NBA: Warrior godfather.

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Explosion, brush!

At Oracle Center, a training game was taking place, and Klay barely shook off Tony Allen's defense through persistent running and avoided two screens in a row. He received a pass from Curry and shot quickly before Tony Allen could pounce.

On the sidelines, Liam and the coaching staff watched the game on the field and spoke to each other in low voices.

Liam said quietly:

"It looks like they've run well, it's only been a month, and the tactics have worked so well. I hope we can play these tactics in the game."

Silas laughed,

"Liam, it's no problem at all. How many tough defenders like Tony are there in the league? If Klay can score against his defense, he can do it against anyone."

Ron Adams also agreed:

"Yeah, Tony's defense is top-notch. It's really a waste on the Celtics. He can only get ten minutes of playing time per game. His defense on Kobe Bryant in the Finals was really exciting, but Rivers doesn't give him time. It's really incomprehensible. If Tony had followed Kobe Bryant all over the court, the Celtics might not have lost the championship. Ray Allen committed too many fouls on Kobe."

Liam listened to what Ron Adams meant and said:

"Tony really deserves more minutes. We'll see how the game goes, and if it works out well, he might compete with Klay for a starting spot."

"I still think Klay deserves to start more. He needs many games to gain experience, and although his defense is immature, his shooting ability is something Tony doesn't have," responded Silas.

"No, no, no. It's defense that wins championships. Tony has a lot of playoff and Finals experience, which is a valuable asset to help the team win," Ron Adams shook his head.

"Yes, Tony, as a shooting guard, doesn't have any ball-handling skills, and he doesn't shoot. As long as he's standing on the court, he's a weak point for the offense. Drummond will also be a starter, his shooting is average, and with Tyson, do we really need to put three non-spacing players on the floor? How can we compete with an offense like that?" Silas asked rhetorically, looking at Ron Adams.

After several years of being an assistant coach with the Warriors, Silas has a strong focus on spacing and prefers an offensive approach, valuing players' shooting abilities.

Ron Adams wasn't angry and smiled at Liam, who was watching the discussion.

"It's up to our head coach to decide."

Compared to Silas, Ron Adams is more defensive, and Klay's shooting ability is second only to Curry on the team. However, his defense is still immature, below league average, and Ron Adams feels Tony Allen is more suitable as a starter.

Silas and Ron Adams had discussed this issue many times before, but both insisted on their views, and it was difficult to reach a consensus. Ultimately, it was Liam's decision to make.

Liam smiled slightly:

"Basketball doesn't lie. There are still a few days left before the preseason. Let's see how they perform in the game."

Ron Adams and Silas looked at each other and suddenly both laughed.

"Well, I agree with that," Silas shrugged.

"Blessed trouble…" sighed Ron Adams.

At that moment, Larry Riley approached, stopped in front of Liam, and whispered something.

After listening to this, Liam's face lit up with surprise, and he exchanged a few words with Larry Riley. After he left, Liam smiled at the two of them:

"I think there's one more thing we need to worry about."

Explosion!

Returning to yesterday, the Nets, who had just moved to the Putianshou Center Arena, were also playing a practice game.

Yi Jianlian struggled to lean back, but he only pushed Favors back a little. He exerted more force, but it still had little effect. Instead, he tried to shake off Favors with a fake, but Favors didn't jump at all. Yi Jianlian had no choice but to reluctantly take a jump shot, but the basketball was badly interfered with and missed.

Bang dang!

The rebound bounced, and it was Favors again. He firmly hit Yi Jianlian from behind, then flew up, protected the rebound, and turned to pass to Jordan Farmar, who was quick. But fortunately, the A-Team retreated in time and didn't allow the B-Team, dominated by substitutes, to get a fast break.

Jordan Farmar tried to break through but couldn't find an opportunity. He didn't hit hard, but hung on to Favors, who was trapped in the low post to let Yi Jianlian get the ball.

Explosion!

Xinke Tanhua took the ball, slammed it hard on the ground, and leaned in with force, emitting a dull, powerful sound, knocking Yi Jianlian down.

Explosion!

Favors hit hard again, and Yi Jianlian couldn't resist, still stepping back significantly. Favors immediately turned with sensitivity, kicked the ground with both feet, flew, held the basketball tightly with both hands, and slammed it into the basket.

Bang dang!

The same sound, but with a different outcome. Yi Jianlian met Favors' disdainful look, rubbed his chest with slight pain, and a wry smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Last summer, Favors would never have run him over all the way to the basket, but this summer, according to Liam's advice, he lost weight, slimmed down, improved mobility, and as a result, his strength also decreased. He could only watch as Favors succeeded in overpowering him.

What made it even more bitter for Yi Jianlian was that throughout the whole process of Favors' back play, none of the A-Team players came to help defend. They all watched indifferently as Yi Jianlian was crushed by Favors all the way to the basket for a score, with even a bit of schadenfreude. Only López, who was immobilized on the weak side by the B-Team center, came over to console him:

"Yi, it's okay, you have your advantages. After I attract the double-team in the low post, I'll pass you the ball and you can take a bold shot."

Yi Jianlian nodded in gratitude. López's ordinary teammate gesture sounded just as pleasant to him.

The A-Team attacked, and Lopes received a pass in the low post, took an easy shot, and just then, Favors connected a simple pass to Yi Jianlian. As the number one star of the Nets, the B-Team resolutely intercalated him. After attracting the double-team, López passed the ball to Yi Jianlian, who was ambushed in the lower left corner.

At this moment, Favors was double-teaming López under the basket. When he turned to see that it was Yi Jianlian who received the ball, he showed no intention to defend at all, instead, he simply took two shallow steps and extended his hand.

After Yi Jianlian received the ball, he didn't care about the mocking expression on Favors' face. His eyes became extremely focused. He glanced lightly at the rim, raised his hand, and took a three-point shot.

Favors quickly turned and recycled into the restricted area, trying to block López's position to grab the rebound. However, he saw the basketball going through the hoop and remained still.

Yi Jianlian exhaled, clenched his fist in front of his chest, turned to retreat, but his eyes silently observed the new head coach, "Little General" Avery Johnson, on the sidelines.

The coach should have seen my shooting ability, right?

"Well done, easy!" López reached him from behind and slapped Yi Jianlian on the back.

The corners of Yi Jianlian's mouth twitched slightly, revealing a somewhat stiff smile as he quietly said:

"Thanks."

He was happy, but didn't know how to express it.

I'll make two more three-pointers to show the coach my progress this summer and take some offensive pressure off Da Luo...

Yi Jianlian muttered López's nickname in his heart, silently calculating.

This was what he heard from a reporter when he returned home and thought it was much easier to call Bibrook, so he immediately used it.

"Brooke's low-post offense is dangerous... but look at Yi, he can't stop Derek at all, it's as smooth as a donut!"

On the sidelines, Avery Johnson, whom Yi Jianlian murmured about many times in his heart, not only didn't praise his three-point shot but also complained after seeing Yi Jianlian retreat and return, only to be beaten by Favors again.

"He didn't seem this soft last season..." Billy King, the newly appointed general manager of the Nets, stood next to Johnson, who looked at Yi Jianlian on the court with some doubts.

Johnson coldly responded:

"Of course, last season he weighed 250 pounds, but after one summer, he weighs 238 pounds, 12 pounds lighter!"

"Weight loss? Why did he lose weight?" Billy King wondered.

Johnson spread his hands:

"I also want to know who the bastard made him lose weight, or if it was Yi Jianlian himself... But none of this matters now. The important thing is that Yi Jianlian's weight loss will make him a defensive weakness in the paint, reducing his ability to punish opponents inside. His off-place offense will be the tactical foundation for the team in the new season, and his contribution to the team now is just that slow-motion three-point shot!"

Billy King rubbed his chin and looked at Johnson:

"You're not happy with him?"

"Of course!" Johnson nodded without hesitation. "With Derrick here, we don't need Yi Jianlian, Derrick can perfectly replace his role. The twin-tower combination of him and Brooke will be the future of the Nets. My tactics need a tougher interior lineman, not a big shooter like Yi Jianlian."

Billy King nodded slowly,

"Alright, Avery, your request will be satisfied."

Brush!

While the two were talking, Yi Jianlian received another pass from López, took a wide-open three-pointer, and showed a long-lost smile.

Billy King stopped for a moment when he saw this but, after seeing Johnson's displeased expression and the murmured complaint of "how does this guy know how to shoot outside, and... like the German?" he finally decided and stepped forward.

Compared to the desires of the head coach, Yi Jianlian seemed so insignificant.

...

"Easy? Liam, I don't know him too well, what are his characteristics?"

In the conference room, Silas looked at Yi Jianlian with suspicion.

By then, the Warriors' practice session had ended, the players had gone home, and the coaching staff stayed for a meeting, with the presence of Larry Riley.

Liam nodded at Jonathan, who turned on the projection equipment, and spoke to the crowd:

"There are clips from the World Championship in early September, so we can take a look at his performance together."

"Why not look at his footage from last season?" Bruce asked, puzzled.

"You know, Yi Jianlian is my compatriot, I gave him some advice before, he should have made changes this summer, and the footage from last season wasn't convincing." Liam explained patiently.

"Oh..." They looked at each other and realized that, indeed, it was that kind of look on each other's faces.

Liam smiled:

"I know what you're thinking, but I'm not going to give him a contract just because he's my compatriot. If he can't meet my demands, the deal will fail."

During the training game, Larry Riley brought the news that the Nets had put Yi Jianlian on the shelf. Liam had once told him to pay attention to Yi Jianlian's situation and informed Liam about the news as soon as possible.

In Liam's previous life, Yi Jianlian was traded to the Wizards by the Nets at the end of June, but after Liam's reminder, Yi Jianlian made a lot of progress last season, and the management thought he still had potential to be utilized, so they kept him.

But after Avery Johnson became the head coach, he became unpleasant with Yi Jianlian and insisted on trading him.

This was inseparable from Johnson's anger.

"The Little General" won the title of Best Head Coach with the Mavericks, but his achievements were largely based on Nelson Sr.'s legacy, and his own lack of adaptability led the Mavericks to be eliminated in the first round by the Warriors in 2007. The next year, there was no progress in the playoffs and the Mavericks were swept.

Johnson has a strong desire to control the team, and even superstars must be fully at his disposal.

Unfortunately, he is not Liam, and Nowitzki won't follow his discipline, which led to a conflict between the two, and Nowitzki, who has always been quiet, even publicly complained about Johnson's locker room management to the media.

After Johnson left the Mavericks, he always held a grudge against Nowitzki, and later saw that Yi Jianlian, who had a similar playing style to Nowitzki, got angry with him and wanted to sweep him.

"I can't cure Nowitzki, I can't cure you?"

Of course, this is not pure venting. In comparison to Yi Jianlian's performance last season, his salary seems too high, and it's a completely premium contract.

It's just that by thinking this way, Johnson selectively ignored Yi Jianlian's summer improvements in three-point shooting, mobility, and athleticism.

The Warriors' coaching staff wouldn't make such a mistake, and after watching the video of Yi Jianlian's game in the World Championship, Silas smiled with interest:

"Liam, it seems like he really followed your advice. He has a good three-point shot, has been excellent at switching to the perimeter, has a good feel for getting in there, and the only thing I wonder now is if he'll be able to maintain that kind of performance at the intensity of the NBA."

Larry Riley said:

"I don't think it will be a problem. Yi Jianlian only has one year left on his contract, and it's a rookie contract, so obviously his technical characteristics are perfect for us. Even if he doesn't play this year, we can clear the salary space, which isn't a loss in any way. We need to plan for a contract extension in two years."

In the last two sentences, Larry Riley told Liam.

Everyone else nodded, and Liam's gaze scanned before slowly speaking:

"In that case, let's get closer to the Nets, Larry, and pay attention to the draft picks."

"Leave it to me, boss." Larry Riley said calmly and confidently.

End of this chapter

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