warrior godfather

Chapter 551 Whiteside's Counterattack
Oakland, Oracle Centre.

In a large meeting room, the coaching staff of the Warriors gathered together, watching the replay of the game video on the projection screen.

After losing to the Grizzlies, the Warriors ended their four-way trip and returned to the Bay Area. With two days of rest, they will host the Pistons from afar on November 11.

Zhang Yu gave the players who traveled thousands of miles a day off, but the coaching staff had no rest time, so they could only study the game video with Zhang Yu.

They have been from 08:30 in the morning to 11:30, repeatedly paused, pulled back, and discussed within three hours, and finally studied the last six games of the Warriors carefully.

Snapped.

Zhang Yu pressed the pause button on the laser pointer, shook his stiff neck, and asked:
"Let's talk, everyone can speak freely, you can talk about any ideas and problems, we can't lose anymore, we must make changes."

Cole, Ron Adams and Fraser looked at each other, and finally Ron Adams spoke first:
"Ahem... Ronan, can you reduce Hassan's playing time? His negative impact on the defensive end is too great. I think you can let Yi try the fifth position, and you can also try the rotation lineup. Small ball lineup, which can alleviate the team's defensive problems."

Cole nodded in agreement:
"I think what Ron said is very reasonable. Hassan's time is a bit long, and Yi can be a cameo at the center position. Otherwise, the pressure on other people's rotation is too great. Many people have feelings for Hassan in their hearts. complaints..."

Zhang Yu bent his fingers, tapped the table lightly with his knuckles, pondered for a while, and shook his head slowly:

"No, Hassan's playing time can't be cut. His defensive problems are already big enough. If the data can't be improved, how can he trade? Steve, you can reassure the players and let them bear it. Tyson will immediately Just come back, and then everything will be back to normal."

After losing to the Clippers, Zhang Yu had the idea of ​​trading Whiteside, and then began to package Whiteside, increase his playing time, arrange pick-and-roll tactics for him, praise Whiteside, and guide public opinion... …

Although the Warriors suffered a three-game losing streak, Whiteside's data has steadily increased. As long as this period of pain is over, the Warriors will regain a bright future.

Cole nodded helplessly:
"Well, I'll try my best, but you don't know, Hassan is getting more and more...confident now, he really thinks you think highly of him and wants him to be Tyson's successor, and the relationship with other people is getting more and more troublesome. It's getting stiffer, the key is that he still can't see it..."

Ron Adams also added:
"I reminded Hassan many times to pay attention to his defensive position, but unfortunately, he has become accustomed to the current defensive style and is very resistant to making changes, or he agrees with his own way of playing from the bottom of his heart. , I suggest sending him away as soon as possible, otherwise if he continues to play like this, there will be a big problem with the atmosphere of the team.”

Zhang Yu frowned and sighed softly:
"Well, if anyone has a big opinion on Hassan, you can tell me, and I will come to communicate with him. Larry has been looking for trading opportunities during this time, and the results will be forthcoming."

"That's good. To be honest, we haven't suffered a three-game losing streak for a long time. People are a little flustered. We really have to win." Cole said solemnly.

Many times, Zhang Yu, as the head coach, has some words that are inconvenient to say. Cole is the buffer zone between Zhang Yu and the Warriors players. Zhang Yu can grasp the thoughts and emotions of the players through Cole, and the players can also use Cole to better understand Understand Zhang Yu's employment and arrangements.

In fact, this should be the job of the locker room leader, but there is no locker room leader in the Warriors.

Zhang Yu is used to controlling everything, and Curry is not a person who likes to speak off the court. Only Chandler played a role similar to Big Brother, but it is far from enough. Cole can only fill in the lack of it.

Later, the Warriors coaching staff discussed other aspects of the team's performance. Cole was mainly responsible for the Warriors' offense. He said:
"Drummond's three-point shooting rate has declined this season, falling to 33.2%, which is a bit far from last season. His shooting threat has decreased, and our space advantage in the fourth position will be greatly reduced."

Hearing this, Zhang Yu picked up the team statistics on the table, turned to Green's page, read it carefully, and said:

"Not only the efficiency, but also the output has dropped. Compared with last season, he averaged 0.4 fewer shots per game. The drop is a bit big... Fortunately, the sample is not large enough, and other teams are afraid to let him shoot... Let's see. , Frazier, you increase the proportion of shooting training in Drummond's training plan, so that he can get back the three-pointer as soon as possible."

"Okay." Fraser nodded, lowered his head and wrote it down in his notebook.

Ron Adams said:
"The defensive efficiency of the rotation lineup has dropped a lot. The points allowed per 101.3 possessions has increased from 106.4 to [-] points. This is not just a problem with Hassan. He also came off the bench before, and the overall defensive efficiency of the rotation lineup is declining."

Cole said indifferently:

"Is it the reason for Kawhi to start? The rotation lacks an outside defensive gate. It should be normal for the defensive efficiency to drop?"

Ron Adams hesitated for a moment and said:

"It's not impossible. The sample is too small, and it's hard to see the specific reasons, but this issue must be taken seriously. The decline in the defensive efficiency of the rotation lineup is an avalanche, and it can't be made up by offense. more pressure..."

Zhang Yu nodded slowly:

"I agree with what Ron said, now Stephen's playing time has come to 35.8 minutes, Clay's 35 minutes, Leonard's 36.3 minutes, Drummond's 37 minutes, the load is already quite large, the defense of the substitute The problem must be solved, Ron, do you have any good solutions?"

Ron Adams thought for a while, and said with some embarrassment:

"I can only emphasize the speed of the defensive rotation. After Chandler returned to the small forward position, he may not be used to it, and the defense has also declined. I will have a good talk with him tomorrow, as well as the overall defensive details. I will stress again, try to improve the defensive strength of the rotation lineup."

"Okay, let's do it like this. I'll urge Larry again. After Hassan's deal is completed, the backup's defense will definitely improve a lot."

The conversation then turned to player training, with Fraser saying:
"Ronan, Giannis didn't have the chance to play in these few games, but he still worked very hard in training with a good attitude. If possible, I can let Giannis play a game to inspire his fighting spirit."

Cole echoed:
"That's right, Giannis quickly adapted to the new training plan. Although his movement and control foundation is weak, he is not discouraged at all and has made significant progress. He should be trained in the game."

After the start of the regular season, the Warriors coaching staff formulated a new training plan for Antetokounmpo. On the basis of maintaining the original training, he added training on movement control and inside footsteps to improve his autonomous offensive ability.

Antetokounmpo's defense, inside finishing, and screen skills can no longer be improved simply through training. They must be honed in games. If he wants to continue to improve, he can only expand his skill pool.

Zhang Yu spread his hands and smiled wryly:
"I also want Giannis to play, but we have been losing now, how can we have time to train rookies?"

Several people are silent. According to the original plan, the Warriors' regular season should be relaxed and happy, with three quarters clocked in and a lot of time to train Antetokounmpo.

But Chandler's injury disrupted all of this, and the overall state of the Warriors' bench has also gone wrong. It is very difficult to win, and there is no garbage time for Antetokounmpo to play.

"How about it——" Zhang Yu's eyes suddenly brightened, and he said, "Let's send Giannis to the Development League. Anyway, he has no games to play if he stays on the team. Let him find his game experience in the Development League first, and wait for Tyson." Come back, get better and bring him back."

"I agree! Young players need to play the game in order to continue to improve. Giannis will go to the development league and have a lot of possessions, so he can hone his skills." Fraser said.

Cole and Ron Adams also nodded, and Antetokounmpo's going to the Development League was decided.

Finally, Cole suggested:
"We will play the Pistons in the next game, and then we will play the Thunder, followed by the Grizzlies and Trail Blazers. Can we not underestimate the playing time of the main players? If we want to win, the substitutes cannot be counted on... ..."

"The playing time of the main players is already long enough, how much more?" Zhang Yu said dissatisfied.

But to his surprise, Ron Adams and Frazier also agreed with Cole:
"Ronan, this is only a temporary decision. Stephen and the others are very young, and the current playing time is nothing to them. There is still room for increase."

"Yes, I think the playing time of the main players can be increased to between 37 and 38 minutes. After another 20 days, Tyson will come back, and their load will not be too great."

Zhang Yu saw that the coaching staff agreed to increase the playing time of the main players, he hesitated for a moment, and finally nodded:

"Since you all think so, then I can only agree. If the score is tight, let the main players come back in advance and take the initiative in our own hands."

He realizes that load management isn't popular right now, especially with young players.

The Warriors players are all young and their physical fitness is at its peak. The coaching staff believes that they can increase their playing time and help the team tide over the difficulties.

Although Zhang Yu still has some doubts in his heart, but thinking that Curry will play more than 36 minutes this season, it is after he suffered frequent ankle injuries. Now he is healthy and has not been troubled by injuries. If he plays a little more time, it should be fine. Big problem.

After the Warriors coaching staff resolved many of the team's problems, the time has come a little over.

With a big wave of Zhang Yu's hand, he invited the three of Cole to a high-end restaurant in downtown San Francisco for dinner as a token of condolence to them.

After eating, it was already three o'clock in the afternoon, and Zhang Yu dragged his tired body back home.

But he can't rest yet.

Zhang Yu picked up the phone and called Larry Riley:
"Larry, is there any progress on Hassan's deal?"

Larry Riley for:
"A few teams have contacted me, but they are all probing, and their attitudes are rather vague... It should be that the sample is not large enough for them to accurately evaluate Hassan's level."

"It seems that Hassan's statistics are still not impressive enough... In this way, if you continue to promote Hassan's trade, I will continue to increase Hassan's playing time and give him the ball. Remember, Hassan's selling point is the ability to protect the frame And the ability to finish in the penalty area, he is a behemoth who is very suitable for squatting in the penalty area, and most importantly, this is the first time Hassan has played as a starter, and he still has the potential to continue to improve, understand?"

"Of course, Hassan's data is the best proof. Give me a little time, and I will find the team that urgently needs potential insiders!"

……

The next day, the Warriors sent Antetokounmpo and Bazemore to the Santa Cruz Warriors, a G League affiliate.

The news didn't make any waves in the league, and it didn't even get the attention of many Warriors fans.

However, the Warriors attach great importance to Antetokounmpo's decentralization this time. Zhang Yu communicated with Antetokounmpo and explained to him the purpose of this decentralization.

Cole personally found the head coach of the Santa Cruz Warriors and carefully explained the training plan for Antetokounmpo.

This also made Antetokounmpo understand that this devolution is not an exile, but an emphasis on him, and he is very grateful to the team.

……

On November 11, the Warriors sat at home and easily defeated the Pistons 12:113.

Although the Pistons have two potential insiders in Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe, their overall strength is too poor and they were shot through by the Warriors' three-pointer.

However, this does not prevent Drummond from scoring a double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds. He and Brandon Jennings frequently played pick-and-rolls to attack Whiteside, and the effect was very significant.

But Whiteside's stats are not bad either. He scored 34 points, 27 rebounds and 12 blocks in 2 minutes. His playing time and scoring set new career highs.

In the post-match interview, Zhang Yu praised Whiteside's performance:

"Hassan showed his strength and potential on the court today. That's why I drafted him in the first place. He is our answer at the No. 5 position. I believe that Hassan will hold us up until Tyson returns. Inside!"

Warriors fans are also very satisfied with Whiteside's performance.

Although Drummond, who was facing him, also scored 20+10, Drummond was the 9th pick in the first round of the lottery pick. As a second-round pick, Whiteside's performance on the court is overwhelming. It can be said that it is very rare to win the lottery.

The media also noticed Whiteside's outstanding performance during this period, and reported on Whiteside's inspirational story from the second-round pick's counterattack to the championship team's starting center, which aroused widespread attention from fans.

Warriors fans have even begun to imagine the future development of the Warriors. When Chandler's contract is over, he will sign a long-term mid-level contract, take the starting position for another two years, and then let Whiteside take over.

Although Whiteside still has many shortcomings, Warriors fans believe in Whiteside's potential and believe that he is the main center of the Warriors in the future.

(End of this chapter)