Lack of chances because Hector's system detected red in the ankle. He is falling on an offensive rebound, but with more fear than harm, he will be absent only for two weeks. Patrick Ewing's debut game on an NBA bench ended with a loss to the Sixers.
The Kings didn't dare laugh about it and banned Hector from playing. He stayed in Sacramento with Belinda. Belinda won the NCAA Women's Championship and was selected in the second round of the WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever. Last overall in the WNBA this season, she had a minor role. The franchise is partnered with its Indiana Pacers counterpart in the NBA.
In the WNBA, the law is more ruthless than in the NBA. The WNBA has only 12 teams and only 12 spots available on each roster. With a maximum of 144 players in the league, franchises regularly cut players to fit into the quota of 12 available places on the roster, and even the most talented ones go there.
If an expansion of the league could solve this problem, the players are calling for an expansion of the rosters, which have only 12 places against 15 in the NBA. Some teams even opt for 11 players to pay their stars a little more while not exceeding the salary cap. The cut players have nowhere else to go since there is no equivalent of G-League for women.
Female players are not paid as much as players. Belinda doesn't have that problem because she has enough assets to live without basketball, but life for WNBA players isn't easy.
The season takes place in the summer, from May to August for the regular season and in September for the playoffs, a slack period on the American sports calendar. Many players also play outside the United States, especially in the Euroleague during the off-season. Belinda is not up for it at the moment. She has just given birth and had to leave the children in Mexico.
With her and Hector traveling all over the United States while Hector rests, they have decided to leave them with Belinda's parents and will visit them between September and November. Since they are not in school, it suits everyone.
Hector is nursing his ankle injury, but the Kings still have work to do. In his absence, the Kings won three games and lost two. He returned on December 5 to the Clippers, who had just beaten a few days ago. The staff has taken precautions; Hector will not start for a few games and must come off the bench. He knows he has not fully recovered from his injury; his ankle is still orange on the system interface. He knows it will take a week to recover fully, but basketball is an uncertain sport, and every move can aggravate an injury. Careers have broken this way, but Hector is aware of himself and will not force himself.
The Kings beat the Clippers for their third straight win over the Magic, a 142-130 victory where Hector recorded a triple-double off the bench. They will fall back into their ways with three consecutive losses on the road against Charlotte, Cleveland, and Toronto.
On December 15, the Kings beat the Wizards 105-119. Hector returned as a starter with his lowest point total of the season. He scored only 8 points. But he hasn't changed; he finishes his game with 15 rebounds, 9 assists, 3 steals, and 3 blocks.
Unfortunately, Fox will get injured and be out for at least five games. Patrick Ewing seeing his best element injured spoke with Hector in training.
"Hector, as you already know, De'Aaron will not play for a while. Your role will be crucial during this period. You will serve as the fixing point of the attack, and you will be the core. I planned to install this system next year but have no choice. Ewing said, his face serious.
Shooting has been the center's most significant change factor, but passing might be the most underrated aspect. In recent seasons, NBA centers have become increasingly involved in their team's offensive play. By having the centers play a more prominent role in orchestrating the attack, the guards and wings benefit from more flexibility and freedom off the ball. One way for teams to do this is to have their center take on the primary ball-handler role in a play, especially from a post-up position. By displaying, the center becomes an immediate scoring threat, diverting the defensive attention of his teammates.
"You'll have to get used to the point-center role because that's the role I've planned for you. If the results are conclusive, we will repair the embryo of next year's system now. " concluded the coach.