The authoritative "ESPN Sports News Network" in the United States has released the latest edition of the NBA's 30-team power rankings. The Timberwolves, who have won eight in a row, are unsurprisingly at the top of the list, with the Bobcats and Hawks in second and third place, respectively.

The defending champion Houston Rockets is only ranked 21st and has become the belly of the fish.

Bobcat fans are overjoyed, but there are many questions from the outside world, why did the Bobcats just lose to the Hawks on the road, why are they ahead of the Hawks? The Team Power Rankings are based on a combination of the team's current squad and record, as well as the strength of the injured players after they have recovered. The Bobcats have just completed the deal, and experts are generally bullish on Bagnani's prospects with the Bobcats.

On the 14th, the Bobcats defeated the Seattle SuperSonics 114-101 at home.

Although they didn't get Durant, the SuperSonics were much better than Hayes' team in his previous life, and they didn't rebuild with the youth as the core.

Originally seen as one of the big fish in the free agent market this summer, Rashad Lewis was forced to stay with the SuperSonics because the asking price was too high for anyone to pay attention to, and Lewis stayed on his remaining two years of contract, worth more than $21 million in total.

In the summer, the Celtics traded Al Jefferson, Durant West, Theo Ratliffe (who was later cut) for SuperSonics Ray Allen and Glenn Davis. The deal also bolstered the supersonic interior.

In addition, the Bobcats sent parallel scout Adam Morrison to the supersonics. Coupled with the previously selected rookie Jeff Green, the supersonics are not weak.

Centres: Serge Heaney, Juhan Botlo, Robert Swivet, Nick Collisson.

Power forwards: Al Jefferson, Chris Wilcox, Jeff Green.

Small forwards: Michael Gillabal, Rashad Lewis, Adam Morrison.

Defenders: Durant West, Al Watson, Demien Wilkins, Rook Ridno, Charlie Bale.

This season, Al Jefferson has become the core of the interior line, Lewis has appeared at the small forward position, and under the leadership of the two of them, the SuperSonics have been inseparable from the Bobcats. Bagnani's debut for the Bobcats was unsuccessful, scoring just six points. Jefferson and Collison frequently attack the Bobcats inside. Hayes was defended by Lewis and Jefferson, but still scored a triple-double of 14 points, 17 rebounds and 11 assists to lead the team to win the game.

Although he won the game, Hayes was not happy, first, because Bagnani showed cowardice, and second, the first-round draft pick that the Bobcats and SuperSonics exchanged for were devalued. According to the current strength, the SuperSonics have the possibility of advancing to the playoffs, and their ranking will be relatively low, and it will be difficult to select strong rookies.

On the 16th, the Bobcats defeated the Trail Blazers 124-95 at home.

The Trail Blazers are a young team with little experience, and after back-to-back losses, the West has fallen out of the top 8.

Centre-forwards: Prizebila, Reeve Lafrentz.

Power forwards: Aldridge, McRoberts, Outlaw.

Small forwards: Durant, James Jones, Martel Webster, Szczebiak.

Defenders: Jarrett Jack, Taurean Green, Brandon Roy, Rajon Rondo, Rodriguez.

It is not difficult to see in the lineup that the interior of the Trail Blazers is very weak, and there is only one real center, Prizebila, and Lafrentz will be scrapped after taking a big contract. Bagnani was blown up by Aldridge in the same game in the second game, but fortunately, Hayes played bravely, with 36 points, 16 rebounds and 4 assists. For a long time, the Trail Blazers could only use Aldridge as a cameo center.

The young players of the Trail Blazers are still too tender. Previously, the Trail Blazers general manager also thought about trading Bobcats' Okafor and Kurt Thomas. What the Bobcats wanted was Aldridge Garondo, and the difference in salaries between the two sides was 108,000 miles. The Trail Blazers only want to send Szzczebiak and Lafrentz, isn't that a pipe dream? The deal can only fall through.

After being slaughtered by the Bobcats in this game, the Trail Blazers manager had the idea of trading again, and this time the Trail Blazers were interested in Bobcats backup center Gortat and teenager Landry, because Landry and Gortat have signed long-term contracts, with a high surname price ratio and a promising future. They wanted to bolster the interior of the Trail Blazers, but they still couldn't bear to give up a few potential rookies, just wait for the All-Star break to see the situation and do research.

In the third home game, the Bobcats beat the Wizards 122-100.

The Wizards traded Zach Randolph in the summer, but lost "The Great General" Arenas. Hayes crossed and couldn't get Arenas out of injury. Arenas has undergone knee surgery with severe hydro and will be sidelined for nearly three months. Without Arenas, the Wizards have Randolph as the core, and the outcome can be imagined. Next season, Arenas' big contract is about to expire, and he said in an interview that "if the team can make the playoffs in his absence, he will consider re-signing the Wizards." ”

How can it be possible to make the playoffs by relying on "cancer" to lead the team? Arenas basically announced his departure at the end of the season. If any team signs him with a high salary, it will be unlucky. Arenas had the strength, but injuries ruined him. After signing the 100 million yuan contract, he left the impression that he was only injured.

The Eagles also lost. Lost 87-94 to the Timberwolves. The current Timberwolves are a defensive team with offense centered around Iverson and Garnett. Some people say that they play too hard, the bench is not strong enough, and the physical strength of the two is a big hidden danger, and it will be over in the playoffs. No matter what happens in the playoffs, the Timberwolves still have the best record right now.

The Bobcats have proved themselves on a three-game winning streak, but it hasn't been all smooth sailing, mainly due to the two new arrivals and the team's run-in problems.

Bagnani's performance was overwhelming, he could play very well in training, but once he stood on the field, he could only play 70%. Humphries is tough and has good rebounds, but his offense is limited to under-the-basket jumpers and dunks, and he is only 206cm tall, which is embarrassing.

At the end of the day's training, Hayes called out to Bagnani.

"Andrea, do you have time? Leave later. Let's talk. ”

Hayes stayed, and Bagnani stayed. He didn't have much to do.

"I want to talk to you about the game. You played really well in training and you didn't play anymore. I used to think that you were just softer in technique, but now it seems that your psychological quality is even worse, soft to the limit. Hayes looked at Bagnani and said solemnly.

"I'm sorry, please give me a little time to get used to it." Bagnani smiled wryly.

Hayes said helplessly: "Look, this is your problem, I said so clearly that you are a soft egg, you still laugh, if you get angry right away and reason with me, you won't be so bad after playing!" You don't know what to do on the court except to cover for your teammates, and you can't defend your opponents, you don't even have a little expression when you shoot iron, what are you afraid of? You've been playing in the NBA for a year, and you're not a newcomer, do you like to hear people call you soft? ”

"I don't like it." Bagnani said lightly.

"Tell me, what is your goal in the NBA?" Hayes asked.

"It's the highest level of the league and I want to be the best basketball player in the world." Bagnani whispered. He felt that his current strength could not be compared with Hayes, so he lacked confidence.

"Speak louder! Now it's just the two of us here, and you don't dare to say out loud that you're the best basketball player, you can't even say it, how can you do it? Hayes suddenly stood up and shouted at the top of his voice: "I'm going to be the best player in the NBA!" I'm going to overtake Michael Jordan! ”

Bagnani thought to himself, this guy is too sturdy, right? Jordan came to see them practice today, and now he is in the upstairs office.

Sure enough, Jordan heard him shouting, poked his head out of the upstairs office window, and shouted, "Chuck, are you crazy?" Are you ready to surpass me this season? ”

"If it doesn't work this season, it's next season. Even if the stats can't match yours, I'll get more championship rings than you! Hayes shouted at Jordan.

"Hahaha, that's good!" Jordan laughed and said, "You'd better let the Bobcats win the championship this season!" ”

Jordan finished and closed the window.

The boss with Bagnani's mouth open. Jordan is known as the god of basketball, and Hayes is actually happy to say such things? In Italy, if a player is so arrogant, it is considered rude.

"Do you dare to shout that?" Hayes looked at Bagnani again and said with a smile: "You don't have to shout to surpass Jordan, just shout that you want to be the second boss of the Bobcats." If I were Jordan of the Bobcats, I would like you to be my Pippen, can you do that? I don't know what the situation is in your country, but here is the United States. The people here are all surnamed Zhangyang, and no one is convinced! If you want to overwhelm these madmen, you have to be more crazy and more confident than them! Your template for the draft was Nowitzki, which I thought was hilarious at first, and then I watched you train, and I thought you could play like Nowitzki, and you need confidence! ”

"I see." Bagnani said.

"If you really understand, show some momentum. Shout! Then go one-on-one with me. Hayes said.

If I don't even dare to shout, how much courage can I show on the court? Hayes is right, he's helping me, I can't make him look down on me, I can't guard against Billings and Gortat in training, I can be stronger. Bagnani took a deep breath and shouted, "I'm going to be an All-Star!" I'm going to be Pippen of the Bobcats! ”

Upstairs, Jordan was talking to Rod Higgins when he heard Bagnani shouting again.

Roder Higgins smiled: "Originally, the coach wanted you to do ideological work for Bagnani, but now it seems that there is no need for it. He's a good player, but he's not in a good mentality, and he seems to have found his niche. ”

"Chuck is a qualified leader. I hope to see the day when he surpasses me. It would be good if Bagnani could fully exploit his strengths. Jordan said with satisfaction.

Hayes and Bagnani singled out for a while, and the two didn't have to fight physically, relying entirely on outside skills. In order to make Bagnani more confident, Hayes took great pains to release water when defending.

It would be a waste of talent for Bagnani to step up his low-post singles, and Hayes supported him to keep his outside play. "That's it. When you're on offense, don't think of yourself as an inside player when you pull out the perimeter. You can be a small forward or even a shooting guard, and as long as you run out of position, the ball will definitely get to you. Be ruthless when blocking and dismantling, be resolute when you shoot, it doesn't matter if you can't score, as long as it's reasonable! ”

The smile on Bagnani's face grew stronger after another mid-range shot from Hayes' head. "I see."

"That's it for today." Hayes picked up the basketball and said, "Our opponent in the next game is the Magic, and your play is crucial. If you can get Howard out of the box, we're going to win. If he doesn't come out. It's up to you to attack tomorrow, don't let everyone down! ”

"I won't let you down!" Bagnani replied loudly.

With Hayes' encouragement, the soft egg also began to get hot.

(To be continued)