Coach: Coaching the Grizzlies at the beginning, playing the bantam

Chapter 122 Meet the new season!Arrogant!One can tell at a glance that this is the master and apprentice! (monthly ticket plus update)

At the end of September, before the start of the new season, the Sonics opened the arena and interacted with the media on the makeup day.

The team's 15-man roster for the new season has also been finalized.

Center: Noah, Gasol Jr.

Power forwards: Szczerbiak, Teletovic, PJ-Tucker, Landry.

Small forwards: Durant, Batum, Michael Finley.

Shooting guards: Bunche Wells, Delfino, Neal.

Point guards: Francis, Dragic, Sessions.

The Supersonic lineup contains almost all types of players, and there are multiple positions that can be extended. Landry can play center, Taylor Tovic can play small forward, Delfino can also play small forward, etc., comprehensive strength Definitely stronger than last season.

Compared with the highest combat power, the Sonics' rotation depth this year is terrifying. Even the second team can make up a lineup of Dragic, Delfino, Batum, Tucker and Gasol Jr. , if these five players are all in their prime, they have a chance to make the playoffs.

When the Sonics sent Sessions, Neal, Michael Finley, Taylor Tovic, and Landry in garbage time, few teams could withstand the lineup, and the depth of the lineup was simply not too strong.

The young players in the team are the key interview objects of the media. Some reporters interviewed Durant, the core of the team last season.

Durant said confidently facing the camera: "I have been training hard this summer. In the new season, I will definitely become stronger than last year. I am ready to win and challenge for the championship."

The reporter asked: "What is your goal for the new season?"

"Become an All-Star starter and be selected to the best team." Durant replied.

He didn't talk about winning the MVP of the regular season. Although it's not impossible, it's easy to offend people if he says it. Rookie players still have to keep a low profile to fight for this kind of thing.

A reporter interviewed Lu Yong and asked, "Lu, the Sonics were eliminated by the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals last season. What is your goal this year?"

Lu Yong’s goal in an interview last year was to make it to the playoffs. In the end, the Sonics handed over a perfect answer. The media wanted to know what Lu Yong’s goal was for this year. It must be a gimmick to write news.

"The team has only one goal this season, which is to win the championship. The Sonics have the strength to dominate the league with offense. If they meet the Spurs again in the playoffs, I believe it will be a massacre." Lu Yong laughed.

The reporters were very excited when they heard the answer. Lu Yong's words were extremely arrogant. He threatened to use offense to dominate the league. Meeting the Spurs in the playoffs would be a massacre. No matter whether it can be done or not, it will definitely make headlines.

The reporter asked again: "The main reason for the Supersonics' elimination last season was the lack of experience of the players. You have become so confident in the past summer. Are you too optimistic about the team's prospects?"

Lu Yong waved his hand and said with a smile: "This summer, the team has added four new faces. The joining of veteran Steve Francis is of great significance to me. He is a long-established star, although he has declined due to injuries. , but I believe that his joining will make the team stronger. The other three rookies are also the pride of heaven. The Sonics have a reason to hit the championship in the new season, and everyone is very confident."

Another reporter asked: "Which team in the Western Conference do you think will be a potential threat to the Sonics on the way to the championship?"

"Sorry, I don't feel any threat in the west." Lu Yong spread his hands and gave a very arrogant answer.

Lu Yong does not intend to keep a low profile this season. He is already the most outstanding coach of the new generation. Taking the lead in the charge can stimulate the enthusiasm of young players, and it is something that Fratello will only do if he is afraid to throw players away.

Only by not leaving yourself a way out can you force a person to his best state. Lu Yong has set an example for the players.

The reporter asked: "Then what do you think of the defending champion Celtics?"

"A paper tiger in the cloak of a beast. The Celtics lineup has flaws. No matter how strong the Big Three are, they can't crush them. Their struggle in the playoffs is the best proof."

The reporter asked again: "The Supersonics signed a 07 undrafted Gary Neal from an overseas league in the summer. This player?"

Lu Yong nodded and said: "Of course, I believe that Gary Neal has the ability to play in the NBA. He just lacks a chance to prove himself. I guarantee that he will have an impressive performance in the new season."

Before the preseason game started, the Sonics made headlines with coach Lu Yong's arrogant remarks.

In an interview, Lu Yong firmly stated that the Supersonics goal this season is to compete for the championship and will use offense to dominate the league.

The core star Kevin Durant is also not low-key, and his attitude is exactly the same as that of Lu Yong.

The only favorite in the league to win the championship is the Sonics with an arrogant attitude, which made the Sonics popular all over the United States overnight and attracted the attention of various media.

A week later, the preseason of the new season started.

Lu Yong gave rookies more opportunities to perform. The preseason still focused on running in the lineup to train rookies, and he didn't care about winning or losing.

Dragic, Neil, Batum and Gasol all got a lot of playing time. According to the tactics arranged by the coaching staff, the division of labor is clear, the high-post support style of play and teammates keep looking for cover and creating catches. shot opportunities.

Veteran point guard Francis also got a chance to prove himself. In the first game against his old club Rockets, he was arranged to start. He made 11 of 6 shots, 3 of 1 three-pointers, 4 of 4 free throws, 17 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal. The healthy "Boss Fu" is still the man who flew into the sky and escaped from the earth.

What surprised Lu Yong the most was Neal and Gasol Jr. Neither of these two entered the league immediately after participating in the draft. After a year of honing in overseas leagues, it was different, and they quickly adapted to the confrontation and rhythm of the NBA. , There were very good performances in the first few games of the preseason.

Dragic and Batum are in mediocre form. They are not acclimatized to the NBA for the first time. Obviously, it will take time to adapt to each other.This is a common problem of rookie players, Lu Yong is not worried, Snyder has a way to help them.

Last season's core players generally didn't have much playing time, averaging only about 15 minutes per game. Maintaining state is the primary goal. There is no need to prove themselves through preseason games. The regular season is the stage for them to perform.

The strength of the Supersonic rotation lineup can be seen at a glance. In the first half of the second quarter, the offensive firepower of the substitutes can always open the score, and the overall strength is stronger than last year.

The joining of Gary Neal perfectly filled the outside firepower after Delonte West left the team. He played about 20 minutes per game, and he was very efficient in both ball-handling and catch-and-shoot. In the Supersonic offensive system Let yourself go, averaged 12.5 points per game in the preseason, and made 41.6% of the three-pointers.

Michael Finley has gradually become a marginal man this season, and his main role has shifted from the field to the field. He is the leader of the locker room, and he plays more of a spiritual role.

In the case that the main core hardly played much, the Sonics achieved a record of 5 wins and 2 losses in the preseason, and the inspection and running-in of new players was very successful.

ESPN launched the first battle rankings based on the preseason matches. The Supersonics ranked fifth on the list, second only to the Celtics, Spurs, Pistons, and Cavaliers. The reason is that these four teams Both teams lost only one game.

Although the Spurs are overwhelmed by the Spurs in the combat power rankings, experts are still optimistic about the prospect of the Sonics winning the championship, and believe that this young offensive team is the best team in the West.

The Grizzlies only ranked tenth. After losing to the Sonics last season, their popularity plummeted. Coach Fratello dismissed get out of class and was not kicked out of the management team. Instead, he joined the operations department to work behind the scenes.

At present, the position of the team's head coach is replaced by the chief assistant Jaffroni, a ruthless man with a coaching winning rate of only 26.8% in a parallel world.

It's okay for Jaffroni to come up with ideas as an assistant coach. As the team coach, Lu Yong can hardly believe that this guy can last until the end of the season. Maybe he will have to move to Fratello, who is behind the scenes, to wipe his ass in the middle of the season.

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(End of this chapter)