Starting from the last bus in the NBA

Chapter 283 New Season

284. New season
"Hi Wang, long time no see!"

"Long time no see, Michael."

……

On September 9th, this is the time when the Sonics gather for the new season and the start of training camp.

Just arrived at the training hall, and saw Michael Reed.

"Michael, I heard that you have returned to the arena to train during the offseason. How is it? Can you perform better next season?"

Hearing this, Michael Reid smiled and said, "It's nothing to do, I just practiced three-pointers."

NBA players like to take vacations during the offseason, but that doesn't mean everyone does.

Especially for players who are teetering on the brink of unemployment.

For example, Michael Reid, as a rookie with the 43rd overall pick, his job is not solid.

Competition in the NBA is fierce.

Last year, because of Ruben Patterson and Quentin Richardson, and Brent Barry, Michael Reid didn't get many opportunities.

In addition, he has not fully adapted to the rhythm of the NBA, which also makes his performance mediocre.

Averaged 7.4 points and 3.1 rebounds per game, which can only be said to be quite satisfactory.

If you want more playing time, you have to train hard. After all, there is no such thing as pie in the sky.

vacation?Simply thinking too much.

Michael Reid, a rookie with the pick, has a salary of three to four hundred thousand dollars a year.

Such a sum of money, subject to tax, can indeed make a family live well.

But it is impossible to spend without scruples.

Not to mention, most of the rookies with this pick have guaranteed contracts for only one year.

If you don't perform well enough, you may lose your job the next year.

"Come on, Michael, I believe you can."

For Michael Reid, Wang Hao is still very confident, after all, this is an All-Star player.

In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Michael Reid joined the US team's roster.

You know, this is the US team!
Michael Reid's ability to become one of them has already demonstrated his strength.

It's just that he hasn't adapted to the rhythm of the NBA.

In college, Michael Reid was also a pitcher, a high-quality shooter from beyond the three-point line.

But after arriving in the NBA, the three-point line moved back, and many people couldn't adapt immediately.

Unless it is before participating in the draft, it has already begun to consciously try the NBA three-point line.

But the problem is, Michael Reed is not qualified.

During college, in order to be able to enter the NBA, he has exhausted all his strength.

At this time, he still talked about adapting to the three-point line in the NBA. He is not qualified.

However, after one season, he will adapt as soon as possible.

The two chatted and soon entered the arena. At this time, many people had already arrived.

Today's Wang Hao naturally doesn't need to be early, he can just follow the normal time.

"Hello, Earl!"

"Brand, nice to meet you."

……

As the core of the team, in addition to playing, he also needs to take on some leadership responsibilities.

For example, helping newcomers adapt to the team, or in other words, helping the head coach convey tactical intentions.

Of course, this job is mainly undertaken by Gary Payton, who is the team's locker room leader.

I have to say that it is definitely a good thing to have a responsible veteran player leading the locker room.

First of all, the locker room is more stable and no one dares to make trouble.

Secondly, various activities will not be played too much, such as teasing rookies.

This is Wang Hao's third season in the NBA, and he has never seen anything too extreme.

At most, it's like carrying a bag.

Last year, as a rookie in the second grade, Wang Hao didn't let anyone carry his bag, but this year he can.

He chose Brand Heywood, and this big guy followed behind, full of deterrence!

If we really want to talk about age, Heywood is actually one year older than Wang Hao.

Before the last time, all the personnel finally arrived, and the coaching staff was in place.

The first thing in the new season is naturally the physical test.

Only through physical testing can we better understand the player's state and then arrange a better training plan.

Don't think that the physical test is not important, in fact, it is very important!

Because not all players can strictly demand themselves and maintain their state during the offseason.

You must know that professional athletes consume a lot because of a lot of exercise, which leads to a lot of food intake.

But the amount of exercise requires you to exercise and exercise. If you don't take the initiative to exercise, the amount of exercise will naturally decrease.

But the question is, if the amount of exercise can be reduced, can the amount of food be ok?
This is obviously impossible.

As a result, after retiring, many professional athletes reduced a lot of exercise and quickly gained weight.

Just like Yao Ming and Nvzhao Riyue.

Therefore, it is incredible that Jordan can maintain that state and even come back to play after three years of retirement.

The same is true for professional athletes, who are most afraid of gaining weight during the offseason.

Sure enough, after all the weighing on the scales, more than half of the people's weight was questionable.

Weight gain, originally able to complete the action, at this time to force it to complete, is actually very dangerous.

There is even a risk of injury.

Paul Westphal is also not polite, he is personally responsible for this aspect, and no one dares to resist.

Not to mention small roles like Gerani, even Ewing and Gary Payton are honestly losing weight.

During the physical test, Wang Hao's various performances naturally attracted the attention of the coaching staff.

It's just that Wang Hao restrained himself, after all, such things as physical tests are not necessary.

Some things don't need to be put on paper.

He knows he's faster, jumps higher, and shows it in the game, and that's enough.

The training camp cleared the way, and the Sonics also started the training mode.

Although there are a lot of old players in the team, there are still many training sessions related to tactics.

As for the reason, it is naturally to let the newcomers adapt to the tactics as soon as possible.

Of course, the most important thing is that compared to last season's tactics, the Sonics have made some changes.

Last season, when facing the Lakers, especially in the playoffs, the Sonics were still at a disadvantage.

I lost once last year, how do I win it back now?
First of all, it is naturally the overall strength of the team, and the performance of superstars.

Beyond that, it's tactics.

Appropriate tactics are actually the way to best utilize the strength of a team.

So, Paul Westphal made a change.

Of course, Wang Hao also contributed a lot to this. After all, the entire team's tactics revolve around him.

In the NBA, there are actually two kinds of coaches.

One is to hold a set of tactics from beginning to end, no matter where you go, you will play according to his tactics.

In this case, everyone on the team must obey the tactical role.

For example, Phil Jackson, even if he is no longer the head coach, but the general manager.

When I went to the Knicks, they were all clinging to the triangle offense.

Another kind of coach is to create a set of tactics that is most suitable for the team according to the team's situation.

He can adapt the tactics to the team, rather than adapt the team to the tactics.

For example, Popovich, as the head coach of the Spurs, his tactics have never been static.

When there is a super insider, he can play around the super insider, but without it, he can also play other tactics.

Paul Westphal prefers the latter, and listens to advice.

After adjustments, the Sonics will play at a faster pace and have more three-pointers.

To be honest, this actually has a taste of bombardment.

Moreover, the Sonics have a high-quality point guard like Gary Payton. Although it is not as perfect as Nash's perfect bombardment tactics, it is enough.

However, they don't have any 7-second offense.

To be honest, the so-called 7-second attack is actually putting a curse on the bombardment tactics, which is not necessary.

If there is no better opportunity, you can stop and fight positional warfare.

Moreover, the Sonics did not give up on defense, but more emphasis on the importance of defense.

Today's NBA is not the NBA of later generations.

If the Warriors' tactics are fully copied, to be honest, it is absolutely impossible to succeed.

Today's whistling is not the later body hair whistle, which can have the space to attack unscrupulously.

In today's NBA, if you want to have enough offensive space for shots, you have to fight it yourself.

In fact, today's Sonics are more like the Heat with the Big Three.

Look for all opportunities for offensive and defensive transitions, and then give the offensive leadership to the stars, and arrange a group of shooters around them.

Some are different, in fact, the core players, Wang Hao and Gary Payton do not have the breakthrough ability of James and Wade.

However, the two are not bad.

Judging from the results of the training match, the Supersonics are in a good state of adapting to tactics.

Moreover, through these few days of training, Paul Westphal can be regarded as seeing the growth of Wang Hao's words.

Especially in low post singles, he is very mature.

In fact, regarding this matter, Wang Hao had already communicated with Paul Westphal and Gary Payton.

He hopes to increase his shots in the low post.

Paul Westphal is naturally happy to see the results. In this way, the Supersonics will have more means to attack.

Although Paul Westphal is not so rigid, his senses are not bad for three-pointers.

However, he also believes that the closer to the basket, the higher the corresponding shooting percentage.

As for Gary Payton, naturally he would not disagree.

Although he is also good at low post singles, it's just that he is a point guard after all and won't occupy too many low positions.

As for the others who talked about the Sonics, there are very few low-post offenses.

Time passed day by day. Seeing that the new season is coming, all the teams are also entering the final preparations.

That's right, the preseason.

This season, the NBA officially arranged 4 preseason games for the Sonics, and the number is not many.

Moreover, all the games are in the United States, which is good news for the Sonics.

4 preseason games, two home games, two away games, one in each of the two away games.

Eliminating the hard work of traveling and traveling, the Supersonics can enter the new season in the best condition.

On October 10, the Sonics went to Atlanta first to challenge the Eagles.

On October 10, they will stop by Memphis to face Memphis' new owner, the Grizzlies.

That's right, the Grizzlies have moved from Vancouver to Memphis.

On October 10 and 20, the Sonics will face the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers at home.

The strength of the four opponents is not strong, which is also a good thing for the Sonics, and the problem of running-in can be fully considered.

Today's Sonics finally have a bit of a strong team, and NBA officials have begun to take care of them in all aspects.

Before the start of the game, there is also a media open day, and the training camp needs to be opened to media reporters.

The NBA is like this, and the requirements are very strict.

On the day of the media open day, everyone has to be absent without reason, not just the players, including the coaches and management.

Not only that, you have to maintain a good attitude to communicate with the media and cooperate with the interview.

At the same time, the media open day is also a publicity day for the team.

In addition to a large number of interviews, there are also team promotional videos and promotional posters, which will also be released on this day.

In the team's makeup photos, Wang Hao is naturally the absolute core.

"Hi, Wang, hello, I'm Jenny, a reporter from ESPN. It's a pleasure to interview you."

When it came to the interview session, Wang Hao naturally received a lot of attention and answered a lot of questions.

For example, the goal of the new season, do you have the confidence to face the Lakers, who is the number one in the league today?

For these questions, in fact, the Sonics have reached a consensus, and there are some relatively standard answers.

For example, the goal of the new season must be the championship.

As for whether you have the confidence to face the Lakers, of course there is, but at the same time, you have to praise the Lakers.

The Supersonic's mind is to have confidence, but they are just challengers and will continue to challenge the Lakers.

In addition to the collective interview session, he also has an exclusive interview.

"Hello, Jenny."

Wang Hao was very gentlemanly and shook hands with the beautiful reporter with eyes. The blond and white girl looked very good.

Not only that, Jenny also behaved very generously and delicately, and she didn't forget some small gestures when shaking hands.

Of course, Wang Hao turned a deaf ear to this.

This is a reporter, the purpose is self-evident, Wang Hao does not want his private life to appear in a certain biography in the future.

In this regard, Lao Mei really has no scruples.

How many ex-girlfriends and ex-boyfriends of big stars have gone too far by breaking the news?
"Last season, the SuperSonics lost in the seven Western Conference finals against the Lakers. What about this year?"

"As a challenger, we will continue to challenge the Lakers, and we all know that the Lakers want a three-peat and want to build a dynasty.

It's just that it won't be that easy, the Sonics won't agree, and neither will I. "

"It's a bit of a villain feeling. Will the Supersonics be the villain on the way to the Lakers' three consecutive championships?"

"I think so."

"Michael Jordan has returned to the Wizards. Do you have any expectations for playing against the Wizards this season?"

"Of course, it's Michael Jordan, I've played against him in training camp, and he's in good shape.

To be honest, for a player who has retired for three years, this is unimaginable, maybe this is Michael Jordan. "

(End of this chapter)