Chapter 246 245. I don't want another top-paid teammate who holds me back

Metta World Peace:?

He was watching the video, but he wasn't thinking about how to defend, he was thinking about how to play better offense...

His scoring performance in the regular season this season is indeed his best in the four years since he joined the Lakers. He averaged 4 points per game in the regular season, and his 12.6 steals per game was the highest since the 1.6-07 season. His blocks and rebounds were also the highest in the past four years. He even had the second highest three-point shooting performance of his career with 08 three-pointers per game... But!
That was because he lost more than ten pounds from 115 kg to 108 kg, and changed to play power forward, helping to defend the basket and moving to the outside to shoot long two-point and three-point shots, which enabled him to achieve such performance.

Let him play power forward to help Gasol share the defensive pressure. He is barely enough. He can defend Ibaka alone, but defending Durant...

Metta World Peace was certainly happy that the new talent thought so highly of him, but he had to be pragmatic. He said bluntly: "Jack, I can't keep up with Durant. I will be passed by him."

Zhang Yang: "I know."

Metta World Peace: “…”

Are you unhappy because you lost the game and you come to tease me?

Zhang Yang: "But Earl couldn't keep up with him. Not only could he not keep up, he couldn't even interfere with his shot. He flew away as soon as Durant shook him off. He couldn't even hold up against Durant, and he wasn't even as strong as Durant."

As a former best defensive player, if Metta World Peace can't even understand this, then all those best defensive team selections were in vain.

Metta World Peace fell into deep thought. After a while, he said, "Then we need to strengthen the interior defense. Paul can't defend it alone."

Zhang Yang: "Add Jordan (Hill)?"

Metta World Peace shook his head: "He is good at assisting small guards, but he can't defend against strong forwards... He needs help from the wing."

Zhang Yang: "I have to defend Harden. If I'm not at the top of the arc, no one can stop Harden's breakthrough. The two Steves have a good defensive attitude but it's useless. It's their limit to be able to interfere with spot shooters like Sefrosa and Fisher."

Metta World Peace: "We have another point guard who is good at this and can shoot in open positions... We don't have the final say. We need to talk to Bernie, Eddie, Steven and others. I'll call them!"

Mr. World Peace always does things in a hurry. Five minutes later, Zhang Yang, Metta World Peace, Eddie Jordan, Steven Clifford, Darwin Ham and others gathered in the Bickerstaff room. Oh, and Kobe, who heard the news and came to join in the fun.

When Zhang Yang talked with Metta World Peace before, he only discussed the feasibility. In the small meeting, he summarized some of the methods that Tony Allen, Marion, Leonard and others used to defend Durant in his memory.

After hearing this, Metta World Peace exclaimed, "It turns out that Jack, you came to me after you were fully prepared."

He didn't think there was anything wrong with Zhang Yang being able to come up with these top defense tricks. He was already in the second defense last season, and there was a high probability that he would not be able to escape the best defensive lineup this season, if it weren't for the two big guys Paul and Tony Allen in front and the Lakers' poor record this season... But it was only a matter of time before he would be included in the first defense.

Zhang Yang is usually modest: "It's just that you haven't thought about it in this way. You can think of these skills if you think about it casually."

Metta World Peace did not deny that he had never considered defending Durant.

He turned to Kobe and said, "If you can play, Kobe, we can create more rest time for Jack. You and him have a good match in style. You are both suitable for triangle offense. You can catch the ball and shoot and pass the ball. Even if one person is responsible for playing regular time and the other is responsible for shooting key singles, we can maintain our advantage."

Kobe was eager to take action after hearing this.

Zhang Yang: "Let him take a break. He said he wants to play for 20 years. I don't want someone with broken ankles, knees and shoulders to hold me back."

Kobe: If you hadn’t renewed your contract, I would bite you to death!
But he couldn't even lose his temper now. Although the boy's words were harsh, he was telling the truth.

He is not stupid. He just didn't know that his injury risk had reached such a level before. As long as he stepped onto the court, he wanted to fight to the death with his opponents and win every game.

After understanding his physical condition, he should rest. It's not like he has missed two or three months before. He was absent for a longer time in the 04-05 season than this season. He was younger then, but he is this age now.

The old blacksmith stared at Zhang San, wanting to kill this bastard with his eyes.

Seeing the old blacksmith's eyes wide open, Zhang San was in a good mood.

The day before yesterday in Los Angeles, Zhang Yang curiously went to the team doctor to ask for Kobe's detailed medical examination report from February. It was really scary. At that time, Kobe's body was already at a point where it could collapse at any time. He was severely fatigued, and several key parts could be broken or torn at any time because of a slip.

The team doctor recommended a 4-6 month physical therapy and rehabilitation period, which is like treating a broken Achilles tendon, knee, or shoulder. Eyes-catching shots didn't work, so Kobe started offering defensive advice...

Among the three players, two were former first-team defensive big guns and one is expected to be a first-team defensive big gun. Regarding specific defense, all three provided a lot of ideas.

Even Metta World Peace himself was certain that he could not defend against Durant's breakthrough. Based on this premise, there were fewer defensive changes to consider, and the defensive goal was single, so the analysis was actually simpler.

The meeting didn't last long, just half an hour. After the meeting, Kobe called Nash and Gasol, and the five of them found a place to eat lunch. Since they couldn't play basketball, they just did what the boss should do and increased the opportunities for communication with teammates.

After the team members left, Bickerstaff asked Clifford, "Steven, what do you think of Jack's idea?"

Clifford nodded. "We can't do a comprehensive defense. We even wasted Jack's excellent one-on-one defense because of our poor rim protection. It's feasible to strengthen the interior defense. I'm not sure whether Metta can effectively interfere with Durant, but defending the key points is the only defensive adjustment that is theoretically feasible for us now... But if Chris comes on, the offense will be..."

Clifford said, looking towards the other interim head coach.

Bickerstaff asked, “Eddie, do you have a problem here?”

Eddie Jordan thought for a while and said, "It's not impossible, but Paul will have to bear a heavier task, and we won't have a stable scoring point under the basket..."

Bickerstaff: “Just unstable?”

Eddie Jordan: “Huh?”

Bickerstaff: "That's no problem, Eddie. Tell Darwin the basic offensive and defensive coordination in two hours, and have two training sessions in the afternoon!"

Several teaching assistants: “…”

Unstable = Possibly possible = feasible?

I've heard that this old guy is wild. He's already 70 years old, but still so wild!

...

On April 4, after a day of rest, the second game day of the series between the Lakers and Thunder arrived.

At 8:40 p.m., players from both teams entered the stadium.

Tonight, the fans at the scene were obviously more confident - Zhang Yang scored 1 points in G44, and their Thunder team won by 9 points, so there was nothing to be afraid of!
Originally they were worried that Kobe would suddenly return, with 3+24, and their biggest advantage, the duo of young talents, would most likely become a disadvantage. But yesterday, Kupchak, who was with the team, said that he would not let Kobe take the risk of returning to play in this year's playoffs, and also mentioned Roy's previous experience. Thunder fans were completely relieved.

The Thunder players were also relieved...

But the Lakers are also full of energy tonight.

During the preparation phase yesterday afternoon and this morning, the coaching staff made very clear adjustments to their playing style!

They fought to the end in G1 but still couldn't win. If the coaching staff didn't make any adjustments, they would think that the coaching staff had no solution.

When the coaching staff has an adjustment plan and it is very clear, they will have hope!
As for whether the adjustment is feasible...let's talk about it first!

The one who looked the most excited was Pau Gasol.

In the coaching booth, Ham, who served as an assistant coach during the Zen Master era, said: "I haven't seen Paul so happy for a long time. When I asked him to leave the low post before, he was 100% reluctant."

Bickerstaff: "Can it be the same? Although both are leaving the inside, being forced to leave the basket and not being able to go in easily because of a center who can only score at the basket and has no shooting ability, and just needing to move to the mid-range because of tactical needs, the difference is huge..."

……

……

Today I'll keep it short and concise, 9500 words, just make do. I won't stay up late, go to bed early, and get up early tomorrow on the weekend to write. Please give me your monthly vote!
(End of this chapter)