warrior godfather

After the Huaxia Games, the Warriors returned to the United States, and the training camp officially started.

Due to traveling across the ocean, the Warriors have only 4 preseason games. Except for the 2 China games, there are 2 more games, which are against the Lakers on October 10 and against the Trail Blazers on October 20.

Prior to this, the Warriors had 5 days of training time to recover and prepare for the new season.

Previously, the training camp for the Warriors was in vain because they were going to play in the Huaxia game. After two days of hasty training, they rushed to China. Zhang Yu still used the tactics of last season.

The Warriors players have been separated for a summer, and they have become strangers to each other a lot, but the four main players have played together in the Olympics, and the level of tacit understanding has not declined but increased, and they cooperate smoothly.

But on the first day of the reopening of the training camp, Zhang Yu announced something that caught everyone except Antetokounmpo and Green by surprise:
"Starting today, Giannis will start at power forward and Drummond will come off the bench."

When everyone heard the words, they were all surprised and looked at the two of them.

But Antetokounmpo and Green both looked as usual, and Green looked a little gloomy, but he remained calm and did not object to this decision that was extremely unfavorable to him.

In the subsequent training, everyone did not feel uncomfortable with the exchange of positions between Green and Antetokounmpo.

Antetokounmpo had often played with the main lineup as a member of the Death Five before, and Green also used the rotation lineup as an organization point from time to time.

Whether it is a starter or a substitute, they are used to partnering with the two, and they don't even need to rehearse tactics.

……

After practice, Warriors players left the Chase Center, but Curry stayed.

Zhang Yu took him to the office and asked:

"Stephen, what can you do with me?"

Curry sat down opposite Zhang Yu and hesitated for a while, as if he was a little embarrassed to speak.

Zhang Yu noticed his hesitation and said with a smile:
"I guess, is it about Drummond?"

Curry was struck by what Zhang Yu said, but he was relieved, nodded, and said:
"Yes, boss, Drummond has been performing very well in the past, why did he suddenly become a substitute?"

Zhang Yu didn't answer his question, but asked instead:
"What do you mean, you want him to return to the starting lineup and Giannis to return to the bench?"

Curry quickly waved his hand:

"No, who to start and who to substitute is the arrangement of the coaching staff. I have no right to interfere. It's just...it's just that I'm used to working with Drummond. If possible, can he be with Giannis? Starting? Like the finals..."

Zhang Yu said:

"Stephen, you should know the disadvantages of the five small lineups, right? Giannis doesn't have three-pointers, and Drummond is going to play in the Olympics this summer, and he doesn't have time to practice long-range shots. After these two preseason games, his three-pointers are not enough. No sign of recovery, if they start together, there are two drag points, how does the offense go?"

"I arranged this way in the finals because the Cavaliers' defense was too poor and the space on the offensive end was congested. It doesn't matter. On the contrary, the defense must be strengthened, but I can't arrange it this way when playing against other teams in the regular season, otherwise the offensive efficiency will inevitably decrease. decline."

Curry argued:
"It doesn't matter, me and Klay, Kawhi's shooting is accurate enough to make up for the lack of space, and it doesn't matter if they start together."

Zhang Yu smiled:
"Stephen, why do you want Drummond to start so much?"

Curry finally spoke his true thoughts:

"Drummond and I have been together for six years. We are brothers. Although his three-pointers are not as accurate as before, his passing is getting better and better, and his defense is getting better and better. I can't bear it. Watching him become a substitute..."

Curry and Green have been teammates for such a long time and won 4 championships together. Green made countless screens for him and passed hundreds of assists, the most among all Curry's teammates.

The two worked hard and struggled together, experienced the joy of winning the championship, and also experienced the bitterness of failure, and forged a deep brotherhood.

When Curry heard the news from Zhang Yu this morning that Green would serve as a substitute, he was shocked.

Although Green's reaction was very calm, he obviously knew about it and was persuaded by Zhang Yu, but Curry couldn't bear to see this scene, so he found Zhang Yu, hoping to make Green return to the starting lineup.

But his relationship with Antetokounmpo is also very good. The two have trained together for two summers. Antetokounmpo's admiration for him,
Curry knew it well and didn't want Antetokounmpo to return to the bench, so he made such a suggestion.

Zhang Yu sighed softly and said:

"Stephen, I understand your feelings. You think of Drummond so much that you really treat him as a brother. To be honest, if possible, I don't want Drummond to be a substitute. But for the sake of the team In the long run, I can only make him a substitute, which is a last resort, do you understand?"

Curry asked:

"Is it because of Giannis? Not only did he sign a big contract with the team, but he also asked for the starting position?"

Zhang Yu nodded:
"That's right, you've also seen that Giannis has been training hard for the past three seasons and has made great progress every year, but he has been playing as a substitute. He has long been dissatisfied. Once I have stabilized the starting position, if I let him play as a substitute again, he will definitely not renew his contract with the team."

Curry was disappointed:
"Okay, Giannis does deserve a starting spot, but can't he start at the same time as Drummond? Boss, I'm really not afraid that there is no space..."

Zhang Yu said:

"Of course I believe in your strength. Klay and Kawhi don't have high requirements for space, but the five small starters are not a long-term solution. The most suitable positions for Giannis and Drummond are power forwards, no matter who is playing center. , consumes a lot, and the risk of injury is higher, and in the end we still have to start with an orthodox center, it is better to let Drummond substitute from the beginning."

When Curry heard this, his expression became even more lost:
"I see, boss, so Drummond has no idea when he becomes a substitute? I know him. He is a very proud person. He shouldn't be able to accept this kind of thing, right? The relationship between him and Giannis Will the relationship be affected?"

Zhang Yu smiled and said:

"You don't have to worry, I have convinced Drummond that he accepts the position of the substitute, and the atmosphere of the team will not be affected."

Curry murmured:
"That's good... I'll go first, boss."

Afterwards, he got up silently and left Zhang Yu's office.

But after Curry opened the door, he suddenly turned around and asked:

"Boss, Drummond is leaving, isn't he? I don't believe he's going to accept the backup."

Zhang Yu was stunned for a moment, not knowing how to answer, so he could only nod his head:
Curry's expression darkened, he turned around and opened the door, and walked out.

……

On October 10, the preseason game between the Warriors and the Lakers will be held at the Valley View Casino Arena in San Diego.

After Kobe retired last season, the popularity of the Lakers decreased slightly, but they are still one of the most popular teams in the league.

But the strength of the Lakers has not improved because of Kobe's retirement.

The Warriors suppressed the Lakers and easily won 115:94, winning three consecutive preseason games.

The process of the game was lackluster. A bunch of young rookies from the Lakers played chaotically and were vulnerable in front of the defending champion.

Ingram, the second place in the list that people have paid much attention to, performed very poorly. He is talented, confrontation, technology, and shooting are all mediocre, and he only scored 6 points.

In addition, it is the fact that Antetokounmpo replaced Green in the starting lineup, which is the most eye-catching.

In the previous two China games, Green played as the starter, but in this preseason game, Antetokounmpo was replaced as the starter, which aroused many speculations from the outside world.

Some people think that this is Zhang Yu's intention to give Antetokounmpo more opportunities to practice in the preseason.

Some people also believe that Antetokounmpo signed a big contract and will be among the starters from now on, with Green reduced to a substitute.

The second statement has caused rebuttals. Green has been the starter all these years and has performed well. He has helped the Warriors win 4 championships. He is only 26 years old this year and is at his peak. How could he be reduced to a substitute?
But in the Warriors' fourth preseason game, Antetokounmpo still started and Green was still on the bench.

On October 10, the Warriors beat the Trail Blazers 22:112, but the attention of the outside world was not on the outcome of the game, but on the Warriors' lineup.

People are very surprised, is it true that Coach Z is going to let Green play as a substitute?

After the game, the reporter mentioned this issue when interviewing Zhang Yu.

Zhang Yu replied:
"Yes, Giannis will be the Warriors' starting power forward in the future, and Drummond will be a substitute."

As soon as this remark came out, there was an uproar at the scene, and the reporter asked:

"Ronan, can you tell me the reason for your arrangement?"

Zhang Yu said lightly:
"This is a decision made by the coaching staff out of tactical considerations. Doing so will help the team win more games."

"Ronan, do you think Drummond is not suitable for starting?"

Zhang Yu shook his head and said:
"No, Drummond definitely has the strength to start, but Giannis is more suitable to be the starter. He can accept the position of the substitute and made a lot of sacrifices..."

The reporter asked Antetokounmpo, and Antetokounmpo said:

"I accept all the arrangements of the boss. If the boss asks me to play as a substitute, then I will play as a substitute. If the boss asks me to play as a starter, then I will play as a starter."

In the end, the reporter found the master Green, and the question was also very provocative:
"Drummond, what do you think about losing your main position?"

But Green didn't blow up at one point, with full firepower, as the reporter expected. He definitely didn't mean to be irritated, and replied calmly:

"I accept the arrangement of the coaching staff. It is out of tactical needs. Whether it is a starter or a substitute, I will go all out on the court and work hard to win. I am very happy to see Giannis as a starter. He is a Great player..."

The reporter asked a few more questions, but Green's answers were all official, and they could only return disappointed.

Sorry for the late update.