With Kobe officially announcing that he will begin his "retirement tour" next season, the whole Angel City instantly became filled with all sorts of reluctance, just like in Qin Yue's memory.
Although in this life, Kobe, who hasn't suffered a major injury towards the end of his career, could completely play for two more seasons, he said in an interview: "In my view, my career has already reached complete fulfillment. You know, I'm someone who doesn't like to deceive myself, so when I think everything should end, I will unhesitatingly put a period to my career."
...
The 14/15 season has thus come to a close.
A week later, the 2015 draft took place as scheduled at the Barclays Center of the Brooklyn Nets.
This summer, the Warriors, who did not plan to renew their contract with Robert Sacre, selected "Uncle Lou" Kevon Looney in the 30th pick of the first round, who, in Qin Yue's memory, was always diligent.
And after experiencing five years of four runner-ups, the Knicks made a gamble at the draft, trading Dwight Howard from the Philadelphia 76ers for the Latvian unicorn Kristaps Porzingis.
This trade, the Knicks couldn't say was highly profitable.
We can only say...
New York fans' patience with Howard had reached its limit.
In fact, if possible, New York fans even hoped the team could quickly send Harden away.
Because in the past few seasons, Harden, who always failed at crucial moments, had long become a thorn in the eyes and flesh of Knicks fans.
Additionally, the day after the draft, the Knicks announced that Mike Malone's chief assistant coach, Leon Hollins, would replace Mike D'Antoni as the team's new head coach.
As for the Warriors, who have just gone through a failed season?
Although at Malone's request, Qin Yue still had to wait until the regular season began to touch his long-desired basketball.
But this summer, Qin Yue lived far more enriching than in previous years.
This is because the guy named Nikola Jokic officially began his NBA career after ending his contract with his mother club in Europe.
July, California, San Francisco.
Originally thinking he needed to prove himself in the summer league upon arriving in the US, Jokic, fresh off the plane, was quickly pulled by several burly men to the Great Qin Center that is renowned throughout the basketball world.
Then, Jokic saw the man he once could only admire on TV.
The man hailed by the world as the God of Basketball.
"I've informed the team, you don't need to play in the summer league, from now until the preseason starts, you will stay here for special training."
At this moment, realizing in a trance that the Warriors value him far more than expected, Jokic clearly did not realize what he would experience next.
"During that period, I was thinking almost every day, why did I choose to play basketball?"
"Under his demands, the intensity of training I underwent on the practice court was something I never experienced while playing in Europe."
"And whenever I wanted to give up, he would unite with my brothers, with at least punches and kicks, and at worst..."
"In short, it was an experience that every time I think about, I feel like life is worse than death."
"But in my opinion, it was precisely that experience that prepared me to play in the NBA."
"Yes, without that experience, there would be no Nikola Jokic as we know him today."
October, with Jokic under the leather whip of the GOAT ready to play in the NBA, the 15/16 NBA regular season simultaneously began.
Compared to the previous season...
This season, everyone on the Warriors has only one thought in mind.
Which is to rebuild a Warriors Second Dynasty that commands the world with awe on the ruins of the already collapsed Warriors First Dynasty.
"That season, all we were thinking about was proving ourselves." Curry said in an interview later, "Even in those games where we were already leading by a large margin, we constantly reminded ourselves that we needed to demonstrate a greater victory margin to show the world that we are still the unstoppable Golden State Warriors."
Draymond Green, who got selected for the Second Team of the Best Defensive Squad in the 14/15 season, became the most surprising player for the Warriors at the start of the 15/16 regular season.
In the first two months, Iron Bull not only shot nearly 40% from beyond the three-point line.①
Moreover, acting as the team's second option for coordination on the court, Green, who rapidly improved on both offense and defense, greatly reduced Qin Yue's workload on the court.
In Qin Yue's previous life, as an undersized center standing just 198 cm tall, even though many people would sneer at Green's defense because of his various antics.
Actually, besides being dirty, Green had three major defensive strengths that allowed him to maintain DPOY level for a long time in the NBA.
The first advantage is Green's outstanding static talent.
Which is Green's wingspan approaching 218 cm.
Secondly, Green's excellent lateral mobility.
This capability ensures Green can switch defenses to the perimeter and fill voids for his teammates on the perimeter.
Lastly, Green's defensive reading ability was well-formed since his college days.
This ability ensured Green could always stay in step with Qin Yue on the court.
Simply put, if Qin Yue wants a rebound, Green would immediately use his rear to assist Qin Yue in securing one.
If Qin Yue wanted to block, Green would use his tough defense to push the offense into Qin Yue's shot-blocking range.
Also considering Green's five-year, $50 million advance renewal agreement signed with the Warriors this summer, which in future proves to be a highly cost-effective "new rookie contract."
Therefore, how can Green as such not be surprising?
Of course, unlike in Qin Yue's memory...
This season, Iron Bull's breakout on the court is mainly because...
The "heavy catfish," Jokic, put enough pressure on Iron Bull during regular training.
Although, for the short term, Jokic's personal main task is still primarily leveling up.
But as days pass by...
Jokic's confidence was cultivated by those interior players on the court who couldn't even move his teammate Green.
"Boss, is 'Dray's defensive ability really that good?"
"Well, barring accidents, this season he should have a chance to make the First Team Defensive."
"Then, boss; why do I find it as easy as eating and drinking to score on 'Dray' during practice?"
On this day, seeing the young Jokic's innocent expression...
Qin Yue understood well...
A monster from Serbia was already just a matter of time away from breaking out of the pen.
Why does Jokic find scoring on Green easy as eating and drinking?
Because as the future number-one active player in the NBA...
There is still a gap between talents.
"Nikola, starting tomorrow, I will accompany you with two hours of extra practice every day."
After patting Jokic's shoulder, at this moment Qin Yue said: "As long as you can, under my defense, manage to score as freely as you do against 'Dray,' then you will have no rival left in this world."
It must be said, in the NBA, some people's starting point is already a terminal high that most players cannot attain.
However, what leaves Qin Yue appalled is...
For this precious opportunity to play against the GOAT that ordinary people simply cannot obtain, Jokic responded: "Then boss, if I beat you, can I drink cola?"
...
PS: The third addendum; after having analgesic injections last night, today the "Golden Core" has settled down a bit.
①: Historically, in the 15/16 season Green's regular season three-point shooting percentage had reached 38.8%, while during the 16/17 playoffs, Green even shot a 41.7% three-point percentage. So again, don't judge a player by rigid stereotypes throughout their career. Just like the short Ah Qiao had once updated 670,000 words in a single month.
