NBA: One S-level skill per game

Chapter 232 Striving to Enter the Playoffs

Just after Li Chen returned to the United States, he received a call from Korver.

"It's Kyle! How are you doing lately?" Li Chen asked with a smile.

"I, it's okay, um..." Korver hesitated.

"We are all brothers. Don't be coy and say what you have to say."

Li Chen's words convinced Korver that Li Chen was still the same Li Chen and had not changed because he became the big boss.

Thinking of this, he plucked up the courage and said: "Boss, I want to play for your Warriors team. The annual salary..."

Li Chen was stunned for a moment. Now the Warriors are short of veteran players. Korver's arrival is just timely. Then after he finished speaking, he interrupted: "Don't talk nonsense. The Warriors now have ample salary space. I won’t treat you badly.”

"Korver was deeply moved. Thank you, boss."

"Hey! Why does this little voice make you want to cry?"

Li Chen's teasing made Korver's face heat up, and he stammered and argued: "No... not really."

At this time, Li Chen remembered something again, so he asked: "By the way, Kyle, do you know how Elton is doing?"

When Elton Brand was with the Clippers, when Odom was trying to trouble him, he always helped him out.

"He, he went to the 76ers. After getting injured last year, he was removed from the starting lineup and became a substitute. Now he is worse off than me."

Li Chen nodded and said, "Okay, I understand. You pack up and come to San Francisco."

A few minutes later, Li Chen hung up the phone and called Elton Brand.

"Hey! Isn't this our big boss? Why do you call me when you have time?" Elton Brand teased Li Chen with a smile, and there was no trace of depression at all.

"Hey! Aren't you frustrated on the court? Your mentality doesn't look like it! Then forget it! Originally, I wanted to get you to play for the Warriors, but it seems there's no need now."

Li Chen's words stunned Elton Brand for a moment, and then he reacted. He quickly shouted: "Don't! I'm miserable now, okay."

"A 1750 million contract is not bad." Li Chen joked with a smile.

"It's good, but I've been having trouble getting back to my peak since I got injured, and I guess it's coming to an end."

"Don't worry, you stay with the 76ers first. If they want to trade you, the Warriors will trade you."

"Isn't this... bad?" Elton Brand said a little embarrassed.

Li Chen rolled his eyes, "Hey, hey! Can you be more serious when you act? It's fake at first glance."

"Hahaha! Sorry, Chen, my acting skills let you down."

After Li Chen hung up the phone with Elton Brand, he fell into deep thought.

Now he is thinking about whether to make a run for the playoffs this season. The Warriors are currently too young and inexperienced, so their performance is very unstable.

And the defense is too poor. Although there are two All-Stars in Leonard and Klay Thompson who will be good defensively in the future, that is a matter for the future.

After thinking for a long time, Li Chen remembered someone and called the team's general manager Bob Myers.

a little while...

"BOSS, what do you want me to do?"

"Bob, I want Kevin Garnett and Elton Brand. Do you think there is any way to do it? By the way, without using rookie players."

Bob Myers' mouth twitched when he heard Li Chen's request. This is a bit difficult!

"BOSS, all I can say is try your best."

Li Chen nodded, and he didn't force it. After all, this request was a bit difficult. Now the Warriors have no leverage except for rookies.

A few days later, Bob Myers came to Li Chen's office again.

"What about Bob, any chance we have?"

After considering his words, Bob Myers said: "If we don't pay a big price for Elton Brand, the 76ers will not let him in."

Li Chen nodded, feeling a little disappointed in his heart, but he didn't show it.

"As for Garnett..." At this point, Bob Myers paused slightly, and then said, "There seems to be a glimmer of hope."

"Is there any hope?" Li Chen murmured to himself and fell into deep thought.

"Sorry, BOSS failed to complete the task you assigned." Bob Myers apologized.

Li Chen ignored Bob Myers' words. He was now thinking about how to impress Garnett.

After a while, Li Chen suddenly said: "Bob, what did Kevin say?"

"Him? What he meant at the time was that he wanted to continue chasing the championship with the Celtics and didn't want to come to the Warriors."

Li Chen nodded again, and then said: "Give me his phone number and I'll talk to him."

With that said, Li Chen took out his cell phone and waited for Bob Myers to tell him Kevin Garnett's cell phone number.

At the same time, Bob Myers was slightly stunned at first, and then a look of embarrassment appeared on his face.

Seeing that Bob Myers had not given out Garnett's cell phone number for a long time, Li Chen couldn't help but look up at Bob Myers. When he saw his embarrassed look, he knew that Bob Myers had concealed some details. .

Li Chen didn't ask, just waited quietly for Bob Myers' next words.

Bob Myers knew that he couldn't do it, so he hesitated: "Garnett, one of the reasons why you don't want to come to the Warriors is because the Warriors don't have the strength to compete for the championship. The second reason is..." Bob Myers looked at Li Chen and said nothing.

Li Chen is so smart, he immediately understood the meaning of Bob Myers' words.

Li Chen said with a smile: "What a narrow-minded guy."

However, Li Chen learned from the poverty in his previous life that money can solve 99% of problems, and the remaining 1% of problems that cannot be solved require more money.

In this life, he witnessed the truth of this statement.

While his thoughts were wandering, Li Chen discovered that Bob Myers was a good subordinate and knew how to think about his boss, so he smiled and said: "Bob, you don't care about this, just give me your phone number."

Seeing that Li Chen insisted on doing this, Bob Myers could only nod and give Kevin Garnett's phone number to Li Chen.

After a while, Li Chen watched Bob Myers leave and dialed Garnett's personal phone number.

After a while the phone was connected.

"Hello, Kevin, I'm Li Chen."

Li Chen's call made Garnett slightly stunned. To be honest, Garnett was very jealous of Li Chen because he not only won the NBA championship he dreamed of, but also surpassed Michael Jordan.

You know, Garnett actually wants to become the small owner of a team.

This can be seen from the agreement he reached with the Timberwolves when he returned to the Timberwolves, but in the end it became a big deal.

Garnett's tone was lukewarm, and he said: "I said, I want to pursue the championship, and there is no way I will join your Golden State Warriors."

Li Chen smiled confidently and said, "Kevin, how about we make a bet?"

"Bet?" Garnett frowned.

"Yes, it's a bet, just a bet that the Warriors can win the championship within three years."

Hearing Li Chenhao's eloquent words, Garnett didn't know what to say. He sarcastically said:
"Chen, I admit that you are great at basketball, even surpassing Jordan. No one in our generation can beat you, but just because you are great at basketball doesn't mean the team can't be as invincible as you."

Garnett said this very politely.

"Why don't you hear what the bet is?" Li Chen said with a smile.

Seeing that Li Chen still didn't know how to advance or retreat, Kevin Garnett sneered: "Let's see, as long as I am tempted, what if I join your Golden State Warriors?"

"I believe you will be tempted."

Garnett snorted in his heart, I don't believe it. Can you make me, Kevin Garnett, tempted and think that I, Kevin Garnett, have never seen money?
"Our bet is that the Golden State Warriors will win the championship within three years. If they don't win the championship within three years, I will give you Kevin Garnett 5% of the Warriors' shares." Garnett was dumbfounded after hearing this. , but he knows that NBA owners have terrible control over their shares, and they refuse to sell their shares.

But Li Chen luckily used the stock bet as a bargaining chip.

Garnett had to admit that he was tempted. He didn't believe that the Warriors could win the championship in three years!

The only thing troubling him now is whether he should give up chasing the championship.

Garnett held his left hand tightly, as if there were two selves in his heart, constantly arguing.The two villains were tearing back and forth as if they were fighting for something.

In the end, Garnett compromised, and he once again proved Li Chen's theory that money is omnipotent.

Garnett said with some dejection: "Okay! I have to admit that you beat Li Chen."

"Kevin, you won't regret it." Li Chen said with a faint smile.

"I have a question." Garnett said with some confusion.

"What? I'll be happy to answer your questions."

"I wonder why me? You know, we didn't get along very well."

Yes, Garnett didn't understand it. He and Li Chen got along very unpleasantly from the beginning.

Li Chen smiled, "Hey, hey, hey! Kevin, when you first entered the league, you were the one who made arrogant remarks because you were an All-Star player, okay? Then you were slapped in the face because of yourself? You made me hate you. I've been the victim."

"Uh..." Garnett blushed. After thinking about it carefully, he realized that this was really the case.

Garnett's contract this season is a 2+1 contract. In the third year, players can choose to leave or stay.

It just so happens that Garnett has not yet renewed his contract.

The general matter has been finalized, and Li Chen handed over the follow-up matters to Bob Myers.

He believed that this middle-aged man could handle it well.

Not surprisingly, Bob Myers successfully signed Kevin Garnett a dozen days later.The Warriors paid a first-round pick.Although Garnett was said to be worth more than this price, Garnett questioned leaving, so the Celtics had no choice but to let him go.

In fact, Kevin Garnett is a fool. He thought he had 100% access to 5% of the Warriors' shares, but he actually took the initiative to cut his salary.

When Bob Myers reported to Li Chen, Li Chen was also greatly surprised.

Then he looked into Bob Myers' eyes with a smile and said, "Bob, you did it!"

Bob Myers was slightly stunned. He never expected that Li Chen could say such a thing, which made him aware of Li Chen's terror.

At the same time, Bob Myers knows that he also knows that as long as he pays, he will not be buried.

As for why Li Chen knows, it's because he and Garnett haven't reached that point yet. If Elton Brand took the initiative to cut his salary, or Korver took the initiative to cut his salary, he would believe it, but Garnett Do not believe.

You know, the two of them were at odds with each other just a moment ago. How could Garnett do this without any feelings.

As for how Bob Myers deceived Garnett, he didn't care. Originally, his 5% equity was just a piece of cake.

Because he believes that the Warriors can win the championship within three years.

Therefore, Kevin Garnett is just happy for nothing.

Just as Li Chen imagined, Korver offered 500 million to sign with the Warriors.

To know that Korver is at his peak now, he needs at least 800 million.

But Li Chen refused, and Li Chen gave him a three-year contract worth 3000 million yuan.

Due to Li Chen's intervention, the NBA did not lock out in 11, so the NBA regular season officially started on November 11.

In the first game, the Warriors faced the Clippers at home.

The Clippers have made a lot of adjustments this season.

In addition to Howard, a powerful center, they also traded Chris Paul, a super point guard, Billups, and DeAndre Jordan, a rebounder and pie-eating expert, from the Pelicans (formerly the Hornets). So, now The Clippers are very strong.

The Clippers' starting lineup for this game is:

Chris Paul (point guard)

Billups (shooting guard)
Deron Butler (small forward)
DeAndre Jordan (power forward)
Howard (center)

The Clippers have a twin-tower lineup, and the power of the twin-tower lineup cannot be underestimated.

This can be seen from the fact that the Spurs won the championship in 99 with the twin-tower lineup of Admiral and Duncan.

But the Warriors are no worse than the Clippers with Garnett at his peak.

Curry (point guard)
Korver (shooting guard)

DeRozan (small forward)
David Lee (power forward)
Garnett (center)

The Warriors are also a twin-tower lineup. Although Garnett is not as good as Howard at his peak, Garnett can still withstand Howard's one or two with his own experience.

Curry hit the iron continuously at the beginning. It can be seen that his touch today is not very good.

However, the rebounding abilities of David Lee and Garnett have greatly improved the Warriors' fault tolerance rate.

Next, Curry no longer insists on shooting three-pointers, but cooperates with his teammates.

This is what Curry learned from watching Li Chen countless times.

In this way, the Warriors worked closely together and showed unparalleled coordination ability.

Garnett continues to use his personal ability to impact the Clippers' defense.

The Warriors' scoring level has always been high. They have a huge advantage with their stable shooting percentage and excellent rebound control.

At the same time, the Clippers also showed their strength.

They used defensive strategies to constantly limit the Warriors' scoring ability.

Paul's steals and small movements caused Curry a lot of trouble.So much so that Curry performed very poorly in this game.

The Clippers' offensive tactics kept the score in a stalemate, and the fierce confrontation made the atmosphere on the entire court tense and full of suspense.

After the first quarter, the Clippers led the Warriors 24-20.

As the game gradually entered the second quarter, all players in the Warriors' starting lineup except David Lee sat in the dugout.

Their substitute lineup is:

Harden (point guard)
Klay Thompson (shooting guard)

Leonard (small forward)
DeMar DeRozan (power forward)

David Lee (center)

If a future time traveler were to see this scene, their jaws would be dropped. Even one lineup has four future All-Star level players.

Harden seems to be destined to be a substitute. He played very well. These future top shooters have shown their top shooting abilities.

Every time they took a shot decisively and accurately, whether it was a mid-range shot or a three-pointer, they amazed the Warriors.

Their offensive tactics echoed each other, forming a powerful offensive force.

In addition, the Warriors' defense is also very good. They closely guard every offensive line of their opponents and do not give the Clippers a chance to breathe.

Klay Thompson and Leonard, in particular, have shown their outstanding defensive talents.

The Warriors' bench is completely beating the Clippers' bench.

(End of this chapter)