Starting from the last bus in the NBA

Chapter 136 Team Adjustment
The Sonics' first game after the All-Star break was against the Wizards at home.

This is good news. After all, the strength of the Wizards lies there, and the Eastern Conference has a proper belly.

As of now, the Wizards have only won 15 games.

Faced with such a point-giving boy, the Supersonics would naturally not be polite and won easily.

Gary Payton scored 35 points. Although he is over [-] years old and participated in the All-Star Game, he is still in hot form.

Coupled with Wang Hao's 25 points and 9 rebounds, the Sonics basically ended the game in three quarters.

That's weird.

Wang Hao and Gary Payton participated in the All-Star Game. They didn't have any rest time, but they maintained a very good state.

All of them, obviously rested for two days, and after returning to the game, they behaved very stretched.

Not just the Wizards, but the Sonics as well.

Of course, there is also good news, that is, in enough garbage time, the substitute got enough performance opportunities.

In addition to Ruben Patterson and Sharad Lewis, Shamond and Gerani also played well.

The Sonics urgently need backup firepower support, and if the two can maintain their state, this is definitely a good thing.

After a game of adjustment, the state of others is also improving, especially Wen Baker and Brent Barry.

There is still half a month before the end of February, and the Sonics have a total of 2 games.

However, in the 6 games, they lost 2 games, the Celtics away and the Kings at home.

As for the reason for the loss, there is only one reason, lack of firepower.

Wang Hao and Gary Payton scored 40 points together, but none of their teammates could stand up.

Wen Baker's performance in the starting lineup was mediocre, and Rashard Lewis' state on the bench fluctuated.

It's hard to win in such a situation.

For this reason, Gary Payton even brought Wang Hao to Wen Baker, hoping that he could adjust his state.

How to adjust the state?Naturally, quit drinking.

It's a pity that the team couldn't help Wen Baker to give up drinking, let alone a few words between the two.

Not only Wang Hao, the team is also trying to find a way, especially the head coach Paul Westphal.

In fact, in the last game, he made an adjustment, adjusting Brent Barry to the bench.

Brent Barry can hold the ball, has certain organizational skills, can break through, and can shoot well.

To be honest, he is a bit like the Hornacek of the Jazz today, but it is a weakened version.

When John Stockton needs to rest because of physical problems, Hornacek can organize the team's offense.

Paul Westphal doesn't expect Brent Barry to make it this far, but wants him to lead the bench.

In the last game against the Magic, Paul Westphal made adjustments.

In the second half of the game, the Sonics had established a 20-point advantage, and he made a decisive attempt.

Let Ruben Patterson cooperate with the starting lineup, as for Brent Barry, it is to lead the bench lineup.

Not to mention, in the opening stage of the fourth quarter, Brent Barry led the bench lineup, and even played back and forth with the Magic's main force.

Although there are no stars in the current Magic team, it is absolutely nonsense to say that the Magic team's strength is poor.

The current Magic team has achieved a record of 27 wins and 29 losses, just ranked 9th in the Eastern Conference, and still maintains the opportunity to hit the playoffs.

Sure enough, in the first game in March, another Eastern Conference road trip for the Sonics, the team made adjustments.

Brent Barry was adjusted to the bench, and as for Ruben Patterson, the starting lineup was mentioned.

When he heard the head coach announce the result, Wang Hao was still a little surprised, and looked at Brent Barry specially.

Anyway, he studied basketball with Brent Barry, who helped him when he first came to the NBA.

In the more than half a season that the Sonics have experienced, his relationship with Brent Barry has also remained very good.

In the entire team, except for Gary Payton, who has a lot of ball possessions, Brent Barry gave him the most passes.

However, he didn't see any dissatisfaction in Brent Barry's eyes, and accepted the result calmly.

It should be that the head coach has communicated in advance, but not everyone can accept the change from starting to substitute.

Ruben Patterson entered the starting lineup, and Wang Hao's position has also been adjusted, moving from small forward to shooting guard.

In fact, Wang Hao's position in the team was originally a guard, and it was only because Brent Barry couldn't play small forward that he was allowed to play this position.

And Ruben Patterson, regardless of his height, is really a small forward.

In addition to being slightly short in height, Ruben Patterson's confrontation is actually not bad, and he is fully capable of taking on this position.

Of course, when defending, the positions of the two are not fixed, but adjusted according to the opponent.

If you are facing a player like Paul Pierce with a slightly slower speed but stronger physical confrontation, Ruben Patterson is more suitable.

But if it's against Glen Rice or Pejastojakovic, it's Wang Hao.

Paul Westphal made such an adjustment, in addition to adjusting the team lineup and enhancing the offensive firepower of the bench.

In addition, there is another very important reason, which is to liberate Wang Hao and let him participate in the offense more.

At the small forward position, Wang Hao suffers from confrontation and consumes too much defense.

However, after such an adjustment, the team's requirements for Wang Hao will be higher.

As a guard, even a shooting guard, his role in the team is not just to score.

Breaking through and connecting organizations, as a defender, all need to take on the role in this regard.

Even the well-known NBA pitchers Ray Allen and Reggie Miller actually have this ability.

"Paul, will this put Wang under too much pressure?"

Although he had known Paul Westphal's arrangement for a long time, Field couldn't help asking at this time.

In the entire coaching staff, Field and Wang Hao have the most contact, and the relationship between the two is naturally the best.

"Of course, I know, but we have to trust the king, do you remember why we chose the king?"

The Supersonics didn't pay attention to Wang Hao at the beginning of last year's draft.

Later, general manager Willie Walker reminded the team to pay attention to this rapidly improving player.

What's more, this is just a 56th pick, so there is really no need to care too much about it.

"Is it because of his super learning ability?"

Paul Westphal smiled and said, "That's right, haven't you noticed? Wang has made more and more breakthroughs recently.

In fact, without us having to make a decision, Wang is already adjusting his playstyle on his own.

To be honest, I was pleasantly surprised, such a player is shocking. "

(End of this chapter)