the rest, only noise

Chapter 285 Questioning the Pulitzer Prize Winners
"Bernard is the most unstoppable scorer in the league. As long as he gets to the free throw line, he can score whatever he wants."

On the eve of the media day, Louis called Zhao Yuanzheng to the office to report on his work.

Zhao Yuanzheng is still in the probationary period, and his thesis is very visionary, but vision does not mean that he is qualified as an assistant coach.

There are many ordinary people in the world who know a lot of theories and have the same vision as billionaires, but after many years, ordinary people are still ordinary people, and rich people are still rich.

Louis was not surprised to hear Bernard King's report.

As early as his days with the Celtics, he knew that King was one of the most unstoppable offensive players of this era. Although the relationship between the two is not good, it doesn't hurt to acknowledge the other's strengths.

"Pat Cummings, a hugely overrated player."

Zhao Yuanzheng pointed out a few points. He has never played an important role in a strong team; before joining the Knicks, the Mavericks, who were severely lacking insiders, played a mediocre start but always performed best in garbage time;

Louie interrupted him: "You mean, we spent more than 200 million to sign a waste from Dallas?"

Zhao Yuanzheng said implicitly: "I won't say that, but..."

Not much difference, right?

"Doesn't he have any merit?" Louis asked regretfully.

It is too much to say that an insider with an average of 12+8 per game and a 48% shooting percentage on a bad team has no advantages.

Zhao Yuanzheng said: "His offensive skills near the basket are good, and he is very good at cooperating with the ball holder, that's all."

"continue."

"Bill Cartwright, the biggest intangible asset on the team, a voice in the locker room, a leader, a reliable low-post offensive player."

Louis interrupted him again.

"Reliable post player?"

"Yes, we can definitely design some tactics for him in the low post." Zhao Yuanzheng predicted, "According to my statistics these days, his one-on-one shooting percentage in the low post is over [-]%."

Louis thought of Cartwright's doctor's order, relying too much on this kind of person, there is no guarantee.

Because I don't know when he will be injured.

Zhao Yuanzheng conducted a reconnaissance on all of them, and learned about their technical characteristics and shooting hotspots, as well as what they are not good at and their personality flaws.

He said Roy Sparrow is a leadership ballhandler and Trent Tucker is a solid perimeter threat.

His evaluation of Stockton is what Louie values ​​​​most.

"The little general is the only one I can't figure out."

Zhao Yuanzheng named Stockton's nickname in the team.

As humble as he was in the draft, his demeanor changed as soon as he got the ball.

The appearance of giving orders is extremely majestic, like a general.Because he was very young, everyone called him Little General.

After a few years of qualifications, the fine print can be removed.

"He doesn't do superfluous things. Except for the confrontation match, he only practices three-pointers every day, and goes in and out of the weight room. He is the only one in the team who is keen on strength training." Zhao Yuanzheng said a misconception that all players nowadays agree, "Since he wants to practice three-pointers, why should he practice strength? This will make him get twice the result with half the effort."

Louis didn't comment, and then said: "How do you think our offensive system should start?"

Zhao Yuanzheng said affirmatively: "It is best to use Bernard as the core of positional warfare. He and Bill's low-post offense can solve 90% of the problems."

"I see."

Louis signaled Zhao Yuanzheng to leave.

After Zhao Yuanzheng left, Louis called Lorraine at home to inquire about the current situation.

Training camp was largely monotonous, and Louie was getting used to a mediocre team.

Tomorrow is the media day, and many media from New York will visit the scene, and they will ask some difficult questions.

The New York Times is the media Louis hates the most. Starting tomorrow, they will learn how to coexist peacefully.

Louie was the last to leave the gym.

He bought some supper on the side of the road, but he didn't expect to meet Ken Bannister.

The stout big man never lived in Louie's memory until training camp began, and Louie didn't have an impression of him.

Bannister was a seventh-round pick in 1984, and Louis didn't have the slightest impression of him, which shows that he is just an ordinary player.

He greeted Louie enthusiastically and asked what he needed to do to achieve a higher tactical status in the team.

"Yes, I think about how to improve myself every day." Bannister nodded vigorously.

Bannister is about 208 centimeters tall, with a stout figure, but rough skills, and he is a person without many shining points.

If this kind of person wants to survive in today's NBA, he can only become a thug.

"Watch more of Maurice Lucas' games," Louie said.

"Okay, I'll go and see."

Is it strange?Louie gambled on Coca-Cola, he wouldn't watch it.

Back at the hotel, Louis went to bed after eating supper.

Most people will let the body digest before going to sleep after eating supper, but he is different.

If he brushes his teeth and goes to bed after supper, he can sleep more soundly.

September 9th, Media Day.

As the media capital of the world, New York has gradually entered thousands of households in the NBA, so it is natural to have a look at the home team's media day.

Today, as many as 20 New York media were invited to the training camp.

The Times, the Post, the New York Daily News, and Newsday, as well as the New York Observer, From East of Manhattan, the Long Island Progressive, the American Express, and the New York Square News, all sent reporters.

Before the start of the media day, Louie, Dave Debusschere and all Knicks players and staff took a group photo.

Next, they were each interviewed.

There are even more reporters in front of Louie than Bernard King, making it seem like he is the Knicks' top card.

Normally, coaches don't get that much attention.

The leading reporter seemed to be quite respected by his peers, and everyone was willing to let him be the first to interview.

Louie looked at his sign, and unfortunately, this well-respected man was from the Times.

He looks like Coach Anxi in the "White Devil" period. Although he has a rich face, he has no kindness, and his gold-rimmed glasses cover his deep thoughts.

He introduced himself: "Coach Lu, I'm Dave Anderson, a columnist and reporter from The New York Times, and I'd like to ask you a few questions."

Louie thought his name sounded familiar.

He nodded and said, "Please."

Then he remembered that Anderson was a Pulitzer winner in 1981, a rarity among sports writers.

In 1978, when John Havlicek retired, Anderson published an article called "The End of the Long Road," which was hung in the most prominent position in the Times.The newspaper was also the best-selling newspaper in the Boston area that year.

"What motivated you to go from an 87-12 team to a 30-42 team?"

Unlike other media reporters, Anderson immediately asked Louis if he wanted to change his attitude towards the local media when he came to New York.

He was very sharp, and he asked questions that Bostonians couldn't understand at once.

Many people don't understand why Louis would do this.

"More money, that's the foundation. A bigger city and a stage, that's the motivation." Louis also said, "The Knicks gave me something that I couldn't get in the Celtics for the time being. This is desire. That's why I came here."

Anderson pressed: "What is the Knicks giving?"

"Power." Louis replied directly, but implicitly.

There are many kinds of power, and he did not elaborate on which one.

Anderson dropped that question and asked another: "The Knicks didn't make the playoffs last season. What are your goals for the new season?"

"If the goal is to reach the playoffs, I think the fans will not be satisfied, but if we want to pursue the championship, it is just an empty talk that cannot be realized with our current strength."

Louie shrewdly avoided some of the answers that might touch the mine.

"I won't make any commitments. I just signed a new contract. I have five years to change this team. The only thing I need is patience."

There are four "I" in Louis' sentence, which is a defensive mentality.

Anderson's stinky face finally unfolded: "Coach Lu, you signed the largest coaching contract in the history of professional sports, but you can't even give us the promise to lead the team back to the playoffs?"

"I didn't officially take office until August, and I missed the opportunity to sign in during the entire offseason. Our only reinforcement is Pat Cummings, but we lost Ray Williams and Slip Floyd. Last season, the team that only won 30 wins did not get further reinforcements after losing two main players. How do you ask me to make a promise?"

Anderson smiled and said, "Okay, I'm done asking."

Louie's words will put a lot of pressure on De Buschell. In the past few months, sports reporters in New York have not questioned his offseason operations for a day.

Debusschere couldn't tell if he was suffering, and Louis was determined to play badly, so he naturally had to find a way to weaken the team's competitiveness.

Even Louis' signing in August was planned by them.

As long as the Knicks' lineup has inherent flaws, even if the record is poor, the management will bear the firepower of the media, and Louis can build the team according to his wishes.

Debusschere was a real old Knick, and he was so dedicated to this team that he didn't hesitate to take the notoriety of it.

For him, even if he is scolded to take the blame and resign, it is still part of the Knicks' reconstruction, and he has already prepared for it.

(End of this chapter)