176 You'd Better Pray that Every Goal Is Scored

Zhang Jun gave Coach Steve Alford suggestions for potential high school stars. One was Blake Griffin from Oklahoma Christian High School. Of course, the other player also had an older brother. The two studied in the same school. , if UCLA wants to capture him, it must capture the other two brothers.

Then there is James Harden from Lakewood Adesia High School in the southwest suburb of Los Angeles. This should be the high school student that UCLA should win most. After all, he is from the local area, but Harden’s family background is average. If you want to win him, you may have to Want a full prize.

Then there are DeMar DeRozan from Compton High School, Tyreke Evans from Aston Christian High School in Pennsylvania...

When Zhang Jun returned to Los Angeles this time, he also brought a donation of 500,000 to his hometown of Compton Street for street construction, and 500,000 to his alma mater for special funding for students in basketball projects.

With that kind of money, it should be easier to recruit Steve Alford this summer.

........

June 26th.

The NBA draft was held in the theater of Madison Square Garden. Both Westbrook and Love got the opportunity to enter the Little Green Room. It turned out that Westbrook wanted Zhang Jun to accompany him to participate in the draft, but Zhang Jun refused. .

Frankly speaking, this is the most important moment in his life, he should stay with his family.

The results of the draft did not change significantly. Derrick Rose was selected as the No. 1 pick and was selected by his hometown team, the Chicago Bulls. He was also considered by local fans to be Jordan's successor. The city finally waited for another hero of theirs.

Russell Westbrook was selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder. Yes, the NBA no longer has the Sonics. Thunder owner Bennett and the city of Seattle reached an agreement to break up peacefully and change the team's original name and colors. Both were left to Seattle, while bringing Oklahoma City a team of its own, named the Thunder.

This is quite a counterattack. After all, before the draft, all scouts and media reporters believed that Westbrook was the top ten pick in the draft. However, he is now the fourth pick in the first round, better than his college teammates. Kevin Love was drafted even higher.

Zhang Jun really wants to say that the Thunder's draft vision is truly the best in the league.

Kevin Love was selected by the Memphis Grizzlies, but the team later held a press conference to announce that the team had completed a deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves and would send Love there.

Kevin Love almost cried when he heard the news. Although Memphis is not a big city in the NBA, it is the place where neoclassicism and romanticism originated. There are many ancient religious buildings in the city, which can be regarded as the best in the NBA. It is a famous place of culture and has a temperate continental climate, which is better than freezing Minnesota.

In the entire NBA, the three cities of Milwaukee, Cleveland and Minnesota are considered the most miserable brothers, and Love was selected to one of these three cities.

Zhang Jun couldn't help but laugh when he thought about Love, who was used to living the life of a rich second generation, and how he had to live like a dog when he went to Minnesota.

"Okay, go there and let Love continue to lose weight."

The draft pick of the down-and-out prince Luke Richard Mbah a Moute was not so optimistic. He fell to the 37th overall pick in the second round and was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks.

Zhang Jun couldn't help covering his face and laughing.

"These two are really brothers in need. It seems that God is fair. He gave them a comfortable family and living environment in the first twenty years, but now they have to return all the hardships."

However, Mbah a Moute is not like Love, who is beating his chest and complaining about everything. Even though he was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks, he was very happy and called the Chiefs father at home that night.

"This boy can be regarded as a model among rich people."

Of course, what Zhang Jun wants to pay more attention to is the Trail Blazers' draft this year. Their record this year is very good, so the draft pick is the 20th pick in the first round, and general manager Steve Patterson selected it. The one is striker Nicolas Batum from France.

"This is a good choice. The team played a lot of small-ball lineups last season, so it is very necessary to make up for the forward position. Nicolas Batum can play small forward and power forward, which can help the team further speed up and play small. "

Although Zhang Jun doesn't like Steve Patterson very much, he really has nothing to say about his abilities. He is considered average among general managers in the entire NBA. The other party knows what the team needs.

...........

On July 1, the door to the trading market opened.

Teams across the league are gearing up to make moves, and the trade market seems to be turbulent.

However, this has nothing to do with Zhang Jun and the Trail Blazers, because the Trail Blazers are occupied by Francis's big contract in the last year, and it is difficult to make major signings. At most, they can make small transactions. Some mid-level signings and trades for role players.

Steve Patterson does not dare to make important signings at this time, because the contract extension of Luo Yin and Aldridge next year is the Trail Blazers' most important task.

But Zhang Jun was still attracted by some transactions in the trading market.

"The Houston Rockets have reached a deal with the Sacramento Kings. The Rockets will use Bobby Jackson and the second-year first-round pick and another player as bargaining chips to acquire the Kings' Ron Artest."

"This deal will greatly improve the Rockets' forward defensive strength. I believe the Rockets have already suffered a lot from Zhang Jun in this year's playoffs. They are in urgent need of a player who can defend Zhang Jun."

ESPN interpreted this transaction as the Rockets' transaction to strengthen Zhang Jun. After all, Zhang Jun alone destroyed the Rockets' entire perimeter defense in this year's playoffs.

It's not that Battier's defensive ability is poor, it's just that Battier is not good at defending Zhang Jun's type of player. He can pass by accelerating. Even if Battier's defensive shooting skills are among the best in the league, he can't hold up to Zhang Jun's speed. quick.

"Now that the Rockets have two top perimeter defenders in Shane Battier and Artest, they may really become a strong contender in the Western Conference next season."

What left Zhang Jun speechless the most was that the Kings sold Artest so cheaply. After all, the opponent was the first small forward DPOY in the history of the NBA. They just had a bad temper, but they were really willing to give up.

Another deal was that the Denver Nuggets traded Allen Iverson to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for their strongest brain, Chauncey Billups.

Because the Nuggets missed the playoffs last season, their management also believed that the Nuggets' double-gun combination could not help the team go further, so it was time to stop building without breaking.

Of course, in Zhang Jun's view, this is a win-win deal.

The Nuggets do not lack attackers, but they lack players who can stabilize the team's rhythm and organize the offense. The Pistons do not lack defense, but they lack ultimate personal offense at critical moments.

The Pistons were eliminated by the Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals last season, which completely exposed this shortcoming. That is, when Hamilton was unable to break out on the offensive end, the Pistons, relying solely on defense, simply could not break the Celtics' attack. Defense.

Now with Iverson, this situation should change.

............

Zhang Jun accompanied his juniors to complete two weeks of training at UCLA and earned credits at the same time.

Because it was vacation time and he made a great financial contribution to the team, it was particularly easy for Zhang Jun to earn credits. He almost only had to attend classes to get the credits.

The only thing that Zhang Jun is not used to is that every time he goes to class, the students around him will ask him for his autograph. Some female classmates will even show their affection in front of him, and even the teacher will ask him for it.

...........

July 10.

Kobe sent a text message to Zhang Jun.

"Training will start at 4 o'clock tomorrow morning. I'll wait for you in Philadelphia."

"What the hell!" Zhang Jun glanced at the current time. It was already 6 p.m. At this time, Kobe sent himself a text message to start training at 4 a.m. tomorrow?

Zhang Jun was so angry that he wanted to rush over and punch Kobe. Moreover, the training location was not in Los Angeles, but Kobe's hometown.

It's a long way from Los Angeles to Philadelphia.

When Xia He hurriedly bought a plane ticket, he often complained about what Zhang Jun was doing. He was even more anxious than giving birth to a child.

.........

July 11th.

Zhang Jun arrived at the meeting place as promised. Training was originally supposed to start at 4 o'clock, but Zhang Jun hurried here as soon as he got off the plane. It is now 2 o'clock in the morning, and the sound of basketball slapping can already be heard on the training ground.

Kobe was sweating profusely on the court and training on mid-range shooting. It could be seen that he had been training for a long time. There were two trainers following him, who should be Kobe's official trainers.

Seeing Zhang Jun arrive so early, Kobe was also a little surprised.

"You are the first person in so many years to arrive on time and early."

"Man, I'm starting to like you more and more."

Zhang Jun quickly stopped and said: "No, you'd better not like me, because I'm not interested in men, and I still want to hit you now."

"By the way, who is the most unpunctual person in these years?"

Kobe said without hesitation: "Iverson."

"That guy would always use various excuses to explain why he was late, such as helping an old lady cross the road, watching a cat and dog fight on the road, a car flying over and the young lady's skirt being lifted up, etc."

Zhang Jun couldn't help but sigh.

That guy Iverson is not a good guy in private, and I don’t know where he saw the girl’s skirt being raised.

"You just said you wanted to be beaten by me?" Kobe said with a sudden look on his face.

Zhang Jun put down the luggage and equipment in his hands, started to put on his shoes and said, "If you don't go to the doctor quickly, you might be reimbursed one day. What I'm saying is that I really want to hit you."

"You couldn't have told me in advance. In such a hurry, you think everyone has a private jet like you."

Kobe, who was always serious, couldn't help but smile at this time. Being with Zhang Jun made him feel inexplicably relaxed.

He threw the basketball to Zhang Jun, who had already put on his shoes, and said, "I'll give you ten minutes to warm up, and then I'll try 100 balls one-on-one. Do you have any questions?"

Zhang Jun threw the ball over and said, "If you feel tired, you can take a rest, but I can't wait to hit you."

"Besides, 100 balls are too few, I want to pick 200!"

Seeing that his little trick was completely seen through by Zhang Jun, Kobe couldn't help laughing, then waved his hand and said: "I don't care if you warm up or not, I have to rest for ten minutes anyway."

It can be seen that Kobe attaches great importance to this one-on-one duel, and he hopes that he can enter the best state.

ten minutes later.

Kobe nodded towards Zhang Jun, indicating that he was almost rested.

The duel begins.

Kobe threw a three-pointer directly from outside the three-point line and hit it firmly, indicating that he could attack the first ball.

Zhang Jun is too lazy to argue with Kobe. The opponent has been famous for many years and wants to steal the ball against a rookie like him. You are no one else.

Kobe held the ball outside the three-point line. Zhang Jun was a little worried about Kobe's shooting ability, so he took a step forward and used close defense.

call!

Kobe directly leaned on Zhang Jun to break through to the basket.

This is the pace.

Many fans always have this question when watching Kobe play on the court, that is, why is it so easy to pass the opponent when Kobe obviously doesn't exert much force when he breaks through? It's like the defensive player deliberately gave up his position when Kobe broke through. Just let him in.

This is why fans don't take a very close look at court technology.

When Kobe breaks through, he will read the defender's defensive position, and then always use the most comfortable steps to pass the opponent and rush to the basket.

If the opponent is guarding his left hand, he will start to raise his left foot and then his body will naturally turn sideways to face the defender. In this way, the right hand direction will be full of Kobe's breakthrough space, so it will be very easy to get to the basket or the free throw line. .

If the opponent is guarding his right hand, Kobe will start with his right foot and walk to the left in the same way. This is the advantage of being able to break through with both hands.

Of course, some defensive players will guard against frontal breakthroughs. At this time, Kobe will use his body to change directions or step back to test his hands and return to the previous two matchups.

It's just that this kind of breakthrough cannot completely get past the opponent, but it will cause great confrontation with the opponent sideways. Therefore, when Kobe uses this offensive method, he is usually weaker than his defender in terms of confrontation strength.

This is Kobe's first offensive method, the way he plays when facing players who are faster than him but not as strong as him.

boom!

The first collision between Kobe Bryant and Zhang Jun did not knock each other away, nor did he take advantage of it.

This didn't surprise Kobe.

The two have already played against each other in the playoffs. Zhang Jun's confrontation ability is not bad. Of course, Zhang Jun's speed is faster than Kobe. Kobe knows this very well, so he cannot use playing slower but better than himself. Strong offensive method.

And now this offensive method is being defended, which is what Kobe expected.

call!

Kobe suddenly accelerated twice near the free throw line, creating a rhythm and time difference. Zhang Jun was directly knocked away by half a step.

Although his speed is completely faster than Kobe's, the defender will always be in a passive state and will definitely be one step slower when defending. Zhang Jun suddenly accelerates near the free throw line and it will be difficult to keep up no matter how fast he is.

Uh-huh!

Kobe scored an easy layup.

"You're not good at defense, man. Philadelphia isn't torn."

Zhang Jun smiled and endured Kobe's trash talk.

Portland fans gave him the nickname "Tear". Kobe was mocking Zhang Jun for not having the ability to tear his opponents apart.

"It's just that my characteristic is on offense rather than defense. Kobe, you'd better pray that you can score every ball."