Pressure is motivation.

During the pre-season, after being praised by Su Feng and Kobe during the Lakers' media open day, the young Middleton became the most watched player on the Lakers' roster.

In October, during the seven pre-season games before the start of the Lakers' new season, Middleton averaged "18+5+3" for the Lakers.

Although in the pre-season, teams mainly focus on finding their form and developing chemistry...

The level of competition and intensity is far from that of the regular season.

However, as the Lakers' offensive core in the pre-season, Middleton's progress over the summer was a pleasant surprise to the Lakers' coaching staff.

Online, many Lakers fans have even gotten into the habit of adding "Saint" to Middleton's name.

But...

As the "big boss" of this Lakers team, Kobe really wanted to ask Su Feng a question before the start of the regular season.

That is...

How should the Lakers share the ball this season?

This season, because Rondo couldn't possibly give up the "price difference" to Su and Kobe like last season, the Lakers' ball possession, which wasn't exactly plentiful to begin with, was strained to the breaking point.

But...

Based on Middleton's performance in the pre-season...

If you don't arrange some specific tactics for him in the game and give him a certain tactical status...

Then wouldn't Su Feng and Kobe have worked in vain this past summer?

Therefore, before the regular season officially started, Kobe felt it was necessary to have a good chat with Su Feng about the distribution of ball possession in the new season.

"What's so difficult about that?

You just take a few less shots and play only 20 minutes per game, and Chris will have his tactical status," Su Feng said with a smile as he looked at Kobe.

Hearing this, if it weren't for Kobe's inherent "generosity"...

He would have really wanted to bash Su Feng to death with a hammer!

What do you mean I should take a few less shots and only play 20 minutes per game, and Middleton will have his tactical status... Su Dog, why shouldn't you take a few less shots and only play 20 minutes per game?

"I'd like to only play 20 minutes per game.

But isn't that because the conditions don't allow it?

After all, without me, are you sure we can win enough games in the regular season?" Su Feng said after pausing, seeing through Kobe's little thoughts.

Kobe: "..."

Got it, Su Dog!

So, in your heart...

I've always been dispensable, right?

Without a doubt.

Kobe was in a mood.

Because at that moment, Su Feng had really broken his heart!

"Okay, let's talk seriously.

To be honest, in the upcoming new season, both you and I will definitely sacrifice some of our stats." Patting Kobe on the shoulder, Su Feng said, knowing that it wouldn't be good to tease Kobe any further.

"If it's just reducing some unreasonable shots, then I have no problem with that at all.

But..."

"But the great Kobe Bryant doesn't want to sacrifice too much for the team, right?" Su Feng winked his wise eyes at Kobe and said with a smile.

Kobe: "..."

No!

Am I that kind of person?

I, Kobe, am a recognized team player!

Why do you always slander people?

"I understand your concerns.

But Kobe, I can tell you now...

In the upcoming new season, our stats definitely won't be as good as they were last season." Su Feng said to Kobe after shrugging.

Hearing this, Kobe pouted unhappily...

But before Kobe could speak, Su Feng waved his hand to interrupt him and continued, "But no one said we can't pad our stats outside of scoring."

Looking at Su Feng, whose words had hidden meanings, Kobe's eyes lit up immediately.

"During the previous three-peat, you also know that because we have two or three months less rest time than others every year, so as the season progresses, if we don't choose to bow our heads to time, then when we get to the playoffs, we'll be crying our eyes out.

Therefore, in the new season, in addition to reducing my playing time, I will also have Tyronn keep your average playing time at around 30 minutes.

Although in terms of playing time, after the reduction, our stats will definitely decline.

But..."

After taking out a small notebook from his pants, Su Feng continued to say to Kobe, "As long as we can reasonably plan each other's playing time...

And then clarify each other's division of labor...

Then I believe that this season, we still have a very high probability of winning both the 'Phenomenal Award' and the 'Regular Season MVP'."

As the saying goes, a soldier who doesn't want to be a general is not a good soldier.

In the NBA, players who don't want to pad... ah, no, don't want to put up good stats can't become superstars either.

This season, along with Middleton's growth, Su and Kobe not only have to give up a certain percentage of their firepower and ball possession to allow him to level up, but also, in order to successfully complete the defense of their title, Su and Kobe will inevitably have to reduce their playing time in the regular season.

In addition, in the regular season, the Lakers should also reduce the number of times they use the triangle offense as much as possible.

Because as a tactic specifically developed for star one-on-one plays, the triangle offense is the easiest tactic to "eliminate" assists, bar none.

On the court, because after forming a triangle, the player responsible for executing the one-on-one often needs to adjust according to the offensive environment.

So when the player responsible for passing the ball passes it out...

As the offensive player dribbles a few more steps and adjusts a few more times...

The happiness that originally belonged to two people often becomes the happiness of one person.

In Su Feng's view, the most suitable tactic for this Lakers team in the new season is the improved Princeton offense.

Because playing more pass-and-cut not only makes the player responsible for passing the ball feel happy...

But also increases the players' enthusiasm and participation in the game.

In Su Feng's previous life, the reason why "Chasing Egg" Green was able to join forces with the "Elementary School Student" in the playoffs to put up a triple-double...

Was precisely because that Warriors team under Kerr had maximized the distribution of ball possession.

And this summer, in addition to beating up Middleton with Kobe, Su Feng didn't teach him less about running skills in peacetime.

In short...

Unlike last year when only Su Feng and Kobe were happy in the Lakers' regular season...

In the upcoming new season, the Lakers must only have the path of everyone being happy.

After all, no matter how much Rondo can hold back...

No matter how promising Middleton's future is...

You can't keep people on the court as pure tools for the long term.

"But... are you really sure that under this tactical system, we can still put up good-looking stats?" Kobe asked with a puzzled look, touching his shiny head.

Hearing this, Su Feng smiled and said, "Don't worry. As your deputy, how could I possibly screw you over?"

In Su Feng's original timeline, many people had a stereotypical impression of Kobe as someone who liked to hog the ball.

But in fact...

Fans who have really watched Kobe's games know that Kobe's usage of the ball isn't high among superstars.

As for Kobe's enviable average number of shots?

Tch!

Shot attempts and ball possession...

Are they even the same thing?

In fact.

The reason why Su Feng had Kobe accompany him in hanging up the免战牌 (mianzhanpai, lit. no battle card; figuratively abstaining from battle) during the pre-season was precisely to allow the other Lakers players to adapt to the new season's tactics as soon as possible.

Moreover, Kobe might not believe it if he said it out loud.

Under the Lakers' new tactical system...

He could even get shots that were of much higher quality than last season.

Because in the regular season, where opponents won't just focus on studying you...

The Lakers' new tactical system.

Is clearly a thing created for the sustainable padding of stats.

In addition...

In order to complete the ultimate mission issued by the system before retiring with Kobe...

This was also a scoring tactic that Su Feng had painstakingly designed for Kobe throughout the summer.

No way.

Even though there were many important people to Su Feng in this life.

But who told Kobe that his position in his heart was irreplaceable?

…

End of October.

ESPN officially announced the first team power rankings and player power rankings for each position.

In the team power rankings, the Lakers, who only had 4 wins and 3 losses in the pre-season due to the absence of Su and Kobe, were still placed in the first position by the reviewers.

Because they had been slapped in the face too many times, these experts had obviously learned their lesson.

The teams ranked second and third were the Warriors and the Nets, respectively.

In the pre-season, the Warriors, whose star players were all absent, ultimately ended their seven pre-season games before the start of the new season with 6 wins and 1 loss.

Almost every night, the opponents who faced the Warriors couldn't help but sigh...

Their so-called substitute lineup...

Can still beat you to death.

And despite not performing well in last season's playoffs...

But because Griffin, who had been playing his small mid-range shot more and more skillfully in the pre-season, was favored by many experts, coupled with the fact that the Nets' previous draft pick, Antetokounmpo, was repeatedly completing incredible plays in the air under the frequent feeding of my CP3 (Chris Paul)...

Therefore, the Nets have also become one of the most anticipated teams in the NBA before the start of the 13/14 season.

Another noteworthy point is.

In the first team power rankings, the Bulls led by Rose and Harden were mischievously ranked in fifth place by the reviewers.

Uh...

Why do we say that the reviewers were playing tricks by ranking the Bulls in fifth place?

Because on this power ranking list, the team ranked sixth was none other than Harden's old club...

Seattle-Lousy-Supersonics.

According to the schedule, the opening game of the 13/14 season will be played on the 30th.

And interestingly...

The Chicago Bulls' opponent in the opening game is none other than the Seattle Supersonics.

Without a doubt.

This is definitely a game that the Supersonics' management can't afford to lose.

Because once Harden reverses the game...

Then from now on, the story of the Supersonics' management letting him go for nothing this summer because they felt that Harden didn't deserve to earn an extra 5 million...

Wouldn't it nail the Supersonics' management to the pillar of shame?

But...

Even if the Supersonics' management doesn't want to be slapped in the face.

It's only a matter of time before they're slapped in the face by Harden.

Because in this year's Bulls' pre-season, Su Feng discovered that Harden has already begun to try to challenge the NBA's rules.

Admittedly.

Many of ESPN's previews and predictions, looking back on them later, will make you feel that these experts and reviewers are just here to be funny.

But Su Feng highly approves of this year's player power rankings alone!

"No way!

I've already won the regular season MVP, and didn't they see my performance in the playoffs?" That day, when Kobe noticed that he was only ranked third at the shooting guard position by ESPN, he got anxious.

"Also, what were James (Harden)'s stats last season?

Why can he be ranked ahead of me?

As for Dwyane, I want to puke even more...

Based on his performance of missing dozens of shots in four games in the Finals last season, he can still be ranked first?" Looking at Su Feng, Kobe said with a puzzled look.

Hearing this, after forcibly suppressing his urge to laugh, Su Feng felt that after all these years, Kobe still didn't understand ESPN's Kobe-hating nature.

As one of the top players in the league today.

Because simply bashing Kobe can reap countless views.

Therefore, even if ESPN really used their brains to rank, they couldn't possibly rank Kobe in the first place among shooting guards.

After all, if they did, what topics and views would there be?

It's like you laughing at YYF for being bad, but YYF laughing at you for not understanding the playstyle with the most comments.

In short, just enjoy these ranking lists selected by professional media.

…

On the 30th, the Lakers, still immersed in the joy of winning the championship months ago, welcomed the opening game at their home stadium, Staples Center.

Before retiring, Stern, feeling that the Celtics' hatred of the Lakers in recent years wasn't high enough, specially selected this old enemy, the Celtics, for the Lakers on the day of the 16th championship banner raising ceremony.

On the scene, when the Lakers' sixteenth championship banner was officially raised...

By the side of the court, at this moment, the Celtics players' anger can be said to have reached its peak at the same time.

Because all of this...

Seemed to be afraid that they wouldn't know that the Lakers were only two championships away from tying them in the number of championships.

On TNT, while commentating, Celtics legend Stackhouse said angrily, "The league is doing this on purpose!"

Of course it's on purpose, Jerry!

Otherwise, where would Stern find fun before retiring?

On the court, after the players and coaching staff members who followed the Lakers to win the championship last season went on stage one by one to receive their championship rings, even Duncan, who was known for his "good temper," couldn't sit still on the Celtics' bench.

Damn the Lakers!

And on the Lakers' side, after casually throwing his tenth championship ring on the bench...

Feeling the murderous aura coming from the other half of the court...

Su Feng couldn't help but sigh!

Because as the person in this league who can write the best stories.

David Stern, is he just here to watch the show?

He simply can't wait for me to die!

And in New York, in front of the TV, watching the close-up shot of Su Feng, who must be cursing himself in his heart, Stern smiled and said, "Before I retire, let me see how much you've surpassed Michael back then!"

Before the start of this year's regular season.

In order to be able to appreciate how Su Feng in his strongest form plays before retiring.

So Su Feng might not believe it if he said it out loud.

The 13/14 season.

Will be the first season since he entered his peak...

That he will receive superstar calls.

At this moment.

Now.

Stern has already removed the shackles that were originally supposed to trap Su Feng.

And as for the future?

Tch!

After Stern retires, he won't care about the raging flood?

…

ps: No take backs! Let's guess, how long will Qiao be tomorrow? Heh, let me see, how long am I in your hearts!