Basketball: Chosen Victim

Chapter 104 You Must Clean Me Up Charles!

In the Cavaliers training hall, the Cavaliers are starting to practice their defensive strategy against Lao Zhan.

This is the method proposed by Scott to adjust the state of the team, the method of shifting the target!
The Heat couldn't do it, and they didn't want the team's morale to drop after losing, so Scott shifted the target for everyone.

Transfer the goal of winning to restricting Lao Zhan.

The Cavaliers' poor form against the Pacers in the last game has two reasons, internal and external.

The external reason is that the external media praised them so much that they were too blindly confident in their own strength.

The internal reason is that the team's overall preparation is insufficient, and most of the daily training is honing tactics. There is nothing wrong with this, especially for a new team, lineup running-in is the top priority.

But facing an old enemy like the Heat, we still need to make certain long-term preparations.

Scott himself has also made a self-reflection on this point. The victory over the defending champion Lakers made him feel a little bit slack.

But fortunately, Wu Di was keenly aware of this problem, allowing them to react before rushing off the cliff and make some adjustments before the game.

Such as stepping on the brakes, wearing a seat belt and so on.

Scott first carried out some cognitive improvement, leading the team to decompose the big goal of "beating the Heat" into three small goals in three steps——

The first step is to limit Lao Zhan, the second step is to limit the Big Three, and the third step is to increase the depth of the bench.

The three-step approach is highly executable and obviously more practical.

But when they concentrated on training and simulated the first step, they stumped everyone.

The theory is very simple, especially not only Lao Zhan's trainer Alexander, but also the Cavaliers' offensive assistant Jant. With these two "inner ghosts", they quickly and accurately analyzed Lao Zhan's technical characteristics.

Lao Zhan has unique physical talent, top organizational ability, mid-to-long-range shooting and stretching his hips, and his defensive attitude needs to be improved, so his defensive ability fluctuates.

Last season, Lao Zhan's three-point shooting rate was only 33%, and the mid-range was not well developed. In addition to defending against fast breaks, he was defending against tank-style advances and subsequent breakthrough points.

This is exactly the defensive strategy of the Celtics in 08.

Wu Di acted as Lao Zhan, imitating Lao Zhan's pace and usual breakthrough direction, and then discovered again that Lao Zhan's physical talent is really against the sky!
It doesn't matter if you are tall and strong, but the first step is unnaturally fast, just like a car that is both a supercar and a tank, referred to as a supertank.

Facing this super tank, if Wu Di's defensive distance is a little closer, he will be directly passed by with one step. If the defensive distance is a little farther, it will be difficult for Lao Zhan to resist when he charges.

Wu Di added a little more to his strength, but it was only promoted to the superstar level of 86, which is far behind Lao Zhan's legendary level, and there is a big gap with Pierce's super giant level.

It is difficult for the Cavaliers to defend against James alone, and the double-teaming in the penalty area is not as good as Garnett's defense master...

But Wu Di also knows another strategy for successfully defending James, which is the Mavericks' harassing defense.

The Mavericks don't have a top striker like Pierce, and the core of their defensive strategy is to play with Lao Zhan's mentality.

There is no fixed position for the Mavericks to directly defend Lao Zhan. After Lao Zhan can easily break into the inside line, Nowitzki or Chandler can make up the defense accurately. It becomes difficult for Lao Zhan to score, so he can only choose to split the ball.

But Lao Zhan has a superstar mentality and can't get a certain amount of points. He feels that it doesn't fit his superstar status. In addition, the Mavericks keep changing players to defend him, and even defend him with a small 1 meter like Jason Terry. He, he felt underestimated!
The two mentalities came and went one after another, which made Lao Zhan continue to choose the medium and long distances that he was not good at, and then he used all kinds of irons.

The strategy of the Mavericks is relatively suitable for the current situation of the Cavaliers, but there is also a fatal problem, that is, the Mavericks are already defending the zone defense. Nowitzki and Chandler are both top defensive capabilities. It's hard to achieve the same effect as Jamison...

Everyone trained until late at night, but they didn't find a particularly good method, but the significance of this training is far-reaching.

On the one hand, they figured out the strategy of restricting Lao Zhan, on the other hand, they also deeply realized that restricting Lao Zhan alone is already so difficult!
Thinking about restricting the big three in the future, and increasing the depth of the bench, everyone no longer has the blind and confident attitude before, and their feet have finally landed!
But soon Wu Di discovered that something bad happened!
Because there was a big problem with the chicken soup that Scott gave everyone at the end of training:

"This is the NBA's Apollo moon landing program!"

"I know, this goal is difficult... But, the Apollo moon landing program selected us, we have no way out, we can only create the biggest miracle in the history of the NBA!"

"However, the Supertank will not allow miracles to happen, the Big Three will not allow miracles to happen, Riley will not allow miracles to happen! Even we ourselves will not allow miracles to happen. Think about what you were thinking before, 20 consecutive victories or even 72 Winning streak, how could it be so easy!"

"Yes, maybe you have realized that, in fact, our worst enemy is ourselves!"

"But we have no way out! Everything will be an opportunity for us to evolve, and it will be an opportunity for us to overcome our arrogance, laziness, and stupidity! When you feel difficult and can't go on, ask yourself, whether Are you arrogant and can't listen to other people's advice, are you lazy and still have time to sleep, are you stupid and don't believe in miracles!"

"Apollo succeeded, the moon landing program succeeded, so we will succeed too! There are countless such miracles in this world, so why can't it be us?"

……

This chicken soup is boiled...the meaning is not wrong, but the way it is said is very problematic!
Sure enough, when a group of people came to the Miami American Airlines Center Arena to warm up the next day, Jordan and Jamison pulled Wu Di mysteriously with dark circles under their eyes and said:

"Boss, we discovered a shocking secret!"

Wu Di's heart skipped a beat, here it comes...

"We checked a lot of information yesterday, guess what?"

"What's the matter?"

"It sounds very sensational, but the Apollo moon landing program is definitely a hoax!"

Little Qiaodan's tone of voice, combined with his swearing uncle's expression, made Wu Di almost pinch the meat off his thigh before he could hold back his smile.

He looked at Scott in the distance, who was obviously not aware of the problem and was communicating with Jent.

"Don't believe Scott's words, he is a brainless patriot who was tricked by Uncle Sam!"

Following Wu Di's gaze, Jamison said with a look of hatred.

Wu Di didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and this was the embarrassment. He could refute the two and maintain Scott's authority.

But the consequence of doing this is that these two people won't tell him what happens later.

Conspiracy theories are too popular in the United States. The Soviets believed in the Apollo moon landing plan, but many Americans did not believe it...

And if he has an ambiguous attitude, these two people will talk endlessly...

"guess what?"

Wu Di held the ball and pulled the two of them half a step down to the right of the free throw line. He just suddenly figured out how to solve this problem.

"What's the matter?"

"I knew it ten years ago!"

The eyes of the two of them widened in an instant, no, when you hear such a big secret, shouldn't you answer "true or fake", at least you should answer "impossible", how can you not play your cards according to the routine? ...

"……cool!"

Little Jordan held back for a long time, his face turned red before he uttered a word.

Wu Di didn't bother to explain, so don't say anything, if he can prevent Lao Zhan now and make him believe that the earth is flat, he is willing!

He directly ordered the two of them:

"When defending later, if A-Zhan hits the right side, I will try my best to push him to this position, Lao Jia, come up and double-team me!"

"...Okay, but what if LeBron passes to Bosh at this point?"

"When you are double-teaming, press the double-team as soon as you come up, block it with all your strength, and then just back up and get in position, I will chase and defend from behind!"

Wu Di said that his defensive awareness, strength, and explosive power are not as good as Lao Zhan, but his chasing cap has a chance!
If fly mode is activated...

Jamison nodded. After playing so many games, Wu Di no longer needed to emphasize the words "trust him".

Jordan was arranged in another position, and several people began to warm up.

……

"WOOO! The atmosphere at the American Airlines Center! It seems that Miami fans are going to celebrate Christmas early today!"

TNT live studio, Charles Barkley laughs as he rubs his hands with a fly.

"Hehe, Charles, do you need me to educate you? You have to spend Christmas Eve before you can celebrate Christmas!"

Kenny Smith teased him with a push.

"Damn it, Kenny! Did you take drugs or get kicked by a donkey today?"

Barkley said provocatively, he hasn't had time to pay back the 76ers' debt before!
Smith's iconic dry smile replied twice:
"Yes, I was kicked by the donkey, by the donkey you kissed the ass of the donkey, it said it only likes your kiss!"

After speaking, he imitated the braying of a donkey.

How could Barkley not understand what he meant? TNT has such a high ratings, it cannot be separated from the two of them playing tricks and betting!
Since Smith handed over the words, he must not show weakness:

"Kenny, I have to confess something to you. Your pet donkey has inspired me! I also have a piglet now, dare you bet me that if the knight loses, come and kiss me Pig butt?"

"Piggy? Could it be your own son?"

Kenny Smith laughed like a chrysanthemum, but he refused:
"Stupid, do you think I'm as stupid as you? The casino is closed today! Bye!"

Barkley's eyebrows frowned and flew up:
"Don't be like this Kenny! You know what our audience likes to watch! And didn't you support Wu Di before? Why, don't you dare to play real swords and guns?"

"Yes, they like to watch you lick O'Neill's little bald head!"

Smith suddenly changed the topic and said seriously.

There was a burst of laughter and booing in the studio.

Barkley was stunned on the spot. At this time, O'Neal had not retired to become the host of TNT, so the relationship between him and O'Neal was still as tense as it was when they often fought in previous games.

He opened his mouth, and finally couldn't help but say:

"...So, you agreed to the bet?"

Kenny Smith laughed:
"Of course you have to bet! Who would be afraid of you, a poisonous milk? But it's not a bet on who wins and loses! Bet on who has the higher score between Wu Di and LeBron!"

"Bet your uncle!"

Barkley turned around cursingly, jokingly, he didn't want to know what the big shark's brain smelled like!

Hey, wait, it must be fish oil, right?

No!

You can't bet even if it's a lollipop flavor!

Otherwise it would be too embarrassing!

Kenny Smith is so sinister!

Mad, although Wu Di is a rookie, the Cavaliers only have Wu Di as their core, but the Heat have three cores!
So even if Wu Di's scoring ability is not as good as James', he definitely has more possessions than James!

If he even gambled on this, he would really be an idiot!
"Hehe, I knew you wouldn't dare!"

Kenny Smith looked disgusted, and laughed after the disgust:
"Although this sounds a little crazy, I actually kind of want to know what your pork butt smells like. It must smell better than "Smithfield"!"

The studio burst into laughter again, but with the end of the starting welcome ceremony, the Heat did not have Wade and Bosh in the starting lineup, and the two of them stared in unison in an instant!

Barkley slapped the table with unprecedented momentum:

"bet!"

Kenny Smith held his head in shock and said:

"Oh shit! Is this real? My eyes tell me it's real, but my mind doesn't believe it... what is Spoelstra doing?! Good show, guys, It will be the ultimate showdown between the new emperor Napoleon and the old emperor Franz, whoever wins will be the real overlord..."

There was a burst of boos in the live broadcast room, and at the same time Barkley pulled his clothes vigorously:

"Don't interrupt! Kenny, you stinky donkey! Bet me quickly, I must grant your wish today!"

Kenny Smith has no arrogance at all, but he just blew it out just now, and now he has to pretend with tears in his eyes:

"What the hell, all right! Take your bet! But you've got to clean me up Charles!"

……

On the court, the Cavaliers are also confused!
what's the situation? !

Wade can't get on with Bosh?
James single-core led the team to face the Cavaliers?
Scott on the sidelines was the first to react. He frowned, stared at Spoelstra, who was smiling with his signature on the other side, and raised his middle finger at the risk of eating a T.

He was very uncomfortable, because it was like hitting the original SAT question (American College Entrance Examination), but he hadn't found a way to solve the problem, and then he was dragged into the exam room...

Moreover, the Heat are too ruthless!

It is simply driving them to a dead end...

If the Cavaliers still lose in this situation, they will definitely fall hard!
Wu Di was the first to react. Feeling the deafening voices from the audience, he called Jamison and Jordan to him:

"Old Jia, Xiao Qiao, you have to play the same as the fourth quarter in the first quarter, don't hold anything back!"

(End of this chapter)