NBA, Yao Ming is back!

Why an admiral?

When Brown was coaching David Robinson, he privately told his assistant coach, "You explain it once, and he understands it immediately. With someone else, you have to explain it three times."

"Top-notch athletic ability, and an absurdly high basketball IQ."

You can see that from here, right?

Why doesn't he like Milicic?

Because he prefers players who can quickly grasp his tactics, something Milicic has never done well.

Even David Robinson was able to improve his game by quickly understanding his tactics.

Who does Milicic even mean? Besides, he didn't want to select Milicic in the first place, did he?

European tactics and NBA tactics are completely different.

This is why Milicic failed to capitalize on Larry Brown's strengths. In a mature championship-contending team, it's impossible for the entire team to tank and let one person unleash their full potential.

It's impossible to give you that much time to level up.

A strong person is one who can adapt to any conditions.

Therefore, once Yao Ming saw that he had been selected by Philadelphia, he already knew how to pierce through the so-called heart of Larry Brown, the old academic coach.

What is an academic? It means someone who is smart, learns quickly, and has a deep understanding – that's what he considers "high tactical skills."

Tactical awareness, in his opinion, is the first step to becoming a professional basketball player and a beloved figure in the sport.

Brown is a top-notch tactical coach, an academic, disciplined, and with a complex system. Being able to understand the game under his guidance demonstrates a strong tactical understanding.

Many people think that Robinson is just a basketball player.

That's a huge mistake.

The Spurs have a tradition of academic excellence. David Robinson scored 1320 on the SAT, which translates to approximately 620 on the college entrance exam. After graduating, Robinson applied to a naval academy specializing in submarine operations—a promising field even if he didn't play basketball. He ended up studying there for four years, also earning degrees in computer science and mathematics…

Yes, he also has a degree in mathematics.

The Naval Academy is one of the top military academies in the United States, with a GPA of 3.7+ and having won the National Academic First Team award.

Now you understand why he has such strong tactical execution ability, and why Larry Brown likes him so much, even when facing a rookie.

He has won the hearts of these veteran coaches from the academic school.

Seeing that Yao Ming is adept at these basic college tactics, we need to upgrade them.

Seeing these talented individuals with such comprehension abilities, he couldn't resist testing Yao Ming's limits.

To put it bluntly... I just had an itch to do something.

Tactical understanding? Isn't that just throwing away your own livelihood?

Yao Ming really wants to say something:

I've never played NCAA college basketball.

But I played in the NBA for almost 10 years.

Moreover, his tactical understanding and strategic thinking are widely recognized in the NBA.

Jeff Van Gundy once said:

"Yao Ming is the big man I've coached who understands defensive systems the best. He can execute defensive plays, help defense, and rotation routes perfectly after I've explained them once. He can even anticipate the opponent's pick-and-roll."

Adelman said:

"Yao Ming understands all the cuts, high post playmaking, and handoffs in Princeton offense. He's not a traditional center who just stands around waiting for the ball; he reads the defense, directs the weak side, and helps his teammates find open shots."

In the words of his teammate, Old Cat Mobley:

"What people don't understand about Yao Ming is that he could pass like Jokic; he was fully capable of it. It's just that our offensive system at the time didn't allow it... He had the passing ability of players like Chris Webber, Vlade Divac, and Brad Miller."

Even historically, Larry Brown of the 76ers, after Yao Ming played for the 76ers in his rookie season, said exactly what—

"He's so smart, he understands tactics instantly, he's nothing like a rookie. I really wish he were my player."

You see, the main point here is also tactical ability.

In other words.

Yao Ming's tactical abilities.

That's something that's highly regarded in the league.

It doesn't matter who you are, what kind of coach you are, what kind of playing style you have, or what kind of system you use.

Yao Ming has mastered all of these skills and has received praise from his coach.

Originally, what limited him was his physical fitness, and the tactics of that year restricted his performance.

It was still the English program "All The Smoke," and it was Mobley again. After saying that Yao Ming could actually pass the ball like Jokic, he heavily criticized Van Gundy.

"The only problem is that the coach (Van Gundy) restricts us on offense, doesn't let us play freely, and plays the kind of game that Pat Riley plays, grinding out the set and controlling the pace. There are only 70-80 possessions per game, and it looks particularly ugly. He also doesn't let Yao Ming pass the ball much."

Moreover, after retiring in his previous life, he often studied tactics in his spare time.

Knowing that he would be coming to Philadelphia, he immediately shared with Larry Brown the tactics he liked, as well as the tactics that Larry Brown was good at and proud of.

They had rehearsed everything in their minds countless times.

He already had a strong understanding and execution of tactics.

The 76ers are now in a mess.

It's like choosing the tallest among the short.

It's so easy to do.

Even Larry Brown has now increased the difficulty.

In his view.

It was just an ordinary thing.

……

Top Trap high-position trap pincer attack tactic.

The opposing center/power forward holds the ball high in the post, and the opponent excels at high-post playmaking, cutting off the connection between the inside and outside lines. This was one of Larry Brown's signature weapons when he was with the Spurs.

The team members were a little confused when they heard this.

It's not about how to execute this tactic; this tactic is rarely used, and they've only seen it a few times.

Didn't we say we'd only run those basic tactics?

Larry Brown doesn't care about this or that; he's not interested in these people right now.

Substitute forward Montrose moved up to the high post near the free-throw line to receive the ball, ready to orchestrate the team's offense. As per the tactical instructions, with Overton on the perimeter, Jackson needed to immediately collapse and limit high-post passing lanes, while the other forwards rotated to cover the weak side.

As a result… Overton's collapse was too slow, failing to block lateral passes in time. Jackson's positioning was too conservative, fearing being outmaneuvered by off-the-ball players cutting inside. Weatherspan misjudged the rotation direction, leaving the weak side open at the 45-degree angle. Coleman was lazy, failing to move forward to delay the high ball carrier, ultimately allowing Montrose to easily survey the entire field.

Before the entire high-level trap was even activated, the defense line already had many loopholes.

Maurice Cheeks had expected Larry Brownon to burst into a tirade.

Surprisingly, Larry Brown didn't care about the team's terrible tactical performance at all; his eyes were fixed on the big Asian guy.

If you only have a basic understanding of tactics, it only means you're doing well and can keep up with the pace. But what about more advanced and complex tactics?

Even some of their own unique tactics.

Can you keep up?

Yao Ming quickly provided the answer.

Montrose easily observed the situation, ready to deliver a deadly pass to the corner, where the cutting player had already completely torn apart the starting defensive formation.

This indicates that the tactic is on the verge of collapse.

If it were Robinson, he would definitely...

Larry Brown is reminiscing about his youth.

did not expect.

A figure almost overlapped with the young Robinson in his mind.

Yao Ming decisively abandoned his low post matchup and moved slightly up to below the free throw line.

This not only limits Montrose's downward passes but also directly blocks his cutting lanes.

Then, using their height, they block all low-post and baseline passing channels, forcing the high-post ball handler to pass the ball back outwards.

This directly negates the tactical value of the opponent's high-position support.

The high-post offensive strategy failed completely, leaving them with no choice but to pass the ball back to the perimeter. The 24-second shot clock was completely disrupted, forcing them to hastily take long-range shots, which Yao Ming easily secured with a defensive rebound.

Maurice Cheeks has now figured out the problem.

No, I haven't figured out this trick yet.

You, you actually did so well?

Tell me, did Larry Brown give you special treatment?

Brown slammed his hand on the clipboard and berated the four perimeter forwards: "The core of the high post trap is the instantaneous collapse at the top of the post, and all four of you reacted too slowly!"

Then, changing his tone, he looked at Yao Ming and revealed a smile that none of the other 76ers players had ever seen before: "Yao, only you understand my defensive tactics. As an inside player, you've filled the gap in the rotations you should be making."

"Very good, let's continue."

As a coach.

Do you know the true value of the phrase "understand my tactics"?

Even Maurice Cheeks, the lead assistant coach, had never heard such a thing before.

"The next Low Post Double Team! Double-team in the low post!"

The opponent's low-post stars back down the defense, stifle strong inside attacks, and cut off the inside-outside connection in the low post. This is the most commonly used interior defensive strategy by Larry Brown when he coached the Pacers.

Its function is to limit the low-post offense that is prevalent in this era.

For example, countering the opponent's low-post stars' back-to-the-basket moves, containing strong inside attacks, and cutting off the connection between the inside and outside in the low post, etc.

Still coming?

These Black players were somewhat bewildered.

Stackhouse even felt that he had wasted his time taking college tactics classes.

Why is the intensity so high right from the start?

But if the coach tells you to do it, you can't refuse, because he also wants to win Larry Brown's support.

Beep beep—

As soon as the whistle blew, everyone began tactical running.

Davis positioned himself in the low post on the left, receiving the ball and preparing to back down Coleman. The other substitutes spread out to create space. The tactical setup was for the forwards on the same side to provide help defense and double-team, while the players on the weak side would drop back to cover.

As a result, Coleman's defense was not strong enough, and Davis easily boxed him out in the deep post. On the same side, Weatherspoon hesitated to initiate a double team, wary of the opponent's perimeter players. Overton and Jackson dropped back too much, leaving their opposing off-ball players wide open and creating numerous open looks on the perimeter.

Davis firmly established his low-post advantage, able to score with a back-to-the-basket move at any time, and easily pass the ball to open teammates on the perimeter, almost throwing the defensive system off balance.

It's that time of year again.

Yao Ming moved laterally to the left low post from under the basket, forming a double-team with Coleman.

The sheer size of Yao Ming directly blocked Davis's space for back-to-the-basket drives and turnaround shots, while Yao Ming also covered the outside passing lanes, blocking all passing points in the corner and at the 45-degree angle.

Leave the player with the ball with nowhere to go.

Davis was tightly contained, unable to attack or pass the ball, and eventually committed a three-second violation, allowing the defense to score on the possession.

"Three-Quarter Court Man Defense! 3/4 Full-court man-to-man pressure!"

"Start running!"

Stackhouse was completely stunned.

He exclaimed, "Has this old man gone mad?!"

"Yeah, this is just the beginning of training camp, why are we already using such complicated tactics?"

"Who could possibly escape from here!"

Even Iverson thought...

With Larry Brown employing so many tactics, will he even have time to play on the sidelines in the future?

There's no way around it; among this group, Iverson has the best tactical ability.

Even he thought so.

This shows how big the heads of the others are.

But we can't not do it, because Larry Brown is the tactical coach.

This defensive tactic is somewhere between a full-court press and a half-court man-to-man defense, aiming to suppress the ball handler's pace as they cross half-court and wear down the opposing point guard's stamina.

Beep beep—

When the opponent inbounds the ball from the backcourt, Yao Ming's team advances to the three-point line extension and applies high-intensity defense in the three-quarters of the court area, forcing the opponent to struggle to cross half-court.

As a result, Overton's defensive center of gravity was too high when he was guarding Iverson, and he was easily beaten by a disguised approach.

Jackson and Weatherspoon were lax in their off-ball marking, frequently allowing opponents to easily cross the halfway line.

Coleman positioned himself too far forward, completely ignoring the risks of long passes to the basket.

Iverson easily broke through the first line of defense and had already entered the heart of his own half, ready to launch a full-scale attack at any moment.

It's Yao Ming again.

Yao Ming stood directly at the free-throw line, acting as the last line of defense in the half.

He blocked all breakthrough routes in the middle and intercepted long passes across the halfway line, forcing Iverson to abandon his breakthroughs in the middle and switch to the flanks, completely disrupting the opponent's fast-paced attack.

The opponent was forced to slow down their offensive pace and had to reorganize their positional attack, allowing Yao Ming's team to successfully achieve their tactical objective.

All I can say is that Yao Ming has plenty of energy.

His mobility and physical fitness have been greatly improved.

It really comes down to the level of tactical execution.

That's a bit too much.

Moreover, the ability to read and reflect on experiences from two lifetimes.

These black kids can't compare to them.

Let alone a young black kid, even a grown black kid.

That's not OK.

"good!"

"Ha ha ha ha!"

"Okay, okay, okay!!!"

Larry Brown couldn't help but laugh.

The sudden burst of laughter even made Cheeks, who was standing next to him, wonder if Larry Brown had gone mad.

Should I call the medical team?

"genius!"

"This guy's a defensive genius!"

"He even learned and understood me faster than David!!!"

"And he's hard! Even David doesn't have that! Wow, that's great!!!"

The conflict between Larry Brown and Robinson stemmed from Brown's preference for hardliners, which explains why he utilized players like Ben Wallace so effectively. Robinson, on the other hand, was too gentlemanly.

It deviates from his coaching style.

And Yao Ming now.

They're incredibly tough.

They even wish they could play something else while playing ball.

This attitude will be reflected in your defense on the court.

Moreover, Larry Brown, a coach with over a thousand wins, quickly recognized that this Eastern player was even able to perfectly execute and understand some of his unique tactics...

Every coach who can be called a tactical mastermind.

Each has its own unique tactics and variations.

These are things that ordinary players often cannot comprehend.

if it is possible.

You struck a chord with them instantly.

In futuristic terms... it's a crush!

Imagine you were a tactical mastermind; wouldn't you feel like you'd suddenly met a kindred spirit?

If you're a pianist, don't you feel like you've met your perfect match?

My heart is fluttering!

I'm so tempted!

Larry Brown's eyes were practically burning as he looked at Yao Ming.

A feeling of being understood.

From Yao Ming, the conversation went straight to Larry Brown.

Hey.

Hey hey hey.

Someone who has never played in the NCAA can understand his own tactics so thoroughly.

The ability to adapt to changing circumstances filled in the rigid aspects of the tactics.

Now you know why so many coaches like Garnett, right?

Now you know why so many coaches like Duncan, right?

These days, offensive focal points are easy to find.

The core of the defense.

Those are really hard to find.

There aren't even many teams with a defensive anchor.

Those who truly deserve these words.

Without exception.

His teams are the bane of all other teams in the league.

Larry Brown even felt his scalp itch and couldn't help but scratch it.

"It smells so good, so delicious!"

"He's practically the next Robinson!"

"No, he's even more quick to grasp concepts than Robinson!"

Hahahaha.

Just when everyone thought that old man Brown had contracted some serious illness.

Larry Brown actually announced to everyone—

No one is allowed to bully this newcomer.

Our team doesn't have a tradition of bullying newcomers.

If this statement doesn't refer to a specific person, it's just a common cliché.

However, if there is a specific target being referred to, then it is actually an allusion—

he.

They are mine.

Anyone who bullies him is going against me, Larry Brown.

After speaking with Larry Brown, he announced the end of the tactics lesson.

"Sir, why are you walking so fast?"

"What about the subsequent tactical arrangements? Will Yao be able to enter the bench rotation? Or will it be as we initially planned, starting from the bench...?"

"What water dispenser? Morris, did I say that?"

Larry Brown turned to Cheeks and said, "I'm warning you, I never said anything like that, don't talk nonsense! What about the subsequent tactical arrangements? The bench rotation?"

"If he continues to perform like this..."

"I think he deserves a starting position."

"At least he's a pseudo-sub, playing as the sixth man."

Ha ha.

Hahahaha.

I need to go back and design those tactics that I originally thought I wouldn't need.

It doesn't matter if those people don't need it.

As long as someone can use it, that's fine.

"Sir, you haven't devised a strategy for Allen yet, so today isn't the main topic..."

Allen? What Allen?

Our team's weakness in winning is a lack of defense.

Defense.

Offense is something anyone can do, isn't it?

I, Larry Brown, am a defensive mastermind.

What I need is a defensive core that can support my tactical system.

I thought it would be extremely difficult to find someone like that; apart from Duncan, no one else in this class could fill that role.

result……

This 17-year-old Asian I chose myself understands me so well!

Especially those who understand their own tactics!

My beloved!

This is absolutely the one God personally sent to my beloved!

I must nurture him properly!

Give him all your support!

Nobody can stop me!

Selecting Iverson as the core player was a job.

Developing this number 11, this rookie who understands me and whom I personally selected...

That's life!

P.S.: Okay, here's another long chapter for you all!

Thank you all for your hard work these past few days! It's okay if it's not available yet, I'll keep working hard when it's finally released.

Given that Xiao Zi has so many public chapters, I hope everyone will support her when she goes on sale.

After all, support is what motivates me to update more often.

Here comes the ultimate gift! Little Purple's heartfelt thanks and gratitude are all in this chapter! Thank you so much, everyone!