Basketball Legends: Strikers Are King

Granger, who scored 9 points in overtime, led the team to a 98-91 victory over the Cavaliers. In the evening, they took a plane to visit Detroit for the second time in five days.

The Pacers, who have won three games in a row, faced off against the Pistons, who have lost three games in a row. Whether they continue their winning streak or end their losing streak will be the focus of the next day's game.

In the end, hope of ending the losing streak prevailed.

The Pistons, who led by 8 points in the first half, launched a 30-20 attack in the third quarter, widening the point difference to 18 points in one fell swoop. The back-to-back fatigue made it difficult for the Pacers to parry, and the game did not close the score in the fourth quarter.

They could only swallow their first defeat since the new season.

"The overall shooting percentage was less than 40%, the three-point shooting percentage was 33.3%, and the rebounds and assists were lagging behind."

Sitting on the plane flying to New York, Vogel looked at the data of the game that had just ended and fell into deep thought.

That's right, the Pacers don't have much rest time. One day later, on January 2, 2012, they will face the New Jersey Nets away from home.

Next to him, Brian Shaw looked at the groggy players, turned to the head coach and expressed his opinion:

"Coach, I think that since we can foresee that the schedule is intensive and the team's main players are at great risk of injury, it is better to give more opportunities to the rotation players."

"Why didn't you give me a chance?"

Vogel had just taken office, and he was most afraid of being suspected of being unfair, so he immediately retorted:

"Hansbrough was 5 for 14, Stephenson was 0 for 3, and Duntay Jones was 0 for 3. Don't they have a chance?"

Brian Shaw was determined to have a heart-to-heart talk with the head coach, and then continued:

"Opportunities don't just depend on the number of hands."

"Look, coach,"

He took out the list and said:

"We now have Collison, George, Hill and Stephenson on the back line, Granger, West and Hansbrough on the forward line, and centers Hibbert and Amandelson are all blue-collar players."

"Each lineup has enough resources, and there are even too many people who can become the main attack point. This is our advantage."

"But now, we haven't been able to play to our strengths."

"Granger's offense with the ball, Collison's offense, Hill's offense, and even West's offense are all working independently without forming a mature enough offensive system."

Vogel thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.

"That's true. In addition, both Hill and West are new players and will take some time to integrate into the team."

Brian Shaw offers his own advice:

"Then we need more practice and cooperation. We can focus on the forward attack, with Granger and West as the core, and the others will appear as functional players first, and then fine-tune them later."

Vogel picked up the tactical board and made gestures on it.

"It is difficult to succeed with direct cooperation from the forwards. You must know that the players who defend the forwards are also forwards. If they directly switch to defense, it will be enough to break it."

He suddenly had an idea and said excitedly:

"Based on the cooperation between the point guard and the forward, and supplemented by the forward on the other side, the characteristics of all players can be brought out."

Brian Shaw looked at the tactics drawn by Vogel, nodded, and said:

"In this way, although the point guard emphasizes functionality more, it can stimulate the full abilities of Granger and West."

"In addition, George and Hansbrough are also on the bench as supplements, so the tactics do not need to be changed too much."

Vogel looked at Brian Shaw excitedly and said:

"Brian, I feel very honored to have an assistant like you. I have a hunch that as long as this set of offensive tactics is implemented, the Pacers will be able to go further this season."

Brian Xiao smiled and said:

"I also have confidence in the Pacers."

Vogel said excitedly:

"Tomorrow's training will be a tactical drill!"

…

During training the next day, Qi Tian looked at Vogel who was very excited next to him and was a little puzzled.

The team's offense seemed to be much smoother today.

But why does the coach seem more excited than us players?

Fortunately, considering that there would be a game the next day, Vogel dismissed the team early, allowing them to get off the jet lag and prepare for the next day's game.

Qi Tian felt that his jet lag had not reversed, so he returned to his double room to rest.

Qi Tian, ​​who was sitting on the bed and resting, heard a knock on the door, put down the game console in his hand, and walked out.

"Lance? Didn't you go shopping?"

Qi Tian opened the door in surprise, only to see David West standing at the door. He was wearing casual clothes and holding a promotional leaflet in his hand.

"Hi, Qi, there are volunteer activities in New York today, do you want to come with us?"

"Volunteer activities?"

Qi Tian was a little surprised.

"What's it about? Basketball?"

After joining the Pacers, he learned that the life of a player is also very boring. Although evening is his free time and he can go out and have fun, most people, specifically Lance Stephenson, will only choose to go to nightclubs to dance.

West nodded, shook his head again, and said:

"There is one about basketball, but the one I want to go to is not."

He raised the leaflet in his hand and said:

"He's someone who distributes food to homeless people."

Qi Tian became interested instantly. He had never participated in such an activity before, so he participated with West.

"But how did you become interested in participating in this kind of activity?"

In West's car, Qi Tian expressed his doubts.

West smiled and told him a past incident.

David West was drafted by the New Orleans Hornets in 2003 and then played for New Orleans for 8 years.

On his 25th birthday, Hurricane Katrina made landfall in the United States, killing more than 1,833 people and becoming the most destructive hurricane in the history of the United States.

New Orleans was also one of the disaster areas. More than 80% of the area was flooded. New Orleans was in a mess. There was even anarchy as a result. Robbers were everywhere. They even dared to have a shootout with the police station.

"After I faced the disaster head-on, I realized that people are really too insignificant."

West said to Qi Tian with deep feeling:

"Applause, money and even honor are all vain."

Qi Tian was shocked, wouldn't this teammate fall into nihilism?

Fortunately, West summed it up in one sentence:

"Since then, I have devoted myself to charity, hoping to do my part."

Qi Tian nodded with admiration and said:

"True charity is having a kind heart."

"And you already have it."

West just shook his head and said nothing in response to his teammates' compliments.

On that day, Qi Tian and West distributed more than 200 pieces of food to the homeless. The mechanical work gave Qi Tian a strange sense of peace of mind.

At night, he slept very soundly.