After playing the SuperSonics, the Magic's March schedule basically didn't have any strong teams, but they still unexpectedly lost one game, an away game to the Trail Blazers. However, because O'Neal was recovering from injury for more than half a month, the Magic had already surpassed
The Heat won 4 games, firmly ranking first in the league.
The Magic's schedule in March is relatively easy, and they play relatively comfortably, but other teams are struggling. After all, the regular season of the 2004-05 season has entered the final stage. Many goals have changed gears on the threshold of the playoffs.
The teams that have the home court advantage are gritting their teeth, and theoretically the worst team still has a chance to enter the playoffs, so from this month everyone must fight for every ball in every game. The routine at this time
The game has begun to brew into the flavor of the playoffs.
Although the league is playing very well at this time, both stadium attendance and media attention have begun to decline. The reason is very simple, because the NCAA.
As in the original history, Illinois with 37 wins and 1 loss and North Carolina with 33 wins and 4 losses, two of the best college basketball teams in the United States compete for the NCAA championship today. North Carolina did not allow Illinois to receive God's protection again, in Sean
·Under Mene's nearly 100% shooting percentage, Illinois could only end this magical season with its second loss of the season - 70-75, and North Carolina also returned to its hometown coach Roy Williams, who has the highest winning percentage in the NCAA.
The team later won another championship after 12 years.
When the NCAA games are over, many players will begin to determine whether they will participate in this year's NBA draft, and teams can also ask their favorite players to come to their side for trial training to test their quality on the spot.
At this time, we have entered April, and April does not have games throughout the month. The regular season ends around the 20th. It can be said that each team only has 10 games left. When April starts,
, who can make it to the playoffs, who will definitely have no chance of making it to the playoffs has been figured out, so this month's games are very boring.
The teams that have firmly entered the playoffs have now begun to adjust their status, reserve physical fitness, and make preliminary preparations for the brutal competition in the playoffs. They no longer work so hard during the game. Some people will say that they still have to compete for home court advantage, so they still have to
Fighting. Although I say that, think about it, everyone, you have to play hard at this time. What if a player is injured? What is more important, the home field advantage or the integrity of the personnel? The answer is self-evident.
Teams that have no chance of making the playoffs have lost interest in playing games, and their players are focusing on where to go on vacation in the summer.
Basically, the only ones who can maintain focus on the game at this time are the 5 or 6 teams competing for the last spot in the playoffs. But the game is a slap in the face. If they focus, the opponent will relax, and the fight will be boring.
Unless there was a civil war in their year.
The Magic were in a state of relaxation at this time. The playing time of veterans like Nash and Hill was obviously shortened. Especially Hill, who could only play for 30 minutes before, now only plays for 20 minutes. In the second and third quarters,
Just bring him as a substitute for the third quarter, and don't let him play in the end to recuperate his knee.
Players like Tony Allen and Gerald Wallace, who usually play less time, got a lot of opportunities to play.
Regarding this situation, Edison euphemistically said, "These animals have to be taken out to roam around before working, so that they can move around. The technicians have to bathe, burn incense, rest and fast for a few days, so that they can have a peaceful mind."
As mentioned before, many rookies have already started to move around multiple cities, but the Magic have not made any movement at all. They have two draft picks in their hands, and there is also an unknown high-ranking Edison.
Inviting any player, this abnormal behavior not only made the team feel very surprised, but also the media and other teams were very confused.
After one season, there is still some debate about Edison's coaching ability. A very few experts are still slandering him, thinking that he just got lucky. Nash's sudden outbreak is the main reason for the Magic's strong record.
Edison's tactical quality has nothing to do with it. But no one questions his draft vision. Howard, the No. 1 pick who was not worthy of being optimistic about it, is now ahead of the other popular Okafor in all aspects. Moreover, he is still young and has potential to be tapped. He is the No. 1 pick.
The signature is well deserved....
If the No. 1 pick is genuine and fair, then the other five rookies are considered to be great value for money, making a lot of big mistakes.
After re-arranging the draft order based on a season's performance, the picks of these five players have greatly improved. The worst player, Tony Allen, has been squeezed into the lottery, and the other four have entered the top ten.
Therefore, there are now countless eyes watching Edison's every move. Many people are prepared to use Edison's choice as a reference in case they are unsure about paying attention. There are also many people who even plan to cut off directly. Some people are determined to participate in the draft.
Players are also desperately hugging Edison's thigh. Every now and then, someone tells the media that Edison plans to ask him to go to trial training and then evaluate himself. Bogut, who was named in the previous interview, was already a popular candidate, and now he is even more popular.
It's a done deal. Several bad teams have already said they would draft him if they get the No. 1 pick.
When everyone was full of speculation about Edison's silence, Edison secretly started his own little move.
Magic veteran Joe Rogowski was called into Edison's office after the team's practice.
He knocked on the door carefully and entered Edison's office. Edison was the only one in the office. He saw himself coming in and greeted him casually, "Eton, sit down wherever you want. I want to discuss the draft with you."
thing."
Rogowski heard very different things. Edison had not revealed any information before, and he was completely unsure of what he was thinking, so he had to give a normal answer.
"Paul, you know I'm just a technical trainer. If it weren't for your help, I wouldn't be able to enter the league. Without any experience in drafting, I'm afraid I can't help you with anything."
"It's not as troublesome as you think, Joe. Actually, I want you to help me meet someone, let him participate in this year's draft, and tell him that we guarantee to take him in the first round of this year. Originally, I planned to go there in person.
, This seems more sincere, but you know that many people are staring at me now. If I go by myself, I am afraid that there will be some twists and turns."
After listening to Edison's words, Rogewski thought to himself, "I know you have already thought about it, and you won't let me advise you on anything."
"Okay, Paul, I'll listen to you and give it a try. Who do you want me to see? Who do you like?"
"This person..." As he spoke, Edison pushed a piece of information in front of Eaton Lavin. "I value this person. I hope you can convince him. And you must keep it confidential and don't mention it to anyone."
Eaton LaVine nodded after listening, then lowered his head and started to read the information in front of him, "Point guard, freshman at the University of Kentucky, 185cm..."
"Paul, you really surprised me. This man is not famous at all, and his NCAA record is very bad. What do you value about him?"
Edison smiled strangely after hearing this, and then pointed to his brain, "Here. I believe this guy is very good. Okay, hurry up and convince him, otherwise you will stay in Washington and don't have to come back."
Rogowski gave Edison a helpless look, and then left Edison's office.
As soon as he walked out of the office door, Eaton LaVine patted the information in his hand and said to himself, "I really don't understand what Paul is thinking, but I hope you can become the next Josh Smith discovered by him."
."
Two days later, Eaton LaVine appeared in a cafe in downtown Lexington, Kentucky. Sitting across from him was a young man with a childish look on his face.
The young man faced Rogewski without any nervousness or restraint. He was very stable and confident, "Hello, sir, I wonder why you found me?"...
Eaton recalled the information Edison had given him before, and looked at the calm young man, "That's right, I am the representative of the Orlando Magic. We hope you can participate in this year's NBA draft."
"This year? Sir, you may not know that I didn't plan to participate in this year's draft. After all, our university's results this year are not ideal. I plan to play for another year to see if I can have better results next year."
The young man waved his huge palm in front of himself, and then stated his original plan.
After listening to the other party's answer, Rogewski responded kindly like an elder analyzing for a younger person, "I don't mean to offend. But you have been playing for three years, and your team's record in the NCAA has been poor.
How about, and according to our information, besides you, there is no second particularly talented player in your team. In this case, what confidence do you have that your record will be better next year, in the new semester?
A freshman?"
"but……"
After hearing what he said, the young man opposite started to argue, but immediately lowered his head and bit his lip stubbornly.
Eton LaVine followed the response plan in the data and lured the opponent with the progress while the iron was hot, "Look, our Magic have lottery picks from New York and the Kings this year. According to the current situation, New York should be in the lottery, and the Kings are also in the lottery.
Around No. 22, generally speaking, the positions of these two drafts are already very good. With your current performance, the first round is your limit. If you don't make a leap, that's where you will be."
Although the young man didn't want to admit it, he knew that what Eton Lavin said was right. Unless a miracle happened, he would be in this position. He was a little confused and didn't know what to choose. He rubbed his hands in confusion.
Eaton LaVine looked at this guy's hands and thought, "These hands are really big, and this guy's arms are really long. He has a good body for playing basketball."
Seeing that he was a little shaken, Rogewski took the last dose of strong medicine, "If you have to play next year, of course we won't do anything to you. If you perform well, then congratulations, but
If your performance is not good, we can't guarantee that we will choose you next year. This is not a threat, but a matter of fact. No one knows who will suddenly appear next year."
After hearing this, the young man raised his head and stared at Eton Raven for a while, then closed his eyes and made a praying gesture.
"Are the two picks you mentioned considered a guarantee?".
When Rogewski saw that there was a chance, he quickly replied, "Of course. And we guarantee that we will choose you with the pick that is more pre-test. Even if Bogut accidentally falls, we will choose you."
The young man couldn't help but smile after hearing this nonsense. His yellow complexion made him look more stable and honest.
"Then I'll do as you say."
"Very good, you can start looking for an agent now. But we hope you can keep this conversation confidential today. Of course, if you show it off for publicity, we can't help you. You can try out with other teams.
, but there are not many coaches in the league who like to use newcomers as much as Paul, who care about newcomers and are good at training newcomers. Think about it yourself."
"I know this, and I also really hope to play under Paul Edison's tent. I hope we can cooperate as soon as possible."
As he spoke, the middle-aged man stretched out his huge palm and held it tightly with Eton Raven.
--------------segmentation----
This season is basically over, and the draft that everyone is most excited about is about to begin.
But when things come, they go. I'm going to take a poll and you can see whether Martin should go or Tony Allen should go, and whether David Lee should go.
