The NBA's Absolute Dominance

Chapter 46 Coach, My Goal Is Not to Become a Blue-Collar Worker

Before the game, head coach Alan Bristol told Tang Bei, "Tang, Larry Johnson will be in charge of the inside offense. Your job is to control the rebounds, protect the rim, and handle second-chance opportunities."

Tang Bei felt uncomfortable upon hearing this, because this was the kind of work a blue-collar center should do. How could a second overall pick like him be doing this?
Having been involved in the NBA for a few months, he knew that blue-collar players didn't have much of a future; only becoming a star player could make him stand out.

Moreover, his opponent today is shorter than him and weighs only 110 kilograms. He definitely has an advantage in the low post. Why not let him be the main attacker? What use is that little guy Larry Johnson?

He stared at Bristol and said, "Coach, I was the second overall pick in the first round. My goal is not to be a role player, and I believe the team's expectations of me are not that of a role player either."

Bristol was quite surprised, but he admitted that Tang Bei was right; the management definitely did not want to train Tang to be a blue-collar worker.

The reason he made Tang Bei do blue-collar work was not to suppress Tang Bei; the management would not allow him to do that. He just wanted to give the rookie a period of adjustment.

He just didn't expect this young man to talk back so directly. Like Larry Johnson, he was a bit difficult to deal with.

Tang Bei continued, "Also, today is my debut, Coach, I hope to get more shot attempts and tactical support."

Others were equally surprised, including Larry Johnson and Kendall Gill.

They didn't expect a rookie, especially a Chinese one, to dare to ask the head coach for shots and tactical roles in his debut. They wouldn't have dared to be so bold in their own debuts.

"This newbie wants to compete with me?"

Larry Johnson was somewhat displeased; Tang Bei's audacity had provoked him.

Kendall Gill was also somewhat puzzled. Did Tang from China also want to join the battle between him and Larry Johnson? Did he have the strength to do so now?
Bristol noticed that Larry Johnson looked unwell and was somewhat troubled, because no matter how important Larry Johnson was to the team, he could not ignore Tang Bei's request.

Tang Bei's high draft position, second only to Larry Johnson, gave him a very high status on the team.

Moreover, Tang Bei is a rare and highly talented center, one of the most scarce types of players in the league. The management also has high expectations for him and will invest a lot of resources in his development.

He glanced at Larry Johnson and considered, "Here's what we'll do: your shooting has improved, but it's still not very reliable. As long as you get close to the basket and into the deep post, I'll allow you to get the ball from the perimeter."

"Thank you coach."

Tang Bei said excitedly.

Larry Johnson's expression was rather somber, and he seemed quite displeased.

As a rookie, he was already openly competing in his very first match. What would happen after that? He knew he had gained another rival.

Moreover, this rookie is a center, the player closest to the basket, making him a far greater threat than shooting guard Kendall Gill.

He was also somewhat unhappy with head coach Bristol, who agreed to Tang Bei's request, which he felt emboldened Tang Bei.

But with his fiery temper, he had to suppress it for now. He wanted the leadership position and couldn't afford to lose his temper easily, lest people think he lacked tolerance.

At eight o'clock, the competition begins.

The jump ball is played, and Tang Bei and Pervis Ellison stand in the center circle.

Ellison is no nobody; he led the University of Louisville to the NCAA championship in his freshman year and is adept at using psychology to analyze opponents.

Meanwhile, he honed his small forward skills during his four years in the NCAA, developing very comprehensive offensive abilities.
He is good at both inside and outside offense, and is even good at the fadeaway jump shot, a technique that Michael Jordan even called "geometric violent aesthetics".

He was selected by the Sacramento Kings with the first overall pick in the first round of the 1989 NBA draft, but he was injury-prone. He only played about 30 games in his rookie season before suffering a serious knee injury that sidelined him for the rest of the season. He was then traded to the Bullets after the season ended.

After joining the Bullets, his performance in his first season was mediocre, but after recovering from injury last season, he delivered an All-Star performance and became the Bullets' leading scorer.

Averaging 20 points, 11.2 rebounds, 0.9 steals, and 2.7 blocks per game, he joined the 20+10 club and won the league's Most Improved Player award last season. His only drawback is his height of only 206 cm; the Bullets lack a good center and have to rely on him as their starting center.

Facing Tang Bei, the 110-kilogram Ellison appeared thin and small, not like a player in the same position.

Michael Brin then said, "The difference in physique is too great. In CBA games, many players were injured by Tang.

The Cats and Birds alone have four or five players injured. His physical strength is terrifying. Ellison is prone to injury, so be careful.

Tom Tolbert said, "China's Tang himself said that he is very strong and has the best physical strength in the NBA."

Michael Brin chuckled, "Whether he's number one in combat ability, I don't know, but he's already angered Postman Karl Malone."

“Haha, then you’d better be careful,” Tom Tolbert laughed.

"Snapped!"

The basketball was tossed high into the air, and Tang Bei easily tipped it over Ellison's head before running towards the basket.

Pervis Ellison quickly followed up, trying to push Tang Bei away, but was bounced back the moment they made physical contact, failing in his first physical confrontation with Tang Bei.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Tang Bei ran to the basket, used his right elbow to block Ellison who was in front of him, and raised his left hand to call for the ball.

"ball."

Meanwhile, on the right wing in the low post, Larry Johnson, with his back to Tom Gugliotta who was a head taller than him, shouted and reached out for the ball.

"Oops!"

When Alan Bristow saw Tang Bei establish himself under the basket, and Larry Johnson not only didn't create space but instead established position in the low post near the basket, he knew things were going to get complicated.

When the center is establishing position in the low post, the power forward should spread out appropriately to prevent the center from being double-teamed in the low post.

Especially when the center is under the basket, the power forward should spread out to create one-on-one opportunities for the center.

Now, instead of spreading out, Larry Johnson is moving closer to the basket for a deep post position, which is definitely a sign of a power struggle with Tang Bei.

General Manager Tvortsko frowned immediately upon seeing this.

He was very aware that internal strife was the worst thing for a team, and that a team with internal conflicts and a chaotic locker room had no fighting spirit.

He knew that Larry Johnson and Kendall Gill were arguing.

However, Kendall Gill's personality is not assertive, and regardless of his ability, this alone makes him unsuitable to be a team leader.

He believes Larry Johnson will ultimately win, and that due to Kendall Gill's personality and position, there won't be excessive infighting, which would be of little damage to the team.

If all else fails, just let Kendall Gill leave the team when his rookie contract expires. There are plenty of perimeter players like him in the league.

However, he believes that if Larry Johnson and Don have a falling out, it will be even more damaging to the team.

He chose Tang Bei after thorough research. Tang Bei is not a cowardly person who backs down. He had even fought with Larry Johnson on the court during a CBA game. Given Larry Johnson's strong personality, there is a possibility of conflict or even a clash between the two.

But he can't easily give up on Tang Bei. Tang Bei isn't Kendall Gill. Such a heavy center is a rare find in the league. If he lets Tang Bei go, he might not be able to find a replacement for eight or ten years.

(End of this chapter)