NBA's King of Talking

Chapter 441 Opening Match: City Derby

"Art Mayork? Is he your teammate, the player you're always with?" Zhou Ling'an asked.

Jia Fei nodded.

"Okay, okay, I'll definitely keep that in mind!" Zhou Ling'an said with a smile.

"Thank you very much!" Jia Fei said with a smile.

"You're too kind. I don't know how to thank you enough for this interview opportunity!" Zhou Ling'an said honestly.

To put it bluntly, since she got involved with Jia Fei, she's been living the high life among NBA reporters. She also holds a very high position in the company, with not only greater personal fame but also more money in her pocket.

Being able to become Jia Fei's friend is a stroke of luck for many journalists. Zhou Ling'an felt that fate had been incredibly kind to her, allowing her to meet Jia Fei, such a benefactor, at this stage of her career; it was as if she had been given a cheat code.

Therefore, she was determined to work hard to find a partner for Jia Fei. She had already made a promise, but a year had passed and she hadn't introduced him to anyone yet—that was her problem. Fortunately, he hadn't asked her for girls, otherwise she would have been embarrassed.

The reason Jia Fei asked Zhou Ling'an to introduce Art Mayork was because Art Mayork was already 31 years old. Art Mayork was too much of a homebody; he usually only spent time with Jia Fei and didn't have any female friends. Neither of them mentioned wanting to find a partner, so they had even less interest in dating.

On the second day of Media Day, the Clippers' team training camp began.

Most of the players on this team participated in the training camp that Jia Fei previously held in Los Angeles, so their teamwork is still quite good, and they haven't become too rusty. Everyone is in good shape, and there aren't any particularly old players on the team. Surprisingly, 31-year-old Lou Williams is the oldest player on the team, which you wouldn't believe if you heard that.

Coach Buden is working hard to build the team's offensive and defensive system. He doesn't want the team to play too simply or have too much possession of the ball.

According to his plan, the starting lineup would be Jia Fei, Paul George, Beverley, Gallinari, and Olynyk.

The starting lineup primarily features the duo of Jia Fei and Paul George, with Olynyk serving as a playmaker and spacing provider, and Gallinari and Beverley as finishers.

However, Gallinari and Beverley are not pure finishers; they are simply more inclined towards finishing. Gallinari, in particular, also needs to take on some of the responsibility of moving the ball and attacking with it, especially when facing mismatches, he needs to be decisive in attacking.

Olynyk shouldn't just be used as a spacer; he should be involved in initiating some of the offense, especially high-post offense, to fully utilize his ball-handling ability and prevent Jia Fei and Paul George from constantly holding the ball.

Why are the Warriors so hard to defend? Why is their offense so formidable? Part of the reason is that Draymond Green is the primary scorer, not the team's main offensive weapon. And when the main scorers, the Splash Brothers and Durant, play off-ball, it becomes much harder to defend.

Most teams will have their core players initiate pick-and-rolls and offense, which is both physically and mentally taxing for them, and relatively easy for opponents to set up their defenses against.

The team's second unit still revolves around the pick-and-roll duo of Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell, with Wesley Johnson and Dillon Williams competing for a spot on the backup wing, and White and Dillon Wallace vying for a spot at guard.

On the defensive end, the center cannot stay in the pit all the time. Against teams with strong ball-handling and shooting abilities, the center should try to come out and delay the defense, and the lead defender should try to squeeze through the screen.

We must make the most of our team's perimeter defense and try to prevent the opponent from penetrating too deep into our defense.

While Coach Budenholzer may not have a versatile inside player like Horford, he does have a dominant defensive presence like Beverley, and top-tier wing defenders like Jia Fei and Paul George. With such abundant defensive resources, there's really no need to worry about being easily outplayed by opponents.

The Clippers have plenty of offensive resources this season. Last season, Jia Fei averaged over 40 points per game, but the Clippers' offensive efficiency and points per 100 possessions didn't rank in the top 5 in the league. The essence of their 60+ wins is their defense.

Last season, the Clippers' second-leading scorer was Tobias Harris, averaging less than 20 points per game. Their third-leading scorer was Lou Williams off the bench. Aside from Javier Jabeur and Tobias Harris, no other starter scored in double figures. This was a major reason why they struggled in some playoff games; when Jabeur was double-teamed, the others couldn't step up and make the opponents pay, which was a significant factor in their elimination.

The biggest additions to the team's roster this season are Paul George, who averages over 20 points per game, and Danilo Gallinari, who averaged over 18 points per game last season. In today's NBA, offense is paramount; even in the playoffs, teams without a strong offense won't go far.

If neither side can defend against the other, and your offense is good enough, you might be able to go all the way.

October has arrived... the Clippers' training camp has ended, and the preseason has officially begun.

In five preseason games, the Clippers experimented with different lineup combinations, worked on team chemistry, and gave their young players valuable experience, which can be considered a very rewarding experience.

Of the three rookies, Dillon has been a revelation for the team. His immediate impact is the best; his fearless personality coupled with his aggressive defensive attitude has made him a force to be reckoned with in the preseason. The Clippers' second unit already lacks perimeter defense due to Lou Williams' presence, and Dillon's outstanding performance even gives him a chance to replace Wesley Johnson in the team's rotation next season.

Jia Fei wasn't surprised by Dillon's excellence; he was from another time and knew exactly who was useful. Your surprise stemmed from the fact that he was a second-round pick, but in reality, this guy had first-round draft potential. Falling to the second round and being selected by the Clippers was a lucky find—it's that simple.

As for White, he still needs to learn and is unlikely to be part of the team's rotation for the time being. As for Hartenstein, he probably won't have a place in the team next season; he's more likely to go to the NBDL to develop himself.

On October 20th, the Clippers' opening game of the 2017-18 season will be held, and their opponent will be their crosstown rival, the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Lakers have come away empty-handed in this year's free agency market, with no big-name free agents willing to join this historic franchise. The team's competitiveness in the free agency market has plummeted. The team is currently embroiled in a power struggle, with owner Jerry Buss' son, Jim Buss Jr., and daughter, Jeanie Buss, vying for control. This has led to some disarray within the management team, hindering internal cohesion and deterring many big-name free agents from getting involved.

The Lakers continue to accumulate talented young players. Due to their poor record, they got the second overall pick and selected Lonzo Ball, the son of LaVar Ball.

Previously, LaVar Ball boasted online that he could beat Michael Jordan with one hand, and that his son could beat JaVale with one hand, instantly making him an internet celebrity during the offseason.