We played five games in the pre-season. Although there are still some areas where the two aspects are not in place, the record is already amazing enough, winning 5 consecutive victories!
Once this upstart Blazers truly get along and find the perfect lineup combination, how terrifyingly powerful they will be!
Time flies and October 28th is the media opening day for the Trail Blazers' new season.
"Hey! There are quite a few people here, hundreds of them, right?"
When I drove to the team headquarters, I was already surrounded by a large number of media reporters, which was even larger than last season, including dozens of reporters from China alone.
When the Hummer with Wang Zelin's logo drove over, reporters gathered around him and blocked the door.
"Hey my friends, we have a saying in China that you can't eat hot tofu in a hurry! The new season is about to begin, and I know you must have great expectations for me, but I am not talking about it now, eh, just playing..." Wang Zelin
He opened the car window and said with a joking smile.
"..."
"Okay, I won't tease you anymore. I won't say anything now. We'll talk about it later."
Pulling down the window, the media reporters wisely stepped aside. After entering the headquarters, Wang Zelin went straight to the training ground.
He looked around at the teammates around him, and then looked down at the player list in the coach's hand. They were all here.
At this time, a player with the same skin color as Wang Zelin put down his basketball and walked up.
Wang Zelin smiled and took the initiative to take two steps forward. Their shoulders bumped into each other: "Brother A Lian, how do you feel about coming to Portland?"
"Very good...and, um...thank you!" Yi Jianlian replied with a shy smile.
Yi Jianlian knows very well that the reason why he was successfully signed by the Trail Blazers management was inseparable from Wang Zelin.
Looking back on the trial training over the past month, I feel like I was in a dream.
Time goes back to the time after winning the Asian Championships and returning to China to celebrate.
At that time, Yi Jianlian received video invitations from many NBA teams, including 7 or 8 teams including the New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, and Houston Mosaic.
For a moment, it seemed as if the door to the NBA was once again open to Yi Jianlian, which made him excited for a long time.
However, as the trial training days passed, Yi Jianlian's enthusiasm gradually cooled down. Basically, these teams were not sincere and were just for pure hype.
It wasn't until the night of October 20th that Yi Jianlian, who was frustrated and ready to go back to play in the NBA, suddenly received a call from the Portland Trail Blazers inviting him to a trial.
At that moment, Yi Jianlian was like a person in a desperate situation of drowning, suddenly grabbing the only life-saving straw.
He didn't want to miss the last chance!
In order to ensure the best trial training condition, he traveled from New York to Portland overnight, showing full sincerity.
When he entered the Rose Garden Arena with an uneasy mood, the rest of the process was like a roller coaster ride.
So exciting!
It went so well!
Everything fell into place so naturally.
When Yi Jianlian and his temporary agent were in the team's general manager's office, they formally signed a two-year guaranteed basic salary contract of 2.36 million yuan...
Looking at the contract in my hand, I just woke up from a dream.
I really signed the contract!
Speaking of the NBA base salary, it is the lowest salary offered to players by each team in the NBA league, which is divided into veteran's base salary and non-veteran's base salary... (Details are determined by yourself)
of course.
Yi Jianlian doesn't care about the basic salary at all. What he cares about is that he signed a guaranteed contract, which means that in the next two years, he doesn't have to worry about being kicked away by the Trail Blazers at any time.
He once again got a chance to play in the NBA, or rather, he once again got a chance to prove himself.
People are always like this, only after losing it can you know how to cherish it!
Therefore, Yi Jianlian's gratitude to Wang Zelin is difficult to describe in words.
Looking at Yi Jianlian who was speechless in front of him, Wang Zelin stretched out his fist, punched him on the chest, and said: "Okay, saying thank you would be too disrespectful. If you really want to thank me, just act on the field."
"Um!"
Yi Jianlian, who is not a mother-in-law, replied sonorously and forcefully.
"Be prepared. In the press conference later, some people will inevitably make things difficult for you."
After speaking, Wang Zelin turned to greet other teammates.
Wang Zelin was not surprised that the team signed Yi Jianlian. Instead, he was surprised that Yi Jianlian came to Portland so late and missed the first few preseason games.
But fortunately, he is still here!
The opportunity has been given, and you have to watch it next to test whether you can stand up for yourself, otherwise...
He doesn't care about the outside criticism. The only thing he worries about is whether this sensitive man can overcome his character flaws, truly integrate into the NBA, and truly show his strength to everyone.
After all, sometimes it is not outsiders who break through your inner defenses, but your own people.
You don't need to think about it to know how crazy the local fans will be when the news of the Trail Blazers signing Yi Jianlian reaches China.
But behind the madness, it remains to be seen how many people are genuinely happy for Yi Jianlian.
"Bench Man", "Emperor Yi", "Space Yi"...this series of nicknames are all spoken by the domestic media!
Especially in this era of rampant public knowledge, it is typical to fight internally but not outside.
never mind!
Putting aside the messy thoughts in his mind, Wang Zelin shifted his focus to the upcoming media opening day of the new season and the regular season opener on October 31.
These are the top priorities right now!
Yi Jianlian's affairs should be left to him to handle on his own.
Right now, the Portland Trail Blazers have a total of 14 players:
Point Guard: Damian Lillard, Mo Williams
Shooting Guard: Will Matthews, Connett Lee
Small forward: Nicolas Batum, Will Barton, Alexander Pavlovich
This chapter is not over, please click on the next page to continue reading! Power forward: LaMarcus Aldridge, Kevin Garnett, Mike Muscala, newly added Yi Jianlian
Center: Wang Zelin, Steve Adams, Joel Freeland
If reinforcements are still needed, the management should first consider the back line players. After all, the interior players are already a bit bloated.
Especially at the power forward position, there are as many as 4 players available.
When the 12-man roster needs to be submitted for the regular season, two players will inevitably sit on the bench. Wang Zelin estimates that these two players will be found from the inside.
"Look who this is? Our 2K spokesperson has arrived..."
"Applause! Flowers! Cheers! Where are they all? Why is no one screaming?"
The ones making the fuss at this time were Batum and Matthews, good friends.
"Wow!"
"Aww!"
"Pa bang bang..."
The coaching staff, staff, and players all laughed and started clapping and cheering very cooperatively.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk! Put away your face, I know you are envious of me... Oh, I can't help it. Who makes me the good-looking representative of our team?"
While Wang Zelin didn't have the nerve to retaliate, he also didn't forget to praise himself.
"vomit……"
"Man, why don't you look at Steve when you say that? Doesn't your conscience hurt?"
Matthews said to Wang Zelin angrily.
"Conscience? How much does it cost per pound? Where can I buy it?"
"King, I am really defeated by you!"
"I have never seen anyone so shameless!"
Well, Wang Zelin was immediately shocked by these words.
When did Wai Guoren know this sentence?
Looking back, I saw that the person who said this was none other than Yi Jianlian, looking at me with a teasing look on his face.
Brother A Lian actually learned bad things?
…
…
…
About an hour later, at 10 o'clock in the morning, all players with and under contract to the Portland Trail Blazers attended today's media open day for the new season.
Next, the media was invited in and began interviewing and taking photos.
"Wang, you fell in the Western Conference Finals last season, so do the Trail Blazers have a chance to win a Western Conference Finals championship this season?"
"Wang, what are your pursuits for the record in the new season?"
"Wang, are you confident that you can defend your title as the rebounding champion in the new season?"
"Wang, do you think the glory of the traditional center can be continued by you?"
"Do the Trail Blazers have the confidence to challenge for the championship in the new season?"
"..."
As soon as he entered the venue, the media quickly surrounded Wang Zelin, throwing all kinds of questions at him.
"Western Conference Finals champion? Why can it only be the Western Conference Finals champion and not the championship?"
"Regular season record? As you know, the Trail Blazers are in the northwest region of the Western Conference. Both the Nuggets and Thunder lost to us last season, so... our goal for the new season is the regular season championship!"
Well, your preface and postscript don’t seem very big!
The media reporters had no time to question. When they heard Wang Zelin say, "The goal is to win the regular season championship," the whole audience was in an uproar.
I feel sorry for the foreigners again, they don't even say "fuck you!"
"Rebound leader? With all due respect, which other team's center in the league can compete with me? No way! No way..., it can't be a happy beast, right?"
"The continuation of the glory of the traditional center? Sorry, I don't call it continuation here, but new glory! I declare that the center will be extremely brilliant in this era!"
"Championship? Stop it, man, ask the other 29 teams in the league, which one is not working hard for the championship, why should the Portland Trail Blazers be an exception? Obviously, you asked an idiot question, and
I also answered you seriously..."
Wang Zelin has long been accustomed to such questions, and answered them casually throughout the whole process.
At this time, another reporter asked:
"Wang, a reporter secretly took photos of you and Ajiali dating the night before yesterday. Is there anything you want to say?"
Ah this...
"Hey man, your question doesn't fit today's theme."
"Are you in a hurry?"
"..."
"You're in a hurry!"
"Security! Where is the security?"
…
A white reporter from ESPN asked: "Wang, the Portland Trail Blazers' regular season opener opponent is the Houston Mosaics. They have just introduced Dwight Howard and form a perfect combination with James Harden on the outside. For such a
Opponent, do you have anything to say?"
Wang Zelin showed disdain and laughed:
"If you are talking about this pair of nightclubs, then I have to admit that they are the number one in the league. Whether it is me or anyone else in the league, no one can catch up with them... In this regard, they are indeed the best.
A perfect pairing!”
"Ha ha ha ha!"
The media reporters and surrounding teammates all laughed out loud.
But no, just the day before yesterday, James Harden and Dwight Howard were once again captured by paparazzi partying all night long in a nightclub.
The difference is that this time they are not in Houston, the space city, but in Los Angeles, the City of Angels.
Maybe it’s Houston… you’re tired of nightclubs!
"No, that's not what I'm talking about!"
The ESPN reporter immediately retorted.
At this time, Wang Zelin also put away his smile and became serious:
"Actually, I have never added the Houston Mosaics to my plans for the new season. I don't think they have the strength to challenge the Trail Blazers!"
"I can tell you clearly that after this season, the voice of the league's number one center will be unified. Happy Beast is a thing of the past. Houstonians will not take away any victory from us, absolutely not!"
Wang Zelin's decisive words made everyone feel his determination.
Although I don’t know why he has so much resentment against the Houston Mosaic team, everyone knows that when Wang Zelin’s words spread around the world through interviews, he is destined to have an undying grudge with the Houstonians.
.
"Ka! Ka! Ka!"
Shocked, all the photographers present quickly recorded the scene.
What Wang Zelin said in front of the media in the morning spread throughout the world.
Yes, I didn't hear it clearly.
No, not all the people of the country, but the whole world!
Everyone knows the huge ambition of this young man from China.
At the same time, he also successfully offended the city of Houston to death.
Therefore, domestic sports weekly newspapers responded immediately and reported as soon as possible:
"my country's famous basketball superstar Wang Zelin is aiming to be the number one center in the new season!"
Later, large media outlets in many countries began to report on it.
"Wang Zelin said boldly that he will keep the Houston Mosaics clean in the new season!"
"In the new season, Wang's goal is to be the number one center forward!"
…
In interviews over the next few days, many NBA legends and current superstars, as well as team management, talked about Wang Zelin's harsh words when facing the media.
O'Neal started a long speech during the interview: "There is no doubt that Wang is the strongest center in this era. Even if he reaches the league of the four major centers, he will have a place, unlike the happy beast in Houston... cough
Well, I think Dwight’s new nickname Happy Beast is really good, it suits him better than Superman!”
"en... As you know, I have always played the power forward position, the first center, etc., it has never had anything to do with me!"
When it was Duncan's turn to be interviewed, I really didn't know how this thick-browed guy could say this without conscience.
Not playing center?
Lao Wang next door was the first to disagree: Could it be that the guy I played against in the Western Conference Finals last season was a ghost?