At noon the day after the game against the Grizzlies, Li Ao left Los Angeles with the team and flew to Houston, followed by two consecutive visits.

Li Ao flipped through the schedule, feeling happy.

Although excluding the opening game, they also played 15 games in November, which is not as few as their next-door neighbor plus the 14 games in the first game month of the opening game.

But including their opening game against the Lakers, they only played 6 away games in the first month, 10 home and 6 away.

The Lakers started with 6 home games and 8 away games, and the purple and gold team, the two consecutive defending champions, were sent out on a 'parade' to attract box office at the beginning.

He saw that Lakers fans were very proud to say that this was an effort by NBA officials after 9/11 to boost the market for the less popular team and drive ticket sales at a time when people's consumer desire was low.

This is what happened, but if you insist that the schedule was arranged because of 911, there is no need. The schedule was announced on September 1st.

The Internet bubble burst in the first half of the year, and there was no 9/11. People in the Eagle Family also had low consumer desire. The main consumers of football tickets, the grassroots people, had no money in their pockets. The expectations of the football market were already very sluggish, and 9/11 only made the situation worse.

In addition to this, when Li Ao, Vivian, and Liam discussed the reasons for the schedule, they felt that the league wanted to help the Clippers compete for the Los Angeles ball market.

In the opening stage, most of the Lakers' games are away from home, while the Clippers have 10 home games in 30 days. The more people watching the game, the greater the discussion, which will inevitably attract more fans' attention.

It’s not that I want to step on the Lakers, the Lakers’ base is there, but it’s to attract those fans in the greater Los Angeles area who don’t like the Lakers, and passerby fans who just watch every game.

In the greater Los Angeles area, although the Lakers are the most popular basketball team, there are also many fans who don't like them. Tyson Chandler, this year's second overall pick, who grew up in Hanford next door to Los Angeles, hates the Lakers.

After being selected, he was asked who he wanted to beat the most. He didn't name the player, but said the Lakers.

In the past, the ball market in Los Angeles was very solid. With competition, the ball market can become more active, which is beneficial to both the Clippers and Lakers.

The starting schedule was sweet, but in December, the Clippers' schedule became difficult, with 17 games, mostly on the road, and a wave of 6 consecutive away games.

But in January, there were only 14 games, and most of them were home games.

Compared with last season, the schedule is already quite good.

When he arrived at the hotel in Houston, Li Ao received the news that he had won the first Western Conference Player of the Week award in NBA history!

Before the start of the season, the league announced the adjustment of awards for the new season. Starting from this season, the Best of the Week and Best of the Month awards will be divided into separate awards for the Eastern and Western Conferences.

When this adjustment was first announced, it caused a lot of controversy, with countless people complaining about a certain star who did not win the Player of the Month award.

The media also bluntly stated that the subsequent decline in the value of the Best of the Week and Best of the Month awards was a product of the league's efforts to "create stars."

But NBA officials ignored the fans' protests and implemented the new award selection rules after the first week.

Li Ao won all 4 games in the first week, averaging 22.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.75 assists, 1.5 steals, and 3.25 blocks per game. He also shot 49% from the field, 37% from three-point range, and 88% from the free throw line. He averaged 35.6 points per game with 2 wins and 1 loss.

Kobe Bryant, Nash, who averaged 25.5 points and 7 assists per game with 3 wins and 1 loss, won the first Western Conference Player of the Week.

The Eastern Conference Best of the Week was won by Raheem of the Hawks, with 2 wins and 1 loss, averaging 30.3 points, 12.3 rebounds, 3 assists and 2.3 blocks per game.

When Li Ao was browsing the news online to see what the media was saying about the opening performance of the Clippers, he saw a news headline, "The top pick in the 1996 draft won the Player of the Week for the first time in his career." He felt that this top pick was too miserable, having averaged 20,103 points per game.

In the season of 2373, he actually didn’t win the Best of the Week once.

However, when you see the Best of the Week examples listed below, the list of stars who are likely to win the Best of the Week for the first time after dividing the Eastern and Western Conferences includes Brand, Alan Houston, Pierce, Rasheed Wallace, Nowitzki...

It seems that Raheem has not won the league's best game of the week, which is normal.

After the Player of the Week award was announced, the league's division of the Player of the Week and Player of the Month into the Eastern and Western Conferences once again aroused people's discussion.

But things are a foregone conclusion, and the excitement is not as high as in the pre-season stage.

The most lively discussion among fans today is the fact that Gasol scored 6 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block and 3 turnovers against the Clippers.

Gasol's first three games in the NBA were remarkable, especially when he faced the Bulls with the No. 2 overall pick. He scored 24 points and 11 rebounds, and was rated as having finally had a No. 1 pick worthy of being the No. 1 pick.

Moreover, compared with Olowokandi and Brand, the media and fans believe that Gasol has better prospects. The top picks in the past three years have not been able to serve as the core of tactics, but Gasol can.

Unexpectedly, Gasol, who averaged 19,103 points per game in the first three games, would be so miserable against the Clippers. Fans were very curious about how Gasol performed.

After some media exposed the details of the game, some sympathized with Gasol, while others watched the excitement and did not take it too seriously, and the topic became very popular.

Before the Clippers left Los Angeles this morning, Gentry was interviewed and answered the question about unlimited double-teaming of Gasol.

"Sniping the first overall pick is our tactical preparation. We know that he is the Grizzlies' best player. As long as we limit him, we can win more easily."

The fans obviously don't believe this statement. Is that called tactics? It's clearly bullying the rookie.

Some fans speculate that Spider-Man still resents the Grizzlies for not selecting him with the second pick.

This statement has been widely recognized. In their minds, Spider-Man is indeed such a broad-minded person.

It's okay that Gentry didn't come out to explain. With his explanation, he was also sympathized with - coaching Spider-Man is not an easy job, right? Not only do you have to worry about being beaten, but you also have to take the blame.

However, even fans who sympathize with Gasol don't think there is any problem between the Clippers and Li Ao. In the world of sports competition, the jungle is strong and the jungle is strong, and basketball prowess is used to torture the weak on the court. This is something that fans like to see.

…

After resting for a while, at 3 p.m., Li Ao came to the visiting team training ground at Toyota Center and practiced shooting for an hour, passing and controlling for half an hour, and reverse running and cutting for half an hour.

With the addition of two more passers, Bibby and Jordan, he felt that he should discuss with the coaching staff to add a little bit of his pie-eating role, and maybe the shooting percentage could be improved again.

Eating cake is actually a tactical role that requires the cooperation of teammates. If you rush blindly on your own, you may rush in but not catch the ball because the passer is just in the right position.

He needs awareness and ability in this area, a tactical role, and actual combat training before he can continue to improve his ability in this area.

After a night's rest, the Clippers came to Toyota Center to challenge the Rockets away from home.

When he came to Houston, Li Ao saw a lot of interesting news.

With the blessing of three seconds of defense, Francis broke through and scored more easily, becoming an average scorer of 20 per game.

Old Cat Mobley has also benefited a lot. Francis' breakthrough scoring has become stronger. He uses mid-to-long-range shooting as his main scoring method. He also has more opportunities to catch and shoot. The improvement in three-pointers is particularly obvious. His three-pointers in the beginning

rate soared from 35% last season to 43%.

But the Rockets have a miserable record, starting with 1 win and 3 losses, completely missing the performance of a team competing in the playoffs last season.

Olajuwon finally left and joined the Raptors in the middle of three years.

Another starting big man, Maurice Taylor, is gone this season. While going to the movies in the offseason, he accidentally tripped by a passerby, fell to his knee, and tore his cruciate ligament.

The Rockets' starters tonight are Kevin Cato, who averaged 4.7 points and 4 rebounds per game last season, and rookie Eddie Griffin, two inside players who should be on the bench for weak teams. After playing a few games,

Called by the media as the worst starting big man in the league, Cato, who averaged 7 points and 6 rebounds per game, and Griffin, who averaged 8 points and 5 rebounds per game, are not as good as the data of a single interior player on some teams.

The progress of Francis and Mobley is completely insufficient to offset the loss of strength caused by the loss of the two starting interior players.

In addition, the Rockets also sent away high-quality role players such as Shanton Anderson and Matt Bullard in exchange for Glenn Rice and Kevin - whose contracts will expire in 1-2 years.

Willis.

There are rumors that the Rockets owner does not plan to sign any more players this season, because if he signs another player, even if it is just another basic salary, the Rockets will have to pay taxes.

The purpose of sending away high-quality role players and replacing them with veterans is to ensure that the salary will not exceed the luxury tax threshold after Mobley and Francis renew their contracts.

Li Ao recalled that during Yao Ming's seven-year career, the Rockets never paid luxury tax once. Instead, in the 10-11 season after Yao Ming retired, they paid $800,000 in luxury tax.

He remembers this because the figure of $800,000 is so impressive. This is the total luxury tax paid by the Rockets 10 years after the luxury tax was implemented.

At 7 o'clock in the evening, the Clippers' away game against the Rockets started.

Without Maggette, the Clippers won't be able to defend Francis well.

Francis saw Jordan and played extremely hard, making 10 of 20 shots and 5 of 6 free throws, scoring 25 points and 7 assists.

But Mobley met Li Ao and made 8 of 24 shots, a tribute to Los Angeles.

Kenny Thomas is playing well. He is the beneficiary of losing the starting two towers inside.

Francis fed the ball to Cato and Eddie Griffin. Neither of them could eat it. Eddie Griffin, the No. 7 pick, was considered a waste. Francis chose to pass the ball to Kenny Thomas.

Tonight he made 6 of 11 shots and scored 15 points.

However, except for these three people, no one else on the Rockets scored in double figures.

For the Clippers, Li Ao took the initiative to cut inside tonight to cause damage, and the effect was good. Facing the Rockets' weak inside group, he dunked three times in position battle, thus compressing the Rockets' defense and creating better opportunities for his outside teammates.

shooting conditions.

Li Ao played 35 minutes and scored 20 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 blocks. The blocks were all given to Cato, Eddie Griffin and Kevin Willis.

Jordan scored 21 points and 4 assists, Bibby had 12 points and 7 assists, O'Neal Jr. had 14 points and 14 rebounds, and Big Q and Piakowsky both scored 11 points.

106 to 92, the Clippers easily defeated the Rockets and won their 5th consecutive victory!

…

At noon the next day, the Clippers left Houston and came to Portland.

After arriving at the hotel, Gentry called the coaching staff and several core players to his room for a meeting.

Gentry opened: "After we play the Trail Blazers tomorrow, we will have six consecutive home games, two consecutive weeks at home. We must grasp this schedule and make adjustments to our existing deficiencies.

After playing 5 games, we can clearly feel that other teams have gradually adapted to the new rules and gradually improved their tactics, and our advantage in this regard is gradually shrinking.

I would like to ask if you have any ideas, and if so, you can give me some suggestions."

Jordan was the first to speak: "I don't suggest that we make too many adjustments. It is inevitable to understand the rules faster and take advantage of the rules to become smaller. Alvin, you can't overreact. Our current rhythm is just right. I know you

We want to continue to lead, but we still have too little experience. After we have a clear direction, we need to be patient instead of thinking about what to do and have a long-term plan."

Although he was scolded, Gentry was not angry at all and responded: "Michael, you are more experienced, I am too anxious..."

He quietly gave Doug Collins a thumbs up.
To be continued...