The Whip of the God of Basketball

Back in Boston on Jan. 7, the Celtics were 1-1 in two games in New York and Orlando. They beat New York at Madison Square Garden and unexpectedly lost in Orlando to up magic. The worst part of the road trip was that the team didn't have time to practice properly, which led to the Celtics quickly reverting to their original style of play in the game-the kind that emphasizes half-court coordination and full-court pressing defense. College style of play.

This caused the team's offense to misfire in the Orlando game. They were beaten by the Magic in the first quarter. Of course Leon knows that the construction of the team's offensive system will not happen overnight, and it may take a whole season and a summer to see the effect. But now, he urgently needs to solve a small technical problem, that is, to support the inside position, running and tactical follow-up processing in the second fast break.

This problem was fully exposed in the game against the San Antonio Spurs on January 9. When Tim Duncan and David Robinson guarded the three-second zone, Leon found that the so-called low support point was no different from the wooden stakes, whether it was Tony Batty, Chris Anderson or Potapanko, In the team's quick counterattack, it can't play the role of supporting cover at all. Their role in the offense has been completely sidelined beyond symbolic flips and a screen switch.

Tim Duncan's precise positioning on the defensive end and just the right interference made Leon understand why Auerbach wanted this player so much back then, and was even willing to return half the team. A major flaw of the second fast break is that it basically gives up the rush to grab offensive rebounds. As a compensation, the second fast break has a high offensive success rate and a relatively easy tactical end method.

As a result, under the blockade of the twin towers, the Celtics neither played a second fast break nor captured the offensive rebounds. This directly led to the team trailing by 9 points in the first half-this point difference did not seem to be high. But the game has completely fallen into the Spurs rhythm.

In the second half, Carroll and Leon decisively decided to change their style of play, reducing a shooting point from the outside and increasing the rushing of offensive rebounds. Chris Anderson and Dennis Rodman took turns to disrupt the situation on the field, relying on active fighting And led the Celtics to a wave of offensive climax in the third quarter, narrowing the point difference to two points.

Then Tim Duncan appeared. In the fourth quarter, the Spurs relied on his low-post offense to score consecutively. The Celtics tried to block Duncan with a wheel battle, but they still couldn't resist Shifu, who scored 10 points in a row and blocked Kyle with two blocks. The special hope of overtaking. At 91:88, the Celtics lost to the Spurs by 3 points at home, but Leon knew in his heart that the gap between the two teams was not just 3 points.

"It doesn't feel good to sprint with all your strength but still not be able to run at a loose and uniform speed." After the game, a reporter interviewed Leon, and Leon only left this sentence.

Throughout the night, Leon was thinking that if it is difficult to change the details of the current tactics, the training method and the overall direction of progress are no problem, but such small tactical problems will often trouble Leon, even if his brain is better than others A hundred times, it does not mean that he will not have troubles. Now he needs someone who can share his troubles and provide advice, and the person Carroll said can discuss tactics with him came to Boston a day later.

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On the evening of the 10th, Leon received an invitation from Danny Angie to eat lobster at the famous "No Name Restaurant" in the North District. This restaurant has a history of nearly a hundred years. Its name comes from the fact that the first store manager often said to people, "There is no name, come and eat" and got the name "No Name Restaurant".

Because there will be a game on the night of the 11th, the whole team had a high-intensity training all day on the 10th. Leon was also a little hungry. After receiving a call from Angie on the way back to Boston, he changed direction and went directly. No name restaurant.

When he arrived at the restaurant, he found that head coach Carroll, assistant coach Hart and team development and operations director Kenny Carr had all arrived for a visit, drinking stout in a small private room. In addition to these Celtic management people, Leon also noticed a special guest, a handsome white man sitting in the innermost position, wearing a gray tweed jacket and with unruly hair.

Leon recognized him at a glance. It was the current head coach of the Detroit Pistons, Rick Carlisle-a former Celtic.

"You're here Leon, sit here! Sit next to Rick, and Dick said you two can discuss tactics until dawn." Danny-Ainge beckoned Leon to sit next to Carlisle, which made Leon feel a little strange, because Tomorrow, the Celtics will face the Detroit Pistons at home.

"Hi, I've heard of you, Fox Leon, you're an amazing person, promoted from a scout to an assistant coach, the fastest in history." Carlisle raised his glass and said lightly to Leon, and then took a sip of the glass The gin was gone.

Carlisle's words made the scope a little embarrassed, and Dick Hart explained to Leon: "Rick's words are not malicious. He often just states things without emotional preferences." Leon just nodded, he It has long been heard that Carlisle is an unsociable head coach and has always had a bad relationship with players.

Soon Leon could notice that the young head coach of the Pistons was not only outspoken, but also meticulous. Start drinking after the liquid level stabilizes, and take a big gulp.

In fact, Carlisle is not a person who likes to drink. He just came to Boston, the most important place in his player career, and faced a table full of familiar friends, he had to drink one cup after another. Needless to say, former teammates and friends like Angie and Carl, Dick Hart once assisted Larry Bird in Indiana with him.

John Carroll and Carlisle also have the experience of working together. They have both been engaged in team management and construction work under Carlesimo. The two personalities are very compatible. Carlisle is straightforward and easy to offend others, while Carlisle is gentle. People turn against each other.

Thinking of the wonderful time I had as a player here, staying up all night with Larry Bird, chewing tobacco with Kenny Carr and almost passing out, experiencing mountains and tsunami in Boston Garden Square, and spraying each other in the parade champagne. Of course, there are also the delicious seafood in front of him and the reminiscences between old friends, which made Carlisle drink one after another, and soon became a little drunk. His alcohol capacity is not very good. In comparison, Leon drank too many glasses, and it seemed that he just pissed and was done.

When everyone was drinking, Dick Hart said to Leon: "Rick is the best offensive tactical expert I have ever seen. Maybe he is not very famous in the eyes of fans, but in the coaching circle, Rick's offensive level is Everyone knows that. If you have any questions, you can discuss them with Rick."

Leon looked at Carlisle looking a little drunk, and didn't know how to speak, and tomorrow Carlisle will stand on the opposite bench as the opponent's head coach. Now discussing the details of the Celtics' tactics, let him leak the secret a feeling of.

Carlisle drank another glass of gin, which was still quite strong. His face started to turn bright red, and when he heard Hart's words, he turned his head to Leon and said wordlessly: "I know...you want...to play a fast attack...and it's the second time Fast break, but...but...your formation...is a little strange...not completely spread out, it seems...it seems a bit like a triangle position, but..."

When Carlisle said yes, he couldn't help but feel his stomach churning, and he lay down on the table and vomited. It seemed that Carlisle really drank too much, Leon hurriedly handed Carlisle a piece of paper and poured a glass of water. It's been a while since these old guys have been together like this. They drank beer like they did when they were young, so not only Carlisle, but everyone was a little drunk.

"Why don't you keep talking, Rick, keep talking!" Angie yelled at Carlisle, picking up a wine bottle.

Carlisle drank some hot water and looked better. He fell on the armchair, closed his eyes, and his expression was a little painful. It seemed that the alcohol would not disappear so quickly. After about a minute, everyone thought that Carlisle might have fallen asleep. At this time, he suddenly said: "Your formation is too flat. A tactical formation that wants to establish a triangle position must be full enough and the frame must be clear. Instead of distorting the opponent's defense with a flat stance, your 4th or 5th position...you have to...you have to go up, and then you need to cut in...the bottom corner can no longer perform a large-scale bottom line transfer, you don't need it Squeeze is the root of all movements that pull and distort the opponent's defensive formation... Squeeze... Squeeze..."

After speaking, Carlisle vomited under the table again. And Leon looked at Carlisle who was vomiting in a mess, and he had decided in his heart that he would try his best to bring him to the Celtics in the future and teach him how to drink.