All-round Athlete

Chapter 919: The bag-carrying brother "Bai Bian"

It only took one day for the Lakers to scouts to collect personal information about Whiteside, starting from his high school days, including various trials and tests before the draft, and his performance during the Kings, the Kings coaching staff gave him The evaluations, etc., were all reported to Kupchak.

"This guy came out of Patterson Middle School. That middle school has always had a good record in the United States. The university chose Marshall University, which can be regarded as a strong team in the NCAA. He won the NCAA block leader in his freshman year. I seem to have a little impression of this player. According to the predictions of the draft that year, some people even think that he can enter the lottery zone, at least the first round is no problem. Our Lakers did not have a first-round pick in 2010, so I was Didn't pay much attention to him."

"Based on the standards of a rookie, his physical measurement data is not bad, and his vertical jump is actually the same as that of Cousins. From this point of view, Whiteside is also considered a very talented player. At least he will be selected in the first round. Falling down to the 33rd pick? Huh? Wearing slippers to participate in the rookie physical examination, what kind of attitude is this!" Kupu Qile frowned suddenly.

During the NBA rookie physical examination, many team managers will be present, but in 2010, the Lakers did not have a first-round draft pick, and the Lakers defeated the Celtics last season and won the NBA championship. For the Lakers at the time, what was needed was to maintain the stability of the lineup, not to cultivate rookies, so Kupchak didn't pay much attention to the draft at all, and he didn't know that Whiteside wore slippers to participate in the rookie physical examination. .

As a player who is about to step into the profession, he should have at least a professional attitude, not to mention that the draft is related to the future of a new player. For rookies, participating in the rookie physical examination is a time for their future. Of course must be taken very seriously. And Whiteside actually wore a slipper to participate in the rookie physical examination. In the eyes of many managers and scouts, this is a lack of professional attitude, and the score will naturally be lowered a lot. Even many teams will directly blacklist him because of this.

However, Kupchak thought about it again, this Whiteside was wearing slippers to participate in the physical test, the data was actually very beautiful, and the vertical jump was similar to that of Cousins. Doesn't this mean that his physical fitness and athletic ability are really strong? !

"The managers and scouts of all teams in the league are not fools. They will definitely realize this, but they still did not choose Whiteside. It seems that this player has a flawed character." Kupchak then looked at the ball in his hand. information, and then burst out laughing.

"After the game, the reporter complained about why the previous team didn't choose him, and claimed that the lower limit was Garnett! Does he know who Garnett is? Many people say that their upper limit is Garnett, and they will be despised. This guy He even said that his lower limit is Garnett! Hehe... Is this guy an idiot? IQ is worse than Cousins. No wonder no one wants it! No team is willing to choose an ADHD patient. Time bomb!"

Kupchak shook his head talking to himself, and then continued to read the relevant information given by the Kings.

"Stayed in the Kings for two years, and most of the time was spent in the development league. In the first year, he only played one game, played 2 minutes, 2 fouls and 0 data; in the second year, he played 18 times and averaged 1.6 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in 6.1 minutes, very common blue-collar statistics, such players can catch a lot in the league!"

"The training is not serious, the concentration is not good, and the warm-up exercise is not done well. It is completely mixed with the team. Very narcissistic, dismissive of the guidance of the assistant coach. On the first day of the training camp, I drove a car. More than 200,000 Mercedes-Benz, I remember that the first contract of the second-round rookie contract is more than 800,000. After deducting the necessary taxes and insurance, you can get 400,000 at most. This guy actually spent half of his salary to buy a Mercedes-Benz. Car! Brainless! Do you think you got a contract worth tens of millions!"

American cars are cheap. Half of the middle class buys a car worth 30,000 to 40,000 dollars. In the United States, one hundred thousand dollars can almost buy a car with a domestic price of about 2 million. In the United States, spending two hundred thousand dollars to buy a car is definitely a top luxury car. Whiteside bought the top-of-the-line Mercedes-Benz G-Class for $200,000, which is the same model as Curry's Mercedes-Benz. But Curry bought a new car after getting a big contract, while Whiteside was only a second-round pick, and he bought a luxury car from a star while holding a precarious job. This shows that Whiteside in his rookie period is really a Extra-large brains.

"I really don't understand why Zhang Guan wants me to pay attention to such an idiot! Is it because he has played in China? He can't even make it to China's first-level league. How much potential does such a player have?"

Kupchak curled his lips in disdain, but considering that Zhang Guan is the small owner of the team and the core of the team after all, Kupchak felt that it is better to give Zhang Guan a face and let Whiteside come to the team to try Training, just a trial training, will not bring any loss to the Lakers.

...

Entering April, the situation of the playoffs has become more and more clear. There are 7 teams in the Eastern Conference with a winning percentage of more than half, and the playoffs have been relatively stable. In the West, the competition between the Grizzlies, Mavericks and Suns has become more intense, and the Lakers, who have won consecutive victories, have gradually entered the playoffs.

On April 4, the Dallas Mavericks visited Los Angeles.

On the field, Nowitzki was panting heavily. He has played 38 minutes today. For a 36-year-old veteran, his body has indeed reached its limit after playing for such a long time in a fierce game. up.

However, even so, the Mavericks are still behind. The excited shouts of the home fans even made the Mavericks players a little breathless.

Whenever Zhang Guan held the ball, the scene where the fans shouted "MVP" loudly made Nowitzki feel as if he had returned to Los Angeles five years ago, when the Lakers pointed their fingers. The championship, the fans in Los Angeles were even more crazy at that time.

"When did the home court of the Lakers become like this!" Nowitzki wiped the sweat from his head.

This Mavericks team has brought together many former star players, but the overall age is indeed a bit older. Nowitzki is 36 years old, Marion is 36 years old, Dalembert is 33 years old, Calderon is 33 years old, Carter is 37 years old, Harris is 31 years old, Monta Ellis is considered young, and he is already 29 years old up.

Such a team may be better than the Spurs in terms of experience, but it is really powerless to play a protracted game.

What's more, this game is the second of the Mavs' back-to-back games. Last night, at the same arena, the Mavericks beat the Los Angeles Clippers 113-107. Today's game against the Lakers, although not exhausting for the Mavericks, is still a back-to-back game. A group of old men can last for more than 30 minutes, it is really a bit overwhelming.

Also because of age, many experts in the United States are not optimistic about the Mavericks entering the playoffs. Compared with the Mavericks, the Grizzlies and Suns are both younger and more energetic. Even if the old Mavericks barely make it to the playoffs, it is difficult to make a difference.

In this game, the Lakers also gave the Mavericks the 31st loss of the season with 117 to 107. Since the Grizzlies lost to the Timberwolves outside the day before yesterday, the Mavericks, Grizzlies and Suns all became 31. Negative, back to the same starting line. They are only two games away from the 33-loss Lakers.

After defeating the Mavericks, the Lakers have the last six games left. The opponents are the Clippers, Rockets, Warriors, Grizzlies, Jazz and Spurs. Except for the Jazz at the bottom, none of the six opponents is easy to bully. Especially the game against the Grizzlies was a crucial battle for the playoffs.

The day after the victory over the Mavericks, Whiteside also arrived at the Los Angeles Lakers' training facility.

Since being waived by the Kings, Whiteside has had no ball to play for a while. Due to his poor reputation in the Kings, Whiteside was already a bit out of control in the United States, so he sold the luxury Mercedes, and then looked for opportunities to pan for gold overseas. However, those European teams did not need an insider like Whiteside, so Whiteside moved to China's CBA.

But the CBA still doesn't need Whiteside, what the CBA needs is the kind of foreign aid that can score, not a cap spring like Whiteside. Whiteside's offensive methods are relatively simple. No CBA team is willing to waste valuable foreign aid spots on Whiteside. In desperation, Whiteside had to play for the CBA Development League. Although Whiteside's offensive level is not very good, in the low-level leagues, he can still easily bully his opponents.

The encounters in the past few years have smoothed Whiteside's edges and corners, and at least helped him recharge his IQ. Before the draft that year, Whiteside was like no one in the top five. He once felt that his talent could enter the top three. After being selected by the 33rd pick, Whiteside felt that all teams were blind. However, after being slapped in the face by reality, Whiteside has matured a lot, and he knows that he must seize any opportunity to return to the NBA.

Because of this, on the first day of the trial training, Whiteside's attitude was very positive, honestly like a good boy, not at all like the "brain-dead" back then.

Kupchak was standing on the sidelines of the training ground. He looked at Whiteside, who was jumping high under the basket, and couldn't help but gasped.

"This physical talent, this athletic ability, is not much worse than that of Jordan and Drummond! The offensive method is not very good, and the weight is slightly lighter, but it is not lacking in physical confrontation ability. That wingspan seems to be longer than that of Anthony Davis. He is really good at grabbing rebounds and blocking shots! Where did Zhang Guan find this guy! Are those scouts blind? Talent slips before your eyes..."

If it weren't for Whiteside's bad record, Kupchak really wanted to sign with Whiteside immediately.

Next to him, coach D'Antoni also nodded frequently.

"The offensive method is relatively simple, and he can't shoot three-pointers. Although this is not the type of center I want, but such a good physical talent, no coach will let it go! This Whiteside is 25 years old this year. , I am a little older, and my plasticity may be lower, but if I use it purely as an inside defensive player, I don’t have to think so much. The athletic ability is very good, and it will not slow down the team’s rhythm. It has a place in the tactical system. It feels much more useful than Thackeray's stupid big man." D'Antoni commented silently in his heart.

The arrival of Whiteside also made Thackeray and Ryan Kelly feel the pressure. Both of them received a one-year basic rookie salary, and they might be laid off at any time. Now that a new inside player came to try out suddenly, the two of them were naturally very nervous, and they also performed extraordinarily hard in training. .

On April 6, the Rockets challenged the Clippers away. Said it was an away game, but it was actually played at the Staples Arena, and the fans were all Los Angeles fans.

The Clippers' current record is 53 wins and 24 losses, ranking third in the West, and there is also a difference of two games from the Rockets in the West, and their position is relatively stable. So in the view of Coach Rivers, there is no need to head-to-head with the Lakers.

What's more, today's Staples has no atmosphere of the Clippers' home court at all.

"Defense! Defense! Defense..." The fans kept shouting for defense, but Paul, who was holding the ball, looked even more gloomy.

"Whose home field is this! Now I'm attacking with the ball! The home team is attacking with the ball, but the fans are chanting 'defense'. What kind of home field is this! This is too bullying!" Paul suddenly felt like crying Feeling without tears.

Los Angeles is like this. As long as the Lakers play well, the Clippers will become a stepmother.

Since Zhang Guan came to Los Angeles, the Lakers have never lost at home, and the Lakers have won consecutively, from a street team to a team that is expected to enter the playoffs. This inspirational story is the easiest I have become a fan in the United States. There are many people who realize their dreams in Los Angeles, and an inspirational Laker will naturally be sought after by everyone.

In fact, if it weren't for the Lakers, the Clippers would still gain the support of the home fans. It's just that the Lakers' heritage in Los Angeles is too deep. They are a symbol of the city, and fans hope that the Lakers can win.

Not long after, coach Rivers replaced Paul, and Griffin and Jordan were also resting. Anyway, the Clippers have already entered the playoffs, and the current ranking is relatively stable, so it is better to let the main players take a rest. What's more, this kind of home atmosphere is more difficult than the away game. It is a waste of suffering for the main players to stay on the court. Not to mention that they can't win the game, they have to pay for their depressed mood.

...

On April 8, the Lakers played against the Houston Rockets at home.

The Rockets are going to play back-to-back away games, Los Angeles is the first stop, and tomorrow they will go to Denver to challenge the Nuggets.

Perhaps it was the last time they went to a nightclub, and the collective turned into soft-footed shrimp. This time, the Rockets coach McHale specially ordered that nightclubs are prohibited, and everyone must stay in the hotel honestly.

However, even so, the Rockets still couldn't take away a win, mainly because the Rockets' lineup was not neat.

Howard had a surgery to remove a cyst on his left ankle not long ago. After playing a few games after the operation, he felt some pain in his left ankle. As the playoffs approached, the Rockets didn't want Howard to get hurt again, so they simply arranged for Howard to truce.

The Rockets' vacant Beverly tore the meniscus of his right leg at the end of March and underwent surgery. It is already very good to be able to return in the playoffs, so he also missed this game.

Asik and Jeremy Lin, replacing Howard and Beverly, respectively, boarded the starting position. Without Howard, the Rockets have one less offensive point in the interior; Jeremy Lin has good scoring ability, but he does not have the trust of Rockets coach McHale. Three point guard Cannan.

Nick Young's nerve knife, which does not know when it will show its power, expressed hunger and thirst again in this game. He made 4 of 6 three-pointers and scored 32 points in only 23 minutes. Enough to put the top scorers in the league to shame.

The Rockets also lost to the Lakers again, 115 to 130.

For the Rockets, it doesn't matter if they lose now. The Rockets are currently ranked fourth in the Western Conference. Judging from the record of the Western Conference teams, it is difficult for the Rockets to rise to third in the Western Conference, and it is also difficult for the Rockets to fall to fifth in the Western Conference. Besides, for the Rockets, the fourth is to play the Blazers, and the fifth is to play the Blazers. The difference is only one more home court. This is not a decisive factor, and it is not enough for the Rockets to work hard at the end of the regular season.

The Lakers won this crucial battle. For the Lakers, every game is now a key battle.

The next day, the Lakers finally announced that they would lay off the team's backup center Thackeray and sign Hassan Whiteside with a one-year minimum salary.

This layoff and signing did not attract people's attention. A player of Thackeray's level can be cut by any team at any time. It is not surprising that the Lakers cut Thackeray.

And Whiteside was only a second-round rookie back then, and he couldn't play in the Kings at all. This kind of player was caught in a lot in the Development League, and occasionally went to the NBA to do part-time jobs to make up the number of people. It is also normal, and it is also a player who will be cut at any time.

As for Whiteside himself, he cherishes this opportunity extremely. Although he got this contract, it was only a one-year base salary, and only a quarter of it was guaranteed. If he can't get a chance to play and express himself in the NBA, then after this season, he might have to return to the Chinese Development League.

Whiteside is 25 years old. Many people think that players of this age have no potential to tap. If they can't return to the NBA, when Whiteside gets older, he really has no chance.

"We must stay in the NBA this time! First of all, we must start with carrying the bag." Whiteside picked up Zhang Guan's bag with a look of panic, and followed behind obediently.

"This bag boy is not bad." Zhang Guan looked at Whiteside with a smile, and thought to himself: "I hope he can play to the level soon! After all, I recommended him. If he still has the same bad attitude and performance as before, I will It's also embarrassing."

It is really time-consuming to write about the NBA and look up information, especially this kind of information from three or four years ago. I really admire those great gods who write about the NBA. Thanks for the rewards from Thai-style Old Man Zhang, Bubble 2016, Colorful Mud, Red Wenwu, Hunan Army 1, Dongfang Yiying, and Lao Guo 003!