no shortcuts in basketball

Chapter 131 The free market opens, and the wanderer wants to return home

"Puppy gait?"

After changing their clothes, the two returned to the arena. After Kobe sat down, he shared his defensive skills with Xu Yong, but Xu Yong was very surprised by this skill.

"Yeah, it's not in any textbook, but it's in Gary's head and mine." Bryant said, pointing to his head.

"Gary? Gary Payton?"

Kobe nodded.

Immediately afterwards, Kobe talked to Xu Yong about the details of this footwork.

The basic footsteps of basketball defense are called sliding steps. This sliding step is similar to Michael Jackson's space walk, and they are all moved by footsteps close to the ground.

The difference, of course, is that it's certainly not a single fallback.

Generally speaking, sliding steps can be divided into side sliding steps, forward sliding steps and backward sliding steps. In fact, they are the directions of retreating when defending, combined with turning the hips to maintain the defensive position and defensive center of gravity.

The puppy footwork Kobe mentioned is an advanced footwork invented by Payton based on his sliding step based on his own game experience.

It is no longer a single defense against the ball holder, but also against the defense without the ball.

It may be surprising to say it, but in a basketball game, the number of defensive rounds a player faces with the ball in a game is much lower than when he is off the ball.

Or to put it another way, if you weren't assigned to guard the opposing star, you could spend the entire game off the ball.

This is also the fundamental reason why Payton invented this footwork.

In this theory, according to Kobe, first you have to flatten your body.

In human terms, you have to shrink your body when defending. If you expand your body too much, you will easily collide with the opposing player, and then you will be forced to stop, and you will lose your defensive threat.

The second is to never take big strides, but to move with small slides and small steps.

To use Kobe's wonderful words, it was "like a page passing through a door."

To put it bluntly, it is to maintain movement and high speed on the defensive end, like a puppy, can move back and forth.

For example, if you are following a defensive player and his teammates set up a pick-and-roll on his defensive route, if you follow directly and take a big step, you will be easily blocked.

Don’t try to keep up after colliding with people, because basketball games, especially NBA-level games, are very fast, and your defender may have caught the ball and shot in the next second.

Conversely, if you're small and fast, you can sidestep right before contact and dodge right through that cover.

Because at this time, even if the person on the pick-and-roll sees you doing this, there is nothing he can do, because he cannot turn sideways or move, because that is a moving screen foul.

After listening to Kobe's description, and then recalling some scenes when he played against Kobe, Xu Yong soon realized that this was indeed the case.

In his impression, Kobe's defense is basically facing the ball holder. It is rare to see his defensive object get rid of him and get an easy shot, including himself.

With the theory, the next step is training.

To train this kind of footwork, Kobe also has a systematic method, which is also the key to helping him win the 7th best defensive team.

By the time the training was over, the two energetic people were finally out of breath from exhaustion.

At this moment, Kobe looked at Xu Yong with a hint of appreciation.

He has seen many players over the years, but Xu Yong is the first one who can persevere through such a series of toss.

"You know, James Harden and I are college teammates." Xu Yong said after taking a sip of water.

Kobe nodded, the Arizona State University Devils, Satan and Barr, he had heard this story before.

"But we are still good friends, so I saw the training video and game suggestions." Xu Yong continued.

Kobe was a little surprised at first, but then he patted Xu Yong on the shoulder with a smile.

This kid has changed. At first, he practiced the heavy pivot kick without telling him, but now he is so honest.

But don't tell me, this kind of frankness made him feel that the distance between the two of them has narrowed a lot.

"To be honest, that competition suggestion, combined with today's puppy steps, greatly improved my understanding of the competition." Xu Yong said from the bottom of his heart.

It may sound unbelievable, but the fact is that many things are not necessarily better than others if you see more. These understandings require ability.

He can foresee that next season, not only will he improve both offensively and defensively, but his reading of the game will go a step further.

This is also the reason why he was honest with Kobe, because this time, he really benefited a lot from Kobe, either indirectly or directly.

"I'm honored," Bryant said with a smile.

This answer surprised Xu Yong again.

He couldn't help but look at Kobe and raised the doubt that had arisen before: "I'm curious as to why you are willing to share these things. I mean, it should be something like an exclusive secret."

"No, I'm not always generous, I also depend on people." Kobe corrected Xu Yong.

"For those young people who have potential and are eager to improve, I will not be stingy, because I used to be like that." Bryant continued.

Xu Yong suddenly understood: "Like Gary Payton to you?"

Kobe nodded with a smile.

At the beginning, he was actually not good at defense. After an All-Star game, he found Payton and proposed his idea of ​​learning the opponent's defensive skills.

Payton at the time had the same choice as he made at this time, and he taught it to him without reservation.

"We are all competitive guys, and one more strong competitor will only make us stronger." Bryant continued.

At this point, Xu Yong finally understood.

A truly strong person will not worry about what I taught you, or whether you became stronger and replaced me.

On the contrary, as Kobe said, when you become stronger, it will stimulate him to become stronger.

It is through competition in this way that basketball will continue to develop towards a higher level.

"I understand." Xu Yong nodded, not only did he understand, but he also knew the meaning of it.

If this is a kind of inheritance, then he is also a part of it.

Perhaps this kind of inheritance can make the development of basketball in this world move in the right direction after his rebirth.

……

Xu Yong returned to Tempe after a week in Los Angeles.

At this time, the candidate contest is over.

The Bulls have given away all their first-round and second-round draft picks in several transactions last season, so they will be onlookers this year.

Their highlight is the free market after the draft.

The details of the operation of the Bulls last season are full. In addition to the contract sent away, Brad Miller, Nate Robinson, Kwame Brown, Damien Wilkins, Jerome Pargo, Chad's contracts all expire in the summer, and Bill Walker is also a team option.

There are only 8 people with contracts on the team lineup, Rose, Hinrich, Xu Yong, Deng, James Johnson, Gibson, Noah, and Aaron Gray. The total salary for the new season is 3700 million US dollars.

According to the data released by the league before, the 2010~2011 season was 5800 million US dollars.

By simple math, the Bulls have $2100 million in cap space for the new season.

Here is a small knowledge point. This version of the labor agreement does not have the so-called super maximum salary contract, so the maximum salary is the same. Those with a ball age of 0-6 years are 25% of the salary cap. 7% of the salary cap for 9-30 years, and 10% of the salary cap for players with more than 35 years of ball experience.

Like James, the starting salary of the maximum salary is 5800% of 30 million, which is 1740 million.

So now the Bulls have two options. One is to trade Hinrich (salary of 900 million for the new season) and try to sign two maximum-paid players in one step.

Another is to keep Hinrich, and then reinforce around the original lineup.

As for which plan to choose, it depends on the situation of the free market this year.

Yes, it's time for a full introduction to this crazy free market.

First gear: Kobe (player option), James (player option), Wade (player option);
Second tier: Yao Ming, Bosh (player option), Stoudemire, Nowitzki, Pierce, Ray Allen, Joe Johnson;
Pot [-]: David Lee, Boozer, Rudy Gay;
Others: McGrady, Iverson, Tyson Chandler (player option), Richard Jefferson, Scola, Al Harrington, Redick, Korver, Tony Allen, Mike Miller, Ronnie Brewer, O'Neal Jr., Big Z, O'Neal, Ben Wallace, etc.

Even Xu Yong had to turn his gaze away.

Because of the Bulls' actions in the summer, it will have a greater impact on his new season.

Really signing a giant, shooting rights, running-in, and team status all need to be adjusted.

……

As the door to free agency approaches, rumors begin to fly.

In addition to people believing that Kobe will definitely stay in Los Angeles, the rumors that broke out from other free agents have made it difficult to distinguish between true and false.

Some say James will head to New York, and after seven years in a small city like Cleveland, he's looking forward to life in the big city.

Some say Wade is trying to recruit other players to Miami, and he has no plans to leave the East Coast.

Some people even fell out with Nowitzki, and he no longer believed that Nowitzki could win the championship.

Along with the true and false rumors, the time came to July 7. In the expectation of the fans, the door to the craziest free market in NBA history officially opened.

Then, the fans discovered that this free market is not the same as in previous years.

In previous years, a large number of signings broke the news on the first day, but this year was exceptionally quiet.

Except for James and others who announced that they would opt out of player options as previously reported, there was no big-name signing.

Obviously, the whereabouts of James, Wade and others determine the trend of the entire free market. Those teams that have worked hard to vacate salary space in the past year are all waiting for the decisions of the protagonists this summer.

Chicago, United Center reception room.

Foreman was receiving two travel-savvy guests, Dwyane Wade, and his agent Henry Thomas.

"Chicago still makes people feel comfortable." Wade sat down and said to Foreman with a smile.

Gangster-ridden Chicago is more comfortable than glamorous Miami, and anyone can hear the implication.

That's right, as Xu Yong and Wade felt when they were engaged in activities during the All-Star Game, Wade had the idea of ​​returning to Chicago to play.

And, he's exploring that possibility.

"Of course, this is your home." Foreman said with a smile.

Wade laughed happily after hearing this: "Before I came here, I told my mother that I planned to buy a house here. She misses the days here very much."

"Yes, I believe Chicago fans will be looking forward to the return of a wanderer." Foreman also replied with a smile.

The conversation between the two went smoothly, and Wade even mentioned the scene of doing activities with Xu Yong in the All-Star Game.

"We are very compatible." Wade's words surprised Foreman.

At the end of the chat, Foreman also asked his assistant to take out a Bulls jersey number 3 with Wade's name printed on the back of the jersey.

Wade was very excited when he saw this and immediately put it on.

"It fits so well." Wade smiled and posed.

Foreman gave a thumbs up there.

Their exchange lasted about an hour.

After sending Wade away with a smile, Foreman was in a good mood.

This meeting was requested by Wade, and the final time was set earlier than their meeting with Bosh.

That's right, as Xu Yong expected before, the first goal of the Bulls in the summer is Bosh.

With Xu Yong's outstanding performance in his rookie season, they plan to build a lineup around the backcourt combination of Rose and Xu Yong.

In the current lineup, Noah and Deng's performance is in line with expectations. They want to strengthen, and power forward is the first target.

Bosh is their plan A.

But Wade is full of enthusiasm, and it is impossible for him to turn people away.

Moreover, the main point of the free market is that a plan cannot keep up with changes. If Bosh really can't be signed, signing Wade is not impossible.

So you will find that the communication between Foreman and Wade only stays on topics such as home and hometown. It seems that the two parties have a very happy chat, but it does not involve real team building.

As for the jersey, it was also Foreman who tested Wade's interest in joining the Bulls.

Judging from Wade's reaction, Wade is serious this time.

And he unexpectedly knew that Wade and Xu Yong got along well.

So after this meeting, he can decide on Wade as the team's plan B.

"By the way, what's going on with Chris?" Foreman then asked the assistant beside him.

In terms of time, Bosh should have arrived in Chicago almost.

"I called just now, and the phone was turned off. Maybe the plane was delayed." The assistant said.

Foreman nodded. The flight from Toronto to Chicago is an international flight, so delays are normal.

"I'm going to take a rest. If you have any news, please contact me." Foreman said and returned to his office.

……

Wade did not leave Chicago immediately after leaving the United Center, he went to a home buying center.

He really wants to buy a house in Chicago. Even if he fails to join the Bulls in the end, he still needs to own real estate in his hometown.

He was drinking coffee and listening to the agent introduce the house when his cell phone rang.

He picked it up and saw that it was James calling.

"Dwyane, what do you think about what the All-Stars talked about before?" James asked directly as soon as the call was connected.

　Special thanks for the 20000 reward I just came to see the genuine version! !
　　
　
(End of this chapter)