"With this, our starting lineup will boast the most terrifying offensive firepower in the league. Alan's off-ball movement and deadly mid-range shooting, Sprewell's violent drives, Li Fei's unstoppable dominance in the low post and mid-range, Marshall's perimeter gravity, and Sabonis's high-post playmaking. This lineup will have virtually no blind spots on offense!"
After listening to Van Gundy's analysis, the conference room fell into deep thought.
It was indeed a bold and highly enticing plan.
"What about the bench?" Grunfeld raised the most crucial question. "Once Sprewell leaves, our bench mob will fall apart."
"No, we still have Stephen Jackson."
A confident smile appeared on Jeff Van Gundy's face. "Haven't you noticed this kid's improvement over the offseason?"
He pulled a statistical report from his folder and handed it out to everyone.
"These are Stephen's numbers from the Summer League and our intrasquad scrimmages. His scoring average has skyrocketed from 5.2 points last season to 19.8! More importantly, his efficiency—48 percent from the field and 41 percent from three."
"The numbers are only surface-level. What matters is what he has shown on the court."
Van Gundy added, "His defensive improvement has been the biggest surprise. His footwork is quicker, his defensive reads are more accurate, and most importantly, he has learned how to use those long arms of his to disrupt opponents' passes and shots. He's no longer that hotheaded kid who only knew how to foul with brute force."
"Offensively, his ball-handling has made a qualitative leap. He is no longer content to be a spot-up shooter; he has developed reliable drives off the dribble and pull-up jumpers. You should watch the footage from his training sessions. He imitates Sprewell's driving footwork, Alan's pull-up jumper, and even... Li Fei's post-up game! His playmaking has also clicked. In scrimmages, he can