Pope of Basketball.

Summary

The chapter summarizes the start of the Lakers' preseason, with Yao Ming excluded from the roster. The team's starting lineup featured La Xi De Wallace, Di Ao, Yi Ge Da La, Ke Bi, and Damon Jones. The strategy focused on pick-and-rolls, with Yi Ge Da La and La Xi De setting screens for Jones. Ke Bi handled the ball and could pass to Di Ao. The bench included Mo Wei Lian Mu Si, Ariza, Walton, Ku Ke, and Ao Duo Mu. Walton, a high-IQ player, was expected to develop as the primary playmaker alongside Di Ao. The Lakers won their first preseason game against the Warriors 102-96. Yang Rui encouraged Yao Ming to focus on stats and scoring opportunities for Ke Bi, rather than playing strong defense, in order to become a superstar.

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