basketball player

Chapter 600 598: Long-term strategy

The Indiana Pacers, the first team in the league to break the Bulls' 72 wins.After the Los Angeles Lakers of the "OK combination", it is the first team that can establish three consecutive championships in the league.It is no exaggeration to say that in the past few years, the Indiana Pacers have been the face of the NBA.

The Golden State Warriors are the second team in the league to achieve 73 wins in a single season. Their style of play even changed the style of play in the entire league, allowing the NBA to officially enter the "small ball era."The year before last, he won the first NBA championship in team history with a devastating offensive, and won 73 wins last season.After Durant announced his joining this season, people are more optimistic that the Warriors can win the cup again after a year.

These two teams almost represent the highest level of the NBA in the past five years.Although LeBron James in the middle once won the championship when he was behind 1 to 3 and spoiled the game, people still think that this is an era that belongs to the Pacers and Warriors.

But it is these two teams that have dominated the league for nearly five years, but they have never played against each other in the playoffs.This situation is also very rare.Because the peak periods of the two teams happened to be staggered in just 5 years.

During the three consecutive championships of the Pacers, the Warriors were still a young team that was not valued by people.At that time, Monta Ellis' reputation was far greater than that of Curry.Green?Thompson?Under Mark Jackson, they have yet to shine.

While the Warriors dominated the league for two years, the Pacers were in chaos.Jimmy Butler, Kawhi Leonard, Al Horford, and Ray Allen, who once won the championship, left one after another.Of course, the most important thing is Indianapolis basketball godfather Henson Joe, who chose to retire.

Therefore, in the past two years, the most discussed issue among fans is.If the Pacers are still at their peak, what would it be like to play the Finals against the Warriors at this time?

But now, all this is really coming.

Since returning from Chicago, Henson has immediately devoted himself to preparing for the Warriors.The team that can reach the Finals 4-0 in three rounds from the fiercely competitive West is not at the same level as any opponent Henson has encountered in the past.

"Any opponent before" here is not just those opponents that Henson eliminated this year.Henson even believes that his opponents in the last three consecutive championships may not be as strong as the Warriors.

Look, the Warriors have Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant, two MVP-level players, and Klay Thompson, the league's top off-ball attacker.At the same time, it also has the most unpopular FMVP Andre Iguodala, and one of the core of the Warriors, Draymond Green who can bring great contributions to the team on both offense and defense.

The luxury of the Warriors lineup is indeed beyond the reach of many teams.What's more, while ensuring a luxurious lineup, the Warriors also have a complete offensive and defensive system.And everyone in the Warriors can perfectly integrate into this system.

In fact, this is the scariest part of the Warriors.They can combine team basketball with extreme individual ability.

The Heat and Spurs, who were defeated by Henson in the past, have very distinctive characteristics.The Heat have the superstar with the strongest personal ability, but the running-in of the Big Three and other role players is not systematic. Spoelstra has not yet the ability to build the Heat as a whole.

More often, the Heat rely on the personal abilities of the Big Three to end the problem.As long as the Big Three are contained, the Heat will basically be misfired.

Although Popovich's Spurs are very comprehensive, it must be admitted that the GDP at that time was not at the peak of personal ability.In the Spurs, there is no player who can kill the game by himself.

This year's Golden State Warriors are more like a combination of the two.So watching Warriors game tape in the office gave Henson a headache.

During the regular season, he only played against the Warriors twice.The first time I was beaten and cried, and the second time I was enlightened by Sager, I gritted my teeth and won the victory. The regular season record against the Warriors was 1 win and 1 loss.

But just two fights are not enough for Henson to fully understand the Warriors.Therefore, Henson needs to make adjustments while trying to make mistakes in the finals.

In the last championship of the three-peat period, the Pacers played very easily against the Spurs or the Heat.This is naturally due to the increase in the strength of the Pacers players, but on the other hand, it also shows that Henson is very familiar with how to contain the Heat and the Spurs.He can figure out how to contain both without trial and error in the Finals.

But this year is different. Henson has to play the game to know how to deal with the Warriors.Therefore, this time he will definitely lose some games in the finals.Similarly, the Warriors can only use trial and error to deal with the Pacers.Let's see now, who can stop making mistakes first.

"Henson, offense or defense?"

After Becky Harmon made his voice, Henson finally got out of his thoughts.Only then did he remember that there were still two of his assistant coaches sitting in the office.

"Defense!" Henson replied firmly, "Unless the brain is sick, we can't play against a team that has both Curry and Durant. We must start from the defense, destroy them with aggressiveness, and then wait for the opportunity to counterattack. As for how to play this counterattack"

"Continue to use fast conduction?" McMillan put forward his own guess, but was quickly denied by Henson.

"Trust me, Golden State is going to cut off all our passing lanes. People always think that the Warriors win because of the three-point shot, but that's one of the conditions. The Warriors win because they defend well. So, don't expect to be able to play an easy fast break against the Warriors."

"What should I do?"

"We need a player who can advance with the ball and play alone, just like the Cleveland Cavaliers, four shooters open up, and create a single play opportunity for one person at the same time. This person must have strong single play ability, great breakthrough lethality, and can also run fast breaks."

After Henson finished speaking, his eyes suddenly lit up.How had Stevens taught him?Take other people's good tactics and improve them.The most classic example is that Henson used the elevator door tactics to create a lore goal, which backlashed the Warriors who were still coached by Mark Jackson.

And tomorrow, Henson will try the Cavaliers' "one star and four shots" style of play.The Warriors last season were defeated by "one star and four shots".

Be tough on the defensive end, then keep everything simple on the offensive end, and score efficiently while containing the opponent's scoring. This is Henson's strategy!

"So, who are you going to have as Indianapolis' LeBron James?" McMillan asked curiously.

"Of course it's LeBron James, the player who gives James the most headache." Henson smiled, and the confrontation training in the afternoon has a theme.

※※※

Who is the Pacers player that James has the most troublesome, "League No. [-] James" Lance Stephenson must be on this list.

But if Henson's brain is not broken, he will definitely not let Stephenson play James.After all, Stephenson has only so much ability.Let him play singles with the ball and then pull the four shooters apart. The Warriors estimate that they can take away the victory in only halftime.

In addition to Stephenson, the second name to be on that list is undoubtedly Antetokounmpo.

In the just-concluded Eastern Conference finals, picking out the picture of Antetokounmpo blocking James is enough to make a highlight.

Antetokounmpo just signed a [-] million yuan contract this summer, and he also took the initiative to cut his salary.So there is no doubt that he is extremely sincere to the Pacers, and he is definitely willing to do his best for the Pacers in the playoffs.

Therefore, in the afternoon training, Antetokounmpo and the players received another strange task.

"I don't want to play any complicated offensive tactics, because in the game on June 6, you must first defend well. Lance, tell them what an aggressive defense is!"

Henson said, Stephenson rubbed his hands impatiently.Later in the training, he will not show mercy.

"In addition to defending, our task is to attack quickly. After getting the basketball, give the ball to Antetokounmpo as soon as possible."

Having said that, everyone else scratched their heads.Shouldn't the ball be handed over to Paul the first time?
Henson carried out his plan without explaining too much.But in fact, Henson's plan is not limited to this game, but has already looked at the entire playoffs.The first game and all-star shooting are just the first steps of the plan.

Henson has not forgotten that he also has a "professional proficiency" speech technique, which has the effect of greatly improving a certain attribute of a player, which lasts for one game.

Combined with his own strategy, Henson believes that he will definitely be able to take the initiative in the finals!

After the afternoon training, a piece of news about Draymond Green was posted online.

"I'm going to make them regret it, absolutely," Green said. "I think that's disrespect to me. I take that as disrespect. Don't expect to win the game by attacking the best defensive player. If Henson does that, then he is looking down on me. And I will use my actions to make him regret it."

Green's words came from a reporter's question: "In the last second before the end of the game, if the Pacers choose to attack you, how would you react?"

Looking at this news and seeing Antetokounmpo's excellent state, Henson smiled slightly.

Then Mr. Draymond Green, in the first game of the series, I will take you out.

(End of this chapter)