However, in the afternoon, something happened during training.

Cato suffered a recurrence of an old injury to his big toe and was unable to play in the evening.

How many breaks you have to take depends on the detailed examination later.

Big toe injury, which is unavoidable for big centers, Yao Ming and O'Neal have suffered greatly in their careers.

Cato weighs 125 kilograms, which is a big meat shield, and he can't avoid this level after all.

That night, the Heat, who lost the inside gate, lost miserably.

Pau Gasol and Lorenten White put their heads on the Heat's paint floor.

And the Heat can't do much.

Haslem is too short for Odom to fight against, and Grant is old and short......

The Heat once tried to wrap up, and Gasol made all kinds of wonderful passes, assisting Posey, Miller, and Battier with a wave of three-point rain to widen the difference.

In the end, at 88:81, the Grizzlies successfully extinguished the fire.

The Heat's overall record went 15-11.

This game also made the whole Heat team realize the importance of Cato.

Cato is averaging only 7.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game, which is very average.

But Cato is a very important part of the Heat's defensive system, and his role is not something that can be replaced by statistics.

Li Lei came off the bench in this game and once again scored 18 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 1 block, and his average points per game increased steadily.

At the press conference after the game, Li Lei joked with reporters: "I think I may be going to win the best sixth man of the season!" ”

Li Lei is now averaging 13.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 2.5 steals and 2.0 blocks per game, which is really likely to impact the best sixth man.

Li Lei's mood is really good.

Because his kraft defense has been promoted to the intermediate level.

Panel:

Strength 74, Speed 61, Stamina 54, Reaction Speed 64, Explosiveness 39, Balance 50.

Average 57.

Skill Proficiency:

Bloody Cap (Beginner 90/100).

Precise steals (intermediate 17/1000).

Additional Effect: When a steal fails, it can also press the opponent and force the opponent to make mistakes.

Kraft Candy Defense (Intermediate 1/1000).

Additional Effect: When the host is defending, the physical cost is reduced by a small amount.

100 steps through the poplar (intermediate 11/1000).

Additional Effect: When the host shoots a three-point shot, the opponent's interference is reduced slightly.

Li Lei looked at the additional effect of the intermediate kraft candy defense, and couldn't be more satisfied, it was simply amazing.

Li Lei's physical fitness is not bad, but defense happens to be particularly physical.

So since the regular season, Li Lei has not played much.

On the offensive end, Li Lei is also mainly ambushed outside the three-point line, and it is rare to run a few tactics, and the breakthrough is almost invisible.

And now, the kraft candy defense has been promoted to the intermediate level, which can reduce Li Lei's physical consumption on the defensive end.

Li Lei has surplus physical energy.

He can maintain a high level of defensive play for more minutes or add movement on the offensive end.

In short, Li Lei felt that he could do it again.

December 20th.

Li Lei participated in team training at the American Airlines Center.

Coach Dafan asked Spoelstra in surprise: "Eric, why do I think Stone's fitness has gotten better, even if it's only a little bit." ”

Spoelstra nodded, and Li Lei was fighting bulls with Odom.

Normally, Li Lei maintains a high-intensity defense and can fight Odom for 20 rounds, and then he is a little overwhelmed.

But today, it has been twenty-three rounds, and Li Lei has just shown signs of difficulty.

The progress is small, but it is real progress.

Spoelstra thought for a moment, touched his chin and said, "Stone practices every day, and the sweat will not be in vain." If you look at Udonis again, isn't it getting stronger day by day? ”

Coach Dafan nodded, and had other thoughts in his heart.

The next night, before the start of the game.

Coach Dafan pulled Li Lei and Butler together.

Dafan: "Stone, let's get ready to start tonight." ”

Li Lei: "......"

I think you're me!

I just joked with the media that if I want to fight for the best sixth man this season, you're going to let me start?

Da Fan saw Li Lei's doubts and explained: "Actually, Kaba applied to me a long time ago: let you play as a starter. He thinks you're better defensively, you don't need the ball, you're better suited to the starting lineup. ”

Caron Butler nodded at Li Lei and acquiesced.

"This?"

Li Lei was really surprised that Butler actually took the initiative to give up the starter to himself.

This also ...... It's too gentle!

He just did a trivial thing at the beginning, and this guy regarded himself as a good brother, the best brother.

Look at other teams, for a starter often turned upside down, fighting, spraying, sometimes the gun is pulled out.

Li Lei had a feeling of unreality.

And Butler's strength is there, averaging 15.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.8 steals per game in his rookie season, which is definitely more than enough as a starting small forward.

Thinking of this, Li Lei was embarrassed.

Therefore, Li Lei pushed Butler and said fiercely: "Bastard, you actually want to snatch my best sixth man, damn it!" ”

Butler was a little stunned at first, but when he saw Li Lei laughing, he realized that it was a joke: "That's right, the best sixth person is mine!" ”

Hey, hey!

Coach Dafan was anxious: Why is it that only a third of the season has passed, and the best sixth man seems to have been decided by our team.

However, this kind of atmosphere in the team really made Dafan very satisfied.

Coach Dafan said: "You don't have to fight, Mr. Riley has already decided. Stone starts, Caron sixth. ”

Li Lei and Butler both nodded, since the "dictator" has decided, it is useless for anyone to oppose it.

Da Fan continued: "Caron needs the ball, and the same goes for Lamar, Dwyane and Eddie in the starting lineup. Stone, on the other hand, defends well and doesn't need the ball, so it's better suited to the starting lineup. It's killing two birds with one stone, both to complement our starting line-up and to add depth to the bench. ”

Dafan analyzed this "personnel change" from the tactical level, and Li Lei and Butler had nothing to say.

However, since then, the relationship between Li Lei and Caron Butler has gone further, and there have been more and more private contacts.

Out of Dafan's office, Coach Spo pulled Li Lei away again.

"Hello, Heat's starting small forward."

Spo quipped.

Li Lei responded with a smile: "Hello, Mr. Coach of the Heat team." ”

Spoelstra is very young, and it is only a matter of time before he takes over the coaching class.

The two laughed.

Only then did Spo pull Li Lei and said solemnly: "You can become the starting small forward, in fact, it has nothing to do with Caron's request." ”

Li Lei: "......"

He really didn't understand the twists and turns in it.

Spoo said: "Cuarón has already applied, why is the coaching staff only agreeing now? And do you think Cuarón's ideas can influence Mr. Riley? ”

Li Lei couldn't help but nodded, and as soon as Spo said, he thought of this.

Seeing Li Lei's reaction, Si Bo continued: "Actually, it's all because of yourself. The coaching staff recently observed improvements in your fitness, defense, and three-point shooting before asking Mr. Riley to get you back into the starting lineup. ”

Li Lei understood.

This is the reality, strength is everything.

He's stronger, and the coaching staff will naturally reuse it.

The most important thing in this world is the value of a person himself.

Therefore, Li Lei doesn't need to think about it, he just needs to constantly improve his strength and enhance his value.

Li Lei hugged Spoelstra: "Erik, thank you for your guidance, I love you to death!" ”

"I love you too, kid!"

Spo said softly.

Li Lei was excavated by him, of course he hopes that Li Lei will go further and further, this is also his merit!