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Chapter 205 Strong Reinforcements Arrive, Everyone Here is Trash! (Second Update Across the Day!)

Qin Yue didn't understand why everyone was talking about Xiang Yu being besieged at Gaixia lately.

It was as if this ancient battlefield of the NBA was destined to bring him misfortune.

Five years ago, Qin Yue embarked on his journey from Oakland, beginning his first championship run, and the chaotic NBA era came to a head.

Wherever he and the Warriors went, fans welcomed them wholeheartedly, truly taking full advantage of the opportune moment.

The scene of vibrant life and flourishing things is still before our eyes.

Could the NBA really have become his death ground after just one summer?
Despite the bustling atmosphere in the east this summer, Qin Yue remained as calm as ever.

But Warriors president Larry Riley and team owner Joe Lacob were getting anxious.

"We cannot stand by and watch our competitors strengthen their rosters."

Lacob told Riley, "The Messiah will be at its peak for the next few years, and we must seize the opportunity to build our own dynasty!"

Lacob's anxious mindset is related to the Warriors' current roster being both old and young.

Currently, among the Warriors' key players, aside from Qin Yue, Brown, and Wallace who are in their prime...
Nash is 36, Jamison is 34, Bell is 34, and Hill is 38.

Perhaps Lacob isn't a basketball expert.

However, given the Warriors' current age structure, Lacob is very worried. If these veterans can't maintain their form, what will the team use to compete for the championship?
It's worth noting that this year's Eastern Conference powerhouses all seem to be stronger and more formidable than the last.

As a knowledgeable commissioner, Riley expressed some concern about the rule that the NBA playoff roster would be expanded to fourteen players after the new collective bargaining agreement took effect.

Why is Riley worried?
Because one of the Warriors' current 14-man roster players has already been labeled as useless by all sides, and the team only chose not to cut him because of Qin Yue's influence.

Indeed, in Riley's eyes, Danny Green on the Warriors' current roster can't even be considered a person.

Furthermore, under the new rules, the NBA playoff roster will be expanded to 14 players.
As the team's president, Riley naturally had to consider bringing in a championship piece from the free agent market that could squeeze out a good-for-nothing like Green from the playoff roster.

just
After Riley told Lacob his idea, Lacob, who believed that the Warriors had to continue to make a big splash in the free agent market, had the unrealistic idea of ​​signing a superstar for the Warriors.

The Warriors' already severely depleted salary cap space certainly doesn't allow Lacob to sign a superstar in his prime for the team.

But in Lacob's view, even a past superstar is still a superstar!
So, Lacob, who was both bad at the game and loved to play, immediately instructed Riley to sign Tracy McGrady, who was currently looking for work.

"There must still be fuel left in the T-Mac's tank!"

Upon discovering that McGrady had slipped through the net in the free agent market, Lacob excitedly told Riley, "If we can reactivate 'T-Mac,' he will definitely be able to make us proud!"

Upon hearing this, he looked at the owner who had previously complained to him about the Warriors having too many veterans.
Riley quickly dissuaded them, saying, "'T-Mac's' style doesn't suit us. He's a player who needs the ball to perform, Joe. We already have too many ball-handlers."

However, Lacob, who was getting increasingly carried away, was not someone Riley could easily persuade.
Therefore, Riley placed his last hope on Qin Yue.

After all, as long as Qin Yue doesn't agree...
Lacob wouldn't dare waste the team's precious last roster spot on McGrady.

"'T-Mac'? Wasn't he already planning to retire?" Qin Yue asked curiously.

“T-Mac’s agent said that if we were willing to extend an olive branch to him, he could easily stay for another two or three years,” Lacob said excitedly.

At that moment, Lacob even pictured McGrady regaining his form in Oakland and recreating his glorious "35 seconds, 13 points" performance.

"Larry, who was the better-looking free agent you originally thought you were?"

Seeing this, Qin Yue, who knew that Riley probably also had someone he liked, did not rush to nod.

"Sean Livingston".

"Sean Livingston?"

"Yes, although Shaw has been plagued by injuries for the past few seasons, I am confident that as long as he can stay healthy, his style and characteristics will be a good fit for us."

Adaptation, and much more than that.

In terms of Livingston's playing style in the later stages of his career, there was probably no team in the NBA that was not a good fit for him.

Even until his retirement, Livingston never developed a reliable three-point shot.

But as a mid-range shooting specialist and a tall guard with some post-up ability...
Despite limited playing time, Livingston is a rare role player with the ability to break through defenses.

Moreover, throughout his career, Livingston averaged only 1.2 turnovers per game.

Although Livingston isn't the kind of guard with explosive assist numbers, controlling the tempo and orchestrating the offense are his specialties.

“I agree to sign Shaw,” Qin Yue said to Riley. “Larry, if possible, we should offer him a mini-middle-class position.”

Seeing that Qin Yue was more in agreement with his ideas, Riley breathed a sigh of relief.

As for team owner Lacob, who regrettably missed out on T-Mac?
"Joe, not every veteran has fuel left in the tank. Forgive my bluntness, but given T-Mac's current form, he probably wouldn't even be able to figure out how to play in the CBA."

In Qin Yue's previous life, although McGrady's stats in the CBA were quite good, averaging 25 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists per game for Qingdao.

Compared to NBA players of the same era who dominated the CBA, Qin Yue, setting aside nostalgia, never thought McGrady's performance in the CBA was anything to brag about.

Additionally, if Livingston can be acquired.
Who would still consider McGrady, who is now not even a cripple?

“Okay, I’ll listen to you guys,” Lacob said, looking dejected. “After all, you guys know more about basketball than I do.”

In late July, the Warriors officially signed Livingston to a three-year contract worth approximately $9 million.

On the day he signed the contract, Livingston, who had finally found a job, said with tears in his eyes: "I know that many people think that after that serious injury, I can never catch up with myself again. But in Auckland, I will do everything I can to help the team defend their title!"

The serious injury Livingston mentioned on the day he signed the contract was a terrible injury he suffered in the 06/07 season.

Because the footage of Livingston's injury was so graphic, the NBA had to intervene and force YouTube to remove the video.

Since that serious injury, Livingston, who has played fewer than 50 games in the past three seasons, has long lost his former glory as a high school prodigy.

but
Despite the torment of injuries that have robbed Livingston of his former arrogance, he now possesses a heart stronger than he ever had before.

Now, with Livingston joining the team, Qin Yue is well aware that the Warriors' roster strength has improved significantly compared to last season.

"I feel like taking classes at 'Dream Factory' is not as good as playing one more one-on-one with you!" Meanwhile, Brown, who insisted on going to give Hakeem Olajuwon tuition fees, complained to Qin Yue on the phone.

This summer, in addition to Brown, a host of big-name NBA players, including Howard and James, signed up for DreamWorks.

During the training session, Hakeem Olajuwon, without holding back, immediately demonstrated all his elegant footwork to the trainees.

Furthermore, during training, even Dwight Howard could easily replicate Hakeem Olajuwon's moves.

However, as we move into the actual combat phase...
Brown, however, discovered that the techniques Professor Dream had given him were of no help whatsoever.

Why is Hakeem Olajuwon's low-post footwork so unsolvable?
This issue is similar to why Qin Yue can put immense pressure on defenders with just a casual move.

Simply put, because Hakeem Olajuwon and Qin Yue have excellent fundamentals and comprehensive offensive skills, and their speed of movement is on a completely different level from other players of the same height and position, their technical movements, whether they take a few steps or not, feel like dreamlike dance moves.

A player like Brown, who has talent, skill, and intelligence, is destined to never master the essence of Olajuwon's low-post footwork.

Of course, Brown didn't come away empty-handed at DreamWorks.

Inspired by James, he gradually mastered the essence of the crab-style dribbling, and his relationship with James can only be described as one of instant connection and mutual understanding.

“I’ve just realized that your brother is a real genius!” Brown couldn’t wait to show Qin Yue his “Nightmare Dance”. “When the new season starts, I’ll definitely surprise you.”

In response, Qin Yue asked curiously, "Does 'Da Meng' know about your modifications to his Dream Dance moves?"

"Yes, I know, and he even gave us a lot of suggestions based on the new rules, that's right."

"Just what?"

"He told us that if anyone asks in the future, he forbids us from saying that he taught us this way of walking."

"."

Qin Yue felt that, with the combined efforts of these roughnecks, Hakeem Olajuwon would one day personally destroy the golden brand he used for retirement.

"Oh, by the way, 'Da Meng' asked me if you're free lately. He said he'd like to apply to tutor you for free," Brown said to Qin Yue at the end of the call.

Seeing this, Qin Yue, who knew that what's free is often the most expensive, was very clear that Hakeem Olajuwon was fully aware that his DreamWorks brand was at risk of being ruined by these roughnecks.

Throughout history, Hakeem Olajuwon's dream factory has not been without its share of criticisms.

However, after Kobe went to DreamWorks for further training and made great progress, Hakeem Olajuwon used Kobe's classic example to successfully restore his reputation in the industry.

Now that DreamWorks is facing another crisis, Hakeem Olajuwon naturally needs to find another handsome young man to save his job.

Therefore, Hakeem Olajuwon immediately took a liking to Qin Yue.

Qin Yue was completely uninterested in Hakeem Olajuwon's free tutoring.

But considering the opportunity to show off in front of these rough guys, Qin Yue couldn't resist taking a day off to visit Hakeem Olajuwon's Dream Factory.

Then, in just half an hour, Qin Yue completely won over Hakeem Olajuwon.

On the training field, looking at Qin Yue, Hakeem Olajuwon, feeling utterly ashamed of himself, said with deep regret, "Why do they all say you're Huang Da O? You're clearly Huang Da Meng!"

In the past, Qin Yue, who had a chance to trigger system tasks every time he interacted with famous figures, looked puzzled after showing off that day and asked, "Why didn't the system give me any tasks?"

The task release pattern of the [Mountain Peak] system is still a mystery to Qin Yue.

but
Given Qin Yue's current low position, he really doesn't need the system to issue him a task related to Hakeem Olajuwon.

"Brown, this move isn't as hard as you think. Come here, I'll teach you."

Furthermore, in front of LeBron James, who had painstakingly studied the "Nightmare Footwork," Qin Yue also fully felt his technical dominance over these NBA stars of the same era.

Those advanced moves were utterly effortless in Qin Yue's eyes.
Once they enter the actual competition stage, most DreamWorks trainees, including LeBron James, often experience a loss of technical skill.

Qin Yue didn't understand what was so difficult about Olajuwon's so-called unique skills.

James and the others couldn't understand why Qin Yue could flexibly apply all of Hakeem Olajuwon's techniques in actual combat, and even do better than Olajuwon himself.

"I wish I had been born ten years earlier."

Before leaving DreamWorks, Qin Yue said to Hakeem Olajuwon.

Upon hearing this, Hakeem Olajuwon asked, "What makes you say that?"

Qin Yue helplessly spread his hands and said, "There isn't a single young player who can play well these days."

After a pause, Qin Yue added, "Your era was better. You had Michael Jordan as an opponent, and you could also go toe-to-toe with the four great centers. If I had been born ten years earlier, I would definitely have tried to beat all of you predecessors."

Hakeem Olajuwon: "."

Qin Yue's arrogance clearly exceeded Olajuwon's expectations.

But in terms of the comprehensive picture Qin Yue presented to Hakeem Olajuwon...
Hakeem Olajuwon, however, believed that the young man standing before him had every right to be arrogant.

In Hakeem Olajuwon's eyes, if you only look at one aspect, Qin Yue does have room for improvement.

However, if we combine all of Qin Yue's skills...
This arrogant new GOAT has quietly become a unique figure in history.

July, a month marked by frequent earthquakes, has come to an end.

As August approached, Qin Yue, who was preparing to fly directly to Constantinople to prepare for the World Championships, finally felt a little nervous because of a news report by ESPN.

The Warriors' path to defending their title in the new season is destined to be anything but smooth.

Because facts have proven
In the real world, no matter how strong you are, your opponents will not sit idly by and watch you monopolize the championship.

……

PS: Second update across the day! Begging for subscriptions and monthly tickets!
Note ①: Constantinople can also be called Istanbul, but I prefer to call it Constantinople.

(End of this chapter)