Basketball trainer, I created a super giant

Chapter 400: If the head coach can't understand it, doesn't that make him seem incompetent?
After the opening game, the Suns will embark on a four-game road trip in the Eastern Conference.

First game, challenging the 76ers.

Before the game, in the locker room, 76ers' new head coach Jim O'Brien asked Dalembert a question.

That is, can he stop Howard?

All the players' eyes fell on Dalembert.

Aaron McGee chimed in, "Coach, you're asking unnecessary questions. Have you forgotten how Samuel held Mark to 1-for-7 shooting in the last game against the Celtics?"

In the last game, Dalembert was tasked with guarding Celtics center Mark Blount.

By holding this old guy to 1 out of 7 shooting, it was a complete victory.

Howard, a young kid, had trained with Townsend for half a year and was called the next Kwame Brown.

But it seems like no one has ever received training from Tang Sen.

After a summer, Dalembert has truly transformed.

O'Brien ignored McGee and kept looking at Dalembert, wanting to hear what he had to say.

Dalembert hesitated for a moment, then said, "Coach, I can't guard him. He's stronger than you think."

Dalembert knew very well how well Howard had trained in camp.

O'Brien's expression turned serious.

Salemport focused on defense, developing a body of steel. He felt he could defend 90% of the league's big men, but he said he couldn't defend Howard.

He knew exactly how strong Howard was.

"Mark, watch out for double teams."

O'Brien immediately looked at Mark Jackson.

If you can't beat them, then surround them.

The match started at 7 p.m.

O'Brien stood on the sidelines, his gaze following Iverson.

After Townsend's training camp ended, Dalembert's progress was visibly rapid.

He's become stronger and more powerful, able to hold his ground under the basket, and his athleticism remains. Most importantly, he's developed a low-post hook shot, something he never had before.

Although it only works when you're very close to the basket, it's still not easy.

O'Brien can clearly see his progress in Dalembert.

But Iverson?

O'Brien said he didn't understand.

A summer has passed, and Iverson hasn't become any faster or stronger, nor has he become capable of posting up players.

The playing style is still the same.

On the surface, O'Brien didn't see any improvement from Iverson.

But he was just that strong.

You can tell by looking at the data from the previous game.

In the last game, Iverson scored 49 points, leading his team to victory.

For him, scoring nearly 50 points is not an exaggeration; his career high score is 58 points.

Its strength lies in its efficiency.

In the last game, Iverson shot 68 percent.

This shooting percentage was so high that O'Brien almost thought the statistics were wrong.

In his memory, Iverson rarely performed with such efficiency.

His height is too lethal; his drives are sharp, but it's impossible for him to score entirely through drives in a game.

Even with Iverson's incredible stamina, he'd be exhausted doing this.

Iverson's primary scoring method was still the mid-range jump shot.

However, due to his height, he has difficulty getting enough space to shoot, making it hard to improve his mid-range efficiency.

It's not just because he didn't practice his shooting.

In this situation, he still managed to shoot 68% of the time, which is quite impressive.

O'Brien wasn't sure if it was just a breakout performance or genuine improvement, and he felt he needed to observe further.

He hoped it was the latter.

Other players who participated in Townsend's training camp have all made tremendous progress; even Kidd can now hit three-pointers. Iverson couldn't possibly have shown no improvement or change at all.

Marion makes a jump shot, and the 76ers attack.

Iverson is the bottom line.

This is a common offensive tactic of his: when off the ball, he circles around the baseline, then uses a teammate in the penalty area as a screen to circle out, and then receives the ball on the wing and shoots.

But this time, after Iverson circled out, he didn't stop to receive the ball. Instead, he moved up the penalty area and then crossed it to the free-throw line, returning to the strong side.

This off-the-ball movement covered an astonishing distance.

Ray Allen, who was supposed to be marking him, had long since lost his way in the chaotic crowd.

In that instant of movement, Iverson appeared in an open spot.

Rookie Andre Iguodala made a cross pass, sending the ball to me.

Only after he passed the ball did Joe Johnson notice that Iverson was open and rush over.

Even Howard noticed it and turned to grab it.

But the ball was faster; the moment Iverson caught it, he had already stopped abruptly, adjusted, and pulled up to throw it.

2 points hit.

This play seemed to be a microcosm of Iverson's performance in the first quarter.

O'Brien knew that Iverson had gradually transformed from a point guard into the pure shooting guard he is today.

Therefore, in terms of playing style, he reduced his previous ball-handling style and switched more to off-ball play, catching and shooting after screens.

He has plenty of energy, so he can make a wide range of off-the-ball runs to look for opportunities.

Now, O'Brien feels that Iverson is running even more.

Then, for some reason, Iverson, whose playing style remained the same, suddenly became more efficient.

In the first quarter, Iverson scored 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting, plus free throws.

A 66% hit rate is frighteningly high.

You should know that Iverson used to be able to easily average 20+ points per game, but he would often take more than 20 shots in a game and then shoot less than 40% of them.

When my touch is off, I often make 1 out of 5 shots or 2 out of 6 in a single quarter.

That is, he has the best breakthrough ability in the league and can drive to the basket to draw fouls and score.

In the first quarter, the 76ers trailed 25-28, down by 3 points.

It's not a big problem. Howard only scored 6 points, and he was heavily restricted by double teams.

In the second quarter, Iverson sat on the bench for more than two minutes before returning to the court, and as always, he was running around.

But they are still scoring steadily.

O'Brien sat with several assistant coaches, still puzzled, and turned to ask Lester Connor what he thought.

Iverson's increased efficiency is definitely a good thing for the team.

The problem is, I don't understand how he improved his efficiency.

If you understand it, you can design targeted tactics to improve the team's offensive efficiency.

You could go and talk to Iverson directly and exchange ideas.

But wouldn't that make me look like a noob?

Although Connor was originally a guard, he didn't achieve much in his career. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Jim, are you overthinking this? I think he just shoots more accurately."

With increased efficiency, what else could be the reason but more accurate shooting?

In Connor's view, after a training camp, Kidd had already developed a three-pointer, so it's normal for Iverson, who has always had a low shooting percentage, to improve his shooting as well.

O'Brien shook his head.

Is it possible that Iverson's poor shooting is due to a lack of serious practice?

The reason he shoots poorly is that he's too short.

Being 20 centimeters shorter than others by birth means a lower release point and more interference, so it's no wonder that the accuracy rate is not high.

At this moment, assistant coach Frank Vogel said, "Jim, I think Allen is becoming more cautious with his shots."

"Or rather, he controlled his desire to shoot and then used longer off-ball runs to get better shooting opportunities."

O'Brien immediately turned to Vogel, asking him to explain in detail.

(End of this chapter)