warrior godfather

Chapter 369 The Height That Shouldn't Be
The world is impermanent, but the fate of some people seems to be doomed.

Roy still failed to escape his fate. Last season, he removed the meniscus of both knees, and his performance plummeted. After playing 47 games, he averaged only 12.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.

The Blazers couldn't bear this situation. The management announced that Roy would have an "indefinite truce" because of knee soreness. Subsequently, Roy completed arthroscopic repair operations on both knees.

In the playoffs, Roy announced his comeback, but his performance declined further compared to the regular season, averaging only 9.3 points, 2.8 assists and 2.2 rebounds per game, becoming a role player.

Only when G4 led the team to complete a 23-point comeback, Roy scored 18 points in the fourth quarter and hit an emergency stop jumper that cut into the penalty area in the last 39.2 seconds, showing the sharpness and glory of his former cold-blooded killer.

But Roy, who lost two menisci, is no longer the "yellow mamba". The Blazers lost to the Mavericks 2:4. Roy also announced his retirement after the end of the season and left sadly. Union.

Losing Roy, the Trail Blazers, who were able to enter the playoffs last season as the sixth in the Western Conference, have plummeted this year and are only ranked tenth in the Western Conference. Head coach McMillan also dismissed get out of class after the All-Star break, and assistant coach Caleb Keller Canales became the team's interim head coach.

But this did not save the Blazers. In the four games Caleb took office, the Blazers only achieved 1 win and 3 losses, not even as good as McMillan's record.

However, when Caleb was in a state of desperation, the Warriors sent warm care to the Blazers at the right time.

In this game, the Warriors team felt strangely inaccurate, and everyone was in poor condition, including Butler who had just returned.

This situation is very normal. Every team will have a few games in a season. The whole team seems to suddenly become unable to play. throw in.

The Blazers happened to catch up with the Warriors who had no form. At the beginning of the game, they beat the Warriors 10:2. Zhang Yu called a timeout to adjust, but it was useless, because the Warriors played according to tactics, but they just couldn’t shoot. After the first half, the Warriors fell behind by 15 points.

In the second half, Zhang Yu made adjustments. Since he couldn't make any shots, he simply put on an extreme defensive lineup, lowered the Blazers' offense to the same level as the Warriors this time, and fought hand-to-hand with the Blazers.

So, Tony Allen, Green, Butler, Leonard and Chandler started the game in the third quarter, ready to play a defensive battle with the Blazers.

However, in the first half, the Trail Blazers with a big tailwind had already gained the upper hand in momentum. All the Trail Blazers players went crazy. Aldridge became the peak Dirk Nowitzki, Batum became the French magician, Raymond Fei Incarnation of Paul in the City of Torn, Leton has shown a performance far beyond the usual level on the court. Facing the Warriors' extreme defensive lineup, he can also maintain a high scoring efficiency.

Zhang Yu persisted with this lineup for half a quarter, but the point difference was further widened. He made another adjustment and replaced Jeremy Lin, Clay, Butler, Danny Green and Yi Jianlian with a pure offensive lineup. , a desperate fight.

As long as the game is not over, Zhang Yu will never give up, and he will do everything possible to find that slim chance of winning.

But if miracles happen often, it can't be called a miracle. The Warriors didn't regain their form because of Zhang Yu's substitution adjustment, and they haven't been able to close the point difference.

In the end, the Blazers beat the Warriors 124:104, Caleb could finally take a breath, and the temporary coaching position was preserved.

After the whole game, the Trail Blazers blossomed a lot. The five members of the team scored in double figures. Aldridge had 23 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists, Raymond Felton had 25 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds, and Batum had 17 points and 8 rebounds. 4 assists, Crawford 11 points, Babbitt 10 points, played an almost perfect offensive basketball.

勇士球员的发挥就凄惨了许多，巴特勒21投8中，三分3中0，罚球6中4，砍下20分7篮板4助攻2抢断1封盖3失误，效率极低。

林书豪17投6中，三分4中1，罚球3中3，得到18分7助攻4篮板1抢断5失误，效率也不高，失误数惊人。

But no one feels disappointed. The Warriors all understand that they did not lose to the Trail Blazers, but to themselves. The next game when the two teams meet again, even if Curry does not play, the Warriors cannot lose so many points.

However, the Warriors, as the number one in the league, lost to the trailblazers in the Western Conference, which still aroused criticism from the outside world. It is generally believed that the Warriors without Curry are not to be feared. In just seven games, they only had a record of 4 wins and 3 losses, leaving only a gap of 1.5 wins behind the Spurs. The number one in the league is about to change hands
……

On March 3, the Warriors came to Los Angeles, and they will challenge the Lakers away the next day.

This is a tough battle. Curry failed to come back before this game. His ankle has not gone down, and there is no soreness, but he still has a slight discomfort. Schwartz said that he can play, and the risk is very high. Low, Curry himself really wants to play, but just to be on the safe side, Zhang Yu still let him continue to cultivate at home and wait until April to play.

This is not playing in the finals. He can not be number one in the regular season, but he will not let Curry take the slightest risk in this "irrelevant" time, even if the number one position in the Warriors League is at stake.

However, although Curry was unable to play, the Warriors players were full of fighting spirit. They were all suffocating, and they were fearless even facing the Lakers.

During this period of time, the Warriors won or lost, and there were more and more criticisms of the Warriors from the outside world. After the last disastrous defeat to the Trail Blazers, the criticism from the outside world also reached its peak. There was even a voice saying that Butler relied entirely on Curry, who averaged 20+ per game, was selected as an All-Star by the Huaxia people under the credit of Zhang Yu and Yi Jianlian. In fact, he is not worthy of being selected as the All-Star starter at all.

Jeremy Lin, who performed amazingly during this period, has not been criticized too much. He is only a second-round pick, and he has not won any honors. He was ordered in danger after Curry was injured. Qualifications.

The one who got sprayed the worst was Zhang Yu.

When Curry was injured and the Warriors lost, people immediately pointed their fingers at Zhang Yu, slamming his coaching level, saying that he is a "parasite", "vampire", and "hermit crab" who completely depend on Curry to survive, relying on Curry has won two NCAA championships. After acquiring the Warriors, he chose Curry at all costs. The team had to be demolished to support him, because Zhang Yu knew that it was impossible to rely solely on himself, and he only wanted to attract Curry. of blood.

After Zhang Yu saw such a report, he couldn't help but laugh. He didn't take it seriously at all. On the contrary, the Warriors players were filled with righteous indignation and defended Zhang Yu. Curry was even more excited and insisted on playing the game, but Zhang Yu stopped him.

On March 3th, at 27:08 in the evening, the game between the Warriors and the Lakers began amidst the chaos.

This is a battle between No. [-] in the West and No. [-] in the West. Of course, it is also broadcast live in the United States. The Lakers are one of the most popular teams in the past ten years. The Warriors are emerging forces that are rising rapidly. The contest between the two sides has attracted the attention of a large number of fans. .

But contrary to this huge attention, the game has shown a one-sided situation since the first quarter.

Mike Brown has done detailed research on the potential opponents of the Warriors in the playoffs, and defense has always been his best field. Under his careful arrangement, the Lakers scored 14:6 after the opening and have been maintained its lead.

Mike Brown's defense is very simple, that is to guard Jeremy Lin strictly, and even double-team him when necessary, forcing him to play and let the rest of the Warriors handle the ball.

After the start at 14:6, Zhang Yu quickly called a timeout and made adjustments to let Butler sit on the weak side, or let Jeremy Lin hold the ball to launch a pick-and-roll, but instructed him to quickly transfer the ball to the weak side when he encountered strict defense , with Butler as the second starting point.

The Lakers poured their defensive attention on Jeremy Lin, and they must loosen their control over Butler. Butler has plenty of space for singles on the weak side, and even gets small open opportunities from time to time.

But what he faced was the dedicated Artest.

In the first two seasons, Artest suffered from Butler several times. This time, he treated Butler as Pierce, Durant, Anthony, and James. He focused on the defensive end and successfully restricted Butler. In singles, the Warriors' offense was once again blocked.

Zhang Yu's plan failed, so he made another plan. Since Butler's singles encountered obstacles, he asked Butler to initiate a pick-and-roll and let him use the cover to get rid of Artest.

In the first two pick-and-roll rounds in which Butler launched the pick-and-roll, the Lakers adopted a strategy of switching defenses. Butler immediately used his speed to break through Gasol and score points at the basket. Mike Brown responded accordingly and decisively flanked Butler.

However, Butler was caught in a pincer attack and couldn't grasp the timing of the ball. He was either impatient or hesitant to handle the ball. He made frequent mistakes. The Lakers seized the opportunity to counterattack.

On the sidelines, Zhang Yu had no choice but to call a timeout again, reducing Butler's possession of the ball, allowing Green to deal cards at the top of the arc and play a pass and cut.

But the pass and cut didn't work either. Mike Brown didn't care about Green directly. Under his arrangement, the Lakers players let Green take a step and let him shoot casually, focusing on preventing other Warriors players from receiving the ball.

Green has the opportunity to open wide, of course he has to shoot, but he is not Curry, nor Klay, even if he is wide open, he only shoots in the early 40s. The Lakers can fully afford to lose points on Green. It never came close.

In desperation, Zhang Yu became a living horse doctor and replaced Thomas Jr., and he immediately scored two goals relying on his speed, but looking back, Thomas Jr. was repeatedly targeted on the defensive end, and the points lost were worse than the points scored. Many, Zhang Yu can only replace him.

Now, Zhang Yu was completely helpless.

Jeremy Lin has never been a guard who can handle the ball calmly under high pressure, otherwise he would not be worth what he is now; Butler has not yet developed the top ball handling ability in the league at his peak, and he is still a big turnover; There is no finals G7 scoring 6 three-pointers and scoring 32 points; Thomas Jr. is not the "Earth's Strongest 175", his scoring on the offensive end is completely unable to make up for the loopholes caused by the defensive end.

They are all the people in the Warriors who can handle the ball, but they all have various flaws and cannot crack the Lakers' defensive strategy. The Warriors naturally fall into a disadvantage on the offensive end.

In the end, the Lakers defeated the Warriors 105:95 at home with their successful defense, giving the Warriors their first two-game losing streak of the season.

The score in this game was not high, and the Warriors did a very good job defensively. Even without Curry, the Warriors lost a weak point on the defensive end. It was easier for Zhang Yu to arrange defensive tactics. The answer is that the Lakers' score was pushed to more than 100 points, and every point the Warriors got was extremely difficult. It was Thomas Jr. who made two three-pointers in garbage time, which made the Warriors' loss not so ugly.

After the game, the Warriors returned to the locker room. Zhang Yu looked at the group of frustrated players in front of him, especially Curry, who deliberately ignored him in anger.

The disadvantages of Curry's absence were completely exposed in this game.

This group of young players in the Warriors has extraordinary potential. They only realized a part of it this season and helped the Warriors reach the No. [-] position in the league, but all of this is based on Curry's foundation.

Except for Butler who barely reached the threshold of a star, everyone else is a functional player with very distinct advantages and disadvantages, and even Butler lacks the ability to make hard decisions.

When Curry is on the court, he attracts most of the opponent's defensive attention. They can play very well in an environment without pressure, and they cooperate with each other very well. The Warriors seem to have no shortcomings and are a perfect team.

But as long as there is no involvement of Curry and the opponent's defensive pressure is dispersed, the shortcomings of the Warriors' young players will be revealed in an instant. Their strength is not strong enough, nor stable enough, and they have almost no parry against strong teams.

It can be said that Curry brought the Warriors to heights they shouldn't have, including Zhang Yu.

Fast forward three years, even without Curry, Zhang Yu can coach the Warriors to dominate the league, but now, the rise of the Warriors is based on Curry's strong strength, and even Zhang Yu's coaching is just icing on the cake.

Zhang Yu also has a clear understanding of this. Basketball is always decided by the players. No famous coach can bring out a strong team without a superstar. In the NBA, superstars are always the masters of the game. Popovich, Cole , Phil Jackson, after leaving the superstar, have led the team to play a very miserable record.

Zhang Yu is no exception. A clever woman can’t cook without rice. No matter how exquisite his tactics are, he needs superstars to execute them on the court. Curry is the superstar who implements Zhang Yu’s tactics. Without Curry, no one else is enough threat. It's okay, but against a strong team, it's hard to win.

However, the difference between Zhang Yu and all other famous coaches is that they can only follow superstars, but Zhang Yu can make superstars follow him.

(End of this chapter)