Rebirth of Hayes Cyclone

Chapter 3 [Drinking Pepsi on Heroes]

Jeff - Van Gundy's first sentence made Hayes overjoyed. "I want you to be the starting power forward next season!"

"Then I won't let you down. Hehe." Hayes couldn't help laughing.

In fact, Hayes had already expected this result, but he didn't expect happiness to come so quickly.The Rockets' power forward position is very weak. Apart from themselves, only veteran Juwan Howard can be used.As Howard grows older, his physical condition has been deteriorating, and he has been unable to keep up with the rhythm of the game on the defensive end.On the offensive end, he can only rely on CIC to provide some support for the team.On the other hand, Hayes has a tough defense, is in his prime, and has good prospects for development.The only disadvantages are only the disadvantage of height and lack of scoring ability on offense.

Now that Jeff Van Gundy saw Hayes shooting practice, he immediately had the idea of ​​letting him start, because he no longer has the problem of not being able to score.

"You kid is quite confident. I can let you start, but you have to fully implement my tactical arrangements." Jeff Van Gundy smiled and brought out a 2-liter bottle of Pepsi from under the table. "Come on? I can't drink alcohol due to my current physical condition, but I can still drink some Pepsi."

"Coach, I can't drink it. Isn't cola forbidden for us players? It's bad for bones..." Hayes said in a daze.

Athletes are absolutely forbidden to drink carbonated beverages such as cola, because drinking too much of this beverage will have a great adverse effect on the bones of athletes, that is to say, drinking this beverage will make athletes prone to fractures, so drinking it in the sports world Some alcohol is nothing, but carbonated beverages such as cola are not allowed.

"Exaggeration is prohibited, and it's okay to drink occasionally. Otherwise, you will only be thirsty. The bucket of water has not been changed for more than a month, and I think it is a miracle that there is no moss." Jeff Van Gundy pointed to the drinking water not far away. said the machine. "If you drink Coke once and your bones become brittle, then PepsiCo should have closed their doors. Are they selling poison?"

Hayes is right when he thinks about it. Football stars like Henry and Beckham are still advertising for Pepsi. If they don't drink at all, wouldn't they be deceiving consumers?He took two plastic cups from Jeff Van Gundy and filled them up.

"Tell me what you think of the new season." Jeff Van Gundy said, taking a sip of Coke.

"This..." Hayes hesitated.Jeff Van Gundy came across as a notoriously self-centered, stubborn, and ignorant of other people's opinions.He worried that his high-pitched talk would piss off Jeff Van Gundy and ruin his freshly acquired starting commitment.If you follow Jeff Van Gundy's thoughts and say that he is flattering, he is worried that the Rockets will not go far this season.

The Rockets already have some capable substitutes this year, Hayes really doesn't want history to repeat itself, watching Novak sit on the bench, Bunche-Wells guarding the water for a season, Spanoulis fucking Call him home for dinner.

Hayes didn't know what to do. At this time, Jeff Van Gundy said seriously: "Don't take my thoughts into account, just speak up. Whether it's the boss or the fans, newspapers and TV media often say that I don't listen to people's opinions. This time I will listen carefully. I am not afraid of you laughing, I am a person who believes in fate. Just now I was wandering in the corridor thinking about the team, and wandered to the stadium for some reason, and then I saw you Playing there. I admired your hard work on defense last season. I didn't expect you to be able to practice shooting again in such a short time. I've never seen a person go to college and make such a leap in his level of play. You have grown from the ashes, you have grown from a cocoon...don't be complacent when I say this. However, your improvement is indeed the fastest of all players I have ever seen. I have a hunch that you are me The person you want, you can bring great changes to the Rockets in the new season."

Hayes swallowed.How did Jeff Van Gundy see it so accurately?Can you still speak some Chinese idioms?It's hard to tell where I'm from.Couldn't this guy also time travel?

"Coach, the question of your opinion on the new season is too general. I don't know where to start. Why don't you ask in more detail, and I'll answer." Hayes calmed down and smiled.

Jeff Van Gundy frowned, put on a bitter and sad expression, and asked, "Which team do you think is most likely to win the championship in the new season?"

Hayes replied without thinking, "San Antonio Spurs."

Jeff Van Gundy laughed when he saw Hayes admiring the same team in the Southwest Division. "So what about last year's championship Heat and the Western Conference champion Mavericks? And the Suns where MVP Nash is, don't you like them?"

'I certainly don't like them.I know it's a miracle that the Mavericks were hacked.The Heat were swept by the Bulls in the first round.The Cavaliers made it to the finals and were beaten 4-0 by the Spurs without a temper. ' Hayes thought.Of course he couldn't just tell Jeff Van Gundy the result.As the saying goes, the secrets of heaven cannot be leaked, and those who leak the secrets of the heavens will either lose their lives or suffer bad luck.Moreover, with his arrival, there will definitely be a series of chain reactions, and the history he knows may not be accurate.

Hayes thought about it carefully, organized his language, and said with a smile: "Let me talk about the Mavericks in the same district as us first. From the perspective of the lineup, the Mavericks are very strong. Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard, Terry They are all very powerful. There are strong men like Dampier and Diop inside, and Devon Harris also has great potential. The bench also has Hassell and Stackhouse, and the bench depth is very strong. But they have a shortcoming , that is, the leader Dirk Nowitzki's style is too soft. Although he is a power forward, he plays with a good touch. In the preseason they can play well, but in the playoffs they fight with momentum and perseverance. This year They can be overturned in the finals, how much can they do next year? I don’t think they have the temperament of a champion, and it’s luck to reach the finals this year.”

Jeff Van Gundy smiled and didn't comment.Then asked: "What about the Heat? They are the defending champions."

"The Heat are definitely out of the game. There is only one reason - O'Neal is old. He has shown fatigue this year, and he is basically no match for our Yao Ming. With this championship, it is estimated that he does not have much heart left to fight for victory. Without the Heat's invincible insiders, it would be difficult to break through the first round of the playoffs relying on Wade alone." Hayes took a sip of Coke and talked casually.He looked as confident as if he was the coach and Jeff Van Gundy was the assistant.

"Let's talk about the Suns. They played very well last year." Jeff Van Gundy crossed his legs, not disgusted with Hayes' remarks, and continued in front of the audience.

Hayes now feels that Jeff Van Gundy is easier to get along with than he imagined, and he is addicted to chatting without knowing it.Just say what's on your mind. "The Suns played beautifully. But there is a fatal flaw, that is, they rely too much on Nash. If Nash's performance is restricted, the run-and-gun tactics will be greatly reduced. Moreover, no matter how good Nash plays, they will not be able to win the championship. I think , A sharp offense can only get good results in the regular season. In the playoffs, if you want to go far, you must have a tenacious defense. The Suns have no defense. This is why I am most optimistic about the Spurs. The combination of inside and outside of the Spurs Very good, offensive and defensive balance. The leading star is Duncan, the most stable power forward in history, and there are many veterans with experience in the playoffs and finals. These are unmatched by other teams.”

"In addition to the Spurs, do you have any favorite teams?" Jeff Van Gundy asked again.He thought to himself that your boy must be talking about rockets next, and then he published a series of ambitions.

Unexpectedly, Hayes seemed to be unaware that he was a member of the Rockets, and said slowly: "I am still optimistic about the Utah Jazz in the West and the Cavaliers in the East. The Jazz are tenacious, and Boozer and Okur are not weak inside. , point guard Deron Williams has one of the best strong bodies among point guards, and his passing awareness is also very good. There are already few teams, and they are likely to reach the finals this year."

"I said, you brat, why haven't you mentioned the Rockets all the time? This year we have a well-organized team and improved strength. Don't you think we have a chance to reach the finals and win the championship?" Jeff Van Gundy watched Hayes keep saying The other teams finally lost their composure.He now wants to know Hayes' opinion on the Rockets and find out how to make up for the team's shortcomings.

"What I'm going to say next may not sound so good, I hope you can forgive me, coach." Hayes said with a look of embarrassment.He knew that his suggestions would definitely have a positive impact on the team, but many of the spearheads would be pointed at Jeff Van Gundy's tactics, for fear of offending the big man who controlled his job.

"Don't play tricks. Just say what you have to say. There are too many people who question me, so don't be afraid to offend me." Jeff Van Gundy is also a veteran who has been around for N years, so he can naturally see through Hayes' thoughts.

"I think... the Rockets will be a good contender for the championship." Hayes paused and said.

"Hmph, are you saying it's not nice? Are you playing with me?" Jeff Van Gundy sneered.

"Coach, I haven't finished. The premise is that we need to make a few changes. I personally summarized three points. I believe that you must have made arrangements for the new season. Get angry, and seriously consider my suggestion." Hayes said unhurriedly.Be careful sailing for thousands of years. Although Jeff Van Gundy has repeatedly stated that he can speak freely, he still has to make some face-saving words clear.

"Come on." Jeff Van Gundy smiled.

"First, reduce Yao Ming's playing time." Hayes said.

"Why? He's our ace," Jeff Van Gundy asked.Why doesn't he feel troubled by this question? Unfortunately, the Rockets, which have always been poor, can no longer bring in a good center to serve as a substitute for Yao Ming. He also hopes that someone can discuss with him and find the answer as soon as possible.

Hayes drank the entire glass of Coke in two gulps, poured himself another, and said, "Because Yao Ming is too tired. This is a big hidden danger. Yao Ming is one of the best centers in the league. Last year, he ushered in a new peak in his career. Both offense and defense are very effective. Maybe he will improve this year. But we must not forget that he is now representing the Chinese team in the World Championships, and he will fly back to join us for training for a few days, and he will play preseason and regular season again He has played too many games before he started. Yao Ming’s injury last year should remind us that his playing time must be reduced. Although Mutombo’s offense is not good, his defense is no worse than Yao Ming. We should consider making more He plays for a while."

Hayes dared to make this suggestion because he knew Yao Ming was injured during the Rockets' 2008-game winning streak in 22, and Mutombo had a second spring and double-doubles in rebounds in consecutive games.He knew that "Uncle Mu" had absolute strength.

Jeff Van Gundy thought about that, too, and nodded. "What about the second one?"

"The second is to give the substitutes more chances to play and strive to give full play to each individual's strengths. Let them dare to attack and play with confidence. The main lineup is strong, and it may not be able to go too far in the playoffs. If the substitutes cannot perform, Yao It doesn't matter how high the McGrady score is," Hayes said.If Jeff Van Gundy can be persuaded in this regard, it will definitely be a good thing for the Rockets.

Jeff - Van Gundy is so easy to change, it is not Van Gundy.His face became a little ugly, and he showed his usual expression when he lost a game. He said, "It's easy for you to say. There are not many substitutes who can score. How to change? Who should we change?"

Hayes laughed and said, "I can't make a decision on this, or I will overpower. Coach, I can only suggest a few people to you. I heard that Bunche Wells will come. This guy's strength is obvious to all this year. , can definitely improve the strength of the team. There is also Spanoulis of Greece, a European who is good at team basketball, and he should be able to bring us something new. Of course, he has just arrived in the NBA, and it will definitely take time to adapt, and it is difficult to immediately Play a role. I think he should be given more opportunities, as long as he adapts to the rhythm of the NBA, even if he is not as good as Spurs Parker, he can fight against him. And Novak, he is really accurate."

Jeff Van Gundy thought about it and felt that these words also made some sense.However, we still have to wait to see the performance of these people before we can make a conclusion.At this time, Bunch Wells, Spanoulis and others entered Jeff Van Gundy's mind. Sometimes, a person's fate can be changed just because of a single sentence.

"Tell me about your third one too." Jeff Van Gundy asked after finishing his Coke.His face softened, and now the person he is most optimistic about is "Chuck Hayes" in front of him.

Hayes filled Jeff Van Gundy's cup with Coke, and then said: "The third is tactics. Didn't you say that you should reduce Yao Ming's playing time? The purpose of reducing the time is to ensure Yao Ming's physical strength. The defensive tactics of our team are Half-court man-to-man, so it is not easy to mess up when defending, but it also consumes a lot of energy. Especially the physical strength of veterans and Yao Ming, I suggest you try zone defense, which can save energy and break the opponent's pick-and-roll , when the opponent has a big man who can shoot, we will use man-to-man. When attacking, we can also try some new tactics. For example, when Yao Ming is not on the court, we can use the breakthrough of McGrady and Alstom to quickly counterattack , The run-and-bomb tactics of hitting the Suns."

"If Yao Ming doesn't play, isn't Mutombo slower than him? Why run and gun?" Jeff Van Gundy felt that the zone defense made sense, but the Rockets' suggestion of running and bombing was a bit ridiculous and whimsical.A person like him who has the word "defense" engraved on his forehead would never want to see the team lose their defensive formation in order to run and attack.

"It's only done against special teams, such as the Suns, Warriors, Mavericks... The Suns and Warriors basically have no defense. We play with him and it is easy to fall into the opponent's rhythm. And the Mavericks, they just Afraid of running and bombing, just watch this year's finals." Hayes continued to persuade Jeff Van Gundy.

Maybe Hayes, the reborn character, broke out, maybe Jeff Van Gundy really believed in fate too much.In short, he began to seriously consider these suggestions, and did not reject them outright, asking: "This tactic is too risky, and the speed of our two centers is impossible. This consumes energy and lacks efficiency."

"The two of them are slow, but in that case, coach, you can just find a shorter and faster inside line? It's better for this inside line to shoot three-pointers." Hayes said, turning his head Looking away, he rubbed his nose.

Jeff - Van Gundy looked at Hayes, his eyes narrowed into a slit, and thought: 'I wipe it!One cannot be so shameless.What tactical advice? After talking for a long time, you kid just want to fool me into formulating tactics around you?Are you the only one on our team who is short, runs faster, and can shoot three-pointers? '

Jeff Van Gundy pretended not to hear and kept silent.

Hayes waited for a while, but heard no reply.So he said again: "Our team has a strong man like Yao Ming. Of course, the run-and-gun tactics will not become the main force. It is more appropriate to learn from the Spurs' three-person team. Duncan checks inside, Parker and Ginobili break through or make three-pointers. I I feel that this year our outside firepower is stronger than the Spurs. With Battier, Alston, Novak, Padgett, and Hyde as pitchers, we can play a beautiful combination of inside and outside offense. When Tracy McGrady encountered strict defense, Yao Ming suffered When double-teaming, as long as you quickly pour the ball to the outside line to shoot, you can show them a rain of three-pointers... This... Actually, coach, don't look at me like that, I think I still need to improve, But if you really think that I can be regarded as a shooter at my current level and can go out and shoot three-pointers, then I will listen to you in the new season and just do it."

Hayes continued to recommend himself without changing his face or heartbeat.Jeff Van Gundy is right. What he said earlier is just a foreshadowing. Convincing Jeff Van Gundy to allow him to take more shots in the offense is the purpose.No matter how good the defense is, how can it be compared to high scoring?
"Why do I feel that you are not a pitcher, but rather my assistant coach." Jeff Van Gundy joked with Hayes. He thought about these three suggestions and was very happy.Some places coincided with his thoughts. Although Hayes said a lot for himself, it opened a door in Jeff Van Gundy's heart, and everything suddenly became clear.He felt that the Rockets' lineup problems seemed to be solved at once.Although after Yao Ming left the court, there are still shortcomings inside, but the strong outside firepower should be able to make up for all this.When the Rockets' outside lines bloom frequently in the new season, who can say that Jeff Van Gundy can only play Yao Mai's pick-and-roll offense?When the time comes, he will speak with facts and shut up all those who question him.

"As long as I can help the coach, it's my honor." Hayes "climbed up the pole" and said with a smile.

"You're very interesting. Why didn't you talk when you first came here? I thought you were shy, pretending to be low-key?" Jeff Van Gundy joked, recalling Hayes' simple and honest appearance when he first came.

"Coach, I'm not pretending. It's only a short contract of 10 days. I'm nervous every day, worrying that my career will be over in 10 days. I play my life as soon as I go on the court, and I think about how to play to stay after I'm off the court." I couldn't sleep at night, so I didn't talk much. Now I finally stayed, and I began to think about how to make myself stronger and let the team go further. I don't have the sports of Kobe and Tracy McGrady. I have talent and I don’t have Yao Ming’s height, so I can only practice more, but fortunately it has some effect.” Hayes said with a wry smile, these words were completely sincere.

Jeff Van Gundy suddenly felt a little moved.I am afraid that only such hard-working players will willingly give up the whole vacation and practice shooting hard to make such great progress.As for whether Hayes can be reused and how to use it, Jeff Van Gundy still depends on his performance in training and preseason.What is certain is that he has entered the coach's key inspection list.

"If you are allowed to start, what do you think you should do? What are the advantages over Juwan Howard?" Jeff Van Gundy is the first time he has said so much to a marginal player who needs to play in the summer league.If it was just an idea when the two first chatted, Jeff Van Gundy is now fully prepared to let Hayes play the starter.

"My advantage lies in strength. I am less than two meters tall, but I can defend by pushing the opponent's inside line out of the three-second zone. When the opponent picks and rolls, I can also defend. The most important point is that when the opponent's outside player breaks through Successfully, I can stand in front of Yao Ming and play a role in protecting Yao Ming. Now many teams try to make Yao Ming foul at the beginning of the game. Without the inside pillar, our game will be difficult to play. In addition, I am confident that I can play on the offensive end. Make some contributions to the team. For example, if I act as a power forward and pick and roll outside players, I can liberate Yao Ming and allow him to participate in the offense better. If Yao Ming is surrounded by the opponent, double-teamed, or McGrady breaks through No, just give the ball back to me, and I can easily get a shot when I switch positions. Even if someone else defends, I can give the ball to the inside Yao Ming, or go out to the outside..." Haye Adams made another suggestion to Jeff Van Gundy.This tactic is the usual offensive method of Argentina's "Actor" Scola to the Rockets.He firmly believes that as long as the coach uses this tactic, he can guarantee a high jumper hit rate like Scola.Can also pull out to shoot three-pointers.

After hearing this, Jeff Van Gundy thought for a while and said, "Let's go down now. I want to see the results of your practice."

"It's still the same sentence, I won't let you down." Hayes raised the Coke glass and clinked it with Jeff Van Gundy, both of them drank it down in one gulp.He knew that Jeff Van Gundy's desire to see his practice results meant starting to take his advice seriously and using him as Scola as long as he was sure his shooting ability was up to the mark.His position in the Rockets will jump to the No. [-] firepower.

The two returned to the training ground together.Hayes called Kevin to help pass the ball and showed Jeff Van Gundy all the shooting methods he usually practiced.

Hayes didn't do the strength training and running that was planned in the afternoon. After a rest in the office, he is now full of strength again.In the case of no defense, Hayes has maintained a high hit rate whether it is a dribble stop jumper or a running jumper.After performing improved posture, free throws with a shooting rate of more than 80% and small hook attacks on both sides of the basket, he completely impressed Jeff Van Gundy. It is obvious that his shooting accuracy has surpassed Howard.

"I didn't expect you to be able to practice shooting to such an extent by yourself. As long as you maintain this shooting percentage, with Yao Ming and McGrady holding back your opponent, you don't have to worry about not having a chance to make a shot." Jeff Van Gundy patted Hayes on the shoulder vigorously. Said.

With Jeff Van Gundy's small physique, Hayes, who can actually shoot, grinned and his shoulders hurt.

Hayes asked with a smile: "Coach, are you ready to use the tactics I mentioned?"

"What tactics are you talking about? I've wanted to do this for a long time. It's just that I don't have anyone. This year, only Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady remain healthy, plus outside fire support. How can it be impossible to break through the first round of the playoffs? This year we will let the They see, Houston is the king of the Southwest Division! Not only do we have to pass the first round, but we also have to go to the finals! Hahaha." Jeff Van Gundy laughed.After talking to Hayes, his ambition was also fueled.

Hayes tentatively asked: "Coach, then my position in the new season is..."

Jeff Van Gundy laughed: "Play well. My starting power forward."

(End of this chapter)