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Chapter 103 Defending Champion (12000 words per day, Happy New Year!)
On the 14th, the Warriors welcomed their first China game against the SuperSonics in Shanghai.

If we say that the emergence of Qin Yue has caused the current NBA to completely deviate from its original historical trajectory.

The supersonic speed is just like the train that has changed tracks - they have already headed for a completely new and unpredictable destination.

The SuperSonics acquired an amazing roster this summer.

They have Yao Ming, Garnett and Ray Allen as the core, and they also have high-quality pieces on the wings such as James Posey and Maurice Evans.

Plus Nick Collison and Chuck Hayes are always on standby on the bench.

Quoting EPSN's evaluation of them, except for the weakness at the point guard position, this is a nearly perfect team.

The aging Gary Payton and Earl Watson caused flaws in the Sonics' luxurious lineup.

But in the NBA
Since a perfect galactic battleship is impossible to exist, experts, media, and even neutral fans all regard the Supersonics as the favorite to win the championship in the new season.

But compared to the lineup
The biggest change for this Supersonics team may be off the court.

After bringing Yao Ming from Houston to Seattle through that great plan.
Sonics owner Howard Schultz did not conspire with Stern to bring in Bennett, the businessman from Oklahoma, as Qin Yue remembered.

This change is destined to rewrite the history of the Supersonics, and means that many Supersonics legends, including Payton, will not become "rootless duckweed" as in history.

Moreover, the Sonics fans don't have to bear the blame for the team being forced to relocate.

That’s right, in Qin Yue’s previous life, Sonics fans were definitely the most aggrieved group of people in the world - because they were never the culprit that caused the Sonics to relocate, nor were they the culprit that prevented the team from renovating the KeyArena.

Since acquiring the SuperSonics, Schultz has had to pay a large sum of rent to the local government every year to rent the KeyArena.

For this reason, NBA Commissioner David Stern even publicly stated that the Supersonics' lease contract with KeyArena was the worst lease contract in the league's history.

As we entered the 21st century, the infrastructure of KeyArena simply could not keep up with the times.

This also led to the Supersonics being unable to benefit from more tickets, and the most direct economic impact was that Schultz lost nearly 5 million US dollars in the five years after acquiring the Supersonics.

That's why Schultz and Stern have historically teamed up to put pressure on the Washington state government.

The league hopes that local governments will respect the long-term rent that the SuperSonics have to pay to KeyArena and upgrade the KeyArena through renovations.

As supporters of the SuperSonics, how could the fans not agree to renovate the arena? Aren't they the ones who go to the KeyArena to watch the game every night? Aren't their tickets helping the SuperSonics pay the rent for the KeyArena?

In fact, every Sonics fan, like the team, urgently hopes that the local government can improve the environment for them to watch games every night as soon as possible.

But in that final pressure, the Washington state government successfully incited local Seattle taxpayers.

In Seattle, not every Seattleite will go to watch the Supersonics game in person, so when these taxpayers who have nothing to do with the Supersonics learned that the government planned to use their tax money to renovate the arena for those damn basketball fans, how could they not be anxious?
It was this instigation by the Washington State government that caused Stern and Schultz to completely lose confidence in Seattle.

Because the Washington state government completely ignored the reasonable demands of the league and the Supersonics, and through off-field public relations, it shifted the conflict that should have been between landlords and tenants into a conflict between neighbors and tenants.

In this big farce, the Supersonics are tenants.

KeyArena and the state are the landlords.

The fans and taxpayers are two neighbors living next door to the tenants.

Because the fan neighbor would come to the tenant's Supersonics home to play every day, the fan would also pay the tenant a considerable amount of food expenses (game tickets) every day.

But suddenly one day, the water pipe in the tenant's house burst.

So, as a tenant, Supersonic wanted the landlord to help repair the water pipes.

However, the landlord ignored the tenant's reasonable demands.

Even though the Sonics tenant said he was willing to pay half of the cost of the repairs himself, the landlord did not agree.

Finally, the tenant, who could no longer bear it, said, "Then it should be okay for me to pay for the water pipe repair myself, right?"

But the landlord still disagreed and said that the reason he did not agree to repair the water pipe was because he was afraid of affecting his taxpayer neighbor.

As the tenant, the Supersonics were very confused by this.

But then, the landlord used the excuse that repairing the water pipe would cause the taxpayer's house to leak, successfully provoking a war between the taxpayer and the tenant.

The fans who used to go to the tenants' homes to play every day unfortunately became the target of taxpayers' blame after the tenants (SuperSonics) were forced to move out.

In response, the taxpayers argued that since repairing the water pipes would also cause the fans' houses to leak, it was just a tenant (the Sonics) who left. You should thank us because we helped you get rid of a big bad guy!

This is the truth behind the history of Sonics fans taking the blame. (Note ①)

But in this life, they don’t have to take the blame.

Yao Ming's arrival provided the Supersonics with the most direct economic benefits.

In addition, they became the favorite to win the championship overnight, so this summer, the local government has agreed in principle to the SuperSonics' request to renovate the KeyArena.

Moreover, Schultz has bigger ambitions than just renovating the arena.

That is, after successfully bringing in business tycoon Steve Ballmer, Schultz wanted to bring a stadium that truly belonged to the Supersonics in the future.

Will the Seattle local government approve the construction of this new arena?
The answer is, yes.

Because historically, it was one of the reasons for opposing the state government to renovate the arena for the Supersonics and build a new arena.
A large number of environmentalists rushed out and threatened that the renovation of the stadium and the construction of a new stadium would affect the local environment in Seattle.
As the timeless political satire Yes, Prime Minister will tell you, this is usually just a trick used by foreign politicians when they don't want to spend money.

In fact, as long as the SuperSonics can bear the cost of building a new arena, actively promote the local economic development of Seattle, and satisfy the appetite of Commissioner Smith or Commissioner Howard.
As for the construction of a new stadium, the local government will only applaud.

Qin Yue read a lot of news about the Supersonics this summer.

He never expected that his appearance would trigger such a huge butterfly effect.

And in a sense, he also caused the Oklahoma City Thunder in his memory to cease to exist.

Yes, since the Supersonics are not moving
Then Oklahoma will naturally have to wait until the next NBA expansion to have a chance to have an NBA team.

On the evening of the 14th, in the China game held in Shanghai, neither the Warriors nor the Supersonics gave their full effort.

Warriors head coach Mike Malone intends to send more players to practice tactics.

Influenced by the Pacers' poor performance, Rick Carlisle, who officially took over as coach of the Supersonics this summer, also wanted to test different personnel combinations for the team.

However, during the brief confrontation between the two teams' main players, Qin Yue still fully felt the hard power of this Supersonics team.

Needless to say.

This is a team that is almost unstoppable in positional warfare.

Even Qin Yue did not dare to force his way into the penalty area formed by Yao Ming and Garnett.

Moreover, Garnett, who partnered with Yao Ming, also received positive improvement.

With Yao Ming in the low post, Garnett doesn't need to gain as much weight as he did historically, so as Garnett ages, this will most likely extend his prime.

Ray Allen, who has gained two strong inside teammates as he wished, will surely shine under the "new Big Three" system.

In the game, the "new Big Three" didn't even need to work together, they had already found their respective positions.

Yao Ming is responsible for punishing the opposing defense with his sheer height in the low post.

Garnett was responsible for high-frequency pick-and-roll cooperation with Ray Allen in the high post, and used his commendable assists to feed the ball to Yao Ming.

Ray Allen is responsible for providing stable output from the outside and launching shameless sneak attacks through his dribble-moving shooting when necessary.

Although in the two Chinese games held on the 14th and 17th
The Supersonics did not show their full strength to the public, but after returning to Oakland with the Warriors after the China game.
Qin Yue had already labeled them as "lethal threats".

……

The two Chinese competitions concluded successfully.

The Warriors went on to win two and lose two in their remaining four preseason games.

Matt Barnes, who was originally expected by Malone, made 22 of 3 shots in two games in China, including 12 of 0 three-pointers.
In addition to his commendable defensive attitude, his shooting touch can only be described as an "ice shooter."

Davis, who claimed in the pre-season training camp that he only needed a week to figure out Malone's tactics, fully exposed his "B-Diddy" nature. In the NBA, there are only wrong names, not wrong nicknames.

Davis, who always likes to brag, undoubtedly slapped himself in the face with his poor performance in the preseason.

For this reason, Qin Yue even gave Davis a new nickname:

——Bad Baran.

In short, to use Mike Malone's summary, through two games in China and four preseason games this year, the Warriors have successfully found the problem.

As for what the problem is?
That is of course
There are problems everywhere. There are glitches everywhere. Nothing feels right no matter how I play.

"Why can't we perform what we usually practice in the game?"

It turns out that in the NBA, completely changing a team's playing style is not as easy as Mike Malone thought.

In the 102 games played last season, the Warriors players have gradually formed a set of mindsets.

This mindset makes them habitually return to their previous playing mode when the situation on the court changes.

In a basketball game, since the next round can never be the same as the previous round, whenever players need to make corresponding adjustments based on changes, they will inevitably choose a way of play that they are better at to solve the problem.

Just as Rome was not built in a day.

Mike Malone's tactics also require time for the players to get used to them.

But the Western Conference Warriors cannot afford the cost of running-in this season, so as the regular season approaches, Mike Malone has become more and more impatient in daily training.

"You idiot, can you move as I ask you to?"

"Idiot! What a fucking idiot! It's such a simple fake run behind a screen. How many times do you need me to emphasize that it's just a fake run?"

"Get back to your seat! That's not where you should be standing. Do you know how to play basketball?"

Unlike Montgomery.

Mike Malone has never been a mild-mannered head coach.

However, on the training ground, as Ma Long's roar became louder and louder, and his insults to the Warriors players except Qin Yue became more and more frequent.
However, a new crisis came before the start of the regular season.

"I can't stand it. I'm a fucking champion! But what about him? He was just an assistant coach for the Cavaliers last season. Why does he call me an idiot all the time?"

"I agree! We are about to receive our championship rings at home. He has no right to criticize me for not knowing how to play basketball!"

"He's completely treating us like machines! But we are real people! We have to be flexible in the game. How can we follow his tactics every time?"

When a young coach with great ambitions and talent, but who doesn't know how to control his temper, meets a group of players who already have championship rings
Obviously, Mike Malone's current reputation and prestige are not enough to support his coaching style.

Although Qin Yue has helped Ma Long out many times during training.
But Qin Yue also had to consider the long-suppressed resentment of his teammates.

Qin Yue knew very well that his teammates would not be able to accept Ma Long's coaching style in a short period of time, so he could only find a way to let Ma Long actively integrate into the team.

"I know they can't accept the way I expressed it for a while, but don't they know that the regular season opener will be in two days?"

Looking at Qin Yue who found him alone in private, Ma Long said with a depressed look.

Hearing this, Qin Yue said, "Mike, it is true that the regular season is about to begin, but they have never been lazy in training."

Ma Long became increasingly frustrated and said: "I appreciate their dedication to training, but that's not the content and details I want."

Seeing this, Qin Yue said, "Since we can't provide the content and details you want for the time being, why don't we build the framework first?"

After a pause, Qin Yue added: "When I was in college, Coach Skip Prosser once told me that no team can change dramatically after a training session.

Therefore, as long as we can build the framework you want, the details and content can be filled in slowly. "

Ma Long thought for a while and said, "The framework is not a problem now. The players can accept the roles they play. But we have been practicing for so long. We can't completely ignore the tactics we practiced every day during the game, right?"

Qin Yue smiled and said, "I didn't say that it's completely unnecessary, but I think that now we should try to let the players choose the most comfortable way to play within the framework you have set up."

In Qin Yue's opinion, the reason why Ma Long has not been able to play the content he wants.
It was because he instilled too many complex and advanced tactics into the Warriors players, including himself.

It is no exaggeration to say that just one of the advanced tactics designed by Malone for the Warriors is enough for an NBA team to digest for half a month.

You know, the changes and subsequent developments of these advanced tactics can only be described as endless.

so.
It's not that there is a problem with Malone's tactical design, but that he is too anxious to get the Warriors players to perfectly execute these extremely complex and advanced tactics.

There is no way. After all, the current Mike Malone is not the future "Zhuge Malone" who has been polishing his skills in the NBA for many years.

In Qin Yue's view, he just made a mistake that most young coaches would make.

That is, he didn't realize
No matter how good the tactics are, they still need the players on the field to execute them.

"I understand what you mean. I also know that everyone in the team is resentful of me, but they can't just rest on their laurels and ignore my commands and arrangements, right?" Looking up at Qin Yue, Ma Long said with a look of grievance.

At this moment, Qin Yue can fully understand Ma Long’s mood.

But there are some things that Qin Yue is destined not to help Ma Long with.

Because Ma Long has not achieved anything yet.
He is coaching a team that is about to receive a championship ring.

From the start of the pre-season training camp to now, Ma Long's understanding of basketball and tactical reserves have really opened Qin Yue's eyes.

Qin Yue believes in Ma Long's coaching ability and is sure that the success he has achieved in his memory is no accident.

But in the NBA, if Malone wants to show his coaching talent, he must learn how to get along with the players.

11 month 1 day.

The opening game of the 2006/2007 NBA regular season officially kicked off.

The defending champion Golden State Warriors played at Oracle Arena and welcomed their first opponent of the new season:
——Dallas Mavericks

When the championship flag symbolizing the highest team honor of the 05/06 season was raised to the dome and placed side by side with the championship flag from years ago, the rolling golden waves at the scene almost instantly broke down the defenses of Dirk Nowitzki, who witnessed the entire flag-raising ceremony.

As the star player of the Dallas Mavericks, this season is Nowitzki's ninth season in the NBA.

The Nowitzki of the past was destined to never understand why the champion was the champion.

But now, he, who is no longer young, has never had such a moment.
I feel envious and jealous, and even extremely regretful for wasting the precious years I have wasted with my own hands.

At the moment the flag was hoisted.
Nowitzki suddenly felt an inexplicable pain in his chest.

The pain was so severe that he could hardly breathe, and it made him feel so heartbroken and as if his internal organs were burning.

Friends come and go, but the championship flag remains flying in the wind.

On the Warriors bench, Mike Malone roughly understood at this moment why his usual orders were not as effective as he had imagined.

Because before he coached this team, they were already a championship team.

How dare he not control his temper in front of this Warriors team?
Who has the right to blame those championship players?

"Mike, you have to take the initiative to integrate into this team, instead of letting the team adapt to you."

Although Qin Yue is indeed optimistic about Mike Malone.

But if Malone can't fit in with this Warriors team
Then what Qin Yue had said to him before was definitely not just simple advice.

Qin Yue's words were both advice and a warning.

Because if necessary, who says the Warriors can't replace a new head coach?

Thinking of this, Ma Long, who turned pale and sweaty, turned his gaze to the man who was about to receive the championship ring in the middle of the field.
……

PS: 12000 words are updated every day! I wish all readers and godfathers a happy new year in advance. I hope that after New Year's Eve, all readers and godfathers will be healthy, have a lot of money, everything will go well, and have a happy family!
Note ①: The information here comes from several biographies of people involved in the relocation of Supersonic and related English reports. (Aqiao is just a porter)
(End of this chapter)