NOVEL NEXT Chapter 4
At the end of September, the new season 15-16 season is getting closer and closer!
All teams have ushered in the media day.
The Trail Blazers are the same!
However, before the media day of the Trail Blazers this season, there are still some things to do!
Determine the starting position!
Generally speaking, the starting position of a team in the new season is basically determined!
Even if it needs to be adjusted, it will be adjusted according to tactics and the status of the players during the season!
Because the starting position symbolizes status for a player!
It is also linked to how big a contract can be obtained!
After a substitute player secures the starting position, his next contract may become very large!
And when a starting player loses the starting position and becomes a substitute, his next contract will most likely shrink!
Therefore, the player's agent team will be very concerned about the starting position!
The team's adjustment of the player's starting position often involves bargaining with the team behind the player!
This is especially true for the stars!
But the Trail Blazers in the new season are a little different!
There are 4 starting positions that are completely vacant. In the absence of the introduction of stars, these positions will need a group of substitutes to compete! On the media day, the team's makeup photos will be taken!
At that time, who will stand in the C position, who will participate in the shooting of the core trio, and who will participate in the shooting of the starting five, all need to be determined!
Therefore, the Trail Blazers decided to hold a special team competition on the media day!
Through the performance of the players in this competition, the starting lineup for the new season will be preliminarily determined!
This method may seem a little sloppy, but truly capable players can stand out at any time!
After the regular season officially begins, it may not be impossible to adjust again!
Moreover, the current goal of the Trail Blazers management for the new season is also to rebuild!
So who becomes the starter is really not that important!
Anyway, it's all a loss!
Whoever plays is the same?! The only thing the Trail Blazers management needs to focus on now is to appease the emotions of Lillard, the only starter left from last season!
Lillard has automatically become the boss of the team in the new season!
Perhaps when deciding the starting position, you can also consider who has a better relationship with Lillard and who Lillard wants to start more!
"Damian!"
"Do you really have no suggestions for the team's starting lineup?"
Moda Center, home of the Trail Blazers, head coach Stotts is communicating with Lillard
"I have no suggestions!"
"Whoever is capable will play!"
Lillard's face didn't show much expression. Stotts knew that Lillard still had some resentment in his heart! However, as the head coach, Stotts had no other choice. The team's transactions were not something he could interfere with!
Stotts could only watch the dishes and cook!
"coach!"
"Are you also going to play badly in the new season?"
Lillard looked at Stotts and asked seriously.
"If there is a glimmer of hope, I naturally don’t want to play badly!"
"Damian, tanking is good for the team, but it is not good for the head coach!"
Stotts smiled bitterly.
Tanking will only make his resume look bad!
No head coach is respected and valued because of his good tanking!
"I see!"
"coach!"
"Then be more serious when choosing the starting lineup!"
"You have such power, right?
Lillard nodded and said nothing more.
Stotts raised his eyebrows, and he understood what Lillard meant!
However, can it really be done? If you really want to do this, you must win enough games at the beginning of the season to withstand the pressure from the management!
And then force the management to change the season goals! After all, if you can really make it to the playoffs, the management has no reason to object!
In the final analysis, rebuilding is just to make it to the playoffs again! As for the championship, that's a bit far away! It
's been almost 40 years since the Trail Blazers last won the championship!
On the sidelines of the training ground, the Trail Blazers players are all in place
C.J-McCollum also seemed a little excited today!
He has already regarded the starting shooting guard position as a sure thing!
This is not because McCollum is arrogant, but because he can't find any competitors in the Trail Blazers!
It can't be that rookie!
McCollum didn't deliberately give Lin Feng the opportunity to show off, but his personal experience shows that rookies should wait patiently for opportunities and grow slowly!
Want to get it all in one go?
It doesn't exist!
Unless you are in the top three!
Lin Feng's ranking is obviously later in the first round!
McCollum was the 10th pick that year, but he still had to sit on the bench quietly for two seasons!
"There is no need to say more about the importance of this training match!"
"I just say one thing, the competent one gets the job!"
Stotts clapped his hands, attracting the players' attention!
The young players were all excited!
The chance to move up has come!
Stotts divided the team into two groups, A and B, based on his own judgment!
Lin Feng was directly placed in Group B by Stotts because he was a rookie!
Although everyone was a substitute last season, there are still tall people among the short ones!
Stotts naturally knows McCollum better and thinks that McCollum is one of the starting candidates for the new season!
However, in view of the conversation with Lillard just now, Stotts did not rush to make a decision!
The significance of this special competition has become more formal!
"call——！"
Lin Feng walked onto the court and took a deep breath.
The players in Group A were obviously more likely to become the starters of the new season. Lillard, the absolute core, was also in Group A!
The players in Group B were basically no different from the water dispenser managers!
"Wait for me to make a splash!"
Lin Feng was full of confidence!
The assistant coach acted as a referee and threw the ball into the air, and the game began!
Team A won the jump ball and took the lead in attacking.
After Lillard controlled the ball across half court, he had no intention of attacking himself.
This competition focuses on examining teammates!
Lillard passed the ball to McCollum, motioning him to come on!
McCollum was excited!
Was this a hint from the team leader to him?
In fact, it was not. Lillard glanced at Lin Feng. He wanted to see Lin Feng's performance on both offense and defense!
Lin Feng appeared in front of McCollum and sank his center of gravity!
Lin Feng's defensive ability at this time was average, and even because of his physical talent, he did not reach the average level!
But it didn't matter, because McCollum's offense at this time was not that good!
When he saw that Lin Feng's defense was not tight, McCollum directly pulled up for a three-pointer!
This kind of offensive method was blind in the past, but not now!
Now it is a basic ability that the outside line should have!
But……
""Bang!"
It didn't go in!
The slow and slow old Kaman took the rebound.
"Here!"
Lin Feng reached out for the ball, and Kaman passed it subconsciously, leaving Team B point guard Tim Fraser in the wind!
"It's my turn to perform!"
When it's time to strike, strike!
Lin Feng is not going to hide his weakness!
Go ahead, young man!