Basketball trainer, I created a super giant

Chapter 164 What Does "Dominating the Inside" Mean?
Three training sessions a day, with extremely high intensity, almost made Yao Ming unable to get out of bed the next day.

When I got to the stadium, it was almost five o'clock.

There are fewer people today.

Brown and McGrady have a tactical training session in the morning.

The 76ers did indeed drag the series to the very end.

But in the final game, Pierce relentlessly attacked from behind, scoring a whopping 46 points and ultimately helping the Celtics win the series.

"Good morning, Yao!"

Sather had arrived and was sitting on the floor stretching.

Yao Ming greeted him, then looked at Stoudemire beside him and said good morning.

He only found out yesterday that Stoudemire had participated in the draft just like him.

Most importantly, he is still a high school student, only 19 years old.

"Good morning." Stoudemire was a little shy, silently observing Yao Ming.

Tangsen walked over and handed Sather and Stoudemire the training plan for the following week.

Sather remains the same as always, focusing primarily on physical training.

Stoudemire trained with Townsend for a month, gained weight, and started training his physique one day and his technique the next, just like Yao Ming.

He has an excellent ability to drive to the basket, but instead of focusing on improving his finishing ability, Tang Sen chose to have him practice shooting and dribbling.

A precise mid-range shot is an essential skill for a power forward.

Only when he makes a threatening shot from mid-range will the defender not dare to give him too much space and will have to close in on him.

Once the defender gets close, Stoudemire can utilize his speed and agility to his advantage, making it easier for him to get past his opponent.

With time still available before the draft and the system's boost being high, after weighing the options, Tang Sen opted for the same method he used to correct Brown's shooting form: standing with his arms raised.

Last year, Brown spent half a month refreshing and resetting his muscle memory; now it will only be faster.

It's better to adjust your posture first before practicing shooting.

Then comes dribbling.

At 2.08 meters tall, Stoudemire moves like a guard when he's charging, with a high center of gravity, so he definitely needs to practice his dribbling skills a lot.

In terms of ball control, like Yao Ming and others, he bounces the ball against a wall.

This type of training does not require a venue; he can practice anytime, anywhere.

Then comes the weighted ball.

The purpose of using weighted balls was originally to train ball control skills.

After sending the two of them to the gym next door, Tang Sen asked Yao Ming for help to draw the curtains and turn off the lights.

Soon, the stadium was plunged into darkness.

Only the half-open door in the distance illuminated the outline of the basketball hoop.

Once again, Tang Sen followed Brown's example and chose the same method of practicing in the dark.

Yao Ming needs to practice his hook shot.

If it's just a regular hook shot, you can practice it by adding weight, just like Brown did last year.

But Yao Ming practiced the skyhook.

Break down the hook shot technique into its components: starting with the footwork, aiming at the basket, and finally releasing the shot.

A typical hook shot focuses more on the first two steps.

The movement was executed perfectly, creating space and aiming correctly; the final hook shot resembled a regular toss.

Unlike Skyhook, Tang Sen believes that Skyhook focuses more on the final step.

That is, the hooking motion itself.

Therefore, Tang Sen hoped that Yao Ming, in the dark, would not aim first, but focus on the basket and his footwork, and concentrate on the skyhook itself.

Its power generation is really different from a regular hook shot; you have to get used to it and adapt.

"In other words, I don't need to care whether I get in or not, I just need to get the movements right first."

Yao Ming understood, and couldn't help but feel a little excited.

Because Tang Sen made him practice skyhook.

This is the Heavenly Hook, a supreme skill that has been lost to the martial arts world for many years.

In the darkness, Tang Sen helped retrieve the ball, while Yao Ming repeatedly attempted the skyhook move.

The problem is huge.

He used to use a small hook shot, which created muscle memory, making it difficult to correct in a short period of time.

Moreover, standing there awkwardly, his posture looked extremely awkward.

"Then let's add an action."

Tang Sen stepped forward and demonstrated it.

Right on either side of the basket, first turn your back, then pivot on your left foot, half-turn, lift your right leg, and release the skyhook.

This is also Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's most frequently used move.

Adding that movement made Yao Ming's awkwardness much less noticeable.

But it still takes time to adapt and find the right feel for it.

Tang Sen simply replaced it with a heavier ball.

He can focus more on the movements of his arms when he has weight in his hands.

"You don't need to jump too high. Your footwork can be more casual. If you pay too much attention to your footwork, you will neglect your hand movements."

Tang Sen would occasionally offer reminders.

"Don't look at the basket. Before you turn your body, just glance at it out of the corner of your eye to know roughly where the basket is. The key is your hand movements."

Tang Sen simulated the system.

This training method is truly effective and more efficient than practicing hook shots with the lights on.

Tang Sen labeled him "Master of Hook Hands" and explained and guided him from the side, and the "Brain" badge also worked.

There's also "charm," which is essentially giving Yao Ming a signature move to practice.

With so many advantages, Tang Sen could sense Yao Ming's changes and improvements.

He gradually found his rhythm and focused his attention on his arms.

in the dark.

Yao Ming jumped steadily, held the basketball up with his right arm, and then flicked his wrist out.

There was a bang.

Still forging iron.

But that's okay, his posture is gradually becoming more standard.

Tang Sen was satisfied with the progress, but not overly excited.

If the skyhook is just a shooting motion, then it's simple.

Brown could easily perform the move correctly before, but the reason he didn't master it was because the skyhook became a signature move, and most importantly, it was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's unique touch.

Simply practicing the movements is merely a poor imitation.

Being able to make the shot is what makes someone truly skilled.

Besides the skyhook, Tang Sen also taught Yao Ming low-post footwork during afternoon and evening training sessions.

It was supposed to be Skyhook plus Dream Steps.

Yao Ming learned footwork very quickly.

Because unlike Brown, who had no technical skills in high school and relied entirely on his natural talent to charge ahead.

He received professional training from a young age and spent five years honing his skills in the professional league, gradually earning his place in the top league.

He doesn't lack basic technology.

The factor that prevents him from performing the Dream Shake like Hakeem Olajuwon is his physical condition.

So, like Brown, he also needs to schedule swimming pool training.

When renting the house, Tang Sen specifically asked Duffy to choose a house with a swimming pool.

Yao Ming's training is back on track, and the Magic's playoff journey continues.

On May 5th, the Magic will host the Celtics.

They have rested for a whole week and are truly ready to fight.

Tang Sen watched this game with Yao Ming in person, hoping to let him experience the atmosphere of the NBA.

When he appeared, the audience became much more animated, with those nearby craning their necks to see this Chinese prodigy who had recently made headlines in the United States. (TNT studio)

The camera focused on Yao Ming on the sidelines.

“Seriously, he’s so tall!” Barkley grinned.

Ernie Johnson nodded in agreement; Yao Ming's height was simply too imposing.

"He performed exceptionally well at the Chicago Combine, and the day before yesterday, Draft.com did a draft ranking and put him at number one."

A true favorite to be the top scorer.

Smith looked at Barkley and asked him if he thought Yao Ming could adapt to the NBA.

"It will definitely work."

Barkley said without hesitation, "You should see who he's training with now. It's Tang Sen! If Tang can train Brown so well, why can't Yao do the same?"

"Believe me, Yao will only become stronger and more terrifying. I saw media reports saying that Yao was particularly agile during the tryouts, and could even shoot three-pointers."

"So, like the New York Times said, he could become the next Sabonis. Seriously, that old guy Sabonis is really scary."

At this point, Barkley suddenly changed his tone and asked, "Kenny, what, are you questioning Yao's talent?"

"How about we make a bet? We bet that Yao will be able to get 20 points and 10 rebounds right away after entering the league, just like Kwame."

Kenny Smith glared at Barkley.

I thought to myself, I only said that to set the stage for you, but you took advantage of the situation and even wanted to make a bet with me to take advantage of me.

"I'm not betting with you."

With Brown's successful experience, Tang Sen will only be better at developing Yao Ming.

The three chatted idly as the competition began.

In this game, Rivers' strategy was very clear: extend the defense outwards and have Brown guard the paint.

The reason is simple: the Celtics are the league's true three-point shooting powerhouse.

There are even traditions passed down through generations.

Bird's emergence made the league start to pay attention to the three-pointer.

In the post-Bird era, the Celtics recruited Rick Pitino, giving him three roles.

During his time with the Knicks, he transformed them into a three-point shooting team.

After he was ousted, Jim O'Brien, who succeeded him as his assistant, followed suit and led the team to a dominant victory in the three-point shooting competition.

Therefore, this season, the Celtics will average 23.7 three-point attempts per game, ranking first in the league.

Two key players, Antoine Walker, averages 8 three-point attempts per game, also leading the league.

Throughout the season, he attempted a total of 645 three-pointers.

Unfortunately, he only made 34.4% of his shots.

Pierce is the same, averaging 6.3 three-point attempts per game, ranking fourth in the league.

With two key players playing like this, we definitely need to strengthen our perimeter defense and force them to attack the basket.

Then let Brown intercept them and protect the rim.

But Brown is the most important.

The Celtics' interior defense is too weak; even two Tony Battie players combined are no match for Brown.

So before the game, Rivers grabbed Brown and said bluntly, "Score more points, at least 30, 40 is not too few, and if you can get 50 points, I'll open champagne for you."

After a week of rest, Brown was as active as a wolf, becoming excessively energetic from the start.

Antoine Walker was not only keen on taking wild three-pointers, but he was also overly sensitive on defense. O'Brien didn't expect him to come over and help defend Brown at all.

Moreover, in the previous round, Paul Silas demonstrated that double-teaming Brown had limited effectiveness.

But when his protégé Tony Batty went up against Brown one-on-one and was repeatedly beaten in one-on-one situations, O'Brien's blood pressure still spiked.

In the first quarter alone, Brown was unstoppable, scoring 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting and including free throws.

They went completely berserk.

All Billups could do was keep lobbing the ball into the paint and then spread out to watch Brown put on a show.

Brown used a variety of techniques to dominate Tony Battie, from close-range hook shots after contact to powerful low-post drives and even his signature bunny hop.

"He's so strong."

Even Yao Ming, who was sitting on the sidelines, couldn't help but sigh.

When Yao Ming actually got to the court and watched up close, he realized just how strong Brown was, and that his previous defeats were not a loss at all.

Tang Sen glanced at Tony Batty, who was walking off the field dejectedly, and said, "You should say that your opponent was too weak, so once you've trained, it will be just as easy for you to beat an opponent like that."

Tang Sen had even more confidence in Yao Ming.

Because his talent is better than Brown's.

Yao Ming listened to the cheers of the Magic fans in the arena and nodded with a longing look on his face.

He also wanted to enjoy the cheers and showcase his talent on the highest stage of basketball.

In the second quarter, O'Brien made a decisive adjustment.

He didn't expect to be able to completely stop Brown.

PJ Brown's mid-range shot can kill a game.

His strategy for this series is simple: rely on three-pointers.

Walker and Pierce may be known for their reckless shooting, but when they get into a rhythm, they can still beat their opponents.

So he simply replaced him with the heavier Vitaly Potapanko, hoping that his weight would limit Brown.

The result remained the same.

At 280 pounds, almost 130 kilograms, Potapanko has the weight, but he still suffers from the common problem of white centers: he's as slow as a big, clumsy bear.

Brown doesn't even need to expend energy with him under the basket; his mid-range shots alone are enough to punish him.

In the second quarter, Brown scored another 9 points.

He scored 24 points in the first half, completely dominating the Celtics' interior defense.

As time went on, the aftereffects of the brutal first round began to appear, and the Celtics' physical condition couldn't keep up.

Walker and Pierce's three-point shooting both started to decline, and Pierce, who was being heavily guarded by McGrady, even managed to airball a three-pointer.

At that very moment, the Magic went on a 30-19 run in the quarter, extending their lead to 21 points and effectively ending any suspense in the game.

When they saw that only three minutes of the fourth quarter had passed, Brown and Barkley, who were sitting on the sidelines, couldn't help but start complaining.

They said there was absolutely no need to broadcast Magic games live.

Looking across the entire Eastern Conference, no one can rival the Magic, simply because the Magic's interior defense is strong enough.

No team in the East can compete with the Magic in the paint.

Even pistons won't work.

Ben Wallace's defense is amazing, but his offensive capabilities are really worrying.

In the end, the Magic defeated the Celtics 101-83 without much effort.

Brown scored 32 points in 30 minutes of playing time, averaging more than one point per minute.

This match became a microcosm of the entire series.

O'Brien got a real taste of what it means to be king in the paint.

With a score of 4-0, the Magic gave the Celtics no chance, sweeping them cleanly and decisively.

Then, once again, they waited in comfort for the Nets and Pistons to decide the winner.

The score is now 2-1.

The Nets' scoring ability isn't actually that explosive; they only average 96 points per game this season.

However, the Pistons are less effective at scoring.

Especially in the playoffs, Stackhouse seemed like a completely different person, with his performance declining drastically.

Of course, from Rivers' perspective, it doesn't matter who wins the series in the end.

He felt no pressure no matter who he fought.

He just hopes the two teams can play a few more games, preferably a Game 7, so the Magic can have a few more days of rest.

Compared to that, as the playoffs progress, Rivers is more worried about Sasser, the Kobe killer.

The finals are just around the corner.

Meanwhile, this year's lottery is also just around the corner.

Whoever draws the top pick will get Yao Ming, the Great Wall on the move.

(End of this chapter)