NBA's King of Talking

Chapter 289 The New Steal King

The Hawks' final regular season game of the season is against the Chicago Bulls.

Before this game, Jia Fei accepted the task of "leading the team to achieve the best record in the league".

At the end of the daily training session on April 15, the team's head coach, Budenholzer, approached Jia Fei and spoke to him in a friendly manner: "Jia, our coaching staff might arrange for you to rest in the next game. What do you think?"

Jia Fei wasn't surprised at all, because regardless of the outcome of the final game, their status as the league's number one team wouldn't change. Even if they lost, it would only increase their losing streak by one. Playing games that have no bearing on the team's interests, avoiding injuries, and conserving energy for the playoffs is something many teams would do.

"Coach, I've never played a perfect 81 games in my professional career. I've already played 81 games this season. I'd like to play a perfect 81 games this time. Is that okay?" Jia Fei asked the head coach with a smile.

"Of course you can, but you don't have to play for a long time, is that okay?" Coach Buden was really going all out with his amiable demeanor.

"Thank you, I just want to fulfill this wish. As for my playing time, the coaching staff will decide!" Jia Fei said politely.

The matter was decided amicably just like that.

Coach Buden felt really happy to work with a star like Jia Fei. Everyone just needed to do their own thing, and there were no communication barriers when something came up, just like fish meeting water.

Jia Fei wasn't just doing this to fulfill his wish of perfect attendance; he was also trying to complete the task! With so many points needed for leveling up, getting some was crucial.

The following day, in Chicago, the Hawks played their final game of the regular season.

In this match, Jia Fei started as usual, while the other starters were rested. Art Mayork made his first start of the season, and the other three starters were Xiao Hei, Antić, and Carroll.

In this match, Jia Fei only appeared in the jump ball, played for two minutes, and then left the field when the ball went dead. He did not return to the field after that.

The Hawks' starters all dropped out, and they ultimately lost the game, finishing the 2014-15 season with a record of 68 wins and 14 losses.

68 wins and 14 losses! This is the best regular season record in Hawks franchise history, and also the best record for Jia Fei's team since he entered the league.

Jia Fei was very happy because he had completed the task of "leading the team to achieve the best record in the league" and received a reward of 5000 points.

He also completed the task of "perfect attendance in the regular season" and received a reward of 3000 points.

After the match, Jia Fei has a total of points in his account. Unfortunately, he still can't level up; the points needed for a 1% upgrade are insufficient.

Jia Fei was not discouraged, as there would be many more opportunities to complete the mission in the future.

The season is over, and the standings for both the Eastern and Western Conferences are out.

The top 8 teams in the Eastern Conference are: Hawks, Cavaliers, Bulls, Raptors, Wizards, Bucks, Celtics, and Nets.

The first round of the playoffs will feature the Hawks vs. Nets, Cavaliers vs. Celtics, Bulls vs. Bucks, and Raptors vs. Wizards.

In addition to team rankings, player statistics have also been released.

2014-15赛季，贾飞的第4个赛季，他一共出场了82场比赛，首发82场。在场均35.5分钟的上场时间里，他场均得到25.5分7.1个篮板5.6次助攻2.7次抢断1.2个盖帽，投篮命中率为50.2%，3分球命中为40.2%，罚球命中率为88.6%。

Compared to last season, Jia Fei's statistics have improved in almost every area, and his efficiency has also increased. Although he hasn't reached the "180 Club," he's really very close.

Jia Fei's stats are very well-rounded, excelling in both offense and defense. His basic and advanced stats are top-tier in the league. Combined with the league's best record and the "story" of never having won an MVP award, his chances of winning his first MVP are extremely high.

Jia Fei didn't win the scoring title, but he did win the steals title, completing the task of "becoming the season's steals leader" and earning a reward of 4000 points.

This is the first time in his career that he has won the steals title. His idol, Allen Iverson, won three consecutive steals titles at his peak, moving like the wind and stealing like lightning.

With the regular season over, major sports media outlets across the United States are predicting the playoff picture. Even with the league-best record, the Hawks are not considered a strong contender to dominate the Eastern Conference and reach the NBA Finals.

The biggest favorite in the East is the Cavaliers. They had an amazing run in the second half of the regular season, rising to second place in the East. With their Big Three, they are naturally the favorites in the playoffs, where star power is more important.

The most favored teams in the West are the defending champion Spurs, the Thunder with Durant and Westbrook, and the Rockets with the Harden-Mozart duo. As for the Warriors, currently ranked first in the West, they are not favored, because winning the championship based solely on three-pointers is unlikely.

In the first round of predictions in the Eastern Conference, both the Hawks and the Cavaliers are considered strong contenders to advance to the second round. While the Hawks aren't favored to make it out of the East, no one expects them to slip up in the first round. The Nets, with a record of 38 wins and 44 losses, are simply no match for them in terms of overall team strength or star power.

The Hawks are actively preparing for their first-round playoff matchup against the Nets.

One great thing about this team is that they don't easily underestimate their opponents. Whether it's the coaching staff, the team's core player Jia Fei, or key players like Horford, they are all very pragmatic and not the type to be arrogantly overconfident. This kind of attitude greatly reduces the chances of them suffering a major upset.

On April 19, after finishing his training, Jia Fei was interviewed by local Atlanta media.

When asked by reporters what his goal was for this season, Jia Fei only said three words – “championship”.

When asked by a reporter about his thoughts on their first-round opponent, the Nets, Jia Fei said, "The Nets are a team that made it to the playoffs. They are a strong team, and we will give 100% to this series. The regular season is over, and now the series is tied at 0-0, so everyone is on the same starting line."

The first game of the Hawks vs. Nets series will be played at the Hawks' home arena, Philips Arena, on April 20.

Jia Fei's former teammate, Kemba Walker, and his new girlfriend traveled to Atlanta to watch the game at Philips Arena. His team, the Hornets, failed to make the playoffs, which brought his offseason forward. For him, the offseason was still too long; even fishing every day gets boring, so he and his girlfriend came to cheer on his good buddies.

Kemba Walker's first words to Jia Fei and Art Mayork were: "Get your bait in good shape, or you'll have to come fishing with me. I've already baited the spot!"