Chapter 606: 606
The conversation between Dai Li and Gray ended .
Dai Li felt that Gray already knew his shortcomings . People who could make it to the NBA were not fools . They knew how to solve their problems .
For Gray, his problem with fouls was a challenge he needed to overcome . This was Gray's so-called "rookie wall . " If he successfully overcame this challenge, he would be like a bird that had just learned to fly; the sky would be his limit .
As for whether or not he could overcome this challenge, that would depend on Gray himself .
As the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility . There was a phenomenon in the NBA: players with the better physiques were more likely to foul . If one were to look at the players with the most fouls, the top ten would be made up of players with good physiques . Those who that couldn't jump high or run fast were less likely to get fouls .
This was Dai Li's analysis . These muscular players were able to run quickly and jump high . When defending, they felt that they could pin down their opponents . They only needed to harass them a little, but they always wanted to apply maximum pressure . In order to apply this pressure, they had to perform maneuvers that were technically difficult, increasing their chance of fouling their opponent .
Although Gray had played in the NBA for several seasons, he had only played around 100 games . He was regarded as an experienced rookie . He wasn't a superstar, so refs never looked the other way on his fouls . Whenever he committed a foul that was ambiguous, or that could be ignored, the referees didn't hesitate to blow their whistles . If Gray became an all-star, the referees might be more relaxed in calling in his fouls .
In fact, every player who played inside the three-point line had to deal with getting too many fouls . Every player who played inside the three-point line had the experience of getting kicked off the court because they committed six fouls . If they didn't have this experience, they were ashamed .
. . .
In the next game, the Clippers went to Oracle Arena in Oakland to challenge the defending champion, the Warriors .
The Warriors were the strongest team in the NBA . They and the Clippers were both in the Pacific Division .
According to the NBA's scheduling rules, teams in the same division had to play four games against each other every season . Under this system, it was tough to be in the same division as a very strong team .
For example, in the Pacific Division, the Warriors were super strong . The other four teams (the Lakers, the Clippers, the Kings, and the Suns) were no match for the Warriors . As long as the Warriors played seriously, the other four teams would get four losses . By the end of the season, their record would be worse than teams in other divisions . In the fiercely competitive Western Conference, a difference of winning and losing one game could cause a shift in ranking by two or three places . If they lost another one or two games, they would not be able to get into the playoffs .
Before the start of the game, Nicholas, the Warriors coach, was at the bench . He looked at Karaby, who was warming up, and pouted .
"Karaby has gained a new lease on life . The Clippers got such a good deal! If we had a player like him, our chances of winning the championship would be much higher," Nicholas said to himself .
Karaby had returned to his prime this season . This made him a favorite amongst many teams, and that included the Warriors . Karaby had height, ability, and speed on his side . He could guard the entire free-throw lane with his blocking . One, he could shoot well . He could even shoot three-pointers . He was very suitable for the Warriors .
Karaby's only drawback was that he was thin . However, this was not a problem for the Warriors . The small ball playstyles that were currently popular had been popularized by the Warriors . Traditional tactics had no place in the Warriors' strategy . It was better to have someone control the entire space inside the three-point line than to have a large player act as a single obstacle for opponents .
Nicholas couldn't help but glance at his center substitute . Although his guy was also physically strong and had explosive power, he was a little slow . He was like an explosive . One never knew when he might blow up and hurt his own teammates .
Nicholas looked at him, and then jealously looked at Dai Li's substitute bench . He remembered Dai Li's record . When Dai Li was the head coach of the U . S . track and field team, he was able to give new life to a lot of older players .
"It is good to be young!" Nicholas sighed . It wasn't clear whether he was referring to Dai Li or the athletes who returned to their youthful prime with Dai Li's help .
. . .
The Clippers and the Warriors were neck and neck in the first two quarters . However, in the third quarter, the Warriors seemed to have found their footing, leading by 23 points .
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The Warriors displayed their own unique characteristics when they played . They achieved the lead in the third quarter by employing their traditional method . The first quarter was for warming up, the second quarter was warm-up for the substitutes, the third quarter was for going all out, and the fourth quarter was for preparing to get off work . Statistically speaking, the Warriors had an APBRmetric value of +130 in the third quarter . The Warriors employed this method against the Clippers that day .
There were many excellent teams in the NBA, but none of them were able to crack the Warriors' tactical system . There was no way it could be done by a half-baked basketball coach like Dai Li . The only thing he could do was use the Prophecy Request Box and try his luck .
I drew a bad lot! Dai Li looked depressed and looked at the result of the Prophecy Request Box . If it were a good lot, the game could be reversed . The bad lot was useless .
Dai Li didn't even want to look at the result of the Prophecy Request Box . He thought about it . Since they could not win, he decided to give up . There were 82 games in a season . It didn't matter if they lost one game . Moreover, they were losing to the Warriors . There was no shame in losing to the Warriors .
"You guys are up!" Dai Li pointed to the substitutes who usually didn't get to play . They couldn't get into the rotation in most games so, when they were called to play, they were happy . They had a quarter to showcase their skills .
"Coach, I want to play for a while longer," a voice out of nowhere said . Dai Li turned to look . It was Gray .
Gray actually asked to play on his own . Was he affected by our last conversation? He was able to keep his fouls under control today . This may be because of his opponents . The players on the Warriors rely on shooting to get points . They tend not to rush underneath the basket . Dai Li nodded and agreed to Gray's request . At the same time, he told his players, "If Gray wants the ball, pass the ball to him . "
. . .
The Clippers made a player substitution after a dead ball .
They gave up! Nicholas smiled smugly . He felt that the entire game was under his control . He turned his head and gestured to the substitutes to get warmed up .
The Warriors changed their entire lineup with substitutes during the next dead ball . The players on the starting lineup and the other key players in the rotation were all sitting on the bench, laughing . Getting off work after the third quarter was a routine that they were familiar with .
. . .
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There was still a quarter left in the game .
Gray ran to the low post area . He got the ball into the basket using a technique for attacking from the low post area that he was familiar with .
The Warriors' defenders were startled by this style of attack . They were unfamiliar with it and did not how to defend against it .
American basketball players were typically paying less and less attention to attacks from the low post area . The number of players in the NBA that specialized in attacking this area was very small . The top-ranking players with good physique were few and far between . They were prized by every team . The players who were not in the rotation didn't usually have the chance to come into contact with such players . Thus, they did not know how to deal with such a traditional attack .
What's more, Gray was not the traditional, slow-moving center . He had outstanding flexibility . He was comparable to the defenders in terms of agility and speed . With his height, wingspan, outstanding physical abilities, and speed in the three-point line, he definitely had the advantage when going one-on-one .
Gray scored on a few consecutive attacks . Although he did not lessen the gap, Gray felt like he was finding his rhythm .
He liked it when he got the ball in the low post area and went one-on-one . Every time he scored, Gray felt a sense of accomplishment .
The Warriors weren't able to stop Gray . They didn't bother to guard against him . After all, the Warriors relied on three-pointers for their offense . They had a lead of 30 points . They had the option to let him score .
The third quarter came to an end and the fourth quarter started . The Clippers had caught up to within 20 points . The Warriors made two consecutive three-pointers and widened the gap once again .
Both teams had their substitutes on the court . When compared, the substitutes from the Warriors were still better . The Warriors were the champions after all . It was easy for them to recruit strong players . Some players wanted to join them just so they could be part of the winning team .
The Warriors were better tactically as well . Their experience in several championships had matured the Warriors tactical system . On the Clippers' side, Dai Li was a clueless newbie who kept insisting on the "all-star tactic . " They had no real strategy to speak of .
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When the game entered the last five minutes, the Warriors maintained a 20-point lead . There was no suspense in the conclusion of the game .
However, on the Warriors' bench, Nicholas was not happy at all .
Gray has got 28 points and 17 rebounds . Nicholas looked at the latest statistical data . If he continued to play, Gray could get an extremely high 30+20 double-double .
More importantly, Nicholas felt that Gray was getting more confident as he played . He looked at Gray, who was running on the court, and felt that a future superstar center was being born .
Nicholas couldn't help but think of the scouting report on Gray when he played before the draft . Everyone thought that he would be the strongest center in NBA history, even better than the four great centers in history .
A superstar center! Fear flashed in Nicholas' eyes .
He used to be an NBA player . He had experienced the era where basketball was dominated by the four great centers . He knew the horror of the four great centers . He got a shiver down his spine whenever he thought about it .
The era of the great centers had already passed . There had not been a great center in the NBA for a long time . When small ball playstyles were introduced, there were no longer any great centers left in the NBA . Nicholas did not know whether or not the Warriors' "death lineup" could deal with a very good center, but the lack of height on the "death lineup" was indisputable . Whenever the Warriors encountered players who had big physiques and were fast, they got pushed around .
Gray, who was right in front of him, obviously had a big physique and speed . He also had excellent strength and excellent offensive skills . When faced with such an opponent, the only thing Nicholas could think of to counter him was surrounding him with multiple players .
The game entered its last two minutes . The Clippers had closed the gap to within 20 points and Gray had successfully achieved an extremely high 30+20 double-double .
However, this had not affected the outcome of the game . The Warriors could celebrate their victory before the game ended .
Nicholas could not feel any joy in achieving victory .
We have won the game, but the opponent has gained a great center . It doesn't matter how you put it, we are the ones who got the short end of the stick! Nicholas was worried .Please download our sponsor's game to support us!