278. Pat Riley
On the last day of February, February 28, the Cavaliers will face the Miami Heat for the third time this season. Although the Cavaliers won the first two matches, the Clevelanders remained enthusiastic about the arrival of the Heat this time.
Obviously, although half a year has passed, the Clevelanders are still very eager to see LeBron James' failure again. This is also the improvement in confidence that the Cavaliers have achieved after defeating the Miami Heat twice in succession.
Facing LeBron James and the Miami Heat he leads, the Cavaliers can always burst out with a powerful force.
In addition to the Clevelanders' extremely optimistic attitude towards this game, the outside world's view of this game has long been very different from the beginning of the season. After the Cavaliers have repeatedly performed shocking performances this season, no one will be underestimated about the team that currently has an All-Star forward and ranks eighth in the East.
What's more, Chauncey Billups' joining half a month ago is regarded as a combination that adds strength to the Cavaliers. As the former main controller of the Iron Blood Legion Pistons, Chauncey Billups has been baptized by countless hard battles and has long been the current one.
Even though he is over thirty years old and is about to enter the end of his career, no one in the league dares to ignore his strength.
Although he just made a comeback and only played his first match after his comeback two days ago, everyone will believe that Billups will still be another headache for the Miami Heat in this game, besides Wu Dawei.
The popularity of this game is far greater than the last game between the Cavaliers and the Knicks. However, the attention is the first time the two sides have faced each other this season, after all, when the two sides first played against each other this season, people's expectations for that game have been waiting for almost half a year.
Of course, I have a little bit of ambition about this. This game is less than half a month after the second encounter between the two sides this season.
However, the Cavaliers' attitude towards this game is as important as before. Of course, there is not only LeBron and James' relationship, but also the regular season is close to the end. The Cavaliers, who are on the tail of the playoff qualification in the East District, have a difference in the record between the teams behind them and the Knicks and other teams in front of them, so each game is extremely critical.
The Cavaliers not only want to maintain their qualifications to enter the playoffs, but also continue to climb up the rankings. In the playoffs, everyone knows the importance of home court advantages very well.
After defeating the visiting New York Knicks two days ago, the Cavaliers ranked eighth in the East with a record of 32 wins and 32 losses, while the New York Knicks ranked ahead of the Cavaliers with 34 wins and 31 losses, ranking seventh in the East. And ahead is the Indiana Pacers, currently ranked sixth in the East.
The Indianaans are currently ranked sixth in the East with 35 wins and 32 losses. The gap between these three teams is actually not big. In fact, the gap between the sixth in the East and ninth in the East is not a world.
Of course, the Cleveland Cavaliers, who want to make some achievements in the playoffs, have ideas.
Although they are currently at the end of the three teams, the joining of Chauncey Billups has also brought new hope to the team. Although Billups' performance in the first game was not very outstanding, at least the first game he and Wu Dawei won.
This is a very good start. No one knows whether such a start can continue, but the Clevelanders are very optimistic.
Because it is well known that the Miami people are not outstanding in their point guard, that is, No. 1 position. Mario Chalmers is young and not as talented as John Wall and Derek Ross. The Cavaliers had flaws in this position, but now, all of this has been solved with the arrival of Chauncey Billups...
When the two sides met last time, someone had compared this. In terms of comparisons in various positions, the Cavaliers had an advantage in center. The small forward and the organizational guard could tie the Miamis, while the loss was in the two positions of power forward and shooting guard.
It can be counted as 1 win, 2 draws and 2 losses. Now, with the joining of Chauncey Billups, such a score has become 2 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses. In this way, at least in terms of the lineup, the Cavaliers seem to be at a disadvantage. Not to mention that the Cavaliers have a bunch of substitutes who are far better than the Miamis...
Although this statement is nonsense, most people only use public opinion to hype this way, but one can also point out from the side that the Cavaliers are not as weak as people imagine.
At least with the current lineup of the Cavaliers and the substitute lineup, as long as they are well-worked, they have a chance to reach a higher level.
Just like in the last game, Spike Lee, the top fan director of the Knicks, followed the team to Cleveland. In this game, the godfather-level figure who played an important role in the Miami Heat and the team president Pat Riley also followed the Miami Heat to Cleveland.
Obviously, the Heat's president still attaches great importance to this third match of the two sides this season.
However, the reason why Pat Riley followed the team to Cleveland was not just watching the Heat and the Cavaliers' third game this season. Before coming to Cleveland, Pat Riley specifically called Wu Dawei.
This was something that surprised Wu Dawei, because in Miami, Wu Dawei had never said a few words to the Heat boss. The most common time was Riley called to inform Wu Dawei that he was traded to Cleveland.
They could be said to be unfriendly, and even met on the road. Wu Dawei was not sure whether he would come forward to say hello to him. So, such a sudden call was really a very unexpected thing for Wu Dawei.
On the phone, Lai used the tone of an old friend who was about to come to visit an old friend and invited Wu Dawei to sit down and have a cup of afternoon tea. This was something that surprised Wu Dawei even more. Of course, these accidents all originated from his life in Miami.
If Michael Beasley invited Wu Dawei, then Wu Dawei would definitely not be surprised, because when he and Beasley were at the Miami Heat, they were the cheapest in the team.
But Riley is different. As mentioned above, this team leader had almost no friendship with Wu Dawei before.
However, Wu Dawei finally agreed to Riley's invitation on the phone, after all, this was not a bad thing.
Although I can guess a few points in my heart, Wu Dawei is still very curious about why Pat Riley wants to see him. This must be related to his outstanding performance this season, but Wu Dawei is just speculating in his heart. If that is true, Wu Dawei will certainly feel very happy, because this is undoubtedly an identification with himself.
And who is Pat Riley? In addition to being the current president of the Heat, he has unimaginable influence in the entire league. The "show-time" moment of the Lakers in the 1980s was brought out by this basketball godfather, and the reason why Riley was called the basketball godfather is not just because he brought out a great offensive team; in the 1990s, he also brought out a Knicks with iron-blooded defense in New York. If the Houston Rockets and Olajuwon were not at the peak that year, he might have won the sixth championship ring of his career!
This is a legendary coach and basketball manager. Even though he has never valued Wu Dawei, Wu Dawei still respects him more, just as Wu Dawei respects those great players and coaches who have never met or even have no friendship.
Although Wu Dawei had some guesses in his heart, he did not know what Pat Riley wanted to do and say something to him, but he felt that this would not be a bad thing! Because this season has become a season that Wu Dawei gained. Could it be that Pat Riley is here to mock him? This is completely impossible.
What's the reason? Is it because I led the team twice this season to defeat the carefully created Miami Heat? Then isn't this a joke?
Wu Dawei finally agreed to such an invitation. After the All-Star Game, Wu Dawei has gradually become accustomed to many people he was not familiar with or even completely unfamiliar with in the past, and called to invite him.
Bonnie Lauflin also began to complain to Wu Dawei that many senior team leaders in the league have begun to call her to get in touch. Obviously, many teams are starting to get excited about Wu Dawei. Even if the season is far from over, it will take a long time before the door to the free market is opened.
But Wu Dawei's outstanding performance this season has made many teams unable to hold back. After all, Wu Dawei is currently among the top stars in the league, and his super high popularity in the All-Star Game is enough to meet this point. Moreover, his average game data of 18 points, 10.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 3.5 blocks and 3.2 steals is an all-around data that makes many teams feel that he will be the best puzzle to win the championship.
In addition, Wu Dawei's current contract is not big, even if he ends this year, he will not be able to reach the level of Kobe Bryant. In addition, his huge Chinese market behind him as a Chinese player has made Wu Dawei's value grow online in a geometric multiple.
Although the Cavaliers have not had many live broadcasts across the United States this season, the Cavaliers' games on the Internet are always the team with the highest ratings overseas! There is no need to say much about the reason, the Cavaliers have Wu Dawei, just like the Rockets who have owned Yao Ming for several years.
Chapter completed!