From sparring to superstar

Chapter 159. 157. Popovich's Hatred

"Do you care if you can get the block king?"

"Of course I care, I will definitely try my best to fight for what I have the ability to fight for.

It's just that I didn't expect to be caught up after leading so much. Ratliff is the best interior defensive player in the league. I am under a lot of pressure to compete with him for the block leader. "

"Then would you choose to brush the cap?"

"Yes, veterans and people who can only catch and dunk, I'm eyeing you, I want to block more shots, you know, I'm good at this."

After the game against the Kings, the Clippers took a day off, and on the 28th, another game day arrived.

Before the training in the morning, Li Ao accepted an exclusive interview with TNT Sports and answered the question about the king of blocked shots, which sparked heated discussions again.

Most of them are watching for fun, they are teasing veterans, be careful.

But many veterans are really worried. After looking at the schedule, the veterans who have not played against the Clippers this season are relieved, and the veterans who have to play against the Clippers are worried.

In the evening, after the Clippers-Spurs battle report is released, the veterans who will play against the Clippers this season are really a little bit better.

李敖在和马刺队的比赛中15投3中，加上8中6的罚球，拿到12分4板1助攻3抢断5盖帽3失误4犯规，大卫-罗宾逊也被帽了！
Former All-Star small forward Sean Elliott's cut to the frame also got a big hat!
The worst thing is the little general Johnson. He has no three-pointers and no mid-range shots. He only breaks through and scores the ball. He got three caps alone!

Is this Spider-Man joking, or does he really want to block them?

Nobody wants to be blocked, especially aging stars.

But being blocked is not something you can just hide, unless you play like the veterans of the Lakers. Horace Grant took the initiative to stand up and admit his mistake, saying that he was fully responsible for the loss to the Clippers. It won't be like that next time.

Only a thousand days to be a thief, how can there be a thousand days to prevent a thief?

...

96 to 77, the Clippers beat the current No.12 Spurs in the West and won their 23rd victory of the season.

Li Ao's offense in this game was poor. Since the rules do not allow pinching players without the ball in advance, and most of the opponents are veterans, he can often run out of position, but the opponent is staring at him. No matter where he goes, the nearby opponents will move ahead. He was flanked as soon as he received the ball, and before the flank was too late, the opponent fouled directly.

With this treatment, he almost thought he really became a shark.

And it's difficult to send out assists. If it weren't for Odom's tall size and strong ability to respond, he would have made more than 3 turnovers.

He was sure Popovich was targeting him!
It wasn't his malicious speculation, he had evidence, the 50-year-old man with all white hair looked at him with malicious eyes from time to time.

He was once worried that someone on the opposite side would stick his feet under his feet. If it was this little old man, he believed that the other party could make such an arrangement.

But no player on the opposite side seems to dare to do this.

But why?

Why is this little old man staring at his handsome spider?
In fact, in tonight's game, the Clippers did not expect to win the game so easily.

The Spurs did not perform as badly as Li Ao had guessed at the beginning. It was not that Popovich wanted to prove that he could win the championship without Duncan. It was because they signed a lot of powerful veterans in the summer of 99.

Last summer, before Duncan renewed his contract, he looked around for those veterans and role players, saying that Duncan would definitely renew his contract, and signed a few more powerful veterans.

As a result, cpu Duncan failed!

Popovich doesn't dare to play badly now, otherwise his reputation among veterans will be ruined, and he will have to get through this season with his teeth gritted.

Taking a step back, if you play well this season, these veterans perform well, and even those whose contracts have not expired can be sold as bargaining chips.

Before this game, the Spurs had a record of 20 wins and 24 losses.

The 35-year-old David Robinson has performed well this season, averaging 18 points, 10 rebounds, 1 steal and 2.5 blocks per game. Although his shooting percentage has dropped to a career-low 46%, he is too old to be too demanding.

Another core of the Spurs, Derek Anderson, the 97th pick in the 13 class, is a famous inspirational man in the NBA. He was reimbursed for the last two months of his rookie year. He played in the second grade and was reimbursed for the season. Every time he was injured, it was still the key. knees and ankles.

He was traded to the Clippers last season and was absent for nearly two months in the early season. After returning from injury, he can no longer fly like he did in college and his rookie season, and he can no longer dunk Sabonis like he did in his rookie year. Worked out!
Derek Anderson showed very comprehensive skills in the third year of his career, he can freely swing in the 1-3 position, what he wants, and after playing 6 games, he took away Troy Hudson's starting position , played an average of 16.9 points, 4 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.4 steals per game... and was almost given to the Spurs by Baylor for free, because he is about to enter the last year of his contract.

After he arrived at the Spurs, he also successfully got a six-year contract extension of $6 million in advance.

Popovich also used his contract to persuade Duncan to take less money, saying that the money was used to recruit helpers.

So far this season, Derek Anderson has averaged 17.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game.

The core of the Spurs is not bad. Some playoff teams in the East are not as strong as them, and the lineup of role players is very good, including Avery Johnson, Terry Burt, Antonio -Daniels, Sean Elliott, Malik Rose, Steve Kerr, Danny Ferry, Samaki Walker…

The Spurs play pure defense this season, and the Clippers are known as the "Western Double Sticks". Both teams are considered to be in the playoffs if they are in the East.

Li Ao and his teammates were ready for a defensive battle. As a result, he was targeted by the opponent from the very beginning of the game, and the opponent did not care about the overall defense.

At the beginning, Li Ao thought that this relationship was good, and his teammates scored easily.

But the rear is also rough. The defensive end actively finds the opponent's veterans who are 34 years old and above to match up, and opens the "Punching Nursing Home Level 3". The supplementary defense also focuses on players who are 34 years old and above. , 'Punch Nursing Home' will be invalid, but if the opponent meets the age, it will not be broken.

34岁的丹尼-费里、35岁的史蒂夫-科尔、37岁的特里-伯特、35岁的大卫-罗宾逊、35岁的艾弗里-约翰逊……抢断和盖帽刷疯了！
The best offensive performance of the Clippers tonight was Blevin Knight, who came off the bench, with 7 points and 12 assists. Li Ao attracted defensive attention, and Blevin Knight's assists soared.

...

After defeating the Spurs at home, the Clippers came to San Antonio to start two consecutive back-to-back trips from Texas.

On the 30th, the Clippers played against the Spurs again.

This time Gentry was prepared, put Blevin Knight in the starting lineup and let Odom make an empty cut.

In this game, the Clippers confirmed that Popovich was targeting their Spider-Man. Although they don’t know why, it’s a good thing at this time. The schedule is so tight, and they can easily win without thinking. willing.

Li Ao tried his best to defend the veterans on the opposite side. Before the point difference was widened, he didn't care about anything else. After the point difference was widened, he took the initiative to rely on hitting and catching the ball. Break, he is determined not to break the double-digit scoring streak, at least not in this kind of game.

13投4中加上4中4的罚球，李敖拿到12分，外加5板2助攻4抢断5盖帽！

靠着布莱文-奈特10分11助攻、奥多姆23分、小奥尼尔15分16板、大Q和马特-哈普林双双拿到10分、马盖蒂11分……快船队7人得分上双，以114比88屠杀马刺队，将战绩提升至24胜22负！
The Clippers caught up with the Nuggets, who were also 24 wins and 22 losses, and tied for tenth in the West!

With 5 blocks in two consecutive games, Li Ao felt that he had gone too far after the game.

He said that he would block the veterans' heads, but he didn't expect to do so many.

However, when he returned to the hotel after playing the Spurs, he saw the news of the 76ers, and he found that he was too strict with him.

What is he called brushing? He is as attached to data as he is.

The 76ers were upset by the Wizards and lost 93 to 100.

Ratliff played 42 minutes, scored 4 points, 6 rebounds and 10 blocks...

Juwan Howard, a power forward with such a soft style of play, scored 26 points on 13 of 32 shots in this game. He averaged 3.8 points per game at the basket this season, and scored 12 points at the basket in this game.

Wizards point guard Chris Whitney only needs to get to close range and pass the ball down the middle. Whoever gets the ball into close range, Ratliff immediately pounces on it.

加上28号76人队93比89击败骑士队的比赛中，拉特利夫的单场7次盖帽，以场均3.76次盖帽反超场均3.74次盖帽的李敖，登顶盖帽榜！

Li Ao was being careless!
He said he wanted to brush it, but he really did it!

...

On January 1, the Clippers came to another city in Texas to challenge the Houston Rockets back to back.

This is Gentry's favorite opponent. Although the opponent ranks ninth in the Western Conference with 26 wins and 21 losses, there are three players on their side who just restrain the strongest three on the opposite side.

He sent a combination of Greg Anthony, Li Ao, Maggette, Odom, and O'Neal.

Mobley despaired when he saw Li Ao.

Olajuwon at this age may have already won all the honors. In the past two or three years, he has not played as actively as Ewing. When he met the young and strong O'Neal, he seemed to raise his hands in surrender, and he did not forget to shout. "I am a hero of the team, and I want a pension contract."

Francis tonight...was put on the bench by Tomjanovich!
The starter was Shanton Anderson, who played 9 minutes...

Gentry had no idea that the other party would do this.

But this did not affect the Clippers to win.

首节比分22比14、第二节28比22、第三节29比21，快船队三节领先22分。

Li Ao made 15 of 8 shots in three quarters, including 6 of 3 three-pointers. He was emptied outside the three-point line.

It's a pity that he floated outside the three-point line, played 25 minutes without getting a free throw, scored 19 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 blocks, and clocked out of get off work.

In the final quarter, Gentry sent all the substitutes, led by Blevin Knight, and the Rockets scored 27 to 22.

In the end, the Clippers defeated the Rockets 101 to 84 and won three consecutive victories!
The Clippers' record has improved to 25 wins and 22 losses, only half a game behind the Rockets in the ninth place in the West!

...

The next day, Feb. 2, a new month came, and the Clippers returned to Los Angeles for two days off.

At noon, the league announced the best of the month awards for January.

Li Ao won the best rookie of the month for three consecutive months without any suspense.

1月份场均22.7分5.9板4.6助攻1.9抢断3.3盖帽。

Scores, assists, and field goal percentages have all declined compared to the previous two months.

The decline in assists and field goal percentage is because Odom has been out for a while.

The decline in scoring was purely caused by the Spurs.

However, rebounds and steals have improved a lot.

Li Ao personally thinks it is normal for the blocks to decline. As his threat to veterans and role players with weak attacking ability rises, the blocks will naturally decrease.

Kobe became the player of the season for the third month after Malone and Iverson.

The best coach of the month was won by Rick Adelman of the Kings.

Li Ao didn't pay much attention to this matter. When he played 41 games in the regular season, some experts said that even if he played badly in all the remaining games, no one can take away the best rookie award this season.

In the afternoon, he came to Los Angeles International Airport again to see his parents on the plane.

It's been half a month since he went abroad, and his parents have to go back to take care of things in the factory. In a few days, after the Chinese New Year, the factory will start work.

Li Ao was very sad, the two had been here for half a month, and he didn't have much time to accompany them.

But such is life.

He rested for a day and adjusted his emotions. After getting up the next morning, with high enthusiasm, he came to the Memorial Stadium to prepare for the next game with the team.

During preparations, Li Ao heard a rumor from Big Q—their team used Blevin Knight, Kenyon Dooling, and the Trail Blazers to offer the Mavericks the first-round pick. They wanted to exchange for Nash, but the old Nelson hung up. Telephone.

This rumor, Li Ao thinks it is true.

Their general manager is not good-looking, but he always thinks he is beautiful.

But it's not a bad thing to have such a general manager who dares to think and do. Sometimes there will be some seemingly outrageous deals, and one party must have made a bold offer.

It's just that the secrecy measures are a bit poor. Looking at the neighbors next door, all the rumors spread are fake news, and the real transactions are almost completed suddenly.

At noon, Li Ao sat on the sofa in the lounge, surrounded by his teammates.

As of 1:31 noon on January 12st, the All-Star starting voting is over, and today is the time to announce the starting list.

He was a little nervous.

If there was no chance, as he thought at first, he wouldn't care too much about it.

However, he ranked second in the number of votes in the first stage, second only to the vote king Carter.
NBA President David Stern first announced the starting lineup, East: Iverson, McGrady, Duncan, Carter, Mourning; West: Kidd, Kobe, Li Ao, Webber, O'Neal.

Then, from low to high, the number of votes for each starter was announced.

Duncan, who has a teammate with the third-ranked Eastern Conference forward, got the lowest number of votes among the 10: 143 million votes.

The guards and stars in the Eastern Conference got together, and McGrady got the second lowest number of votes: 145 million votes.

Webb, who won the competition with Garnett, got 155 million votes.

Center Mourning, who didn't play a game, got 163 million votes.

Kidd got 170 million votes, Kobe Bryant got 194 million votes, Iverson got 198 million votes, and O'Neal got 199 million votes.

The remaining two have more than 200 million votes.

David Stern read out Carter's name first and got 245 million votes.

Li Ao was ready to cheer, but he was a little worried, what if the Jew would play tricks on him?

"Spider-Man Leo got 251 million votes, setting a new voting record for the All-Star starter! Congratulations to Leo, who won the highest number of votes for this year's All-Star starter!"

Hearing the number of 251 million, Li Ao jumped up from the sofa and hugged and celebrated with his teammates.

The teammates are also very excited, their teammates are the all-star ticket kings!
Leaving aside the 'collective sense of honor' aside, if Spider-Man wins the votes, they will follow the camera!

The Raptors are in that stupid place. In the first three years of entering the NBA, there was only one national live broadcast every year. After Carter was selected, the Raptors were already one of the teams with the most live broadcasts in the United States when Carter was in his second year. one.

After celebrating with his teammates, Li Ao came outside the lounge, took out his mobile phone, and dialed a number.

I dialed, rang a few times, and got connected, but "kuangji" hung up immediately.

He continued to fight, but was hung up again.

He didn't believe it anymore, and continued to fight...

In the end I couldn't get through!

I don't know if the phone line was pulled or cut.

Then call the phone!
As a result, both of the couple's mobile phones were turned off!

Li Ao: ()
No, go block his house after get off work!
(End of this chapter)