Basketball Legends: Strikers Are King

The United States is a vast country, and each team travels more than 50 million kilometers just by plane.

Moreover, the league also stipulates that you must arrive at the city where the next game will be played the morning after the game is played, so the Pacers took the plane again and set off at starry night.

This also means that they have to spend most of their nights resting on the plane.

The tight schedule caused by the lockout has become a more serious constraint at this time. If the Pacers were not in the East, the teams in the East are denser and the flight mileage would be less than in the West. Qi Tian believes that after the second time the schedule is announced,

God, someone will go to President Bird's office to protest.

Fortunately, the league is not a freeloader. In order to minimize the discomfort of the players, the Pacers' games against the Western Conference teams will be interspersed with the games of the Eastern Conference opponents that are shorter distances away.

Carrying the momentum of their victory over the Hawks, the Pacers defeated their Eastern Conference rivals the Raptors and Celtics one after another, extending their winning streak to three consecutive victories.

Qitian passed the test of coach Vogel and gradually entered the substitute rotation. His substitute lineup with Hill, Hansbrough and Stephenson gradually took shape:

Hill and Hansbrough cooperated inside and outside to stretch the defense and became the main offensive method of the Pacers' substitutes. Stephenson and Qi Tian served as substitute forwards and defenders to help Hill detect and fill vacancies and steal points by the way.

After three days of rest, the Pacers set off again, heading to California to challenge the Kings in the Western Conference away from home.

The Kings once fought against the Lakers led by OK in the playoffs a few years after the millennium. With the departure of main players Peja, Webber and Divac, the Kings' smooth offense became a thing of the past.

Bibby, Artest and Kevin Martin successively took over the main banner and left one after another. Finally, the leadership responsibility of the Kings was handed over to the 2009 rookie Tyreke Evans.

Having scored 20+5+5 in his rookie season, he will work with 2010 rookie Cousins ​​inside and outside to support the Kings.

Of course, the 4-10 record since the start of the season has made the Kings realize that this year is not a good opportunity to rise. Kings fans who have been well prepared have already focused their attention on the 2012 draft.

Due to the opponent's dismal record, the atmosphere among the Pacers' players was relatively relaxed.

Qi Tian was also in a relaxed mood. The game was just a regular part of the long regular season. Whether he could find fun in the boring game depends on his personal mentality.

The reason why Qi Tian was relaxed was that during the game against the Kings, he was able to see someone who had a deep connection with him, and that was the strongest 175 on the planet, Isaiah, whom he had met twice during the draft.

Thomas.

Thomas, who was just about to warm up, was very excited when he saw Qi Tian coming over.

The two of them were selected with the 59th and 60th picks respectively. They both grew steadily amidst people's contempt for second-round picks and entered the rotation.

"Hey Seven, how are you?"

Thomas greeted Qi Tian warmly.

Qi Tian also went up to hug this strangest acquaintance and replied:

"It's good to be able to play games. For us, if we stop, we will be eliminated."

Hearing Qi Tian's confident words, little Thomas opened his eyes in surprise. He didn't expect Qi Tian to have such awareness.

When he saw him in the corridor in despair, little Thomas thought Qi Tian had given up in advance.

He nodded and said with lingering fear:

"Difficulties are everywhere, but fortunately the journey is relatively smooth."

Thomas' journey into the rotation was not smooth sailing. His dream of serving as a backup point guard for the Kings was immediately shattered when he saw another person.

It turned out that the Kings' management was also aware of the lack of players on the defensive line. Before the start of the 2011 draft, they made a three-way deal with the Bobcats and Bucks and obtained the No. 10 pick in the first round of that year.

Signed a well-known senior to try to supplement the team's immediate combat capabilities.

Thomas, the 60th pick in the second round, seemed so average compared to the 10th pick in the first round, so he became the third substitute at the point guard and could only gain some piecemeal time to perform.

Fortunately, Huangtian paid off and his performance was valued by the head coach. He quickly replaced the underperforming No. 10 pick and became the point guard in the substitute lineup.

According to what head coach Keith Smart revealed, the team will soon buy out the No. 10 pick and officially correct Thomas.

"Humph, the team's management is blind, what did they choose?"

The words of the assistant coach who had a good relationship gave Thomas great confidence:

"It's impossible for him to adapt to the NBA game. I'm afraid he will have to go abroad to play overseas in the future."

By the way, the name of the 10th overall pick in 2011 is:

Kilmer Fredette.

"Thank you coach."

Thomas Jr. thanked the head coach from the bottom of his heart for the opportunity he gave him and remembered his name deeply:

Keith Smart.

This was one of the reasons why he later had a very good relationship with Celtics guard Smart.

He and Qi Tian continued chatting for a while. Thomas suddenly became interested and said to Qi Tian:

"Seven, I didn't expect that the last time we met, we were still at the bottom of the pile, but this time we have already entered the rotation."

"Why don't we take a bet and see who can enter the starting lineup, become the main force, and eventually become the league's first-class superstar?!"

Qi Tian also gained fighting spirit and agreed:

"No problem, but there has to be a bet, otherwise, just talking nonsense will always feel meaningless."

Thomas was here to play ball, and of course he wouldn't have any spare money with him. He turned around and thought about it.

"It's a bit hurtful for us to talk about money, so why don't we do this?"

A smile appeared on his lips and he continued,

"Whoever loses among us will donate a sum of money in the name of the other party. How about ten thousand dollars?"

Qi Tian did not give up.

"Ok, deal,"

He looked at little Thomas and said,

"If you win, I will tell you one more thing, which will be very helpful to you in the future."

Little Thomas nodded and said:

"Officially entering the starting lineup and becoming the main force of the team can be quantified. For a first-class superstar, the standard is to enter the All-Star starting lineup. If you win, I can also agree to an additional condition for you."

"This is thirty thousand dollars, you have to think clearly."

Qitian immediately responded:

"Of course I'm not afraid, but you are. Don't lose and ignore others."

Little Thomas's eyes flashed to Granger and George who were warming up, and he said:

"I'm afraid you will lose first."

Qi Tian knew what he meant. With both Granger and George present, it would be difficult for Qi Tian to enter the starting lineup, not to mention that George was only one year ahead of Qi Tian. If George was the core, Qi Tian would only

I am afraid that I will always be inferior to others.

Sample, I'm afraid you don't know, you will go to the sun soon, and when the time comes, it's hard to say who is stronger between the two of us!

"It's a deal."

"It's hard to chase a horse."

The two of them held hands together, and their eyes shone brightly.