NBA: Miller moment at the start

Chapter 40

Two days passed in a blink of an eye.

On the second day of the New Year, the Lakers faced the challenge of the Cavaliers at home.

Facing the bottom team, the Lakers played casually and were beaten by the Cavaliers at the beginning.

The bottom teams in the NBA have no defense and can attack as they please. They have no burden of winning or losing. When they are in good shape, they can overturn strong teams.

Wang Ba did not want to see a ditch capsize. He threw out a trump card and scored 13 points in a single quarter to help the team take the lead.

His teammates were stimulated by his performance. At the beginning of the second quarter, Kuzima, Ingram, and Ball took turns to bombard the Cavaliers.

At the end of the third quarter,

The Cavaliers surrendered and the Lakers clocked out in the second half. In the end, the Lakers won the victory with a big score of 136:110.

Pants Ma scored a team-high 28 points, Ingram scored 23 points, Wang Ba scored 22 points, 5 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 steals.

7 Lakers players scored in double digits, showing the strong impact of the young team.

If the Cavaliers are a weak team, winning is not worth showing off. The next two games showed the Lakers' unlimited vitality.

Away from home, they defeated the Raptors, who ranked second in the East, by 14 points.

Rondo scored 12 assists, Ingram scored 21 points, Pants Ma scored 19 points, and Wang Ba scored 31 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds and 1 steal.

Two days later,

Away from home, they played against the Celtics, who ranked fourth in the East. 6 players scored in double digits, McGee scored 15+15, and Wang Ba scored 35 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds and 1 steal again.

The Lakers won 4 consecutive victories without James. Wang Ba's performance in the four games was very trustworthy.

The most terrifying thing is that

With an average playing time of less than 30 minutes per game, he was able to score 33.5 points. The Lakers ranked third in the West with his outstanding performance.

They have the same record as the Trail Blazers, and because of their win-loss record, they are ranked third.

Coincidentally,

The Lakers' next third away opponent is the Trail Blazers, a very crucial qualifying match.

One day before the game,

the official announced the list of the best players of the week for the first week of January. Lillard from the West was elected, and Wang Ba was a candidate, but he was one point lower than Lillard and was not selected.

The media began to fan the flames and came out to analyze that the Lakers' three opponents lacked gold content.

The Celtics and Raptors ranked high in the East, but the Eastern teams are weaker than the Western teams, and the Trail Blazers' opponents are all in the top 8 in the Western Conference.

The anger of Lakers fans was successfully provoked.

Both teams had a record of 3-0.

Wang Ba averaged 29.4 points, 4.7 assists, 4 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 0.7 blocks.

Lillard scored 24 points, 6 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 0.7 steals.

In terms of statistics, Wang Ba had a slight advantage, and his performance in both offense and defense was very good.

In terms of leadership, Wang Ba was the tactical core without James, which was definitely a plus, but they still lost.

"Since when has the second place in the East been less valuable than the eighth place in the West?"

"The Player of the Week now depends on the team's record and personal data?"

"With less than 30 minutes per game, 50% 3-point shooting, 60% free throw shooting, 91% free throw shooting, the 180 club actually lost to Lillard with 48% and 33%!"

The Blazers fans will definitely not agree:

"With less than 30 minutes per game, it's because of my poor physical fitness that I feel superior?"

"Everyone in the Lakers has good data, Wang Ba is just a system player."

"Wang Ba is undisciplined and does not deserve the Player of the Week. The picture shows the truth."

The picture is the second day of the Lakers and Clippers game. Wang Ba came to the training hall at 11 o'clock and brought fried chicken, Coke and hamburgers.

"That's it?"

"Drinking fat otaku happy water, and still want to win the weekly player? Haha!"

In the Lakers training hall,

Sadiq stuffed fried chicken into his mouth, and his hands tapped on the keyboard with afterimages,

"I am the manager of the Lakers training hall,"

"Wang Ba is very hardworking and arrives at the training hall at 6:30 every day."

"The photo was taken on the second day of the Clippers and Lakers game. The game was very late that day, and Wang Ba was also tired, so he came later than usual."

"The food in his hand was brought to me... Wang Ba brings me food every day, very caring."

Uncle Sadik's shadowless hand was attacked indiscriminately by the keyboard, and he could only admit defeat, and the message was quickly drowned out.

"Wash! Keep washing!"

"I am the manager of the Lakers training hall. Wang Ba doesn't train at all."

"I am the general manager of the Lakers. I want to fire Wang Ba."

Wang Ba has a hot search body.

The heat of bragging just subsided some time ago, and then he was pushed to the forefront again.

Fans' verbal battles are commonplace. The parties involved ignore it and it will soon pass. As a result, Lillard replied to the Lakers fans who tagged him with four words:

"Well-deserved."

Lillard's personality is bold and outspoken, and he is also a little cool, the answer to the question was a bit short as usual,

When he opened his mouth, the fans scolded more fiercely, and the game between the two sides started in a strong smell of gunpowder.

…

On the day of the game,

The Lakers arrived at the Moda Center by bus and were blocked by reporters swarming in. There were also fans at home mocking,

Rondo asked Wang Ba:

"What do you think?"

Wang Ba shrugged:

"Sad things are brought up again, and I feel a little sad."

"Hahaha, don't be sad, there will be another Player of the Week."

"Nonono! What I feel sorry for is the money! US dollars! 200,000 US dollars!"

He is a man who wants to win the scoring title, MVP, FMVP, and championship. It is not a dream to win the Player of the Week. What Wang Ba feels sorry for is the money.

There is an additional bonus clause in the contract with the Lakers, and the Player of the Week bonus is 200,000 US dollars.

Bang!

Gone!

……

At the pre-match press conference,

Reporters put the microphone in front of Lillard:

"Damian, in tonight's game against the Lakers, will you choose to play against Wang Ba?"

"Who is Wang Ba?"

Just like that, the more rampant the better:

"He is a rising star of the Lakers, with a very sharp 3-point shot, and he is competing with you for the Player of the Week."

"I don't know him."

"He scored 9 points in 18.7 seconds..."

"I don't know him."

Next is McCollum.

"Excuse me, do you know Wang Ba?"

"Of course,"

"Can you give us a comment on Wang Ba?"

"He is very good."

"Will Wang Ba be given special treatment in today's game?"

"I don't know."

So perfunctory, go away, Lillard is still cute.

……

At the Lakers interview site,

Reporters asked many questions, all of which were resolved by Wang Ba in the form of jokes. Walton Jr. warned them before the game not to talk nonsense.

Seeing that he was not fooled, the reporters began to use their big moves:

"Just in the interview, Lillard said he didn't know you. What do you think?"

"Who do you say doesn't know me?"

"Lillard."

"What Lillard?"

"Lillard!"

"What Lillard?"

"Lillard!"

"No, I only know Leonard."

There are great differences between Eastern and Western cultures.

China emphasizes humility, low-keyness, and moderation, while foreigners advocate the law of the jungle.

It doesn't matter whether Lillard said he didn't know him to perfunctorily answer reporters or with contempt.