"What? You want the team to start playing pass-and-cut tactics? This...Mr. Smart, are you kidding me?"
On December 19, Mike Dunleavy, who had just returned to Los Angeles from a road trip, was shocked to hear Min Congda's tactical opinions in the training center office.
The Clippers have been in pretty good shape recently, although their losing streak to the Grizzlies at home on December 11th ended their winning streak.
But then they defeated the powerful Eastern Conference rivals the Magic and achieved two wins and one loss in three consecutive games in the Eastern Conference.
The team's winning rate was successfully increased to 50%, and they gradually recovered from the decline at the beginning of the season.
Mike Dunleavy marveled at the talent and tenacity of the young people on his team, as well as the good team atmosphere.
He has a feeling in his heart that this team may be the most successful team he has led in his coaching career in the future.
The players are still very young. Harden, George, Bledsoe, and even Jeremy Lin sitting at the end of the bench, Dunleavy all feel that there are expectations.
They all work hard, are very motivated, are selfless and united in the team, and everything is moving in a good direction.
But just after returning from the away game, and his teammates had a day off, Mr. Smart pulled the coaching staff to the training center for a meeting.
Min Congda's style has always been to get straight to the point and not talk nonsense. He said directly: "Starting from today, the team will gradually implement the pass-and-cut system. This is a tactical system that is suitable for the trend of the new era. Mike, you and the coaching staff can think of a solution together." Give it a try, and if it doesn’t work, hire a knowledgeable assistant coach.”
Mike Dunleavy said: "Pass and cut tactics system? Oh my God, Mr. Smart, pass and cut tactics are used in every team. This is already a basic tactic. If you think the team has too little easy-ball , I can train a few high-post passing and cutting routines and let Mark execute them. I think this is a good idea. But, what about the passing and cutting system?"
"Our entire team's offense revolves around passing and cutting? Don't be kidding, this is not the 1970s, nor is it college basketball. Many players at that time couldn't even dunk, which is completely different from today's professional game. And passing and cutting There are so many tactics and routines, is it possible that they want to do something like Princeton?"
"Don't say that the Kings have done it before. The Kings have their own uniqueness. I have the most say in this matter. I often led the team to compete with the Kings at that time. In fact, in the playoffs, the tactic the Kings used most was to defeat them. Reese Webb's low post play and Mike Bibby's strong attack at the top of the key have nothing to do with pass-and-cut tactics!"
“The Princeton system is a gimmick!”
"I don't know where you came up with the idea to let the team play pass-and-cut tactics. We are now in a very good momentum. The team has slowly come out of the problems at the beginning of the season. Our defense passed... passed..."
Mike Dunleavy said a lot emotionally, pointing out that the so-called pass-and-cut system was unreliable and that the Princeton system was a gimmick.
But as he was talking, he felt something was not right. Min Congda quietly watched Lao Deng complaining. Seeing that he had stopped talking, he asked: "By what? Tell me, by what?"
"For me, by copying Mr. Smart's defensive guide and rebuilding the team's defensive system and strategies, especially the pick-and-roll defense strategy, the team's defensive problems were solved and the team recovered from the decline at the beginning of the season. "
"Isn't that right, Lao Deng!"
Dunleavy nodded. Indeed, the Clippers' defensive problem was solved thanks to Min Congda's article.
To be honest, the level of the Clippers' assistant coaching staff is really not very good, and they have not brought any qualitative help to the team over the years.
However, Min Congda was very loyal. He knew that it would be difficult for this guy to find a job in other teams, so he simply stayed.
Dunleavy himself is good, but unfortunately after 20 years as a coach, his thinking is increasingly unable to keep up with the trend.
Fortunately, thanks to Min Congda's advice and guidance many times, we were able to win in the playoffs and reverse the situation in the regular season.
From the perspective of execution, Lao Deng is still very good, but his hair has fallen out and his thinking is almost gone.
Thinking of this, Dunleavy has no confidence to be serious with Min Congda, although he sincerely believes that the so-called pass-cutting is difficult to survive in the current NBA.
But what if Mr. Smart is right? What if the trend of the future really is pass-cutting?
When Min Congda saw that everyone was silent, Lao Deng was still a little unconvinced and said: "As for the tactical system, it can't be built overnight. It is indeed a bit embarrassing to suddenly ask the players to change tactics in the middle of the season. Let's see, pass and cut and now Let's combine the low post attack and outside throwing, and make the transition slowly."
"Transition slowly? How to transition? If the two come together, the players will only be more confused."
The tactical system must be firm, and the one that suits the players must be resolutely implemented.
Otherwise, if we act haphazardly, the result will be that everyone is at both ends of the spectrum, and fighting one way will not work, and fighting another will not work.
Min Congda thought to himself, this is the effect I want, how about confusing you?
You are playing more and more clearly and with more and more vigor, so is that okay?
Just use a hammer here and a stick here and there, giving people the impression that they want this and that.
In the end, it will be all in vain, and everyone will complain.
Just like Adelman did when he first arrived in the Rockets, during the 2007-08 season, he tried to implement Princeton tactics in the Rockets.
Let Yao Ming provide support in the high post, and at the same time, let Yao Ming's power in the low post be used. Also let a stocky forward like Hayes organize the offense, and McGrady run in the reverse direction.
As a result, at the beginning of the season, the Rockets suffered a 6-game losing streak, and their winning rate dropped below 50%.
Later, Yao Ming expressed his dissatisfaction and did not want the team to combine the Princeton style of play and concentrate on the traditional low-post route.
Then the Rockets finished that season and ushered in a record 22 consecutive victories. If Yao Ming hadn't been injured due to an accident, the Rockets would have gone further in the playoffs.
Min Congda is now asking the Clippers to use the original tactics while learning to implement passing and cutting. Doesn't this also achieve the same chaotic effect?
Moreover, the so-called pass-and-cut system is very vague, and there are many tactical details that need to be improved.
Today's NBA has no unique tactical system. It's all about you and me, but the emphasis is just different.
Dunleavy thought about these new gadgets and felt like his hair was falling out even more.
After Min Congda gave this instruction, he happily went to the restaurant of the training center to eat.
Dunleavy looked at his group of useless assistant coaches and said, "You all think of a way to come up with a passing and cutting system! If you can't figure it out, think about who can figure it out. "
Kim Hughes said: "I know someone who can definitely figure it out."
Dunleavy said: "Who?"
"Mr. Smart."
"..."
"Smart has already said, let us figure it out ourselves!"
"Then... why not ask on NBA-Batman? I heard that some coaches from other teams exchange tactics with the mysterious Batman on their blogs, which is very rewarding."
"Really? I'll leave this matter to you, Lao Jin! Let's dismiss the meeting!"
"Hey! Mike, Mike! I don't know how to use Twitter! I'm not familiar with it!"
(End of chapter)
