The invincible kryptonite of basketball

The reporter asked again.

Holt nodded.

"Like I just said, no one expected him to grow so fast, and the reason why he can grow so fast has a lot to do with the Pelicans giving him a lot of shots, which is difficult to achieve in the Spurs. Well, Popovich wouldn't allow that, and that's not our style.

Like everybody knows, we have a system where we're a team and Tim is good enough, but if you just look at his stats, you think he's just an average All-Star. "

"You mentioned Tim, there are rumors that he may retire this season? After he retires, will this system continue to exist?"

The reporter continued to ask.

"Of course, Popovich is here, it's there, and we've found a new replacement, Kawhi, he's as good as Don, he just won Defensive Player of the Year, he did what Don did things, and do it better.

You see now we have a chance to go for a third championship in four years, very promising, honestly, it has something to do with our original decision, we let Don go, and then we have room to sign Paul · Gasol, and we're now 3-1 up against the Pelicans. "

Holt couldn't hide the confidence between his brows.

From this passage, we can also see the original intention of Holt to accept the interview at this time and publish these long speeches.

Ever since Tang Tian finished his first game with the Pelicans, the Spurs have been on the cusp and have become the target of criticism from the outside world.

Now, Leonard has been elected as the best defensive player, and the Spurs will immediately eliminate the Pelicans. It is finally his turn to express his anger!

Chapter 684 New Orleans Saints (third!)

This exclusive interview with Holt will soon be released by FOX Sports.

This led to a wave of heated discussions among fans on social media.

"Holt endured it for two years, and finally couldn't take it anymore? He's announcing to the world that their original decision was right!"

"This is a capitalist. He has completely forgotten how the Spurs' two consecutive championships came about. Now that the Pelicans are going to be eliminated, he will come out and speak out immediately!"

"I can't help it. In the past two years, the management of the Spurs has almost been sprayed as an idiot. If you don't believe me, ask the general manager of the Spurs, Buford!"

"Buford: Mmmmm!!!"

"But I'm inexplicably upset. This kind of behavior feels like a snob, taking advantage of others' danger!"

"Yes, those reasons are also very weak. Leonard can grow to this point. Will Don really be worse than him in the Spurs?"

"Those are excuses, but the series is not over yet, I still hope the Pelicans can fight back!"

"That's impossible, let's wait for next year. I think Jokic will grow up next year, and the Pelicans will definitely win!"

……

Holt's exclusive interview aroused great public opinion, and the Pelicans were also very upset after seeing it.

Tang Tian is the boss of the team, and he is also a hot candidate for MVP, but in Holt's mouth, he still feels like an ordinary role player.

Originally, the team's morale was extremely low after falling behind 1 to 3, but it was stimulated by this and it rebounded a lot.

Of course, the overall situation is still in the doldrums.

No matter which team it is, it is difficult to be optimistic in a 1-3 situation.

Tang Tian was also thinking about how to improve the morale of the team in his spare time.

It is said to learn from history, but he has never experienced this situation even in his previous life. As for other experienced teams, he does not know those famous players.

The Rockets are ready-made, but they have no acquaintances. Harden, Bosh, and Parsons don't have a good relationship with him.

Just when Tang Tian was thinking about this, an unexpected visitor came to his villa.

Dempsey.

There is only one reason why Dempsey came to Tang Tian.

Although the playoffs are still going on, the draft will be a month later, and the Pelicans will start preparing for next year's draft ahead of schedule.

The Pelicans' second round this year has been given to the Clippers before, but they still have a first round.

This first-round pick has been determined at the end of the regular season, and it is the 28th pick at the end of the first round.

Tang Tian brought Jokic to the Pelicans last year, and Demps will definitely find him this year.

The two sat in the living room and chatted for a while.

The current lineup of the Pelicans has stabilized, and they actually don't need to add too many new players.

But no matter how strong a team is, it must have rookie reserves, so this draft pick still has to be selected.

If I really want to add, the team's fourth position is relatively weak.

Teletovic has fallen out of the rotation and his contract expires this summer. The Pelicans probably won't stay in the summer.

Even the current substitute Aminu is not a serious No. [-].

Tang Tian gave Dempsey a few subjects for investigation.

Bobby Portis, Larry Nance Jr., Montrezl Harrell, Sadie Osman.

Now history has undergone many changes. The Lakers and Knicks, who did not make the playoffs before, have made it to the playoffs.

So the draft will become more confusing.

Therefore, Tang Tian put all those people who were late in the first round and could be helpful to the team into the list.

Dempsey took the list and left.

Tang Tian is now like Zhuge who is strategizing, constantly giving advice to the Pelicans.

And it's free.

After sending Dempsey away, Tang Tian suddenly remembered something.

When the Pelicans and the Grizzlies were tied 2-2 in the first round, Demps and Lausha had come to the training ground.

That training session worked surprisingly well.

At that time, he felt that the encouragement of the management team was very helpful to the players.

It's right to think about it. Although the NBA is not the boss that directly pays the players' wages, the management is still the one who decides the player's contract.

Everyone wants to make a good impression on the management.

Thinking of this, Tang Tian realistically sent a text message to Benson, and after confirming that the other party had time, he called him again.

The content is very simple, he hopes that Benson will come to the scene during the team training and say something to boost the morale of the team.

It was 2 to 2 with the Grizzlies before, and the situation can only be regarded as a stalemate. It is enough for Demps and Lausha to come.

But now 1 to 3, on the edge of a cliff, if you want to borrow external forces, of course you must borrow the best.

Benson was the perfect candidate.

Benson readily accepted.

Although he is old, he really does his best for the Pelicans.

In the training session on the second day, the players were training, and there was a commotion at the door.

It turned out that the team owner Benson and his assistant came to the training hall.

Benson's sudden appearance made the players very excited.

Benson's current physical condition is not particularly good, and he rarely goes out, let alone comes to the arena.

He didn't need to say anything, but going to the training hall was already a great encouragement to the spirit of the players.

When Benson came in, he secretly met Tang Tian's eyes.

After Borrego got the team all together, Benson laughed and told them a story.

"In 2010, the Saints went to the Super Bowl against the Colts led by Peyton Manning, one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. We were the dogs, and most people thought we won. No, even after halftime we fell behind as the outside world expected.

But at halftime, then-star quarterback Drew Brees said something that I'll always remember.

'We may lose this game, but this may be my closest or only chance to be world champion, so before the final whistle, as long as my leg is not broken, I will run as hard as I can . '

I was in the locker room and we had a comeback in the second half, and what he said told me one thing, you don't know how strong you are if you don't give it your all. "

The Saints are a legend in New Orleans. As a traditional weak team, they won the only Super Bowl championship in team history in 2010, and they are also the only team in New Orleans to win the North American professional sports league championship.

They even missed the NFL playoffs two years in a row before winning the title.

Benson was talking about what happened on the night of the 2010 Super Bowl, when the Saints trailed in the first half and came back in the second half to outscore the Colts 31-17 for the title.

The situation at that time did have similarities with the Pelicans now, and there are also merits.

After Benson finished speaking, Tang Tian looked around his teammates and found that they all looked very excited.

In New Orleans, the Saints' story will definitely be heard to some extent.

Now Benson, as the team owner, uses this story, and it is a story of personal experience to motivate the players.

This effect is really getting twice the result with half the effort, even exceeding Tang Tian's expectations.

Chapter 685 Set yourself a small goal first (fourth update!) (repair)

After Benson finished telling his story, he didn't leave in a hurry, but chatted with the team members one after another.

This kind of small talk is very helpful for the self-confidence of the players.

When he left, the training efforts of the players remained the same, and that kind of spiritual encouragement was evident.

After the training, Tang Tian took Jokic to chat for a while.

In the first two games of Jokic's comeback, he felt good, and in the second game he scored 4 three-pointers, which contributed to the team's victory.

But the touch dropped significantly in the next two games. In the last game, he made 3 of 0 shots from outside the three-point line.

Now that Williams has started with Jokic, his touch has an even greater impact on the Pelicans.

Moreover, Jokic is the kind of player with a very high golf quotient. If he knows that he doesn't feel good, he will not force his shots and stand more at the basket.

This choice is correct, but the problem is that his strategic significance will not be so great.

His defense is not as good as Whiteside, so the starting effect will not be as good as Whiteside.

"Nicolas, AD couldn't find the touch after his comeback. What I said to him was to keep shooting, because the next goal must happen after the next shot."

Tang Tian used Davis' example to encourage Whiteside before, and now he uses it to encourage Jokic.

"I know your concern, you worry that if you don't make shots, it will hurt the team, but believe me, as long as you keep shooting, it will help the team."

He went on to add.

"I shoot a three-pointer. If I don't make it, it will probably be a long rebound. The Spurs will seize the opportunity to counterattack."

Jokic voiced his concerns.

His understanding of the game is really good.

"Go ahead and shoot, leave the defense to me."

Tang Tian's words gave people a full sense of security.

Jokic nodded, Tang Tian had already talked about this point, and it would not be appropriate for him not to vote.

Tang Tian had a private chat with Williams the next day.

It's about team defense.

He said in front of Jokic that the defense was handed over to him, which was just to reassure Jokic and build his confidence.

Because most of Jokic's opportunities outside the three-point line came from his sudden points, he was probably in the Spurs penalty area at that time, and it was too late to retreat.

At that time, it was the Pelicans' outside players who really needed to retreat.

This is not anyone's business, but the team needs to make corresponding defensive arrangements.

Williams agreed with what Tang Tian said, and adjusted the training session in the morning, using retreat as a special training content.

That night, Game [-] of the Pelicans-Spurs series kicked off at the New Orleans Arena.