Chapter 305 304. The Eagles' Big Three Find Their Direction

Bibby's dissatisfaction was evident in his words, and both Joe Johnson and Pierce felt embarrassed.

In the first quarter, the two of them were polite to each other, so that all the pressure fell on Bibby alone, but both of them felt wronged.

Pierce: I'm a newcomer, isn't it normal for me not to grab the main attacking opportunities? Who knew that Johnson, who is known as the modern Jordan, is not so independent at all? What happened to the top ten in the league in terms of ball possession rate?

Joe Johnson: Who would have thought that Paul Pierce, who always boasted that he was the best small forward in the league, would be so polite to them? I'm ready to be the second or third boss!

They had just teamed up in the last game and were very excited. Their opponent was the Knicks. Playing in the holy land of basketball, they didn't think too much and just went for it.

But after the excitement of his debut, Bibby was fine. The hard life since childhood had forged his iron will and he didn't worry about gains and losses. Pierce and Joe Johnson were different. Both of them had many concerns.

However, Bibby's complaint brought the matter to the surface at this time, so the two of them no longer had to be humble in silence and could just talk about the matter directly.

Joe Johnson: "It's not easy for me to play against that bad boy in singles. Mike, Paul, you guys attack tonight and I'll assist. I can also pass the ball if necessary."

Bibby: "It's not easy for me to play against Elvis, but I can play pick-and-roll with Al. Al has little experience in assisting, so I need your help, Joe. When the bad boy is on the court, you are responsible for assisting. I will find a way to help you create mismatches and avoid the bad boy. The rest of the offense will be left to Paul."

Pierce: "Okay, the team offense is up to you guys, I'll be in charge of the singles."

After finishing their first effective communication since joining forces, the three turned to look at the head coach who had come up to them.

Woodson: "...Ahem, who needs to be substituted?"

As a head coach, Woodson felt a little ashamed to say this, but he heard the three of them assign tasks to themselves, and they arranged them better than he did...

The team's lineup was finally back on track, and he was finally able to start operating. But before he could be happy, the vice president who had a good relationship with the team told him the bad news that the boss Price wanted to remove him from office.

Fortunately, it was this vice president who persuaded the boss that a big deal had just been completed and it was not appropriate to change the leader immediately, so he was not immediately fired.

But if the team's performance continues like this, he will probably be removed during the second peak of coaching changes, which is the All-Star Weekend.

Originally, he thought that with Bibby, Pierce and Joe Johnson, they would be able to play very well, but when he started thinking about how to bring the three together... he was at a loss.

If you give him an offseason, a full training camp, seven preseason games... time to prepare, that's fine.

These three people were only gathered in the middle stage, and now the team system has nothing.

Face is something that should be thrown away when necessary.

Bibby narrowed his eyes at Woodson and asked, "Besides the three of us, Al, Zaza, and Josh, is there anyone else on our team who can play?"

The White Devil is just as rumored, not at all euphemistic... Woodson responded: "The management is actively trading and recruiting players. With the three of you, our team is very attractive."

Bibby: "That's right, but first we need to play well. You can try to let the three of us play more. I'm used to seven or eight people rotating. Joe and Paul can also play for a long time."

Pierce and Joe Johnson nodded and agreed with Bibby's statement.

Woodson's confidence has improved a lot, and the three stars seem to have good patience.

Yes, the three of them have endured for several years and now they finally see hope, so they will naturally be very patient.

He temporarily handed over the offense to the three stars, he had no other choice... But he didn't just stand there and watch, he had to try hard to find a way to quickly get the defense going.

As an assistant coach for so many years, he knows how difficult it is to have such a core combination!

...

After the intermission, the second quarter began and the Eagles attacked first.

Hawks lineup: Bibby, Childress, Pierce, Solomon Jones, Horford.

Solomon Jones, this year's second-round pick, is another 208-cm forward. Before Christmas, the Eagles' front line exploded, and he only got 10 appearances, averaging 4 minutes per game. Now he has become the main rotation inside...

Bobcats lineup: Rondo, Zhang Yang, Mike Miller, Millsap, Muhammad.

Bibby pushed forward and passed to Pierce, playing a steady game. Woodson was not good at offensive coaching, but he could still do a good job in arranging the lineup rotation. He listened to the "private chat" of the three stars and knew that Pierce and Joe Johnson were being humble. Although the three stars had discussed the order of priority, in order to avoid further entanglement between the two, he replaced the more restrained Joe Johnson first and gave Pierce a push.

This operation indeed saved Pierce from worry and Bibby from headache.

Pierce received the ball on the right side of the arc, waited for Bibby to move to the left at a 45-degree angle, then forced his way past Mike Miller and into the paint.

Millsap went straight to the free throw line and formed a double team with Mike Miller.

Pierce didn't pass the ball to Solomon Jones. He took two steps forward despite the double-team, stood up in the confrontation, and took a jump shot with one step inside the free throw line. He missed, but caused Millsap to foul!
Watching Pierce walk up to the free throw line with his chin raised, Rondo said to Zhang Yang, who was standing with his hands on his hips outside the three-point line, "Jack, you guessed it right. They really gave up letting Horford assist."

Zhang Yang: "They don't have a strong inside player with good passing ability. Johnson is the only stable off-ball shooter on the wing. Bibby and Pierce are more accustomed to shooting three-pointers from the high post and on both sides of the arc. Horford doesn't have as good conditions as Paul to practice passing.

Those three guys all have high basketball IQs. After they confirm this, they won't try again. They need to play immediately. Their efficiency in singles is higher than letting Horford assist. "

Rondo nodded. It was another day of learning analytical experience. But San Ge has been practicing basketball for less than 5 years, right? Is this a genius? I am really jealous.

Pierce made both free throws, 24 to 31, and the Hawks narrowed the gap to 7 points.

In the transition from offense to defense, the Bobcats launched the Cardinals triangle offense.

Muhammad was covering for Zhang Yang on the wing, Millsap was preparing to pass the ball in the high post, and Mike Miller was running towards the right sideline... When the Hawks retreated, Bibby was ready to direct the defense, asking Pierce and Horford to pay attention to the connection between Millsap and Mike Miller.

The Hawks did a good job of preparing to cut off the pass in the middle... Rondo suddenly took off, passed Bibby, and went straight to the basket for a layup to score two points.

Rondo retreated expressionlessly after scoring the goal, and glanced at Bibby as he passed by.

Seeing the confusion in Rondo's eyes, Bibby was also embarrassed.

After being traded to the Hawks, Bibby focused his attention on the Bobcats and Bulls, two of the top three teams in the Eastern Conference... He ignored the Pistons. In his opinion, the Pistons were at the end of their peak. Billups, Hamilton, and Rasheed Wallace were all getting older, and the era of the Big Five was almost over.

When studying the Bobcats, Bibby focused on games where the Bobcats had difficulty or lost, and found the key point - cutting off the middle.

When he saw the Bobcats' lineup after the intermission, he predicted that the opponent would play a triangle offense, so he directed his teammates to cut to the middle.

Now that Rondo has broken through, Bibby realized that he had a brain seizure. Everyone can cut off the middle road, but the key is to do a good job of defense in other places after cutting off the middle road.

Kirilenko has Okur, Garnett has Kwame Brown, Ben Wallace has Yao Ming...they only have Horford, and Horford is currently unable to do both on his own, whether it's cutting off the middle or protecting the rim, let alone doing both. Even Garnett can't do it.

Fortunately, Bibby always appears to be cool and expressionless, so no one noticed his embarrassment.

Moreover, the Eagles' defense was poor to begin with tonight, so no one cared about their one defensive mistake because it was unstoppable anyway.

Bibby received the ball and advanced to the frontcourt. Pierce attacked at the beginning and then pulled away. Bibby and Horford started the attack with a pick-and-roll.

Horford played for three years in college and ended his NCAA career with two consecutive championships. He is indeed very comprehensive in his abilities, has a good grasp of the timing of pick-and-rolls, and is very solid in blocking.

No longer responsible for supporting work, Horford quickly left the top arc after breaking away, cut in along the left side of the three-second zone, and attracted the defensive attention of Muhammad.

When Bibby encountered Millsap's switch defense, he rushed to the inside. His speed was not fast, but in the confrontation with Millsap from time to time, he maintained his speed, showed super core strength, and was able to stop suddenly at any time. Millsap did not dare to let go.

When approaching the low post, Bibby stopped suddenly... and passed the ball!
Solomon Jones cut in from the baseline, received the ball on the right side of the three-second zone, took one step forward and dunked with both hands to score two points!
Good physical fitness, good awareness of catching dunks... Zhang Yang feels that another player's career trajectory has changed.

Originally, the Hawks' inside line was expected to be bloated for many years to come. Players of Solomon Jones' strength would most likely not get a chance to play, and even players like Pachulia, who averaged 12 points and 7 rebounds per game and could both shoot and defend, became a substitute.

Now the Hawks have cashed in on the talent of their front line with All-Star player Pierce, and Solomon Jones has become the main substitute. If he can seize the opportunity to score, getting a contract extension will not be a problem. This kind of muscular forward who can run and jump is needed by every team.

In the transition from offense to defense, the Bobcats continued to use the Kawhi Leonard triangle offense.

This time the Hawks did not expand out to block the pass. Rondo broke through and passed the ball to Mike Miller on the wing. Mike Miller passed it to Millsap in the middle. Millsap passed it again... Zhang Yang moved up from the left baseline, suddenly turned around after the screen and ran back to the mid-range distance at the left baseline. He received the pass from Millsap, turned around and shot a mid-range shot... and it hit!
When the Hawks attacked, Bibby took advantage of a screen and made a three-pointer from the right side of the arc, but missed. After the offense and defense switched, Rondo was left open at the free throw line. After receiving the pass from Zhang Yang, Rondo took a decisive shot and made a jump shot from the free throw line!

37 to 26, the Bobcats' lead expanded to 11 points!
Bibby then continued to throw a three-pointer after the screen, and this time it went in, narrowing the gap to 8 points!
Card on the sidelines: As expected of three All-Stars in their prime, they figured out their playing style so quickly!

(End of this chapter)