basketball player

295 Chapter 293: Prepare with both hands

Chris Paul was suspended for three games and fined $25000, which became the hottest topic in this game.The war of words between George Karl, an old gangster, and Henson, a new-age gangster, has also intensified.

Even though JaVale McGee, a stupid big man, received a more severe 5-game suspension for taking the initiative to cause trouble, it still couldn't appease Henson's anger.McGee and Paul are not athletes of the same level, and they have different importance in the team.McGee's absence from the game and Paul's absence from the game, can the impact be equal?
Of course, the most serious impact of this incident on Henson is not anger, but the rotation problem he needs to face after Paul is absent.

In this regard, many Oklahoma fans remembered the experience of being deceived by Henson in the finals of last season.

"During the Finals last season, Coach Henson claimed that Paul would not be able to play due to injury, but it turned out to be a lie. Now, Coach Henson's 'dream' has come true, and Chris Paul really can't play."

"Chris Paul was suspended by the league for three games. I want to see how Coach Henson will bring Chris Paul back to life this time."

"Don't forget, the total score of the Finals last season was 4-1, and the only time the Pacers lost to the Thunder was because they lost Chris Paul."

There is no doubt that Paul was suspended, and Thunder fans became the happiest party.On the Internet, countless Oklahoma fans have begun to gloat, waiting for the revenge of last season at the Chesapeake Energy Arena.

This already high-profile national live broadcast game has also become more popular because of the absence of Chris Paul.

Because everyone wanted to know how Henson Joe would deal with the Thunder's counterattack without Chris Paul!

And this is why Henson is having a headache now.

This season, the weakest part of the Pacers' personnel reserve is the No. [-] position.Except for Chris Paul, there is only DJ Augustine who is a pure point guard.Under normal circumstances, "Funny Biffenson" is the No. [-] position in the rotation, and Augustine has little chance to appear in the Pacers this season.

Therefore, in the next game against the Thunder, Henson definitely cannot use Augustine to control the overall situation and take risks.Take Augustin to play against Westbrook?Just thinking about it made Henson feel terrible.

But use Stephenson as the starting PG for the entire game?It doesn't seem quite right either.How effective is Stephenson playing point guard, scoring time period.It's okay to play in a rotating lineup, and it's okay to fight in chaos, but it's definitely not stable enough as a master.

Yes, Paul also missed the game last season due to family reasons, and the Pacers also won that game smoothly.But don't forget, the New York Knicks last season and the Oklahoma City Thunder are not at the same level.Without Paul, the Pacers can win the Knicks, but it doesn't mean they can also win the Thunder.

And Paul George, Danny Green and others are more unsuitable to play point guards than Stephenson. For this reason, Henson even gave himself a list of free agents in the free agent market.

But after thinking about it, it is impossible to have a player who can become the Pacers' master in the free agent market.Players in other positions are injured or suspended, and they can also find "firefighters" for emergency treatment.But the relatively special position of the first position, as the brain of the team, cannot be replaced by the role of "firefighter".

After coming out of Byrd's office, Henson has been thinking about the issue of employing people.Last season, at any rate, there was Hinrich who could make do with it, but this season he couldn't even come up with a backup.

Augustine's defense made Henson uneasy, and Stephenson's stability made Henson uneasy.After much deliberation, only Paul is the most perfect.

Hmm. Maybe Stephenson and Augustine are not as unbearable as I imagined, but it's not fair to compare them with Paul.After all, in this league, how many point guards can meet Paul's standards?

So, in the training on the day before the start of the game, Henson gritted his teeth and stomped his feet, confirming the candidate for the Pacers' starting No. [-] position.

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"We've done this before, but it was only for a few rounds occasionally. It's still too bold for you to let him do it for the whole game." Vogel couldn't help but feel a little worried as he watched the players rehearse for tomorrow's game on the sidelines of the training field.

"Theoretically, there is no problem with this arrangement, but I am afraid that the Thunder's close defense will make it difficult for us to run out of space. The most important point of your method is that the attacker without the ball must have a chance to run. Otherwise, the offense will become a stagnant pool." Stevens half agreed and half opposed.

"There is no other way. Doesn't Westbrook of the Thunder know how to organize an offense? You see, he is still number one in the Western Conference." Henson folded his hands, and although he was talking with two assistants, his eyes never left the players who were training.

"That's because Westbrook doesn't need to organize with the ball at all." Vogel sighed.

"It's the same with us. We don't need to use Chris Paul to organize the offense every time. The Oklahomans must be waiting for us to pass. There is no retreat, guys. Either become a god or lose the game! And," Henson looked at Vogel and Stephenson mysteriously, "Besides this, I have a backup plan."

※※※

Either become a god, or lose.With such determination to win, Henson landed at Oklahoma's Will Rogers International Airport.

As soon as the Pacers players came out, reporters with microphones poured in from all directions.

Henson wore sunglasses and headphones around his neck, and he didn't pay any attention to what the reporters meant.Even if the reporters put the microphone to his mouth, he just went his own way.

The only unusual scene the reporters found was when Henson tapped Al Horford on the shoulder before stepping onto the team bus.

Of course, to journalists, this meant nothing at all.But for Henson and Horford, it all started with a brief conversation an hour earlier.

In the eyes of most Pacers players, Henson is a very special head coach.This is not only because of his special coaching style or background, but because Henson almost grew up with this group of players.

The Pacers players watched the scout who picked them step by step to the position of head coach. The feeling of growing together is not something they can experience in other coaches.

Therefore, the Pacers players have more trust in Henson and are more obedient.Most importantly, they like to communicate with Henson about everything.

"Afraid? What are you afraid of?" That's why Henson heard the word "fear" from Al Horford, an all-star center.

"If I screw up later, it's the Western Conference champion after all."

"It turns out that you are afraid of this. Don't think so much, Al. I know that tomorrow's task will be very heavy for you. But it is because I think you are capable that I entrust you with such an important task. There is nothing to be afraid of. We just defeated them to win the O'Brien Cup half a year ago."

"Um"

"Hey, listen to Al. You have this ability, you're an All-Star player, you're our center forward! Bah, throw away the frame of the center. You're one of our anchor players. It's like no one is watching you pull out and shoot three-pointers. The result? Your tactical role has become richer because of it. This time, no one said what the center has to do. Forget those stereotypes."

"Okay, boss, I'll do my best."

Conversations between men usually don't need to be long, but they are often very efficient.

Since the Pacers arrived in Oklahoma on the day of the game, after a short break at noon, Henson led the team to the Chesapeake Energy Arena three hours earlier.

In general games, there will be no one outside the arena three hours before the start.Today, however, Henson found the Oklahoma fans enthusiastic.Some of them held various signs in their hands.

The contents of these signs vary, but they can be summed up in one sentence: "Fuck the Pacers, you will die in Oklahoma without a place to die!"

Thunder fans cheered enthusiastically outside the arena, as if they had begun to celebrate the game victory in advance.

In addition to the fans, local journalists were no doubt very excited.Everyone knows how much the loss of Paul will affect the Pacers, so they can't wait to capture the always smug Henson's frowning look.

Yet as always, Henson didn't let anyone who hated him get his way.

Not only did this guy not frown, he even looked relaxed.

"What do you think of this game? Two points. First, George Karl is a son of a bitch. Second, the Thunder fans were too happy."

Henson nodded with a smile after finishing speaking, and then closed the locker room door.

A plan A, a plan B, Henson is fully prepared.Does the absence of Chris Paul mean that the Pacers must not win?Then you underestimate the defending champion too much.

(End of this chapter)