NBA Old Age Star System

Chapter 510 The regular season begins and the lineup is determined
After arriving at Pelinka's office, Pelinka immediately stepped forward with a smile.

"Hey Sue, how was your vacation, it's been so long, Luke too."

"Not a bad holiday, Rob."

After the three of them greeted each other, the topic got down to business.

"Su, this is our lineup for the new season. At present, this is the only lineup we can gather. If there is anything you think is inappropriate, you can tell me directly, or see if there is anything that needs to be adjusted." Pelinka said.

Su Tian still has a very sense of proportion and will not really guide Pelinka's work.

"This is your job Rob, don't even think about giving it back to me, haha." Su Tian joked with a smile.

Then Su Tian said: "I have nothing to be dissatisfied with. I accept the team's arrangement."

Hearing Su Tian say this, Pelinka breathed a sigh of relief.

"Well, since there are no problems with the lineup, let's discuss some general directions for the new season. For example, is our goal this season still to win the championship?"

As soon as Pelinka said this, Walton spoke immediately before Su Tian said anything.

"Of course! Our lineup is still very competitive. There is no need to waste the players' peak period. I think we are still in the championship window, so I think our goal this season is still to win the championship!"

Wharton spoke so decisively and so righteously that Su Tian on the side was startled.

"Uh, yes, I also think we can win the championship this season, so I also think the goal this season is still to win the championship." Su Tian said.

"Since both of them think so, then we will still win the championship this season! However, our lineup's record during the regular season should not be very good. If we want a good record, the main lineup must increase playing time, but This will increase the risk of injuries, so you two think, should we play it safe in the new regular season, or should we increase the playing time of our main players?"

After Pelinka raised this question, Walton was no longer so excited. Instead, he sat down and began to think carefully about Pelinka's proposal.

Su Tian on the side was also thinking about this issue carefully, but soon Su Tian made a decision.

"Just increase my own playing time, and just keep Paul and Anthony's playing time normal. As for Johnson and Dort, they are young and need more exercise, so just increase them appropriately."

As soon as Su Tian finished speaking, Wharton on the side immediately spoke.

"But Su, you are the cornerstone of our team. You are the guarantee of the team's offense, and you are the one who should be protected the most."

"Don't worry about me. As the star of the team, I should shoulder this responsibility. This is what I should do. And I know my own body well, so don't worry about me."

But seeing the worried expressions on both Pelinka and Walton's faces, Su Tian could only say it again.

"If you are really worried, please arrange regular physical examinations for me and let the team doctor and rehabilitation therapist check me regularly."

After hearing what Su Tian said, Pelinka and Walton nodded.

"Yes, if you follow what Su said, you can increase Su's playing time appropriately."

"I agree, but the inspection is definitely not something that can be done."

Then the three discussed some general directions and determined some general directions for this season.

As for how to use these players on the team and what tactics to use, it is a matter for the coaching staff.

The next day, Walton divided the team into two teams according to the starting lineup and substitute lineup, and started the team's training match.

Su Tian, ​​who returned to the first position, performed very smoothly without any sense of sluggishness, and he also shouldered the task of organizing the team perfectly.

As the team's starting No. 2 position, Dort's improvement in shooting is not obvious. Compared with the previous season, there is not a big improvement, but the defensive aspect has improved a lot. Of course, this is also due to Dort's outstanding performance. Get a stronger body.

Due to the impact of his weight, George's overall performance was mediocre. He did not take too many shots, but served as an organizational point for the team.

Johnson is still making steady progress, showing a trend of comprehensive development as a whole, becoming more and more like an all-around forward.

In terms of insiders, there is no need to say more about thick eyebrows. Although there was some slack during the offseason, the overall competitive level has not declined.

Walton was relatively satisfied with the overall performance of the starting team, but the performance of the bench was somewhat uneven.

On the bench, Walton gave: Rondo, Rose, Brando, Griffin, Aldridge.

In fact, when you see this lineup, you know that there are too few three-pointers and there is no space at all.

In fact, these five people are all capable of three-pointers. Even Rondo can shoot three-pointers, but his shooting rate is not high.

It would be okay if only one person in the lineup was like this, but all five of them were like this.

Even among these five, the best at shooting three-pointers are Aldridge at the fifth position and Brando during his rookie contract.

Walton looked at the blocked space of the bench, scratching his head anxiously, and unconsciously looked at the two undrafted players on the bench.

"You two, that's right, you two, come on and make substitutions."

Following Walton's instructions, the two came on the court to replace Rondo and Griffin.

Then the two teams played for a few more minutes. In these minutes, the substitute lineup began to score three-pointers gradually, and the space gradually opened up. Walton's tightened brows also relaxed, but then he frowned again, because the two people's There are still some problems with defense.

Zeng Fanbo, in particular, has bigger defensive problems, and his three-point ability is not much better than Griffin.

However, at this stage, we are still experimenting with tactics and lineups, and adjustments can be made including pre-season games.

As the team's head coach, Walton's task is to bring out the team's maximum combat effectiveness, inspire more people's abilities, and get them into the right positions.

The time soon came to the end of September, and the Lakers opened their media reception day. As the winners of four consecutive championships, the Lakers naturally attracted much attention, but because they did not make any special deals during the offseason, these reporters mainly focused on Next to Su Tian and the others.

"Su, what is the Lakers' goal for the new season?" a reporter asked first.

But this reporter didn't expect that after he opened his mouth, Su Tian himself didn't say anything, but some reporters next to him began to laugh uncontrollably.

"Should this journalist friend be a newcomer, or is it his first time interviewing me? You may not know me very well, but it doesn't matter. I can tell you that no matter what the Lakers' lineup becomes, as long as I am still here, the Lakers' goals There is only one thing, and that is to win the championship!" After Su Tian said these words, the reporters next to him all nodded in agreement, obviously having already expected Su Tian's answer.

Immediately afterwards, another reporter asked: "Su, how do you evaluate the players who left the Lakers with big contracts?"

This question obviously has some traps and topics, and you will fall into it if you are not careful.

"To be honest, I'm very happy that they can get a big contract, because it shows that other teams recognize our Lakers players, and it's fun to play against our former teammates on the court, well, Then beat them up." Su Tian said with a smile.

"Su, what do you think of the team's signings during the offseason?"

"First of all, the team's recruitment work is done by the general manager. I believe in his professional vision. I also trust the team very much. And I personally think that the team's recruitment work has been done very well."

After answering several questions from these reporters, the interview finally ended.

Time has quickly come to October, and the Lakers' preseason is approaching.

And the team's lineup adjustment work has just begun.

On October 10, the Lakers started the first preseason game of the new season, playing against the Kings at home.

The Lakers' starting lineup for the new season is also the lineup they have been practicing before.

Su Tian, ​​Dort, Johnson, George, thick eyebrows.

A few minutes into the game, George was taken off first to rest, allowing Griffin to come on.

Halfway through the first quarter, Su Tian and Nongmei also left the game one after another, and Wharton began training on the court.

The assistant coaching team on the sidelines took pens to record something from time to time, and the personnel on the court were constantly being mobilized. Everyone had a chance to play, including the team's two undrafted players.

It's just that Rivers' performance is obviously better than Zeng Fanbo, but Walton still has plenty of patience with this big man from China.

The main lineup only played for about 3 minutes in the second half, and Walton gave the substitutes and bench a lot of playing time.

In the end, the Lakers lost to the Kings 100-105.

Although he lost the game, Walton got a lot of useful information from this game.

On October 10, the Lakers played against the Suns at home again. Walton still adhered to the training strategy, and the playing time of the Big Three was getting less and less.

Next, the Lakers played against the Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors, but the Lakers' preseason strategy has not changed and has always been focused on training.

On October 10th, the Lakers played against the Kings again in an away game. So far, the Lakers' 15 preseason games have ended. The Lakers' preseason record is 6 wins and 3 losses, with a winning rate of just over half.

After all preseason games ended, ESPN once again launched the new season's strength rankings.

"The Suns have added Kevin Durant this season, and the increase in overall strength is very obvious."

"Irving goes to Dallas to join forces with Doncic. Although his strength will increase, it will be limited."

"I think when James Harden goes to Philadelphia and joins forces with Embiid, the increase in strength will be the most obvious. Philadelphia will definitely be a blockbuster in the new season!"

"I feel like everyone is paying too much attention to the teams that have made deals in the offseason, and lacks respect for those stable and strong teams, such as the Lakers and Clippers."

"The Lakers will lose so many people in the new season, and their combat effectiveness will definitely decrease. There is no doubt about this."

"The Clippers have also not changed much this season, and LeBron is one year older. The decline in the Clippers' combat effectiveness is also foreseeable."

"I think the Warriors may be able to perform well in the new season. They have retained their previous main lineup during the offseason, and the newcomers in the team have grown. Jordan Poole, Kuminga, Moody and others have grown. It’s worth looking forward to.”

This ESPN program still attracted a lot of attention, and in the end, these experts and critics were all talking about it and came up with a list.

Topping the list is the Los Angeles Lakers. Although everyone thinks that the Lakers' combat effectiveness has declined, the Lakers' Big Three are still healthy, and with the team's active leader Su Tian supporting them, their combat effectiveness is still the strongest in the league.

And closely followed is not any of the teams above, but the Denver Nuggets!

Jokic just won the regular season MVP last season. This season, the team's second-in-command Murray returned. The team's combat effectiveness has increased significantly, and it has directly become the absolute main team competing for the championship.

The third is the Bucks. Antetokounmpo is also at his peak, and the Bucks have a complete lineup and are also in the window to win the championship.

Ranked fourth is also more unexpected, the Boston Celtics.

The explanation given by experts is that the Celtics' double pick combination has grown significantly in the new season and has been officially promoted from All-Star players to superstar players. The team's combat effectiveness will definitely increase significantly.

Every year, ESPN's list will cause discussion and controversy. Fans of any club will feel that their team has been underestimated.

But which team ultimately proves to be stronger can only be determined on the court.

Time soon came to October 10th, the Lakers' first game of the regular season was coming, and the Lakers' lineup for the new season was basically determined.

Before the official start of the regular season, Walton found Su Tian and Pelinka and once again determined the starting lineup and substitute lineup for the new season.

"Our starting lineup for the new season is basically determined in this way, and there won't be any big changes. However, Paul's weight loss will continue, so he won't have a lot of playing time in the first month. He will basically be a pseudo-starter. Most of the time, I will still lead the bench.”

"So in the first month of the new season, Brando's playing time will increase, and in order to ensure the team's winning rate, Su's playing time will also increase."

Su Tian also nodded after hearing this.

Soon the time came for the game. As the defending champions, the Lakers would definitely be scheduled for the opening game, and they would have to hold a flag-raising ceremony and award championship rings before the game started.

All the procedures were the same as last year. As the last player on the team, Su Tian went on the court to greet Xiao Hua with a hug and took the team's championship ring from him. Although Xiao Hua wanted to weaken the Lakers, at least he wanted to save face. You still have to maintain basic decency.

After everyone received their rings and watched the flag representing the championship rising, they had the energy to look aside at tonight's opponent.

Golden State Warriors.

(End of this chapter)