basketball player

Chapter 641 Chapter 639: New point guard era
The Bankers Life Arena on October 10 was very lively. Outside the arena, the Pacers officially posted a huge poster.

What is more peculiar is that the characters on the poster are not the players, but a figure who is about to walk out of the player tunnel.

This figure from the back is wearing a suit and doesn't look tall.There is no doubt that this is Henson Joe's exclusive poster!

On the poster, there is a simple but powerful sentence written!

"The road to the dynasty!"

That's right, the Pacers have won two consecutive championships before.This year is an excellent opportunity for them to create a second dynasty!In addition, this year is Henson's last season, so this poster also pays tribute to Henson.

The huge poster outside the arena puts the back of a head coach instead of players. This kind of thing is probably the first time in the entire history of the NBA.

That's why Jimmy Butler wanted to leave Indianapolis.Because here, no matter how well you play, you can't be the protagonist.The protagonist of the Pacers will always be the Chinese man in the Armani suit.

Henson sits in the locker room as the players don their gear.Rose wrapped layer after layer of protective gear on his knees, and George was very careful about protecting his legs.

Only Antetokounmpo, that guy wears the least protective gear of all the players.After all, his physical condition is also the most perverted.

Seeing that the players were almost ready, Henson also spoke a few words.

"Tactical, I think you've all practiced it to the point of throwing up in the past month. So, I won't repeat it here. Today, I have just one request."

Henson paused for a moment, then looked at the crowd, "Do something nice for me!"

At the same time, Barkley, Kenny Smith and O'Neill, TNT's "funny day group", also arrived at the commentary stand.The three looked very excited, and people were eager to see how the Pacers without Paul would reverse their preseason decline.

Moreover, a very cruel fact is that Henson's game is one less game to watch.Therefore, the TNT trio also cherish it very much.

Not long after they took their seats, the on-site staff handed over the starting list submitted by Henson today to the three. The NBA rule is that before the start of the game, the head coach must submit the starting list to the referee, and then the referee will provide it to the commentator and live media.

This is why, no matter how the head coach changes, the correct starting list can always be played on the screen during the live broadcast.

Because referees and commentators are often the first to know the starting lineup.

After Barkley, Smith and O'Neal took over the list, they couldn't wait to look at it.Among them, Kenny Smith looked surprised, while Barkley and O'Neill smirked.

"I knew it, the preseason is a fucking cover! Henson Joe is really insidious!"

Barkley licked his plump lips, let's start the game!

※※※

Tom Thibodeau was sweating profusely. He had just finished laying out tactics for his players, but he still felt a little uneasy.

Yes, the Pacers' preseason performance was a scene of a car accident.The Pacers left Paul, and their strength was greatly reduced.

But I don't know why, Thibodeau is very disturbed.Maybe it's because he has lost too many games in this arena.
Thibodeau predicted that the Pacers may use Rondo to replace Paul.Rondo plus Antetokounmpo, these two guys will squeeze the Pacers' offensive space.

Therefore, Thibodeau's strategy is clear.Putting Antetokounmpo and Rondo, the defenders in the first and fourth positions can help defend other players without any scruples.

Especially for Paul George, Thibodeau believes that Jimmy Butler and his teammates will definitely make Paul George completely misfired.

At that time, it is impossible for the Pacers to win the game with Antetokounmpo hitting the basket alone!

Thibodeau knows Rondo too well. After all, Rondo also played for the Bulls back then.Compared with Paul, his scoring threat is not worth mentioning at all!
"Be more confident, be more confident!" Thibodeau said to himself in his heart, and then patted himself on the cheek.

All of Indianapolis is paying tribute to Henson, but I won't do that!

Don't blame me for not giving face, old opponent!
Half an hour later, the Timberwolves players stepped confidently onto the floor of the Bankers Life Arena.At the end of the team was Tom Thibodeau, who looked arrogant.

He believes that he has found a way to limit the Pacers' offense.As long as the Pacers are not allowed to open up on the offensive end, the Timberwolves have a great chance of winning!

"Hello, viewers, this is TNT. Welcome to the 18-19 season, the live broadcast of the NBA opening game! Today, we are in Indianapolis and will bring you a wonderful game between the Timberwolves and the Pacers!"

Seeing that both sides are warming up, the TNT trio also started their work.O'Neal looked at the confident Thibodeau and couldn't help but smirk.

He was looking forward to what Thibodeau's expression would be when he saw Henson's starting lineup.

"As we all know, Chris Paul signed a four-year contract worth $4 million with the Rockets this summer! His departure undoubtedly had a lot of impact on the Pacers. The Pacers played a total of five games in the preseason and only won one of them. Do you think they can bottom out in the regular season?"

Kenny Smith deliberately asked Barkley that although they knew the starting lineup, they still had to pretend not to know for the sake of the show.

"Affirmatively, without a doubt. Henson Joe's team is the defending champion, and the Timberwolves were only in the first round last season. To be honest, there is a big gap in strength between the two sides." Barkley replied without thinking.

Many fans smiled, maybe this "big mouth" will be slapped in the face again.

Indeed, the Timberwolves were indeed only a round trip last season.But after one summer, Towns and Wiggins must have made great progress.Most believe that the Timberwolves are likely to be the first to break the Pacers' dominance.

During the warm-up, Thibodeau nervously urged the players.And Henson. A reporter photographed this guy buying an ice cream for his daughter who was watching the game.He acted like a fan, not a coach about to command the game.

Afterwards, Henson pretended to pull Rondo to his side and whispered a few words.Seeing this scene, Thibodeau couldn't help swallowing.Experience tells him that once Henson whispers to a player before the game, that player will definitely perform well next time.

"What will he ask Rondo to do?" Thibodeau speculated in his heart, "Is it possible to let him shoot three-pointers? Could it be that Rondo developed a three-pointer this summer? It doesn't make sense!"

The TNT trio on the commentary stage were already laughing. It would be a great loss for the film and television industry if Henson did not go to Hollywood to develop.

Finally, at 8 p.m., the referees urged the two coaches to let the starting five play.On Thibodeau's side, he shouted at the players with a tactical board until the last moment.

"Don't let Rondo go too far, he may shoot a three-pointer!" The former top coach in the league was trapped by Henson before the game started.

On Henson's side, he didn't even take the tactical board.Just waved his hand casually, let the players come out.

He believes that even Thibodeau has nothing to do with his lineup.

After all, where has he ever dealt with a point guard taller than 2 meters!

"Starters from both sides played, and the Timberwolves side has not changed much compared to last season. Jimmy Butler and Jeff Teague partnered at the back line, Wiggins and Taj Gibson partnered at the front line. Karl-Anthony Towns played center, Thibodeau did not change! And the Pacers side"

At this time, both the fans at the scene and the fans in front of the TV were stunned.No, not to mention the fans, even Thibodeau was dumbfounded at this time.

He looked at the Pacers' lineup, including Brook Lopez, Siakam, Paul George, Oladipo, and...and Giannis Antetokounmpo!
On the two power forwards! ?And the point guard! ?Where is the Pacers point guard! ?Let Oladipo handle the ball! ?At this moment, Thibodeau's heart was full of Nick Young's face of question marks, and he couldn't understand Henson Joe's transformation!
"Coach Henson has a very distinctive lineup. We can see that Rajon Rondo, Brogdon and Derrick Rose are all sitting off the court. In other words, the Pacers have no point guards on the court. And this lineup has never appeared in the preseason." Barkley looked at Antetokounmpo. If he guessed right, he is Paul's replacement!
Under people's astonished eyes, players from both sides stood in the designated positions.Thibodeau swallowed. He made so many targeted arrangements for Rondo at the beginning, but Rondo didn't play at all.In other words, his arrangement was completely in vain!At this time, the Timberwolves players were at a loss.

At the beginning of the new season, Thibodeau was hit by Henson!
The referee blew his whistle, and Lopez scrambled for the ball to the cheers of the Pacers fans.Oladipo received the basketball, but he did not control the ball and advance, but handed the ball to Antetokounmpo beside him!
Antetokounmpo dribbled the ball while gesturing to direct his teammates to move.Thibodeau took a breath, Antetokounmpo is not a power forward, but a point guard!

Although these years, point forwards have been increasingly used by various teams.But a point forward with a height of more than 2 meters still makes Thibodeau feel a little shocked.

What would Henson do?How will the Pacers play?Thibodeau was completely clueless.Facing the unknown is what humans fear most.

Seeing people's surprised expressions, Henson crossed his arms proudly.The good show he directed is about to be staged.

The new point guard era is officially here!

(End of this chapter)