The Basketball Court Swordsman

As the Nets and Bulls played in the first round of the series until the tiebreaker, the Pacers' opponents in the Eastern Conference semifinals have been up in the air. This also gave Henson's team a week-long rest.

However, there has always been a misunderstanding in the outside world. They think that the longer the rest of the team, the more advantageous the team, but it is not.

Generally speaking, the most favorite game rhythm of professional players is to play a game with two to three days off. In this way, they can both recover their physical state and adjust their mental state during this period, and they will not feel unfamiliar with the game. But if there is no game for a week or even longer, the players will lose the rhythm of the game, and it will be difficult to adjust their nerves from rest to a state of high concentration in the playoffs.

Therefore, the first game of the series, when the Bulls were still immersed in the killing state of the tiebreaker, and thus defeated the Pacers. Henson's team hasn't fully entered the state yet. After the game, even the Bulls starting center Joakim Noah said: "The Pacers have not played for a while, so they are a little rusty."

What's more, the Pacers didn't just take a week off. Faced with the Bucks in the first round, although Jennings had claimed that he would use 6 games to solve the Pacers. But the fact is, the Pacers did not encounter any pressure at all in the first round. In 4 games, the point difference in each game is double digits, which is enough to explain the problem.

So, it can be said that since the victory over the Thunder in April, the Pacers haven't played a tough battle in almost a month. The Chicago Bulls, who are plagued by injuries, have tried their best from the regular season to the playoffs.

It turns out that the longer the rest period, the greater the advantage. But Henson believes that after the baptism of the first game, the team will quickly regain the feeling of the game. The Pacers are not afraid of hard fights, as long as they adapt to this rhythm of the game, the team will have no problem.

The problem now is that Paul George seems to have "fallen" too badly.

Indeed, this season is the year of George Fei Teng Huang Da. He became the Pacers' leading scorer, was selected to the All-Star, and received the best improvement award. Throughout the season, George went smoothly.

But he is a human being after all, not a machine. As long as it is human, it is impossible to perform so well in every game. What's more, George, born in 90, just passed his 23rd birthday a few days ago.

Henson still remembers the birthday party when George said he wanted to be one of the greatest stars in the history of the Pacers, just like Reggie Miller. This shows that George has high expectations for himself.

However, in the last game, George saw the cruelty of this league. Knowing that, Henson wouldn't let George execute that last shot. It's not that he couldn't make the shot, but that this time the lore failed, which greatly increased George's psychological burden.

"What's the matter with that guy? I don't feel very interested." On the side of the training court, Vogel stared curiously at the lanky guard who soaked his vest. Although the last game was lost, other people who found the game state performed very well in training.

Only George, who always looks depressed, can't get excited.

"Not every boy can get up quickly after experiencing setbacks. George is still immersed in yesterday's defeat. I believe George is strong, but it will take time for him to be strong again. But in the season In the playoffs, what we lack the most is time." Henson shook his head and replied, George has not yet broken free from failure, this is his biggest problem now!

"After training, you can talk to him." Vogel looked at Henson. He knew that Henson had a close relationship with the players, and he was also a psychologist who could always inspire the passion of the players.

"Do you think I didn't? I talked to him before the training started today. But... from now on, it doesn't seem to be effective. He always thinks that I am comforting him. Sometimes, there are some words that are not suitable for the head coach to say." Henson sighed.

"Who is it to say?"

"Something," Henson said, turning his gaze to Paul. "It's more suitable for players to say to players."

After a day of hard training, some players are discussing where to relax in the evening, while others plan to practice a few more sets later. Of course, there are some players who are ready to go straight home.

And Paul George is the most special one. He did nothing, just sitting in front of his locker, holding his phone. On the phone, it was the last game that played the scene of his missed shot at the last moment.

"Talk to George?" At this time, on the training ground, Henson caught Paul who was about to go back to the locker room to change clothes.

Chris Paul, although this is only his second season with the Pacers. But there is no doubt that the respected first point guard has always been the locker room leader of the Pacers. The leadership of both him and David West, coupled with Henson's prestige in the team, are the reasons why the Pacers have never had any negative incidents.

"Yes, as a leader, as the big brother of the team, I hope you can make George understand that the true leader will not be entangled in past failures. He must look forward to burst out his greatest strength!" Henson Shrugged, "I talked to him, but to no avail. So I hope you can talk to him again."

Paul nodded to express his understanding, and he also found that George's condition today seemed a bit wrong. But Paul also understood that going to George to talk so frequently would only make him bear greater psychological burden.

"You only talked to him this morning, so I am afraid it is not a good time to talk to him."

"You don't need to talk to him today, if you can," Henson paused deliberately at Paul. "If you can, you can try to change his mindset in the game the day after tomorrow."

"In the game? Boss, you are really hard for me." Paul held his chin, as if thinking about something, "All right, I will try my best."

Seeing Paul walk into the locker room, Henson suddenly felt relieved.

He believes that Paul can complete this task, just as he believes that Paul will be able to execute the tactics he has arranged. In this world, few people know how to face defeat and how to be a real team leader better than Paul.

The conversation between the two players without thinking during the game can be the most sincere and effective.

I hope these two Pauls can regroup and continue to lead the team...

May 8, 2013, Indianapolis, Bankers Life Arena, home team locker room.

"He has missed nearly 9,000 goals in his career, lost about 300 games, 26 times he was hoped to make the last shot, but he missed. He failed again and again, but this is exactly what The reason for his success!"

Paul muttered to himself, but quickly shook his head. The above passage is one of Michael Jordan's classic quotations, and comes from an advertisement related to Jordan. It can be said that it is a very famous passage in the basketball world. Of course, it also frequently appears in various "chicken soup articles".

Paul wanted to use this passage to motivate George, but after thinking about it, this is really vulgar. If George's matter could be solved so simply, Henson would not find himself.

"Push against the ball-handlers and keep their team's offense from running! The defensive end gives me a tougher fight. If the Bulls want to be tough, then give them tough, give me a decisive breakthrough, and create kills!" At that time, Henson was already making the final deployment for the players, which also means that the time for the players to play is getting closer.

But Paul still didn't think about how to cheer up George.

Paul was still unable to speak until the whistle that represented the start of the second game of the series sounded. Sure enough, as Henson said, he must find a way in the game.

"Did you talk to George?" Vogel asked Henson with concern after the game started.

"Not yet, talking to him too often will only be counterproductive." Henson stared at the court with a serious face and opened his first offense. Some fearful George gave Bellinelli a shot. Fortunately, the Italian defender missed his own shot and did not allow the Bulls to score as soon as they came up.

"Then what should I do, leave it alone?"

"Trust me, Frank. When the game reaches a certain level, everything will be solved." After that, Henson left the bench and stood on the sidelines.

The Pacers attacked.