The Way of the Center

Jeff Van Gundy was the last sleeper among all Thunder players, but he was also the first to wake up. This unassuming man doesn't need much entertainment, and family life and basketball life seem to be everything to him.

An old black Toyota sedan is not noticeable on the streets of Oklahoma. When you meet him on the street, you will think that it is a countryman who is traveling to the city with his wife and children. But when you get close to this car and look at the people in the cab, you will definitely be taken aback.

The owner of this car is Jeff Van Gundy. His car can be bought by any ordinary American family. This car is also very inconsistent with his status as a public figure.

But this is Van Gundy's habits and life. It's not that he doesn't have a better car. The Knicks gave him a Mercedes-Benz SUV, and then the Rockets also gave him a BMW car. But Jeff Van Gundy didn't want to drive it, he still liked his old Toyota. But this car really fits Van Gundy's image and temperament.

Old-fashioned, not only the characteristics of Van Gundy on the court. In life, he is also a rigid person.

A huge roar of the engine rushed into Van Gundy's ears. In the early morning, the rich kids in Oklahoma were still sleeping with women in their beds. At this time, people who drive a sports car and go in the same direction as themselves, most likely...

"Hello, boss!" Before Van Gundy could finish his thoughts, Anjie rolled up the window and greeted Van Gundy.

"It's so early, where is Morris?" Van Gundy also opened the car window. The long red light in Oklahoma City is really annoying.

"What about here?" Anjie pointed to the ground, and Van Gundy stretched his neck before he saw Morris lying on the seat. Da Man Niu put the co-pilot's seat almost flat, and lay down on it to make up for his doze.

"This guy, let him refresh himself during training today." Van Gundy shook his head. Although he was old-fashioned, he would still joke with the players.

"Just wait for your words." An Jie looked at Morris, who was still asleep. This guy, Da Man Niu, didn't know that he had been plotted by two guys with malicious intentions.

After waiting for a long time, the green light at this intersection finally flashed. An Jie waved his hand at Van Gundy, tapped the accelerator lightly, and his Mazda-rx7 rushed out. At this time, Van Gundy's old Toyota had just shifted into first gear and started to start.

When An Jie and the others went to the locker room to change, most of them had already warmed up. Because An Jie didn't come early today, it's not a good time to practice more during the playoffs. If you can't guarantee that you have sufficient physical strength, it will be difficult to persist in the playoffs.

After a few minutes,

Van Gundy also stepped into the locker room. He took a quick glance at his players. Everyone was in good spirits, except Morris, who was still bleary-eyed.

But he wasn't worried about Morris, the guy always looked like that when he practiced. But once the game starts, the big bull will always be in a state of extreme excitement.

"Guys, this morning, we're going to focus on tactics." Van Gundy tapped on the whiteboard and turned on the projector.

"Talk about tactics?" Morris's already dull eyes became even more dull.

"Yes, and you must memorize Andrew verbatim for me. When the time comes, if you misremember a tactic, I will cut your playing time by one minute."

"Yes!" As soon as he heard that the playing time was to be reduced, Morris immediately regained his spirits.

After talking about tactics for more than ten minutes, the players realized that something was wrong. This tactic is very different from the past, but it seems familiar.

Yes, they've played like this before, and more than once. But this system is still a bit unfamiliar to the Thunder.

"That is to say, the game should be played around Ann?" Westbrook was the first to ask. He has discovered that Durant and himself have become supporting roles under this system. Although they are also the offensive end point, the guy who really controls the overall situation is the center forward.

Morris is very familiar with this tactic, because Ricard arranged it like this when he was in the Cyclones!

"That's right, in the next game, we will play with An as the absolute core!" Van Gundy's words stunned everyone in the locker room, including Anjie himself.

It's okay to play with Anjie as the core for a few minutes in a game, and it won't be strange for players to play with Anjie as the core for a few games in a season. However, in the important Western Conference semifinals, Van Gundy not only made a temporary change, but also revealed a core that even they themselves could not have imagined.

An Jie is indeed capable, but he is just a sophomore who has not yet left his rookie period. An Jie was indeed selected to the Western All-Star Team, but the honors he has received are only the "painless" awards such as Asian Championship MVP and Rookie Game MVP.

Is it really no problem to let such a guy serve as the core to fight against the powerful Lakers? Anyway, Durant is still the youngest scoring leader in NBA history.

"Don't be surprised, it's not like we haven't done this kind of thing before. I want you to fully cooperate with An Jie. The next game, An Jie, will be in your hands." Van Gundy ignored the surprised expressions of the entire locker room. , He has made a good decision and will not change it.

"Okay, let's go to the field to practice and practice to know whether the tactics are suitable. I believe that An has that ability, even if this is the playoffs." As the original core, Durant was the first to stand up and support Anjie . In this way, other people will not have any opinions.

Durant has a gentle personality. Although he can score, he will not squeeze his teammates just to make himself score. Otherwise, with Westbrook's style, there is no chance for Durant to win the scoring title. It is precisely because of his character that the three Lei Ting young masters were chained together.

Tactical training quickly proceeded smoothly under the leadership of Alton, and Morris was assigned to the substitute side by Van Gundy, but this was only to allow Anjie to have a decent opponent.

It's not because Ibaka is weak, but the defense of Morris and Ibaka can really exert pressure on Anjie that is no less than actual combat.

From the beginning of the confrontation, An Jie felt that all this was very familiar. He seems to have returned to two years ago, back to Ames, back to Iowa State University.

Mike Taylor is just a pseudo-core, just like Westbrook now. Morris is Anjie's best helper, just like Durant now. Although it was just a tactical exercise, An Jie's passing and cutting were done perfectly and proficiently. On the contrary, the running positions of the little guys couldn't keep up with his passing rhythm.

"Faster, faster, faster rotation! The Lakers' defense is tighter than this!" Van Gundy kept yelling from the sidelines. As far as the current situation is concerned, the effect of the change is good!

An Jie finally regained the pleasure of being in control of the overall situation. Even the league's scoring champion has to play under his command.

He stood outside the three-point line, Westbrook used his impact to pull the defense of the bench, and Durant, who was cruising outside, tortured the opponent's nerves all the time.

In Anjie's view, the defense of the substitute team has been fragmented. His ability to read the game is already strong, and now coupled with his vision that is much better than that of a defender, the pass is simply deadly.

Morris is getting more serious and working harder. However, he still couldn't stop Anjie's side from scoring.

When everyone on the bench is gathering towards Anjie, Westbrook will suddenly break through with the ball and easily score points in the huge gap

But they can't shrink because the youngest scorer hasn't fired yet.

The confrontation training is becoming more and more intense, and it is getting closer to actual combat. But under the leadership of An Jie, the offensive firepower of the main team has not decreased at all.

If Van Gundy hadn't stopped training in time, the entire main team would have gone crazy.

The bald guy smiled with satisfaction, his hard work was not in vain, this trick will definitely let everyone in the Lakers know how enthusiastic the "country folks" in Oklahoma are.

You know, this is the Thunder's first day of formal training with this system. When the official game starts, the system is not mature, but at least it will be more efficient than it is now.

The Chesapeake Energy Arena under the setting sun is so deserted and full of vitality and hope.

Countless people took photos in the square outside the arena, but they just regarded it as a tourist attraction.

But for another group of people, this place is the battlefield. Here is a place where you have to fight to the death to get out.

Basketball is the war of modern men. It does not distinguish between nationality and creed, but the intensity is not bad at all.

The boys sweating in the training ground have found a brand new and powerful weapon. Just waiting for the invading Purple and Gold Legion to become impenetrable!

This is Chesapeake Energy Arena, "Blue Ocean". Here, blue and white lightning can be the death sentence for everyone. (To be continued.)