In the first round of the 2008 playoffs, the Lakers swept the Nuggets 4-0 cleanly.

This came as a surprise to many, as the Nuggets are filled with a lot of talented players. Cameron. Anthony has played in the playoffs for five consecutive years since entering the NBA, all of which have been first-round exits. The melon has been beaten into bitter melon.

Being swept in the first round of the playoffs is not a glorious thing, and the Nuggets' defeat will forever be recorded in NBA history as they became the only team in NBA history to win 50 games in the regular season only to be swept out in the first round of the playoffs. Iverson came to the Nuggets for two seasons and was unable to lead the team through the first round of the playoffs, as they were beaten 4-1 by the Spurs last year.

The Jazz eliminated the Rockets 4-2, and Maddy Maddy's 40 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists in Game 6 still couldn't get a win.

The Hornets eliminated the Mavericks 4-1. In the last three years, the Mavericks have been miserable in the playoffs, first being overturned by the Heat with a 2-0 lead in the Finals, then being victims of the Warriors' "Black Eight Miracle" in the first round last year, and this year they were beaten down by the young Hornets in the first round. They traded for Jason in the middle of the game. Kidd, but not as expected.

The Spurs eliminated the Suns 4-1. The problem for the Suns is that O'Neal and the team are not in good shape, and they are getting weaker.

Who doesn't know that changing in the middle of the road will be gambling? But this year's popular slogan is called "Seeking Wealth and Danger", and after seeing the Lakers' actions, everyone couldn't sit still. But the Mavericks and the Suns really can't play close, Kidd and O'Neal have the weight of the old, but they are placed in the system of their new teams, which is more like filling a hole, and then poking out two holes, the Spurs found that playing the Suns can not only block and dismantle high, but also "cut the shark" to their heart's content; The Hornets can make Paul Kidd and Paul defend Kidd, and Kidd's ability to attack without attacking greatly saves Paul's physical strength. In fact, what is the Hornets that only play with six or seven people in rotation? The bench was inexperienced and inexperienced, but it took five games to send the Russ home.

After that, there was a trend of settling accounts after the "spring", which came very quickly. Mavericks coach "Little General" Johnson didn't have time to catch his breath before he was revealed to be out of class, and Suns coach D'Antoni is said to be out of class soon, George. Karl is being shouted "out of class" by countless disappointed fans, and half a month ago it was still a flag hunting in the west, and when he turned his head, it turned into a gloomy and mournful land. The NBA is a business arena in the 21st century, and like the arena of ancient Rome, there is no success or failure, only life and death.

On May 7, Los Angeles fans had good news. Kobe Bryant has really become the MVP of the regular season! The NBA officially announced the results of the regular season MVP selection, and Kobe Bryant received 82 first-place votes with a total score of 1,105 points. Chris of the Hornets. Paul was in second place with 889 points, and the Celtics' Kevin. Garnett was third, with 670 points.

The Celtics have a record of 66 wins, the first in the league, but unfortunately Garnett's playing time is shortened, and although the efficiency is high, the statistics are not very beautiful, and he missed the MVP. The compensation he received was the trophy for the best defensive player.

Other awards include Spurs Ginobili for the Sixth Man of the Year, Magic's Turkoglou for the Most Improved Player Award, and Rookie of the Year for Kevin of the Thunder. Durant, just in the first season, Durant can average 20+ points per game, "The Great" Oden is reimbursed for the season due to injury, and people will have to wait until next season to see the performance of this bull.

Zhou Xuan was paying attention to the NBA situation while waiting silently in Los Angeles. Waiting for the results is torturous, and those who have taken the Chinese high school entrance examination and college entrance examination will understand that feeling. The future is uncertain, and I am worried that my family will be sad, and all kinds of negative emotions will breed in my heart. Of course, if your nature is more mixed, it doesn't matter if you don't care about anything, Zhou Xuan is not that kind of person. Mitchell. Butler assured that he would definitely find the team, but he was still unsure.

He still has a regular life, going to the UCLA court during the day to practice shooting, and occasionally playing ball with some people who live nearby, who are not qualified as his sparring partners, purely for relaxation.

When he goes back to the apartment for dinner in the evening, he usually cooks. Mitchell has also been on vacation recently, and this year's big-name rookies have all found agents, and Fagan has a few under him, and there is nothing to do with Mitchell. He just needs to take care of Zhou Xuan's affairs.

The rookie training camp started as scheduled, and no one asked Zhou Xuan for a tryout, which was a blow to people's self-confidence, and it seemed that the managers of all teams decided that he was not good. The only good news is Clippers scout Foye. Gist invited Zhou Xuan to the team's training camp, which was held at the Staples Center's training hall. The Los Angeles Lakers didn't say anything. Now that the Lakers are all focused on the ongoing NBA playoffs, they don't have time to care about rookies at all, they just want to win championships.

Zhou Xuan and Mitchell went to the Clippers' training gym together and met Scout Foye. The situation is also different from what Zhou Xuan thought, saying that it was a training camp, but he didn't even have a sparring partner at all, as far as he was concerned, the Clippers wanted to conduct a physical test on him.

All newcomers can't escape the physical test, and Zhou Xuan can only expose his shortcomings again.

With an ordinary height and an ordinary arm span, although he has made some progress after systematic training, he still can't do a bench press of 84KG. The only advantage is that he is a scud, and his speed is not inferior to other guards, and it is not miserable to play the No. 1 position with a height of 188CM in the draft, after all, Chris. Paul is only 183CM. The NBA is registered to wear shoes and have a lot of moisture. For example, Baria's 183CM height looks like 175CM, and Zhou Xuan said that 188CM is not a fake.

The scout shook his head after looking at Zhou Xuan's physical test data, no matter how he looked, he was just an ordinary person, sports, the word "body" came first, no matter what country attached importance to physical conditions. Zhou Xuan wanted to show his high IQ, but he really couldn't find any way, which couldn't be measured by physical testing.

After that, there were shooting, dribbling and other tests, and Zhou Xuan couldn't fully show his strength. A playmaker is one who is stronger and better at playing, and one person can't do anything. The Clippers' test didn't work at all. Elgin. Baylor was very majestic when he played, and he didn't do well as a manager, whether it was a draft or a poach, it was almost not right.

Fortunately, scouts watched the NBDL game, and after the test, Foye said that if there was no big surprise, the Clippers would take Zhou Xuan off in the second round, and the contract would definitely be the base salary, but there was a place for him in the new season. Hearing this, Zhou Xuan was relieved. Even if the NBA gets a basic salary, there are hundreds of thousands a year. A member of his family has worked hard in China for decades, and he has earned five insurances and one housing fund, and no one has ever seen so much money.

When he got home, Mitchell's face was not very good-looking, and he said a little depressed: "Zhou, I have to say something to you, maybe you have to break the bank." ”

"Breaking the bank?"

"I guess you have to do Foye some good." Mitchell put it bluntly.

"What?" Zhou Xuan didn't expect that he would actually bribe the scouts. "For what?"

"Foye told me that the Clippers' tactics are often playing the Hawks offense, generally with shooting guards holding the ball and interior players playing pick-and-rolls, rather than point guards. There's no way they're going to let a newcomer take control of the ball, so it's a bit awkward if you're going to go. If it's just dribbling through the half, a lot of black players can do it, and it's more impactful, you have to admit it. If you don't give the scout some favors and let him say a few more nice words, there may be variables. Mitchell sighed.

"Is this an unspoken rule of the NBA? Will everyone come across? ”

"Fringe people will meet, if you're a big name, scouts won't contact you at all, and it's too late for the team to invite you, alas." Mitchell let out a long sigh.

"You know my financial situation, if I want to give him benefits, I can only sell my kidney." Zhou Xuan smiled bitterly.

"Actually, you have good genes, and I think sperm donation is also a way."

“……”

"Just a joke."

Zhou Xuan has to bear the rent, and the food can't be too bad, otherwise his physical condition will not improve. It wasn't until the NBA preseason in October that he signed with a team, and he couldn't get paid for the time being. There is also some preparation to participate in the draft, even if it costs a thousand a month, he will be empty of money and ammunition at the beginning of the new season.

Poverty is not a disease, it is a real death to be poor. Unless the Chinese Basketball Association sends him an invitation at this time, let him play in the national team, give him some money for food and accommodation, it is really difficult to do. Of course, this is impossible, after the season, he has not received a call or notice from the Chinese Basketball Association. For him, the Basketball Association is a place he has heard of and has never seen, an ethereal existence like Shabak and O'Grimmar.

Mitchell thought for a moment and said with a wry smile: "I didn't say the offer of bribery, I will let you play in the NBA next season, which will help you contact other teams for tryouts, be prepared." You can practice in peace. ”

"Practice is not too urgent, the draft only started at the end of June, and now I want to find a job and earn some money to make ends meet." Zhou Xuan said lightly.

"If you go to work, won't it affect your state?"

"I want to be a chef, didn't you say that I cook better than the North City buffet? I went there to apply for a job, and I worked during the time of eating, and the rest of the time was relatively free, and I would not delay the practice, which was a combination of work and rest. Zhou Xuan said with a smile.

He needs money, and half of the time spent on a five-month vacation is enough, and making money is a plan he had thought of before. If you don't have a high-level sparring partner, you won't get much out of practicing on your own, just practice shooting and dribbling.

It is difficult to find a job in Los Angeles, and there is almost no money to make money in the short term, and the newspapers generally recruit salesmen and waiters, and Zhou Xuan can only be a chef if he wants to make money. He checked the information of the Beicheng catering company, not only buffets, but also parties, all kinds of dinners, and now he just hires people, and those who can cook a variety of Chinese dishes are preferred.

Mitchell thought that Zhou Xuan could do it and no longer objected. "Well, since you've decided that I'm not going to say anything, I'll do my own thing, when are you going to go?"

"I'll go tomorrow and let me know if there are other teams willing to give me a tryout. If it's just a physical test like the Clippers, it will only make them have a worse impression of me. ”

“OK。”