warrior godfather

Chapter 291 The Problem of the Warrior

5月9日晚上09:30，勇士和灰熊的G4在孟菲斯联邦快递中心球馆如期举行。

After watching the video in the conference room for a day and being scolded by Zhang Yu for a day, the Warriors players deeply realized their mistakes and did not dare to relax at all. They showed a desperate attitude in this game, and their confrontation was fierce. , The toughness of the action surprised the Grizzlies fans who have always advocated physical confrontation.

But unfortunately, the Warriors still lost the game.

Although the Warriors used their lives and Zhang Yu's tactics were perfectly executed, there was a problem in the most critical link-Curry couldn't throw the ball into the basket.

The scoring leader of the new division did not feel very good tonight. All 5 three-point shots in the first quarter ended in iron strikes. Although he used a lot of shots to develop some touch and his state recovered slightly, he still did not return to normal level.

全场比赛下来，库里疯狂出手33次, 却仅仅命中11球，其中三分球18投4中，罚球7中4，得到32分4助攻5篮板1抢断2失误，表现非常低效。

It was also his poor performance that caused the Warriors to lose to the Grizzlies 84:90.

In fact, Curry has no problem playing. No Grizzlies player can limit him one-on-one. Whether he faces Conley, OJ Mayo or Battier, he can use exquisite dribbling and unpredictable rhythm. Shaking out the shooting space, but the ball just didn't go into the basket in the end, making all his technical moves useless.

And as long as Curry can't maintain a high-yield and mid-efficiency output, the Warriors' offense will collapse immediately, and no one else can fill his scoring gap.

The Warriors only scored 84 points in the first quarter, 14 points behind the Grizzlies. The basket at the FedEx Center was almost smashed by the Warriors.

In the end, the Grizzlies only won by 6 points. It was because of the Warriors' defensive enthusiasm that they pulled the Grizzlies' offense to the same level as the Warriors, and gradually recovered the point difference.

It's just that Curry's touch has been unable to recover for a long time, wasting a lot of shots, and the Grizzlies have more experience in this kind of defensive battle than the Warriors. They played a full 3 24-second violations in the fourth quarter, dragging time , and Curry, who missed too many shots, was a little anxious. He made a few strong shots, but they all ended in iron strikes. The rebounds were still firmly protected by the Grizzlies.

The performance of the Grizzlies Twin Towers was actually not very good. Randolph made 21 of 8 shots, 7 of 5 free throws, scored 21 points and 12 rebounds, Gasol Jr. made 12 of 5 shots, made 6 of 6 free throws, scored 16 points and 15 Rebounds are not efficient.

But they protected the rebounds very well, blocked the Grizzlies' restricted area, contained Jeremy Lin, Butler, Chandler and others' offenses in the restricted area, successfully defended the Grizzlies' home court, and tied the big score to 2: 2 levels.

Although Butler scored 18 points by relying on mid-range shots and three-pointers, his most important means of independent attack is to finish close to the frame and cause damage. When the Grizzlies do not give him space, the scoring output that can be handed over is very limited. Can't support the Warriors' offense when Curry feels bad.

As for Clay, needless to say, in these four games against the Grizzlies, his scoring average was only 12.3 points. It can only be reflected in the season, and now the Warriors can't count on Clay's offense at all.

After losing G3 and G4 one after another, the Warriors players were very frustrated. The locker room of the visiting team at the FedEx Center was silent. They were not worried that Zhang Yu would get angry. The coach's criticism, but everyone is obviously working hard, but the feeling of losing is really uncomfortable.

pat.

Suddenly, the door opened, and Curry walked in after the interview. Zhang Yu was interviewed behind him and would come back later.

He returned to his seat with a disappointed expression, and packed up his belongings.

After Curry packed up, Zhang Yu hadn't come back yet. He didn't need to guess and knew that the boss must be defending his poor performance.

He came back so early today because Zhang Yu blocked many problems for him, and finally let him come back.

Curry is very grateful for this. No player wants to look back on his poor game, and every night when Curry feels bad, Zhang Yu will deliberately protect him so that he does not need to face the indiscriminate bombardment of reporters. General questions.

But Curry will never forget the nightmarish experience tonight. Seeing the rebounds and passes that his teammates struggled to protect and steals turned into a strike in his hands, he couldn't calm down.

Why can't I vote in it?If I can make a shot, I will not let down the efforts of my teammates.

Curry's mood kept tumbling, and his mood kept changing. Unwillingness, annoyance and shame flooded his heart in turn, and there was even a little inexplicable anger.

Finally, Curry took a deep breath, suppressed all the complicated emotions in his heart, looked up at his teammates, coughed lightly, and slightly amplified his voice:
"Uh, sorry, I didn't play well today and lost this game, if I can make a few more shots, we can win the game, and we don't have to go back to Oakland with a big score of 2:2... "

“No, Stephen, it’s not your fault.”

"That's right, Stephen, you didn't do anything wrong, you just feel bad, it's normal, you don't need to blame yourself for it..."

Hearing Curry's sincere and self-blaming speech, everyone looked at him, and before he finished speaking, they shook their heads and waved their hands, saying that it was not his fault.

Green even said bluntly:
"Stephen, if we want to say sorry, we should also say that we can't share your offensive pressure, so that you need to score high points in every game to win. If we can score, you don't feel good. question."

"Drummond is right," Clay said a little unwillingly, "If I can seize those short open opportunities and make more three-pointers, we can win the game... Stephen, the loss is complete." Don't blame you, you didn't do anything wrong, you implemented the coach's tactics, but I didn't even have the ability to execute the tactics..."

Clay's words caused everyone to fall into silence again.

They are not fools, let alone blind. They are all clear about the evaluation of the outside world, such as "Curry and his four burdens", "the scoring champion and his screeners", "the Warriors only have three offensive players— —Curry, Butler and Klay and Jeremy Lin combined” and so on.

The low-intensity regular season can still cover up the problem of the Warriors' weak offense, but in the face of the Grizzlies' tough defense, this problem was completely exposed. Only then did people realize that the Warriors' seemingly strong offense was all due to Curry alone. support.

Under Curry, Butler, the Warriors' second-best scoring average, only scored 16.7 points, followed by Clay's 14.3 points and Chandler's 11.2 points. Besides, no one scored in double figures. .

As a result, the ridicule and ridicule of other Warriors players followed. You must know that even the Bulls, who are known for their defense, still have Luol Deng and Boozer as helpers for Rose, but Curry has only two players who have just entered the league. Soon rookie.

Although everyone knows that the Warriors have just undergone a major change last season and entered the rebuilding period. It is already remarkable to be able to achieve such results, but people are like this, and they are not greedy enough. Win the championship immediately so they can have the upper hand when they play against other fans.

These voices quickly reached the ears of the Warriors players, Chandler and other veterans didn't feel much about it, they were originally defensive players.

Rookies like Butler, Clay, and Green can't take it calmly. They know that they are expected by the team, and Zhang Yu has expressed their importance many times, but they have not been able to show the corresponding performance. It's hard not to feel shame and self-blame.

These emotions were covered up under the victory before, but in the face of the failure, the problems were completely exposed, and shame and self-blame surged up from the bottom of every player's heart.

pat.

In the silence, the door of the locker room was pushed open, and Zhang Yu walked in. He looked around and said with a smile:

"Okay, you know what I'm going to say, you all played great today, the tactics were executed well, everyone gave their all on the court, this is the game I want to see! Losing is no big deal , The Grizzlies just tied the big score just now, and the next game will be back in Oakland, which is our home court, just win the game, just smile!"

His words had some effect, and the atmosphere in the locker room eased a little, but it was still very dull. Everyone just smiled reluctantly, and they were not in the mood to chat.

"Let's go, go home early and rest. We will have half a day off tomorrow, and we will start training in the afternoon!" Zhang Yu said.

Subsequently, the Warriors walked out of the FedEx Center, boarded a minibus, and headed to Memphis International Airport.

They will fly back to Oakland on a special plane overnight to prepare for the G5 against the Grizzlies the day after tomorrow.

Zhang Yu was the last one to board the minibus. After the driver started, he didn't sit down, but leaned on the seat, walked from beginning to end, and praised every player he passed by with his usual expression, as if the Warriors didn't lose tonight. Instead, it took away the victory from the Grizzlies at home.

"Klay, I've seen your improvement in defense. You've done a great job, but your shots are still not firm enough. Remember, when you catch the ball and shoot boldly, you are the end point, not the support point!"

"Drummond, I can see your hard work. You are a real tough guy. Just fight like this and let Randolph know how good you are. The Warriors' restricted area is not something he can play wild!"

"Tyson, renewing your contract with you is one of the most correct decisions I have made. With you guarding the inside of the Warriors, I can rest assured."

"Jimmy, smile—yes, that's it. Has anyone told you that you look good when you smile? No one? Well, someone said it today, keep going!"

"Stephen, God wants you to rest today. You don't need to blame yourself. You did all the right things, but you didn't make a shot. Go back and rest. The team needs your score the day after tomorrow."

"Alian..."

Zhang Yu walked past the players one by one, and his voices of comfort and praise reached everyone's ears. The low pressure that had been pervading the heads of everyone after the loss gradually eased.

When Zhang Yu came to the tail of the CMB and made some "pertinent" suggestions for Whiteside's way of waving the towel, there was finally a burst of laughter in the CMB.

"...Hassan, when practicing swinging the towel, don't forget to practice the ball well and learn how to defend and finish from Tyson. I don't want to watch Ilgauskas fight the opposite center all the time!"

After Zhang Yu finished speaking, Big Z agreed;
"Yeah, boy, I won't be able to play for a few years, and the Warriors need your support inside."

Tyson also joked:

"Hassan, help me carry my bag, and I'll teach you how to defend."

Whiteside scratched his head in embarrassment, and smiled;
"Coach, I know my basic skills are not good enough, I must practice hard and try to help the team as soon as possible!"

"Hassan, do you actually know that your basic skills are not good? You told me yesterday that you will be a center forward in the future!" Green, who was in the front row, turned around and said loudly.

"No, I'm joking, I'm joking!" Whiteside blushed and quickly explained.

"Hahaha……"

The laughter in CMB grew louder, and Zhang Yu walked back to his seat with a smile, and said loudly:
"Okay, don't think about it after the game, just focus on me for the next game. G6 will be played in Memphis. If we lose in G5, we will be very passive and may have to wait until September. We're playing at Oracle Center, so we can't let the Grizzlies grab match point first!"

"Boss, don't worry, I will be very accurate in the next game, even more accurate than these few games!" Curry said firmly.

"I will protect the penalty area and the rebound." Chandler said very simply, but reassuring.

"Coach, I may not be doing well enough, but I will do my best." Clay said calmly.

"coach……"

Everyone has made their commitments, and no one is immersed in low emotions anymore.

Zhang Yu nodded lightly and said:
"Very well, focus all your energy on the game in front of you, don't think about other things, don't be disturbed by the outside world, that's something you only need to consider in summer."

He knows that because of the loss in the past few days, the criticism of the Warriors by the media and fans has suddenly increased, and the Warriors' lack of scoring points has also been exposed, which has affected the mentality of the team, especially the young players.

But this cannot be solved overnight. It needs hard training in the offseason to solve it, and it is useless to say more.

Zhang Yu didn't blame anyone. He just wanted to shift the players' attention to the upcoming G5. Victory can cover up all the problems. After the playoffs, there will be plenty of time to solve these problems.

And this period of time may be more abundant than everyone imagined.

(End of this chapter)