no shortcuts in basketball

Chapter 146 Another "Black Eight"

Time in training camp flies by quickly.

After a few days of observation and basically knowing the status of the players, Thibodeau began to group according to the status.

Those who are considered qualified by him will start tactical training under the leadership of Ma Long, while those who are considered unqualified by him will carry out high-intensity basic training on their own to quickly recover.

His principles are simple and can basically be summed up in two.

The first one is that competitive sports is not a dinner party. Whether it is on-court games or off-court training, he requires players to devote [-]% of their efforts.

"If you just don't want to be pushed to the limit, you will soon be eliminated by this league", this is Thibodeau's original words;

Second, everyone in the team has their own positioning and value, and no one is dispensable.

"If you don't know what you can do, come to me and I'll tell you."

If the previous one was harsh, then this one made Xu Yong see the gentleness he had seen a few nights ago.

Xu Yong found that in just a few days, he broke the rigid image of Thibodeau that was as rigid as Jeff Van Gundy in his mind before his rebirth. Thibodeau is a very capable and charismatic coach.

But it’s also true to think about it. A rookie head coach can take the Bulls who only added Boozer in history, and directly overwhelm the Heat’s Big Three to dominate the Eastern Conference for two seasons. There is no real material.

All in all, the Bulls, which experienced a big change during the offseason, after Thibodeau's ups and downs, let's not talk about how they performed, at least the team's cohesion was pulled up immediately.

Even O'Neal, who was assigned to be unqualified at the beginning, worked hard to recover on a bicycle under the sole guidance of Thibodeau.

The head coach of the Bulls is looking for it, and it is definitely worth it.

The time of the training camp passed quickly, and the preseason game started in a blink of an eye.

This year the Bulls' preseason games are all arranged in the United States.

There were no accidents in this process. With 7 wins and 0 losses, the Bulls showed the depth of their lineup.

Yes, it's not the strength of the team, but the depth of the lineup, because Thibodeau gave the substitutes many opportunities to show off.

This is not to say that he has become completely unknown to Xu Yong, but that the Bulls can play too much off the bench, and Thibodeau can only do this if he wants to explore the rotation.

And it is worth giving so much time. Hinrich and Korver on the outside and O'Neal on the inside have become his favorite 8-man rotation, and O'Neal and others will come later.

At the end of the preseason, ESPN, like in previous years, began to make a wave of predictions on the strength of each team in the new season.

James' team is also ranked first on this list.

This year, though, may seem like the most well-deserved year.

[-]. Heat
There has never been a super team. The Heat's Big Three had the highest MVP rankings of 1/5/12 last season, respectively. A team led by Grandma O'Neal can win.

In addition to the Big Three, they also signed Mike Miller with a mid-level contract, kept Haslem at a price below the market price, and "Big Z" Ilgauskas also followed James with a basic salary The Heat, just to realize a championship dream.

They also signed a group of low-salary players who came here admiringly and still have the ability to fight.

The only question is, can they beat the 72-win record that Michael Jordan led the Bulls in the new season?
[-]. The Lakers
The Lakers are still the same Lakers. Their reinforcements in the free market are very limited. They only brought Matt Barnes with a basic salary, but their greater changes will come from within. Bynum's growth will Provide maximum support for the team.

Kobe has a chance this season to become the player who completed three consecutive championships once or twice after Jordan.

Of course, it's very difficult, because the Heat are likely to make Kobe and the Lakers fall short.

But at least, fans finally have a chance to see 23VS24 on the stage of the finals.

[-]. Magic
[-]. Celtics
[-]. Mavericks
[-]. Spurs
[-]. Thunder
[-]. Bulls
The Bulls' performance last season was impressive, but instead of building around the roster, the management made another big trade, sending away two starters for the second straight season and changing teams head coach.

Although their signings in the free market have been quite fruitful, such a huge team change has caused worrying team chemistry, and Yao Ming's injury is also their biggest hidden danger.

If they can overcome these two problems, they may become a difficult opponent for the Heat in the Eastern Conference.

……

"Eighth? This guy from ESPN must have been kicked in the head by a donkey!" Artest was upset when he saw this strength list. They should be the top five teams at least, but now they are ranked in the top five. Thunder behind.

"Not bad, we were all No. 20 last year." Rose said with a smile.

"These guys really don't take us seriously." Artest was still aggrieved.

"Very good." Xu Yong stood up at this time, and his actions also attracted the attention of other people in the locker room.

"We can black eight again." He then said lightly.

When he said this, the team members were stunned for a moment, and then they couldn't help laughing.

Even Artest laughed belatedly.

Xu Yong’s words are very meaningful.

But it does make you happy right away.

They are ranked eighth. If they can kill the Heat in the playoffs, it will indeed be another "black eight".

Even, there is no need to wait until the playoffs.

"We played the Heat in the opening game, right?" Rose said at this time.

"Well, the alliance takes good care of us." Yao Ming, who had been silent all this time, looked expectant.

"Then get ready, brothers, let them see the strength of our Black Eight team." Xu Yong then looked around the crowd and said.

This pun made the Bulls players gear up for an instant.

For the opening game or something, it must be a resounding shot!

By the way, there are two opening games this year. In addition to the Heat and the Bulls, there is another game where the Lakers play the Thunder.

However, the treatment of these teams participating in the opening game is also different.

The Heat and the Bulls are the league's first and second most back-to-back players this season, and the teams that played at the beginning of the season are not weak.

Obviously, this is the special care given to them by Stern, who was almost stunned last season.

……

The season is about to start, and each team has completed the final layoffs one after another.

The result of the Bulls was the same as Xu Yong had expected before, and the veteran was left behind in the end.

Because the current lineup of the Bulls is relatively stable, even if there are any accidents, they can trade again during the season, so stability is the first principle.

For a veteran, as a player deep in the bench, he is less likely to get emotional, and can provide the team's young players with game experience.

At this moment, Xu Yong received a call from Sun Yue.

He didn't get a chance with the Suns before, but in the end he managed to stay on the Warriors' 15-man roster.

"Congratulations, remember to treat me to dinner next time you come to Jinzhou." Xu Yong joked.

He is really happy, no matter why the Warriors keep Sun Yue, at least Sun Yue can get good training.

For a men's basketball team that lacks guards, that's all that matters.

The footsteps of the season are approaching, and the media has begun to build momentum for the opening game.

The opening game between the Heat and the Bulls quickly attracted a lot of attention.

The first show of the Big Three, coupled with the entanglement between the Bulls and James, James and Yao Ming Artest, two old Rockets, the elements of this game are directly full.

The venue for the game is the United Center, home of the Bulls.

On this day, a large number of fans gathered early inside and outside the arena.

Although the World Championships allowed Chicago fans to experience the power of the Yao-Xu combination in advance, what they are really looking forward to is the Bulls in the new season.

You must know that this is the first time since Jordan retired that the Bulls have become a real championship team.

The enthusiasm of the gangsters is like a fire in winter, warming Chicago.

Of course, besides the fans, there were also many stars who came to join in the fun. For example, the popular female singer Taylor Swift appeared in the front row of the auditorium, and she became popular because she played the role of "Black Widow" in "Iron Man 2" before. Scarlett Johansson.

You must know that this opening game is still the first show of the Heat's Big Three.

This past offseason, the outside world was eagerly awaiting the debut of this super team.

But when the players from the two teams began to walk out of the tunnel, the fans' eyes were all attracted to the players.

At the beginning of the camera, the players on both sides were continuously shown, and the emotions of the fans on the scene were constantly ignited.

James, Wade, Xu Yong, Yao Ming, these are the All-Star starters last season, Bosh and Rose are also substitute players.

In this ordinary regular season, all six All-Stars were gathered at once. The starlight alone in this game is already dazzling enough.

The photographer also thoughtfully gave Xu Yong and James a split shot.

Xu Yong wore No. 23 in college, and James wore No. 23 before going to the Heat. Now both of them wear No. 6. This sense of destiny is simply the favorite of fans.

When the scene started to warm up, the commentator on the sidelines couldn't help but start to warm up.

The guests commenting tonight are also heavyweights, Barkley and Kenny Smith on TNT's ace commentator.

"Charles, who do you think will win tonight?" Smith asked.

"Who can win? Man, your way of asking questions is wrong, you should ask how many points the Heat can win!" Barkley raised the decibel with a dissatisfied face.

"I can't imagine the Heat losing, so the Bulls wish themselves luck!" Barkley then added.

Kenny Smith was delighted to hear that.

In fact, it is different from what many people think. Except for ESPN, other media are sneering at the Heat's hugging, but Barkley himself has hugged his thighs, so he can only make sense of it.

While speaking, the warm-up on the field ended, and the scene entered the opening ceremony.

The Heat took the lead as the visiting team.

When they came on stage, the fans at the scene also gave them the most enthusiastic... cheers.

Chicago fans don't care that the Big Three were once close to the Bulls, they just expressed the most primitive and true disdain in their hearts.

Among the Big Three, Wade smiled wryly when he played. From the United States to China, and then back to the United States, he has received more ridicule in recent months than in the first seven years of his career.

James nodded along with the boos, as if enjoying the feeling of being a public enemy.

As for Bosh, his face was expressionless when he appeared on the stage, and he didn't know what he was thinking.

Carlos Arroyo, Wade, James, Bosh, Ilgauskas.

The Heat's lineup of three and two is not bad at all.

When the home team, the Bulls, played, the familiar background music of "Sirius" burst into overwhelming cheers from Chicago fans.

The red flame will once again sweep the alliance!
The starting lineup of the Bulls is also very interesting, because the fans can confirm the starting lineup, only Rose, Xu Yong and Yao Ming, and the remaining variables are very variable.

The final starters came out: Rose, Tony Allen, Xu Yong, Artest, Yao Ming.

Thibodeau ended up with the lineup he used most in the preseason.

When seeing this lineup, James couldn't help laughing on the Heat's bench.

This lineup doesn't even have a serious power forward. Do you think Bosh can't beat Artest, or do you think Yao Ming can defend Bosh?

The Bulls chose a rookie like Thibodeau as their head coach, which is their biggest failure.

The final tactics were arranged, and the starters of both sides appeared one after another.

James still chose to be the last to appear on stage, and then found the position of the camera and threw out his domineering chalk.

He had to throw this chalk because it represented his team.

The jump ball between Yao Ming and Ilgauskas in the middle circle, and the fight between two 2+ giants basically depend on who is quicker.

In the end, Yao Ming, who had just finished the World Championships, was faster and won the opportunity for the Bulls to take the lead in attacking.

The Heat's head coach is Spoelstra. At this time, Spoelstra's resume is very similar to that of Mike Malone on the Bulls. The main difference is that he has been the head coach of the Heat for two years, but essentially he is still a coach. Rookie coach.

He was sitting on the bench right now, looking straight at the field.

In the opening game of the new season, he is still observing more.

Because he is coaching the Big Three, he must make sure that what he says is well-founded, otherwise the giants will fight against him, and he will not be able to work as a head coach for long.

Rose organized with the ball, and then quickly made tactical gestures.

Yao Ming quickly mentioned the high position to do an off-ball pick-and-roll for Xu Yong, and quickly cut to the basket after the pick-and-roll.

However, the Heat's defense was well trained by Spoelstra. James successfully squeezed through the screen, and Big Z also reached out to interfere with the passing route to Yao Ming. This wave of tactics did not get a good offensive opportunity.

Rose made a tactical gesture after seeing this, and Yao Ming directly pulled to the free throw line to set up a cover for Rose.

This time Rose successfully used Yao Ming's pick-and-roll to shoot a mid-range jumper near the free throw line.

"Shh!"

Basketball hollow into the net.

Rose's summer training has been fruitful.

The Bulls came out on top.

And from the Bulls' two consecutive offensive attempts at the beginning, we can see the Bulls' positional battle tactics, pick-and-roll.

This is also the reason why Thibodeau was so in a hurry to cut the pick-and-roll material before, because the practice of new tactics does not happen overnight, but takes a lot of time.

But the effort paid off. Judging from the opening performance, this tactic is very suitable for the Bulls' current lineup.

Of course, the Heat fans and players don't care too much, a 2-pointer, and Rose made it in a way he is not good at, so I will send it to you.

You must know that the Big Three are strong in offense!

Arroyo held the ball and advanced to the frontcourt, and obediently gave the ball to James who asked for the ball at the top of the arc.

This summer, as Xu Yong knew, James directly increased his weight to 120 kilograms.

The feeling of strength with muscles all over his body and even muscles in his mind made his self-confidence expand infinitely. He can't wait to prove that he is different from last season.

　My sense of taste and smell is basically gone...

　　
　
(End of this chapter)