The Way of the Center

Chapter 87 :Adjustment

Jeff Van Gundy is very familiar to Chinese fans of this coach, and even coach Van Gundy in China has an unpleasant nickname, “Fan Bald”.

Coach Van Gundy, who looks young and less than 50 years old, was bald early and wore a Mediterranean hairstyle. It is precisely because of this image that he was given such a nickname by Chinese fans.

Although the nickname is a bit ugly, the coaching performance of Coach Van Gundy is not at all ambiguous.

Jeff Van Gundy, who was only 23 years old, started his coaching career in 1985. There is no way, Van Gundy is a basketball family. Jeff seems to be destined to work in basketball since he was born.

In 1989, Jeff Van Gundy officially became the assistant coach of the New York Knicks. The young Jeff has assisted many famous coaches in the history of the Knicks, including people like Pat Riley and Nelson.

During Jeff’s six years as the Knicks assistant coach, the Knicks won three division championships and made the playoffs every year. The young Jeff has also learned a lot for himself in the past six and a half years.

In the 1995-96 season, Jeff, who had been an assistant coach for so many years, finally got his chance. He replaced Nelson and officially became the coach of the New York Knicks. In his first year in office, Jeff led the Knicks to the playoffs and swept the Cavaliers in the first round. It’s a pity that the Knicks ran into the Chicago Bulls in the second round and were helpless.

The most commendable is that in the 98-99 season, the Knicks met the old enemy Heat in the first round of the playoffs. In the fourth game of the series, the gunpowder-flavored two sides had a fight.

Charles Oakley and Alonzo Mourning made a big fight. Van Gundy hugged Mourning’s thigh to protect the players, and Jeff kept this position and was caught in the fight between the two sides and was dragged by Mourning. I didn’t let go for a long time. This scene is also the most classic photo left by coach Van Gundy on the court. He tried his best to protect his players, just like his children.

However, the Chinese fans really recognized him when in 2003, the former Rockets coach Rudy Tom Jalovic resigned due to physical reasons. As a result, the Rockets had been screened for two months and finally decided on Yujie. Van Gundy took over, and he also began to take over the ties with the Chinese players.

In the four years of coaching the Rockets, he has witnessed Yao Ming’s transformation from a rookie to a superstar, has witnessed the victories of the Yao and Mai combination, and has witnessed the miraculous 35 seconds and 13 minutes.

In the past four years, except for the 05-06 season due to extensive injuries, the team failed to make the playoffs. In the other seasons, Jeff Van Gundy led the team to the playoffs, but they were all regretful. Both were eliminated in the first round. This also makes Van Gundy a love and hate character in the hearts of Chinese fans.

In May 2007, the Houston Rockets officially announced the removal of Van Gundy’s coaching position, and Van Gundy gave himself a long vacation after that.

Until recently, he originally planned to sign a contract with ESPN to be a narrator. Just when he was about to make a decision, Presti approached him.

After being questioned by reporters for nearly half an hour, Van Gundy was able to get out of the media reception room. On the first day of work, what he looked forward to most was not to spend time with reporters. Jeff was ready to meet his new players.

…………………….

The players are shooting casually on the basketball court, and some are sitting on the floor chatting in groups. The team’s training started at one o’clock in the afternoon. However, due to the dismissal of coach Calesimo, the players naturally did not have a set training goal.

“Hey, I heard that he is a very rigid guy, you said we can play a wonderful offense in the future.” Westbrook whispered.

“No matter how you play, as long as you can win.” An Jie is full of expectations for Van Gundy, how this coach who has coached Yao Ming is much better than Carlesimo.

Just when the players were absent-minded on the training ground, a clapping sound rang at the gate of the training ground.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound, the team general manager Presti walked in, and next to him was the new Thunder coach, Jeff Van Gundy!

“Come here, guys, come and meet your new coach.” Presti yelled.

“This is your new coach, Coach Jeff Van Gundy, let us welcome him.” After speaking, Presti applauded first, and the players below were also very cooperative, and the applause immediately filled the void. Training ground.

“Okay, coach, these guys are yours.” After speaking, Presti turned and left the training ground. In this case, it is better to let the players and the coach get along directly.

suddenly became quiet, Van Gundy looked at the group of boys with his hips akimbo, and then nodded with satisfaction.

“I look forward to working with you.” Jeff Van Gundy finally spoke.

After 　　, Van Gundy called the trainers to arrange some very routine training, and walked to the office alone.

“It’s gone?” Westbrook saw Van Gundy closing the office door, spreading his hands speechlessly.

“What’s the hurry? He only came to the team on the first day and didn’t know us. Now he definitely can’t make tactics.” Wilcox raised the dumbbell disapprovingly.

But they were all wrong. From Presti’s invitation to Van Gundy, Van Gundy watched the Thunder’s game video frantically. When it comes to basketball, Van Gundy doesn’t seem to feel tired no matter how he works. It was precisely because of this feeling that he agreed to the preliminary negotiations with Presti.

The players thought that Van Gundy would not show up again today. Unexpectedly, after only one and a half hours of training, the door to the head coach’s office opened again.

“Stop it all.” Van Gundy walked into the arena, still holding a lot of cards.

“You have lost ten games in a row recently and you have lost so many games. Do you know where your biggest weakness is?” Van Gundy only met with the players an hour and a half ago, and now, he has actually entered the role.

“The hit rate is too low.” Westbrook was the first to speak.

“That is indeed a reason, but not the main one. When you can organize the offense well, your shooting percentage is actually not bad.” Having said that, Van Gundy glanced at Anjie.

“I watched the videos of all your games so far this season. Your defense is just showing up. Including the only game you won so far, the defense is unsightly!” Jeff Van Gundy Said mercilessly.

“And now, I will correct this for you first.” With that, Van Gundy put the card in his hand on the floor. Letters such as “PG, SG” and so on are written on the card. Needless to say, the players also know what it means.

“If the opposing center goes up to pick and roll the point guard, you should be positioned like this!” Jeff immediately picked up the tactical board and began to explain his intention to manipulate the cards, and then asked the players to place the cards according to him. Position practice defensive position.

Jeff Van Gundy, he is such a fine-tuned coach.

After the game with the Hornets, the Thunder were given a three-day break. This is as if the NBA knew that the Thunder would change coaches after this game and deliberately set aside these three days to allow Van Gundy to adapt to the ball. team.

In the past three days, the Thunder did not practice anything else. They all practiced defense in various situations based on Van Gundy’s small cards placed.

Van Gundy took the trouble to explain to the players again and again, and re-arranged the messed up cards again and again.

Anjie admires such a coach very much in his heart. At least Van Gundy is much more dedicated than the Kalesimo who only calls the players “defense, our defense!”

In addition to allowing the players to work **** defense, another headache for Van Gundy is how to match the team rotation.

Is it appropriate for Anjie, Durant and Westbrook to play at the same time? If they play at the same time, who should lead the team’s second team? These problems undoubtedly plagued Van Gundy, and Van Gundy also found a lot of irrational aspects of the Thunder team structure in his thinking.

There are too many people on the front line of the team, and there are also a few different guys. Van Gundy would never use such a person.

And there are too few people on the back line, there are not many players who can do it. So Van Gundy listed a detailed list and instructions to Presti, hoping that Presti would use these people as a bargaining chip to exchange some players the team really needs.

On the contrary, the team’s weakest center position is Van Gundy’s most satisfied. The center position is reasonably structured, and it is easy to form a rotation lineup. It’s just that Van Gundy is still struggling, does the three Thunder really need to start.

Of course, the players don’t know anything about rotation and starting positions. They only know that Van Gundy’s defensive training has been completed as required. In just three days, Anjie has learned a lot of new skills in defensive positions It seems that the coaching level of a coach is really a draw. Team performance is completely linked. How can someone like Carlesimo who only use the thinning of the team’s lineup as an excuse to lead the team to victory?

Faced with the sparse lineup, Van Gundy did not complain, but took the time to make planning recommendations for the team’s signings. For this alone, Van Gundy and his predecessor made a judgment.

“How about the new coach?” After hearing the news of the Thunder’s change of coach, Ricard called Anjie and was about to talk with him.

“I feel like you are in some ways, but he doesn’t talk as much as you, and he doesn’t like swearing.” This is the truth that Anjie said. Van Gundy and Ricard take basketball very seriously. Ricard often works late without anyone knowing. Isn’t Van Gundy?

“Hahaha, you really can praise me.” Van Gundy is also considered a famous coach, and Ricard was a little embarrassed to be compared with the famous coach by his own students.

“The game is going to be played tomorrow. Under the leadership of the new coach, are you confident to win?”

“We have practiced more defensively recently, and I happen to like defensively. But tomorrow against the running sun, I think it will still be a bit difficult.” Although Anjie is victorious, he is not arrogant. The Suns are one of the highest scoring teams in the league. Although O’Neal will miss the next game due to injury, he still dare not boast about what Haikou will win.

Jeff Van Gundy faced the sun in the first game after taking office. It was really a competition between spear and shield.

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