other teams are putting out their star players in the starting lineup. I think we should even have star players as substitutes! We have no tactics. We can only rely on the stars to play. That is the 'all-star' strategy!"

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