The Godfather of Basketball

In the end, the Rockets beat the Lakers 116 to 91 and achieved 6 consecutive victories in the preseason.

In this game, the Rockets were in full bloom. Eight of the team scored in double figures and won a complete victory.

The fans present were overwhelmed. Not only did the Rockets win a big victory, but Sun Yue also performed well. This is a great success.

In the post-match interview, the reporters at the scene naturally asked about Sun Yue's performance and staying in the team.

Tang Tian was not stingy at this time, and generously praised Sun Yue's performance. As for the issue of staying in the team, he still said the same thing as before, and he did not make the decision alone.

After the Shanghai team's game ended, both teams ushered in a two-day rest period.

In addition to arranging daily training, Tang Tian also went to Ali's headquarters. As one of the minority shareholders, although small, he was also a part of it.

After learning about the internal news and knowing that Ali will have a new financing plan in the next month, he also asked the management of Tangtian Company to pool funds and prepare to increase his shareholding in Ali.

After two days of rest, the two teams moved to Macau for the second round.

Because of the historical relationship, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan are areas with relatively developed culture. This game also attracted many stars to watch the game.

At the preparation ceremony before the game, Karen Mok, a singer from Hong Kong, also sang a song, which attracted applause.

In addition to celebrities, the audience is also more diverse, not only in terms of nationality and skin color, but also in the proportion of fans. At least 30% of the Lakers are present in this game.

Different audiences, different openings, and the game process has become different.

The Rockets rested Yao Ming and McGrady in this game, and Billups, Gasol and Pietrus started.

The lineup of the Lakers has not changed from the previous game.

The two teams played very anxiously from the beginning. Kobe felt very good in this game, and Pietrus' several times of defense in place failed to prevent him from scoring.

At halftime, the Lakers led 56-46, and Kobe contributed 26 points in the first half.

Originally expected that the game between the two sides would be more intense in the second half, but Lakers coach Phil Jackson directly dispatched a substitute lineup in the second half. Kobe sat on the sidelines in a suit and chatted with his teammates. It seemed that he would not play again in the second half.

Such a decision also brought the game to an early end.

In the end, the Rockets' bench strength was even better. The team finally defeated the Lakers 98 to 92, ushered in two consecutive victories in the China game, and also a seven-game winning streak in the preseason.

The outcome of the preseason was insignificant, but it ended with a complete victory, which is obviously good news for the Rockets.

After returning to Houston after the China game, it can be seen from the relaxed expressions on the faces of the players.

The players are very relaxed, but the Rockets coaching staff is not easy. The regular season is one week after the end of the preseason, and the team must be reduced to 15 people before that.

There are now 18 people on the roster, and three of them have no guaranteed contracts, namely Keith Butler, Mike Harris and John Lucas III.

Butler seldom played in 7 preseason games. He only played 2 games and averaged 1.2 points and 0.8 rebounds per game. It is basically a certainty that he will be given up.

It's just a bit troublesome who to keep in the backcourt.

Although Harris is only 1.98 meters tall, he weighs 110 kilograms and has good mobility. He can play positions from 1 to 4. He is a versatile player. He played 4 games in 7 games this time, and he was a shooting guard in one game. The main rotation, averaging 4.3 points and 2.2 rebounds per game, shooting 47%.

Lucas III is the son of Rockets assistant Lucas II and an old acquaintance of the team. He got a lot of opportunities in this preseason. He played in 6 of the 7 games, averaging 5.4 points and 2.1 assists per game , The hit rate reached 56%, and the state is very good.

Except for these three players, Francis was injured for a short time and had no samples. Gasol and Landry played very well and basically would not be cut. The only one who was in competition with these three players was Sun Yue.

Sun Yue played 4 games in 7 games, including two games in China, averaging 2.8 points, 1.5 rebounds and 0.8 shots per game, and shooting 31% from the field. ugly.

Just like Tang Tian judged, with his current strength, he still can't play at the NBA level.

"Let's talk about your own ideas, who is more suitable to keep." In the regular meeting of the coaching staff, Tang Tian discussed with the assistants.

"I think John should be kept. He has experience and the team needs him as the fourth point guard." Thibodeau gave him his opinion.

Lucas II was also present at the meeting. Although the relationship between father and son in the United States is not as close as that in China, when Thibodeau finished speaking, Lucas II still gave him a grateful look.

"I also think it's more appropriate to keep John."

"Yes, he is in good form this year and deserves the chance to stay in the team."

"Mike and Sun seem to be very comprehensive, but in fact they can't make it in the NBA. They will only waste their spots if they stay."

...

Other teaching assistants also gave their opinions one after another, and they all supported Lucas III.

Seeing that the opinions are so unified, it seems that there is no need to continue the discussion.

When Tang Tian was about to draw a conclusion, he suddenly found that Cole hadn't spoken yet.

"Steve, what's your opinion?"

Cole saw that so many people had the same opinion, so he didn't want to speak at first, but Tang Tian asked him, and he didn't hide it, and said: "My thoughts may be a little different from everyone's. I think the fifteenth person, regardless of Whoever we keep, he won't have much playing time in the new season."

Tang Tian nodded, signaling Cole to continue.

"So compared to strength, I value potential more. Sun left a deep impression on me in the first game in China. His shooting needs to be improved, but his ability on the defensive end is obvious to all. In the future, basketball will definitely go faster. There is room for a defender like him, and because of his height, he has good passing vision and good movement speed, I think he also has the potential to become a point guard."

After Cole finished speaking, Tang Tian followed suit and nodded.

This analysis is correct. In fact, before the China game, his idea was to keep Lucas III, but after Sun Yue's performance in that game, he felt that if the training was in place, he still had the potential to be a third point guard.

The teaching assistants all gave their opinions, and in the end it was Tang Tian and the management who felt the most.

Tang Tian approached Morey with the results of the meeting.

Morey's point of view is somewhat different from Cole's, but the opinion is the same.

A point guard league like Lucas III can grab a lot and can sign at any time, but Sun Yue's performance in that game left a deep impression on him, and he is a rookie with room for training.

In the end, after a discussion between the two, it was determined that the fifteenth member of the team was Sun Yue.