Guard With a Knife

? Three hours after Lin Weiwei left, the little duke walked into Tom Thibodeau's office.

Thibodeau took the initiative to invite Snoopy. During this time, he has been wandering around the team, although he will still arrange player training and tell the players some tactics. But generally speaking, he deliberately did not take charge of the direction of the game, so at critical moments, Snoopy is always the one who calls the shots.

He's very... troubled by Snoopy's existence.

On the one hand, he thinks that Snoopy has taken away his authority as the head coach, and all the players and even the coaching staff are willing to listen to his talk instead of respecting himself. This made him feel powerless as the head coach, so he resigned to Gary Forman: This was his last resistance. However, regrettably and embarrassingly, Foreman did not retain him, but said that he would make a decision after finishing this season. It broke his heart.

On the other hand, he admired Snoopy very much. Snoopy's decisiveness at critical moments, his precise and timely personnel scheduling, and his ability to implement tactics made him feel sincere admiration. Whenever Snoopy picked up the tactical board and explained the tactics to the players on the bench, he couldn't help but prick up his ears and listen.

Moreover, as a man who has been an assistant coach for more than 20 years, he can't help but want to run over to give some ideas for Snoopy to refer to.

It's like meeting a cat with folded ears that is a funny cat. No matter how cold you are at ordinary times, you can't help but go up to it when you meet it: oh, oh, it's so fun!

Tom Thibodeau hates the damn conditioned reflex.

But there is no way, his career as a teaching assistant for more than 20 years has made him a habit.

When the playoffs reached this point, he finally couldn't bear it anymore.

At 2:30 p.m. on May 8th, the man known as the strongest assistant coach in the NBA still couldn't restrain the burning assistant soul in his heart.

He called the little duke.

He intends to discuss with Snoopy alone the team's current defensive problems and the Boston Celtics' defensive philosophy.

He thinks Snoopy needs his own advice. His own experience can help him.

In all fairness.

Tom Thibodeau's ability on the defensive end is beyond doubt. As the defensive coach of the Boston Celtics, he is known as the biggest behind-the-scenes contributor to the Celtics' 2008 championship.

From 2004 to 2007, he helped the Rockets become the top five teams in the league in restricting opponents' scoring and restricting opponents' shooting percentage. In his teaching assistant career, his resume is impeccable.

So, when he discussed defense with Snoopy in depth and gave suggestions. Immediately, Duge felt that he had benefited a lot.

The two watched the first three games meticulously and attentively, and carefully pointed out their own deficiencies in defense and the Celtics' defensive characteristics.

Thibodeau believes that in the next fourth game, Boston will definitely go all out. They will build a defense like a steel wall and must be prepared for high-intensity physical collisions. Otherwise, it is very likely to be swallowed in their confrontation.

Speaking of this, he gave an example: "It's like Pau Gasol in the summer of 2008."

Gasol played smoothly and gracefully in the regular season. But when they faced the ferocious Celtics in the finals, they were dealt with extremely tragically. In the first game, there were zero autonomous offensive goals, and there were only four free throws in the game. The second game's autonomous offense was slightly better, but it was still embarrassing. In the third game, the free throw percentage was 37.5%, and in the fourth game, he made 1 of 8 autonomous attacks. The fifth game recovered, but the sixth game was beaten back to its original shape. Overall, for the series, 60 percent of his points came from assists, and his free throw percentage dropped to 64 percent.

The elegant Spaniard was forced into a jungle of muscles and lost himself under various strong confrontations.

However, this year's Bulls are different from the original Lakers. Back then, the Lakers had only one tough guy, but now...everyone in Chicago is a brash man. From Snoopy down, which one is not a famous man who can be a man when he says he does it? Moreover, they don't have the temperament of the Lakers' eyes above the top, and they have always regarded themselves as counterattackers.

The most important thing is that the 10-year Celtics have declined in all aspects compared to the 2008 Celtics, especially Kevin Garnett's knee.

so. Tom Thibodeau's final conclusion is: "We have the home court advantage. As long as we don't get into foul trouble, we have a chance to win the next hand-to-hand battle."

Snoopy agrees.

And in the morning of the next day, the team members were convened for a heated discussion. It's not about cheering up his teammates. On the contrary, it is to cool down. He hopes that Joakim Noah will not lose his mind, and will not be provoked by Kevin Garnett and others to do any irrational behavior on the court.

He also reminded Derrick Rose not to do fearless pulls under Boston's defense, and not to throw himself in the air for collision like a Frisbee.

This is a real tough fight.

With the deepening of the series, the understanding of both sides has reached a very high level, and it's time to really fight for their internal skills and fighting spirit.

...

May 9th.

The fourth Eastern Conference semifinal between the Boston Celtics and the Chicago Bulls began as scheduled at the American Airlines Center.

This game attracted the attention of the entire Illinois State, and everyone was looking forward to this group of boys. They had created too many miracles in this playoffs, and everyone hoped that the miracle would continue.

Michael Jordan, Dennis Rodman, and Langley all came to the scene. Before the start of the game, the camera at the home court was aimed at the three meritorious players. When the three stood up to signal, there was an astonishing wave of cheers in the arena.

It wasn't until finally Snoopy came on that the voice overshadowed them.

ESPN, which was in charge of broadcasting the game, interviewed the three before the official start of the game. Langley said that he was very optimistic about this young team. Michael Jordan said ... Snoopy brings a different temperament to the game, he is a real competitor. He'll be one of the league's best game controllers.

Dennis Rodman looked foolish, obviously the reporter was asking him what he thought of these young lads. Instead he chatted about Snoopy's duchess girl, and said he could give the little duke some good advice. Because in the history of the Bulls, only he has ever had a relationship with a superstar in the entertainment industry.

He was referring to Madonna.

He has been keen to make a case for this.

But in reality, Madonna was just trying something new.

...