When pride still matters

Chapter 592 He Doesn't Need a Statue

As the competition progressed, the talented monsters began to shine, but because they were too young, they were not yet their best selves.

Antetokounmpo has begun to expose some problems that are destined to plague him throughout his life - due to the lack of basic skills, he will have difficulty moving forward once he loses the open space. Fortunately, he still retains the shooting feel of his rookie period.

If he can continue to retain his existing shooting touch while steadily gaining weight, that will be the key to his breaking through the shackles.

As for Jokic, this is the point that the Clippers coaching staff is most concerned about.

Yu Fei deliberately gave up the stage to let Jokic perform as much as possible, so his performances can be said to be deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.

Rivers is thinking, how should they define Jokic?

Traditionally, basketball games are divided into different roles: the tallest players compete for control near the basket, waiting to receive the pass and score from close range; guards and small forwards run on the perimeter, responsible for dribbling, passing and long-range shooting.

Jokic can do it all.

Not only can he catch the ball outside the three-point line and quickly break through the basket, but he can also deceive the defender with his eyes and pass the ball accurately to his teammates lurking in the bottom corner. He can even grab a defensive rebound with one hand and quickly pass the ball to his teammates running towards the basket in the same action. He can always foresee where his teammates will appear in advance and pass the ball to where they should go.

Over the past two decades, the NBA has implemented rules that have limited defensive tactics; at the same time, coaches have become more sophisticated and understand how to create efficient scoring opportunities. The game has become faster and players are more spread out, and "pace" and "space" have become the buzzwords in the basketball world.
Basketball commentators also often talk about "reading the court," which describes a player's ability to quickly make the right response to a changing situation. In this game mode, Jokic is a genius.

“He can anticipate everything that’s going on.”

A moment later, Rivers' assistants gave this comment. Usually, this description is reserved for guards like Kidd, Nash, or even Magic Johnson who are good at controlling the overall situation. But what does it mean to describe a short and fat center?
In the fourth quarter, the scene showing Jokic's peak form finally appeared.

Jokic dribbled the ball across half court, and Antetokounmpo looked confused. He suspected that the Serbian was deliberately showing off his versatility. Was he planning to be the No. 1 player?

If this is true, the competition between the two will no longer be just a battle of wills, but a complete head-on confrontation.

However, just as Jokic dribbled to the frontcourt, he glanced at Yu Fei and passed the ball to Thompson who cut into the basket.

Seeing this scene, everyone thought of Sabonis in his heyday, but the action of bringing the ball across half court does not belong to Sabonis.

So who does Jokic look like?
Rivers gave a surprising answer: "He runs the offense like Magic Johnson."

Is this Jokic's position on the court? Rivers is not sure yet. But he understands that how to allocate Jokic's role in the team is the biggest challenge facing the coaching staff.

From that day on, no one in the Clippers questioned whether they had made a wise choice in the draft by selecting Jokic. Everyone who had seen him play knew they had found a treasure.

In the next few days, the Clippers continued to combine different lineups for competition, and the coaching staff hoped to find the most tacit five-man combination.

However, the problem can be summed up in one sentence – “Where is our power forward?”

When Griffin was still there last season, the Clippers played him almost every game, and the power forward position was filled by Pachulia and Hawes. After trading Griffin, the team selected Jokic, signed Yao Ming, and kept Pachulia.

Suddenly, their center reserves became exaggerated, but they couldn't find a suitable candidate at the power forward position.

One day, Rivers had a sudden idea and tried to use the starting lineup of Antetokounmpo, Thompson, Yu Fei, Jokic and Yao Ming.

The shortest player in this lineup is Thompson at 201 cm, followed by Yu Fei at 206 cm... This may be the starting lineup with the highest average height in basketball history. But the problem is also obvious. Yao Ming and Jokic are both pure centers, and both have weaknesses in defending pick-and-rolls. The most ideal configuration for the No. position should be a player who can roam around and defend.

But Yu Fei and Antetokounmpo, two wing players with excellent height and wingspan, gave Rivers the confidence to experiment.

Soon after, media day arrived.

The Clippers have become the focus of the media. Due to Yao Ming's presence, in addition to major American media, Chinese media also flocked to the training camp, and the atmosphere was very lively. Even if Yu Fei just stood on the sidelines to take a breath, there were several reporters surrounding him for interviews.

Those veteran reporters who were familiar with Yu Fei also took the opportunity to fight for the chance to interview the GOAT.

ESPN reporter David Aldridge asked: "You were eliminated in the Western Conference Finals last season. After the summer adjustments, do you think you are closer to the championship?"

Yu Fei is not impressed with Aldridge. When he was traded by Jordan, Aldridge was one of the many reporters who defended Jordan. In the debate about GOAT (best player of all time) a few years ago, Aldridge also stood on Jordan's side.

However, although he is a staunch supporter of Jordan, he is not as offensive as those reporters blocked by Yu Fei. Aldridge is essentially reasonable. After Yu Fei won his seventh championship, he also admitted that the GOAT dispute has been settled.

As a rational and objective journalist with great influence in the industry, he is most suitable to be a mouthpiece.

Hearing Aldridge's question, Yu Fei smiled faintly: "I don't think so."

Aldridge's heart tightened. Was the GOAT finally going to vent his dissatisfaction with the management? Although signing Yao Ming was a brilliant move, many people in the industry knew that it had nothing to do with the Clippers' management. Yao Ming chose the Clippers entirely because of his personal relationship with Yu Fei.

If it weren't for the management's mess, the Clippers would now have the inside combination of Griffin and Yao Ming, which would have endless advantages.

Just when Aldridge thought Yu Fei was going to start criticizing management, Yu Fei said: "I think through this summer's operations, we already have the strength to win the championship. So, this is not a question of getting closer to the championship - but we are fully capable of winning the championship in the new season!"

No one should be surprised to hear this. After all, this is a man who has won eight championships in his 13-year career, and no one doubts that he will add more championships before he retires.

But will next season be that moment?
Do the Clippers really have that strength?

Yao Ming is a key signing, but they lost Blake Griffin. Yao Ming is already 34 years old, and is getting closer to the 35-year-old window when his performance will decline sharply.

In terms of growth curve, the outside world generally believes that Yao Ming is not as good as Griffin at this stage. So, where does Yu Fei's confidence come from?
Aldridge can only understand that Antetokounmpo has made great progress.

However, with just a few hours of media day, Aldridge couldn't be sure whether Antetokounmpo had truly completed his transformation.

Jokic, however, made a joke when he accused Kwame Brown of eating his "burek," a Serbian pastry.

Brown laughed and said, "I'm just helping you lose weight."

Jokic angrily hit back: "If you cheat again, I will steal all your food allowance!"

That's the main takeaway for the Clippers from the draft.

They selected two players in total, both from Serbia.

Another Serbian rookie has signed a two-year contract with his parent team, which means he will not enter the NBA before 2016.

According to the plan, Jokic was supposed to return to Serbia to play for a year, but the Clippers wanted him to enter the league as soon as possible, so they bought out his contract and allowed him to come to the NBA smoothly.

When the Clippers did this in the draft, Arne Tellem was almost stripped of his citizenship, and now those media people who have a negative view of the decision still don’t know what’s so attractive about Jokic.

He looks a little fat, has no athletic talent obviously, and can't control his mouth. How can such a person succeed in the NBA?

"Do you still think you can win the championship?"

Aldridge asked Yu Fei.

Yu Fei said: "The negative impressions you have about the Clippers are all unreliable illusions. When the season starts, you will know what I said is true."

That day, when the Clippers took a group photo, Yu Fei sat on the left, owner Ballmer sat on the right, and then on the left and right in order were Rivers, Yao Ming, Thompson, Antetokounmpo, and Jokic.

Judging from the seating arrangement, we can also see the Clippers' expectations for Jokic.

Is he really that good?

This is a mystery to reporters on the scene. The remaining days of training camp, the Clippers' main task is to find a power forward who can develop among those marginal players without contracts.

After several days of training, the Clippers signed a power forward named Tony Mitchell before the training camp closed.

He was a second-round pick in 2013 by the Pistons.

However, the Pistons gave up on him after only one season.

The Clippers took on his contract, but since two of Mitchell's three-year rookie contract are not guaranteed, they can cut him at any time.

Mitchell is a long-armed power forward with excellent running and jumping skills. His weaknesses are insufficient skills, poor confrontation and insufficient height. Although he registered as 6 feet 9 (206cm), he may not even reach two meters barefoot.

Such a player who has no NBA-level advantages except running, jumping and arm span will not survive in the NBA for more than two years unless he is carefully trained by the team.

It means that the Clippers are so short of a power forward that they claimed him.

It just so happens that the Clippers are overflowing with talent, not only in offense, but also in ball handlers and playmakers. What they lack is a guy like Mitchell who likes to be fed by others.

Mitchell's integration into the Clippers was unexpectedly good. When teaming up with Yu Fei, he was able to take full advantage of the GOAT's appeal on the defensive end and cut into the basket to create opportunities.

When playing with Jokic, Mitchell seemed to have returned to his college days. The Serbian always passed the ball to him in an incredible way, allowing him to score easily.

Thanks to his excellent chemistry with GOAT and Jokic, Mitchell finally stayed with the team.

For the Clippers, this addition is better than nothing. The team does not expect Mitchell to bring any surprises. As long as he can play power forward for a few minutes, it will be worth the cost of signing him.

During the preseason, the Clippers' "Big Mac lineup" sparked heated discussions. The inside combination of Yao Ming and Jokic is undoubtedly going against the trend.

In today's era of "space basketball", the game emphasizes more accuracy and speed. To achieve efficient operation on the court, reducing the appearance of big centers is almost an inevitable choice.

Although Yao Ming seems to be less out of touch with the times by adjusting his playing style, he is still a bulky center. In order to cover up his defensive loopholes, the team must be equipped with strong defensive wing players or power forwards.

Rivers' tactical adjustment this time has caused many Clippers fans to worry, and even Yu Fei thinks it is a bit too radical.

Although Jokic has a sophisticated style of play, he still needs to accumulate more confidence. The intensity of preseason games and training games is far from enough to compare with the regular season. Rashly letting him start and forming a "twin towers" combination with Yao Ming seems a bit like an animal showing off its skills during the mating season - opponents will inevitably frequently attack this pair of inside players.

"I have to apologize to Doug!"

Bill Simmons has been badmouthing the Clippers since the summer. When Yu Fei chose to join the Clippers, Simmons thought it would be the beginning of the GOAT's reputation being ruined. Even when the Clippers made it to the Western Conference Finals last season, his voice was much quieter, but then the Clippers' actions caused an uproar in public opinion.

In response to the Clippers' "Big Five" lineup, Simmons apologized and explained, "I always thought Doug was a conservative coach who was afraid to take risks and lacked innovative thinking. It turned out that I was wrong. Doug proved to me with his actions that in the small ball era, he dared to play a 'super big ball', just like returning to the original basketball with unlimited offense under the 24-second offense rule. In any case, the Clippers have made history!"

The rise of social media has changed the way media create rhythm. In the past, TV news, blogs and newspapers were the main means, but now short videos, tweets and news flashes are the tools to attract traffic.

The Clippers' first game of the new season is scheduled for November 11, against the Seattle SuperSonics. On that day, numerous media gathered at the Seattle airport, all wanting to interview Rivers and ask Yu Fei about his opinion on the "Big Mac lineup." A large number of Chinese media were also present, and they were particularly concerned about the impact of the five-strong lineup on Yao Ming.

Yao Ming smiled and said: "What impact? No impact at all!"

Rivers was dissatisfied with the pace set by Bill Simmons. "Before laughing at our experiment, maybe Bill should reflect on his situation," Rivers said. "Not long ago, he was a star commentator for ESPN, and now he is just a suspended internet celebrity. He still has a long way to go as an educated human being."

Rivers's response made the media excited, and they had a feeling that more dramatic scenes were about to unfold. Afterwards, the reporters also asked Yu Fei for his opinion.

"I think some people overestimate the defensive problems of the twin towers and underestimate the creativity of this lineup," Yu Fei said. "I don't like empty talk. I am a practical person. You can only know the result after trying it."

In fact, Yu Fei's announcement on the recent media day that the Clippers would win the championship this season has caused quite a stir. Most media people saw this as GOAT's arrogance, but no one expected Rivers to launch such a jaw-dropping lineup.

All this undoubtedly adds a lot of topics to the new season.

The Clippers then went to the home court of the Supersonics for acclimatization training. This brand-new arena can accommodate more than 24 people and is the best in the league in terms of both facility size and technological level.

At the same time, it is also the legacy of the Supersonics empire. Yu Fei and his teammates in Seattle exchanged three consecutive championships for the new Supersonics arena, which has been officially put into use this season and was named after the United States' eldest son Boeing Airlines, called Boeing Aerospace Arena.

"Fry, have you been here?"

"I haven't been here."

"It's ironic," Brown said. "You're the reason this arena exists, but you're not the first person to use it."

Yu Fei looked around; this strange stadium seemed to have nothing to do with him.

"It's unfair to others to say that." Yu Fei said, "This is what Brandon, KD, Chris... and you all won together."

"That being said, none of this would have happened without you," Brown continued. "You brought all of this to Seattle. They should name the arena after you, and there should be a statue of you outside the arena!"

A flash of imagination did flash through Yu Fei's mind - if he had chosen to stay in Seattle, how excited he would be standing here today.

However, he soon put such fantasies behind him.

He thought of Clay Bennett, of the unhappy past, of the fall of the old empire.

At that moment, he knew that he was destined not to stay.

He had done all that he could.

So, he said calmly: "No, Kwame, I don't need a title or a statue."

That night, Boeing Air Arena held a grand unveiling ceremony, but the most exciting moment was when the five championship flags of KeyArena were slowly raised in the new arena.

The director's camera cleverly captured Yu Fei wearing a Clippers jersey.

The crowd immediately began to chant, "Frye!"

“!#@!#￥”

"!#￥Forever!"

“!#￥@#!￥”

At that moment, countless Clippers players felt the most deafening noise in their lives, but despite this, they still heard the deep affection contained in the crowd.

Fry Yu - his name, along with those five championship banners, is destined to be immortal, and this city will never forget him.

Brown was a little distracted when listening and couldn't help but look back at Yu Fei.

The other party looked calm on the surface, but the slightly flickering eyes just proved his inner excitement.

He is right.

He doesn't need statues.

(End of this chapter)