160 More Preparation

May 18th.

The Eastern and Western playoffs are all over.

The Lakers defeated the Spurs 4:2 and successfully reached the Western Conference Finals. This was also the second time the Lakers reached the Western Conference Finals since the 2003-04 season. For the first time since O'Neal traveled east, the team was completely led by Kobe.

Kobe was naturally overjoyed. He finally proved that he could lead the Lakers to the Western Conference Finals without O'Neal. Of course, the most important thing is to win the championship.

Kobe knew very well that only by winning a championship could he stop the world from talking.

At the moment after the game, the media from all over the world had already surrounded the Lakers.

This team with constant traffic has gained momentum because Kobe and the Lakers once again reached the Western Conference Finals, and even has the momentum to become the favorite for the championship.

After successfully advancing to the Western Conference Finals, Kobe faced Craig Sager's post-game interview on the court.

"Next is the highest stage in the Western Conference. You will face the Trail Blazers who advanced early and got enough rest. They have a player who won the league's scoring title in his rookie season, and a group of young talents with good strength. , the Rockets and the Hornets were defeated by them one after another.”

"So, are the Lakers ready?"

Faced with such a problem, Kobe looked very calm.

"I will beat Zhang Jun on the court and beat the Trail Blazers."

In the East, the Cavaliers and Celtics had a bloody tiebreaker. In this game, James scored 45 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists, but failed to win a game for the Cavaliers. The Cavaliers won 92:97. Unfortunately lost the game.

Just a few points away, just a few points away from James being able to eliminate the Celtics' Big Three team, but unfortunately he didn't have a reliable teammate throughout the series.

The most outstanding teammate is Delonte West, who averaged 11 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists per game in this series. This is already the Cavaliers' second-highest scoring average per game.

At the end of the game, Kenny Smith couldn't help but say: "I've heard from some players that Cleveland is an unattractive city and if two teams were willing to offer them the same price, they would There is no hesitation in choosing to go to another city, no matter where that city is or which team it is.”

Barkley nodded and said: "Cleveland is an industrial city. No players like it there. These players have a lot of money, so they prefer big cities like Los Angeles or New York."

This is also the reason why it is difficult for the Cavaliers to recruit strong players in their prime years even if they are stretched. Those players have a lot of money in their hands, and they are still young and need too many places to consume their energy.

Therefore, the players who are willing to come to Cleveland are either unknown, or they are veterans who are already in their prime and twilight years, and even for players of their type, the Cavaliers must pay far more than other teams to attract their attention. and join.

Barkley can already see what James will be like in the next ten years. He will spend his entire career for this city, and then it will be difficult to bring a championship to this city throughout his life.

Of course, James will get a lot of data and glory, and he will become the best individual, but he will never become the strongest individual in the NBA.

Because the playoffs are the stage for testing stars. A player who fails to lead his team to win a championship will not rank too high in NBA history.

"Look at the top ten superstars in history selected by the NBA today. How many of them have not won a championship?"

"James dares to choose the No. 23 jersey in his rookie season, and it is well known that Sima Zhao wants to break a series of records and glory set by Michael Jordan, so he must win the championship."

Barkley wanted to say that the best way out for James is to join a team that can compete for the championship in the twilight years of his career after spending his whole life for the Cavaliers like Kevin Garnett of the Celtics. Then he won the championship as the second in charge.

This is already very good.

Because even Barkley himself has never won a championship ring in his entire career.

"It's not easy to win the championship."

............

May 19th.

The league released the Eastern and Western Conference finals schedule, West: Lakers VS Trail Blazers, East: Celtics VS Pistons.

The first game starts on May 20, with the Lakers hosting the Portland Trail Blazers.

The entire Trail Blazers team arrived in Los Angeles two days in advance. Zhang Jun smelled a familiar scent as soon as he got off the plane and couldn't help but stay on the ladder for a while.

Aldridge came out from behind, saw Zhang Jun who had been stopped in front of him and thought of something, patted him on the shoulder and said.

"This was your hometown before this season. You were a son of California. Now you are back and you are their enemy."

Luo Yin on the side only remembered at this moment that Zhang Jun is a talented player from UCLA and the most popular college student in California. His status in the hearts of young Los Angeles fans is comparable to that of Kobe Bryant, who is already the star of the Lakers.

And now, this former hero of the California fans is now coming to fight with them personally, which is indeed quite interesting to think about.

Luo Yin couldn't help but think of his college career, then he sighed and rubbed Zhang Jun's head. He didn't say much.

Zhang Jun turned his head and looked at the two of them with a smile on his face and said: "I have only one purpose on the court, and that is to win."

"This is the consciousness a player should have and his responsibility. This is the sense of awe for competitive sports."

"So I don't think about anything else and I never respect anyone on the pitch."

Aldridge remembered what Zhang Jun once said. When he thought about it carefully, it seemed that it was Zhang Jun's NBA debut. Coincidentally, the game was against the Lakers. Coincidentally, he almost knocked down Kobe at that time. Said the same thing after the game.

Aldridge was a little surprised and said: "The coincidence makes me feel like fate. Zhang Jun, I have a hunch that you and Kobe will frequently face off in this series, and the two of you will fight fiercely."

Luo Yin nodded in agreement.

Although he is the team's shooting guard, the two have different playing styles on the court, and Zhang Jun has talents and advantages on the defensive end. He may be more effective in defending Kobe than Luo Yin.

Although they have not been notified by the coaching staff at this point, there is a high probability that this will be the case, so Luo Yin also believes that at least Zhang Jun will bear a large part of the important task of defending Kobe.

"Protect Kobe?"

"I'm quite excited too."

The hotel where the Trail Blazers stayed.

After seeing Monty Williams go and come back, Nate McMillan stood up and asked: "Have all the players rested?"

Monty Williams shook his head bitterly and said: "After getting off the plane, Zhang Jun asked me if the team had prepared a training location. He went to shoot training early and said that he had some insights in the mid-range that he needed to practice in Experiment on the field.”

Nate McMillan has long been accustomed to Zhang Jun, a training freak. This guy always practices extra after games, and has repeatedly trained privately on the court behind the back of the team's coaching staff.

When the Trail Blazers started training camp, Zhang Jun repeatedly found players in the team for one-on-one duels. At that time, he had already shown signs of being a training expert.

As the regular season continues, Zhang Jun's training intensity and training frequency continue to increase. He is still a training expert and is simply a training maniac.

If the team hadn't suddenly assigned Zhang Jun a mentor, veteran Francis, Nate McMillan might still not know that Zhang Jun would often assign training tasks to him.

"That kid, I would be surprised if he didn't go to the training venue as soon as he got off the plane. Although there is no time difference between Portland and Los Angeles, after all, it's a long journey. You'd better go and watch. After training for two hours, let's go." Zhang Jun goes back."

After saying this, Nate McMillan couldn't help but smile silently. I'm afraid he is the only head coach in the league who has to worry about his players being overtrained.

Monty Williams stood there with no intention of moving. Nate McMillan looked up in confusion, frowned and said, "What's wrong?"

Monty Williams said truthfully: "Aldridge and Luo Yin also went there. Luo Yin's singles skills are very similar to Kobe's. I guess Zhang Jun is preparing to play against Luo Yin and try his hand in advance."

"Aldridge will naturally follow. The relationship between these three people heated up a little too quickly after experiencing the playoffs."

Nate McMillan agrees with this point. If players want to have good cooperation and understanding with each other, affection is essential.

Just like Spurs' GDP.

"However, Luo Yin's ankles and knees have always been at risk of injury. This matter cannot be taken carelessly. We finally reached the Western Conference Finals smoothly, and I don't want to fall short because of player injuries."

"Therefore, Luo Yin's training time must be strictly controlled. It is best not to have a bullfight with Zhang Jun. That little brat will never end in a one-on-one fight."

Monty Williams nodded and said: "I asked Francis to pay attention to this matter in advance. He will remind Luo Yin not to overtrain, and he will also conduct a complete set of warm-up exercises before the bullfight begins."

After hearing this, Nate McMillan nodded with satisfaction and breathed a sigh of relief. With Francis watching, there should be no problem. The other party is a veteran worth trusting.

"It's just that Francis also followed?"

Nate McMillan couldn't help but ask this question.

He didn't believe that it was because of Monty Williams' request to pay attention to Luo Yin that Francis went to the training ground. It was obviously Francis who went to the training ground and Monty Williams got rid of the opponent's constant attention to Luo Yin's physical condition.

Monty Williams smiled awkwardly, because the truth was exactly what Nate McMillan had guessed.

He said: "Although Francis is a veteran, this is also his first time reaching the Western Conference finals. His excitement is no less than that of young players, so he is also very excited and takes the initiative to help the players train."

"and........."

Seeing that Monty Williams was hesitant to speak, Nate McMillan had a hunch that the other person had some questions to hide from him, so he quickly asked.

"And what?"

All Monty Williams could say was: "Channing Flynn, James Jones, and Steve Blake went with him."

Good guy, half of the team actually went to it this time, and it almost turned into a team training.

Nate McMillan was about to yell that it must be Zhang Jun who is the leader. The most disobedient person in the entire Trail Blazers team is this kid. He is the one who dares not to play the team's tactics on the court. Even It's still this kid who dares to incite the players to stop playing the team's tactics.

Apart from Zhang Jun, Nate McMillan couldn't think of anyone else who could do this and call on so many people to train.

Monty Williams understood the unchanging emotion on Nate McMillan's face and said: "This time you really wronged Zhang Jun. The other players went there of their own volition."

"They all cherish this opportunity to reach the Western Conference Finals and are very excited about the upcoming Western Conference Finals."

"And, after all, the opponent is the Lakers, a strong opponent."

After hearing this, Nate McMillan sat down directly on the recliner. He was having a headache about this matter.

The Lakers sit on the league's most luxurious inside combination, Gasol, Bynum and Odom.

Each of these three players is a strong inside player with their own characteristics. There are really not many teams in the league that are better than their inside players.

It just so happens that the Trail Blazers have the worst interior defense in the league. They were beaten by Yao Ming when they met the Rockets before. Now they meet the Lakers and they have three good interior defenders. For the Trail Blazers, the defensive pressure is really big.

"Steve Patterson called just now. He hopes that we can at least draw 1:1 with the Lakers in the first two games. It will be convenient for him to return to Portland with a tied situation. The team builds momentum and attracts fans to accept high ticket prices.”

"After all, a 1:1 draw means that everything is possible. The two teams are almost at the same level and have similar strengths. Being behind 0:2 means there is a huge difference in strength. I am afraid it will be difficult for the fans to accept it."

Nate McMillan suddenly said while lying on the recliner.

Monty Williams got angry when he heard this and said: "That guy is nothing but giving orders and can do nothing."

"He can say whatever he wants. It's very difficult to draw 1:1 with the Lakers at home in Los Angeles."

Nate McMillan said: "As annoying as that guy was, he really spoke to my heart."

"If we want to beat the Lakers, it's best to tie them 1:1 in the first two games."

"Although I don't want to admit it, the Lakers are indeed a team with a stronger lineup than us, so we need to be more prepared."