The rest is just noise

As an NBA history blind, when Louis saw that Bill Fitch was deeply afraid of Moses Malone, what he thought was, is Malone that strong?

No wonder Louis has this idea, judging from the team's record, it's not that strong.

Malone led the Rockets to 47 wins last season, but he became the regular season MVP. Look at this, how unfair is Westbrook? He was also the 47-win MVP, and was swept by his opponent in the first round of the playoffs. How could he?

So much criticism?

Moreover, in the past few years, there were MVPs who led the team and failed to enter the playoffs. As long as they did not enter the playoffs, they would never be swept in the first round. Master West was even more unjust.

Louis realized that Malone was very strong when he was making a game plan against the Rockets. Fitch didn't let him make a game plan. This was his habit. He would study the opponent first. If Fitch needed his help, of course he was willing to help.

If you don't need it, just treat it as a class assignment.

Fitch regarded him as Auerbach's spy on the team. After all, he was only 19 years old and had never even played for the school team in Ohio. What insights could he have about basketball? Fitch believed that Louis was an embroidered pillow.

Louis has never cared about what others think of him. When he was studying the Rockets, he discovered that Malone's rebounding ability was extremely terrifying.

Last season, his rebounds accounted for 38.6% of the team's total.

What does this number mean? It means that Chamberlain and Russell, two monsters who averaged 20 rebounds per game in their careers, have never reached a level.

As far as offense is concerned, Malone really has nothing to stand out about.

There is no threat outside the paint and he cannot shoot;

The low-post offense is very rough. He just leans on someone and turns around to attack the basket with one move, and his hit rate is very low;

In terms of defense, although it is good, it has no honorary recognition.

In other words, he became a superstar entirely by relying on his rebounding skills that cannot be ignored.

According to Fitch's request, Louis did not sit under the bench with the team. He was placed in the front row of the audience. This was naturally a slight to him, but it also allowed Louis to concentrate on studying the Rockets.

Malone is neither very tall nor particularly strong. It is said that his hands are still small, but after the start, he took off the board with one hand several times.

This shows that although his palm is small, it does not bring him any inconvenience. Although the stability of catching the ball with one hand is closely related to the size of his palm, it also varies from person to person. Some people have small hands, but they can still grasp the ball firmly.

The lineup Fitch put together was the strongest lineup at the moment: Archibald, Long, Bird, Maxwell, and Cowens.

This is a very small lineup, small enough to allow Malone to be the tallest player on the court.

As a result, Malone had 8 rebounds and 4 offensive rebounds in a single quarter, and his poor finishing ability at the basket made Louis lament that one of his unique tricks can be used all over the world.

The Celtics followed Fitch's request to play pick-and-roll passing tactics with the ball handler and the inside in the high post.

It was really rare to see this kind of tactic in the 1980s.

But it is a pity that only mature shooters have a foothold in the NBA, and this seemingly highly operational tactic can exert its power.

All pick-and-roll tactics are to stretch the opponent's defense line, and stretching the defense line is to create offensive space, and nothing can open up space more than having a shooter standing outside the three-point line who gives the opponent a headache.

Therefore, although Fitch's tactics transcended the times to a certain extent, they were not tolerated by the times because the space was too small.

So Cowens could only hit the ball into Bird's hands.

Bird turned around and squeezed away his opponent to wipe out the basket and score.

Very reluctantly, if we play like this every round, there is no chance of winning this game.

Before the end of the first half, the first three-pointer in NBA history was born.

In a controversial compensation deal, Rick Barry was transferred from Golden State to Houston. This season is his last. He was also the first player to embrace the three-pointer.

In several attacks before halftime, he made a three-pointer.

"Whoa!"

When the ball scored, the garden cheered for him.

What a time, when fans are more excited to see someone hit a three-pointer than Moses Malone repeatedly grabbing offensive rebounds and beating Cowens.

Fitch required a lot of high pick-and-rolls, which limited Maxwell's offensive capabilities and did not design special tactics for Bird.

This is the first game, making mistakes is not unacceptable.

After halftime, Houston led by 9 points.

Malone had 19 points and 13 rebounds at halftime, including an exaggerated 7 offensive rebounds.

He clearly gives people a rough feeling on the court, but he also has a strong sense of presence. Especially when the Rockets miss in attack, he will move quickly. If the position is not good, he will change positions. Even if he is behind others, he can

Use beautiful positioning moves to prevent Cowens, Maxwell and anyone in front of him from taking off.

His blocking ability is extremely amazing.

At the end of the first half, Louis went to the side and called out K.C Jones.

"Lu, you should sit with us." K.C said.

"This is Bill's arrangement. He asked me to observe the game here." Louis said modestly, "I am a layman."

K.C said angrily: "Why are you being so modest with me?"

"I have an idea." Louis handed his observation notes to K.C. "If you can, please tell Bill that most of the Rockets' offense is launched by Calvin Murphy (Calvin Murphy PG), and he will always start from

The right side split up our defense, and Dave and Cedric always paid too much attention to Moses' position, but he didn't offer much of an offensive threat."

"This is my record of Calvin's breakthrough route." Louis said, "His breakthrough is very direct, without many tricks. Our defenders can't stop it, but the inside can help."

Louis smiled and said: "Finally, if you tell him my suggestion, it's best not to say it was me who said it."

"Why?" K.C didn't understand.

"Because I'm just a kid." Louis walked away from the aisle and came outside the garden, which was full of vendors selling junk food and beer.

He bought fried chicken and Coke, and decided to relax for the second half.

No recording or observation, just watching the game like a spectator.

K.C undoubtedly conveyed Louis' advice to Fitch, and the Celtics' defense began to change in the second half.

What convinced Louis that Fitch listened to his advice was that Archibald was substituted.

Although "Elf" was a superstar in the 1970s, now in the 1980s, he is just an ordinary starter averaging 10 points per game, and his defense is still very problematic. And Gerald Henderson, whom the team excavated from the minor leagues,

But he is a defender like a mad dog.

Coupled with the starting of M-L Carr, the Celtics' defensive quality suddenly improved.

Murphy's offense began to be curbed, so much so that he didn't score any assists in the second half.

In the fourth quarter, the Celtics took the lead, and the Rockets made a desperate move to let Barry take over with the ball. They performed the famous "It looks like there is no chance, then we will just shoot a ball and let Moses grab the rebound."

Malone's rebounding can indeed destroy the Celtics' inside line, but he can't catch every offensive rebound.

In the end, Malone scored 24 points and 20 rebounds, but the Rockets were reversed by the Celtics at home.

With Bird not playing much (14 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists), they lost to the Celtics by 7 points.

Although Louis convinced himself to enjoy the game in the second half, he did. But the further the game went on, the more he noticed things that were easily overlooked.

Barry was unhappy on the field;

Rudy Tomjanovich was doing nothing on the court and seemed to be forgotten by his teammates;

Malone plays very hard, but a superstar who has no independent offensive ability and cannot take over the game at critical moments needs a strong second-in-command no matter how hard he works;

This team is full of loopholes, but there are several good backcourt players. If they are in good condition, they can beat any team. Like today, they were targeted in the second half and couldn't come up with a countermeasure, and Tom, a key ball-handling point on the outside,

If Janovic and Kuroko Tetsuya change, losing is inevitable.

Louis wrote the script in his head, and after returning home, he would still record his observations in the second half.

It's simply instinctive.

He doesn't know if this is Louis' talent, or if he shouldn't have been a full-time behind-the-scenes helmsman in his previous life. Perhaps being a godfather like Popovich, Riley, and Auerbach who takes charge of everything should be his ultimate goal?

This thought only flashed through him for a moment. Louis took a sip of Coke and burped.

As an assistant coach, someone who doesn’t even have a seat on the bench off the court still wants to be a godfather?