Indianapolis on a late-night flight back to Houston.

"Please put away the table, turn off the electronics, and the plane is ready to land." The radio sounded. Through the window of the string, the lights of Houston can be seen in the distance.

It's almost home.

But Yu Xiaochun's conversation about player statistics seems to have just reached its climax.

1/

"Even if I'm really Jayson Tatum's 'lifelong enemy', how can I use him as a yardstick and become stronger than him?" Yang Yiming picked up the previous topic and asked.

"First of all, we need to define the goal – what are you trying to achieve?" Yu Xiaochun, who is usually wooden, seems to have suddenly incarnated the role of a life mentor, and his speech is passionate.

"Rookie of the Season." A few days ago, head coach Mike D'Antoni set Yang Yiming this personal goal that looks quite game-like.

"Excellent! The next step is to think about what you can do to get there. ”

Yang Yiming shook his head.

"Think Tatum." Yu Xiaochun gave a hint, "His stats are not much better than yours, but he can rank second in the rookie power list, chasing Ben Simmons, why do you think it is?" ”

Yang Yiming continued to shake his head, to be honest, the NBA's games and training were too intense, and he didn't have time to pay close attention to the dynamics of other players, let alone a rookie at the same level as him.

"Because he has a distinct label!"

Yang Yiming was even more confused. Fortunately, Koharu didn't care about it and continued to speak: "Ben Simmons is certainly amazing, with 17.8 points, 9.2 rebounds and 7.5 assists, plus an average of 1.7 steals per game, it looks like the data is very luxurious, but looking at the whole league, he is not ranked among the players with the label of 'comprehensive'. But Jayson Tatum, on the other hand, is a very obvious 3-and-D player despite his basic stats..."

"Three-point plus defense!"

"Exactly! Of all rookies who have made more than five three-point attempts, Tatum has the highest shooting percentage. He shoots nearly 50 percent from three-point range at 48.9 percent, while he also shoots 50 percent from two-point range and 82.8 percent from the free-throw line. That said, he's very efficient in scoring. On the other hand, on the defensive side, he also averages nearly 1 steal and block per game, and under his Celtics' defensive system, the value of defense has surpassed statistics, a bit like the feeling of Rocket legend Battier. ”

"The numbers are inconspicuous, but no one on the field wants to touch them. The same was true of Avery Bradley before the Celtics. ”

"That's right! Professional players really see people differently. Yu Xiaochun bumped Yang Yiming's arm and said approvingly.

"I seem to get some of it. You want me to be that type of player to differentiate Ben Simmons from the all-round Ben Simmons and compete with him — like Jayson Tatum is doing right now. Yang Yiming sorted out his thoughts and said the conclusion.

"You're right, but you're not right."

What do you mean?

"You're right, but what I'm going to teach you is how to look at the ball from the perspective of a spectator. How to come, concave data! ”

What?

2/

The Rockets, who landed at Houston's Hobby Airport, disbanded on the spot and went home to recuperate and prepare for the next night's game against the Raptors.

According to the agreement, Jose will come to the airport to pick up Yang Yiming and Yu Xiaochun at the airport according to the flight time. Also picked up in the car will be teammate Eric Gordon, who has a round face. Since negotiating with Nina, who has the ability to recover, they have successfully developed Gordon into the first customer of this deal, taking advantage of the opportunity to win three points in the practice hall last time.

After all, who wouldn't want to try a massage that can help the body quickly recover to the best level? What's more, Yang Yiming also made a very business-savvy suggestion for the first free trial.

Unexpectedly, the one who came to the airport to pick up two "shareholders" and one "customer" was not only He Sai, but also another partner of "technical shares", hypnotic masseur Nina herself. According to the original plan, Nina would wait for Yang Yiming and his party at the residence, and she had already settled in the largest of the three bedrooms in the guest room of the mansion, which was not only used as a place to stay, but also as a studio to receive players once a week, killing two birds with one stone. But at this time, not only did she appear at the airport, but there were also a few of her carry-on luggage piled up beside her, not like picking up people, but like preparing to go out again?

"Nina, why are you here too? What is this luggage...? ”

"I was kicked out by that Mexican woman." Nina said angrily.

"Penelope?" Yang Yiming asked while looking at Jose, who also spread his hands helplessly.

"Who else. I've never seen a woman with such a stinky face! Yu Xiaochun listened to Nina's complaints, and Penelope's cold and beautiful face that didn't smile came to mind, and she couldn't help but shiver.

"What's the matter, aren't we going?" Eric Gordon, who had picked up his checked luggage and caught up, threw himself on the shoulders of the two of them, and his excited expression was already eager to try.

"Eric, I'm sorry, we may need to reschedule." This kind of tricky topic can only be opened by Yang Yiming every time.

"What's wrong? Isn't she the mysterious masseur I want to meet, right here? Gordon gestured to Nina, who was standing aside.

"This..."

"She has family members who have died... Ah, it's her aunt, who died last night. She had to rush to the funeral overnight. Yu Xiaochun looked at the luggage beside Nina, and then glanced up at the sign above his head for the departure flight, and casually reported a place name, "Wellington - she is flying to Wellington, Nina's aunt has always loved her very much..."

"New Zealand?" Gordon was skeptical.

"Wellington." The four of them nodded in unison at this time, and Nina cooperated with the ground with a sad color.

"Okay, then next time." Gordon stepped forward and hugged Nina, and said very seriously, "Condolences, Nina, poor girl, I'm waiting for you to come back." ”

After saying goodbye to each other, Eric Gordon walked away first, leaving only Yang Yiming and his party of four. It's really thrilling!

But next, how to deal with Penelope, the cold beauty at home? It's really a bad job!

3/

Concave data.

How do you concave the data?

What exactly is concave data?

What does it have to do with the best rookie?

These questions filled Yang Yiming's brain. He had only heard of concave modeling before, could it be that this concave data also had something to do with concave modeling?

"That's right, the concave data and the concave shape of the concave shape are a principle." Yu Xiaochun's mouth is like a river, and the stars are flying, "The concave shape is to pose and pose, and pose for the look you want the camera to capture the most." The same is true for concave data. That is, you consciously improve certain aspects of your stats, and use them to build yourself into the type of player you want, such as 3D players, such as passers, such as super centers, and so on. ”

"I probably understand this principle, if the concave data is really feasible, what does this have to do with me competing for the best rookie?" Even if he is as adaptable as Yang Yiming, he still can't really understand his friend's intentions at this time.

"100 percent related!" The other party is conclusive.

Oh?

"Yes, that's the difference between you professional players and us amateurs. You're looking at the performance on the field, speaking with your strength – remember Avery Bradley? He couldn't be a better example. He's super defensive, I recognize, you recognize, and he's recognized by the players he's played against and the few fans who have been following basketball for a long time, but that's about it. ”

Yang Yiming seems to have opened his mind.

But the vast majority of fans don't approve of it. All they can spare in a season is to watch highlights, even for professional journalists who voted for Rookie of the Year. Who can really get to know every player on every team? Totally impossible! Everyone is a stream of data impressions. At the end of the season, search for candidates, compare the stats, and go to the polls – so a player like Avery Bradley wasn't named to the defensive team for the first time until the previous season, why? Because everyone only cares about steals, blocks, rebounds, and other superficial statistics! ”

Yu Xiaochun's voice is like a bell, impassioned:

"So what we're going to do now is make this data for them to see!"

Labeling!

Concave data!