Chapter 32 32. Tool Man Jack

Miller, Keefe and Monroe confirmed once again that their running worked, and they ran more aggressively and had better execution on the offensive end.

They know very well what to do in the reserve team: two things - improve their strength and learn tactics.

There are two concepts of learning tactics. One is to be like Zhang Yang, who can understand the tactics and know the purpose of each movement.

The other is to simply remember effective running methods, without fully understanding the tactics, but being able to make qualified on-the-spot reactions through the experience accumulated from long-term games.

If you are a role player and learn tactics in the second way, it will not be much different from the first way. It's just that you will be slower in learning new tactics. Many system players belong to the second way.

These three people belong to the second type. They don’t know the difference between the two. They think that their positioning has played a role, which means they have begun to learn how to play tactics, and their enthusiasm is immediately mobilized.

Zhang Yang also seized the opportunity, moved actively, and ensured the threat of attacking the basket.

At the same time, he observed the opponent's defensive changes and promptly ordered his three teammates to adjust their positions. Based on his teammates' tactical awareness, the position adjustments he ordered were as simple as possible, trying to ensure that his teammates only needed to "move once".

With the help of his teammates, DeRozan finally has the normal conditions for singles scoring and can lead the team to score normally!

Although they were still at a disadvantage in the game, at least they were no longer helplessly suppressed by Freedom Park College like they had been in the first half of the quarter.

After the first quarter, the score was 19 to 28, and Compton High School was keeping the lead close.

Entering the intermission, Johnson replaced DeRozan, who had been attacking for half a quarter, with Tatum, and replaced Charlie Monroe with Allen Kanter.

In Johnson's opinion, Tatum, who is good at breaking through and counterattacks, and DeRozan, who is good at mid-range singles, are a better dual-core combination. They can take into account both positional warfare and counterattacks, and their playing styles do not conflict. However, there are currently no conditions for both of them to display their strength at the same time, so it is better to make good use of that kid first.

Johnson kept Keefe and Miller on the court, leaving two players who would listen to Zhang Yang's instructions. Together with Zhang Yang, they formed a 3 to 2 contrast with the newly replaced players, ensuring Zhang Yang's right to speak on the court.

"Alan, your strength is your inside scoring skills. You have the advantage of height. Be careful to seize opportunities. Carmelo, you are fast in breaking through and advancing. Make good use of your advantage."

After the substitution, Johnson talked about the advantages of the two new players, and then left time to Zhang Yang.

After Johnson finished the arrangements, Miller and Keefe consciously surrounded Zhang Yang and waited for arrangements.

The two had already shown their talent in the 9th grade and were considered the "big guys" by players of the same grade. Seeing this, Kanter also surrounded them.

Tatum was substituted back in, wanting to show off his leadership charm. Of course, he didn't really think of a good way to lead his teammates, but he just wanted to show it, purely out of his sincerity... But before he could greet his teammates, his teammates had already surrounded Zhang Yang.

He followed them unhappily and asked loudly, "Jack, how do you think I should fight?"

"Play the way you are used to," Zhang Yang said to his teammates after turning his head to the side. "When we play positional warfare, James, you go to the left at a 45-degree angle, Kevin, you try to get as far as possible from the baseline in the direction of Carmelo's breakthrough... Regardless of whether the opponent's shot makes it or not, we must get the ball to Carmelo as soon as possible, and then we will focus on counterattacks. James, you go down this side quickly, Kevin, you follow up behind Carmelo..."

His arrangements were based on the principle of the simpler the better.

The teammates are very satisfied with this arrangement. The movement of the three role players is simple and does not require any thinking. Tatum was originally quite unhappy, but when he heard that all the attacks were centered around him, he immediately became satisfied.

Before going on the court, Zhang Yang glanced at Johnson and felt like he was being used as a tool...

Soon, the second quarter began. At the beginning, Compton High School's offense was not smooth, because Liberty Park Academy scored in several consecutive rounds. Compton High School's counterattack failed and fell into positional warfare, but their positional warfare offensive coordination was far worse than when DeRozan was there.

A core player like Tatum who can only break through and pass the ball actually takes up a lot of court space in positional warfare. His teammates need to free up the entire three-second zone and the space on both sides of the three-second zone. The most suitable team formation for him is a bunch of three-point shooters, and it would be best if the inside players can also pull out to shoot three-pointers.

But among the four teammates currently partnering with him, Zhang Yang moved to the free throw line very actively, but still missed the shot; Miller was too far away from the baseline and failed to make the shot even after receiving the ball; Keefe was closely guarded by the opponent and could not receive the ball, but Kanter, who followed up with the ball and shot high, scored a goal.

Fortunately, there were worse times in this game, and the obstruction of positional offense did not affect their emotions too much. At least they played in an organized manner and were able to create open shooting opportunities, and they could see hope!

When Liberty Park Academy's shooting touch declined, Tatum began to successfully lead the team to counterattack. The morale of the Compton High School players was immediately boosted and they began to fight back with all their strength.

The teammates were excited, and Zhang Yang also became involved in the game.

He has figured out the simple way to cooperate with the two core players. He no longer needs to divide his attention by observing his opponents and teammates. He can focus on the game itself.

What he can do in cooperation is simple, and it is difficult for him to provide strong support, but because of this, he wants to do the best he can.

On the sidelines, Thomas was excited as he watched his players play better and better.

Here it comes! What he expected has come! Zhang Yang showed his talent as a court commander!
This kind of talent does not depend on one’s strength. If you have it, you have it. If you don’t, you don’t have it.

But he found something a little bit wrong - why didn't Jack respond?
He noticed that every time Zhang Yang moved, it seemed that his purpose was to get a chance to shoot from a fixed point or to cut into the basket, and his counterattacks were also aimed at attacking the basket. He did not show the ability to pass the ball as he did in the dam ball game.

Is it because it is more difficult to pass the ball in a 5-on-5 match, so people don’t try it easily unless they are sure of it?
As expected of the talent he recruited, he is really mature!
Little did they know that someone on the court was muttering "40 mid-range shots, 20 layups"...

...

In the end, Compton High School Prep lost to Liberty Park Academy 102-115.

The overall strength gap is still very obvious. The strength of the Liberty Park Academy basketball team is at least at the middle level of the second-tier California League. The Compton High School reserve team players are much more talented. Maybe any one of them is more talented than the strongest Ron Rod on the opposite side. However, there is a 2-3 year age difference, and the gap in technology, game experience, tactical coordination ability, etc. is indeed not small.

Compton High School was able to keep the score to just over 10 points thanks to Liberty Park Academy relaxing a lot in the latter stages of the game.

If Liberty Park Academy had maintained the same focus as in the first half of the first quarter, Zhang Yang might not have been able to help his teammates cooperate so easily. Compton High School was suddenly able to cooperate and caught Liberty Park Academy off guard for a period of time... Otherwise, the score difference might have been exaggerated.

DeRozan, Tatum, Keefe and others were unwilling to accept the smug look on the opposite side of the Liberty Park Academy players led by Ron Rod, and they wanted to work harder!

But they had confidence in one thing, they had someone they could rely on in tactics - Boss Jack!
Of course, there are still some individuals who are unhappy about this. A certain charcoal-head feels that his limelight has been stolen, and he secretly resolves to study tactics secretly... But it is still okay to listen to Jack's arrangements for the time being.

Zhang Yang smiled slightly. He had already won the trust of his teammates... Well, he couldn't smile now, and he was very unwilling to accept it.

Before being substituted in, Zhang Yang's view on the game was - it's just children's basketball.

After being replaced - I was just that little kid, and a very weak one at that.

(End of this chapter)