NBA's King of Talking

Chapter 110 The Second Playoff Journey

The second task is to "score in double figures in the playoffs," and this task is likely to be accomplished.

The third task is to "achieve a double-double in the playoffs," which is quite challenging.

The third task is to "get a triple-double in the playoffs," which is a very difficult task.

The fourth task is to "get 10 rebounds in a single playoff game," which seems familiar!

The fifth task is to "score 20 points in a single playoff game," which may be even more difficult than scoring 30 points in a single regular season game.

The sixth task is "to get 10 assists in a single playoff game," which seems familiar.

The seventh task is "to get 5 steals in a single playoff game", as above.

The eighth task is to "get 5 blocks in a single playoff game", as above.

The ninth task is to "achieve 10 free throws in a single playoff game," as above.

The tenth task is to "make 5 three-pointers in a single playoff game," as above.

Jia Fei accepted 10 tasks in one go, bringing the total number of tasks he's currently working on to 15. More tasks aren't a problem, the real fear is not being able to complete them. Anyway, there won't be any penalties for not completing them for now, so he can just continue like this.

Jia Fei has played two seasons with the Thunder, and after this season, he will no longer be a second-year rookie.

2012-13赛季，贾飞的第2个赛季，他一共出场了78场比赛，首发1场。在场均17.8分钟的上场时间里，他场均得到8.8分5.4个篮板3.5次助攻1次抢断0.8个盖帽，还有0.7次失误和1.8次犯规，投篮命中率为48.8%，3分球命中为39.6%，罚球命中率为85.7%。

Compared to last season, Jia Fei has shown significant improvement in both average stats and shooting percentage this season. While he's also playing more minutes this season, his plus-minus and efficiency are excellent, earning him the reputation as the Thunder's best wing defender.

The Thunder will have a day off on the 19th, and will begin preparations for their first-round playoff game against the Rockets on the 20th.

On the 19th, Jia Fei and the others didn't train either; the three of them played video games at Reggie's house.

All three of them enjoy playing the NBA 2K game, and they all like to play as their own team.

"Hey Jia, why are you so slow in the game! Your jumping ability is terrible, you keep missing dunks, and your shots are all airballs..." Reggie couldn't help but complain.

Jia Fei was also helpless: "What can I do? I didn't design the game. They designed it to be so weak for me, and I can't complain. Just stop making me attack all the time and replace me."

Lamb chuckled and said, "I really enjoy using Jabbar. It's so funny to see him make a fool of himself on the field!"

"Are you a pervert?!" Jia Fei couldn't help but retort.

After playing a few more rounds, they got bored, so Reggie found some drinks and snacks at home for Jia Fei and the others.

"Jia, how are things going with that girl?" Lamb asked.

"Which girl?" Jia Fei asked somewhat guiltily.

"It's that girl you've been chatting with! Don't think I don't know, your lewd smile has given you away. You don't smile like that when you're chatting with a man!" Lamb's tone was very certain.

Sensing there might be some juicy gossip to share, Reggie rushed over and anxiously asked, "What? Jia has a girlfriend?"

Jia Fei adopted a "fight to the bitter end" attitude: "What are you guessing? It's baseless."

Lamb, of course, didn't believe it: "He definitely won't say that. How about this, if we win the championship this season, you bring the girls to the event, okay?"

Reggie nodded: "That's a great idea! Ja, if we really win the championship, announcing our relationship at this time would be perfect!"

Jia Fei laughed and said, "I agree!"

Lamb was also delighted: "Then it's a deal! By the way, do you think we have a good chance of winning the championship?"

Jia Fei almost vomited blood. What kind of brain hemorrhage is this?

Reggie was also a little unsure: "Well... if we don't have any injuries, we should have a chance!"

Jia Fei nodded: "Without injuries, we are not afraid of any team."

That afternoon, Jia Fei received a message from Kemba Walker.

In the message, Kemba Walker said he was bored at home and wanted to come to Oklahoma City to watch the Thunder and Rockets playoffs at the Ford Center.

Jia Fei replied with a welcome message, saying he hadn't seen his good buddy for a while.

Kemba Walker's Bobcats didn't make the playoffs, so the offseason started for him. NBA players don't spend all their offseason training; many players gradually train to get into shape in the month leading up to the season. Those who train immediately after the season ends are training fanatics.

Kemba Walker is clearly not a training fanatic.

On the 20th, the Thunder officially began training. Before training started, each player received a booklet containing information about the opponents' tactics and techniques in this series, as well as the technical characteristics of the players. The booklet was very detailed, even including some players' little habits.

Before practice, head coach Brooks gave a long explanation of the Rockets' characteristics, speaking in a very professional and profound manner, as if afraid that others would not know how meticulously he had done his homework.

Jia Fei couldn't help but mentally scoff. What profound nonsense! The Rockets' tactics were just a bunch of random plays based on Morey's "Moreyball" theory—not that complicated. Simply put, it's a high pick-and-roll between the ball handler and the center, with the wings and corners spreading out. The center cuts to the basket, and the ball handler either passes to the center for an easy layup, passes to the corner shooter for a three-pointer, or takes the shot himself. They don't have many off-ball screens, nor many handoffs or other small plays; their main strategy is simple and brutal.

This offensive system is somewhat similar to D'Antoni's, but not entirely. When they get into a chaotic mess, Beverley and Delfino can act like Jordan.

The Thunder started training, and everyone was very serious. The Rockets weren't particularly strong, but their goal wasn't the second round; it was the championship.

That evening, Jia Fei and Lamb treated Kemba Walker to dinner at a hotel in Oklahoma City.

Kemba Walker didn't come alone; his former teammate Art Mayok was with him.

Art Mayok has been playing in the NBDL this season. He participated in the Summer League but did not receive a contract from an NBA team. He has always wanted to play in the NBA, but has never had the opportunity.

"I'm sorry, you two, we were training today and couldn't pick you up from the airport," Jia Fei said.

“It’s okay, Ja, Art and I know you’re training, so we didn’t tell you. Otherwise, you would definitely have come to pick us up!” Kemba Walker and Art Mayok both laughed.

The four of them felt like they were back in college. Things were different now; they were lucky to see each other a few times a year, unlike back then when they hung out together every day.