The Godfather of Basketball

It was already noon when I woke up the next day, and the sun was shining on my butt.

The attendants outside had already prepared lunch, so there was no need to shout.

When I was about to leave after lunch, I knew that their car was rented and they were going to the airport soon. After the hotel inquired, I helped them return the car and sent it to the airport with the hotel’s special Rolls-Royce. up.

The service is truly incomparable.

After returning from Dubai, Hathaway was so tired that she went home to rest.

Tang Tian returned to Houston without stopping.

There is only about a month left before the opening of the new season, and the new season is imminent.

At the Toyota Center, Yao Ming, Yi Jianlian, Sun Yue, Landry, Jordan Jr., Dragic and Morrow have already started training.

However, what was a little different from the situation in the previous two years was that apart from a few of them, no one else was seen.

Tang Tian thought it was just that he didn't come today, and after asking Thibodeau, he found out that they were the only ones training in advance this year.

It's not a particularly big thing, but Tang Tian faintly smelled something different.

Although few people came, Tang Tian and the coaching staff were still as busy as last year.

Compared with last year, the team has changed a lot this year. Millsap, Novak, Mutombo, Barea, and Hyde all left the team one after another. The team left 5 people at once, and as many as 6 new players joined. Among them, 4 people came to train in advance, and these 4 people are all real young players.

In addition to the technical and tactical aspects of the coaching staff, the training of young players is also a very important part of their daily work.

Among the four, Yi Jianlian is the one Tang Tian needs extra care of, not just because he is Chinese, but like an investment, you have already invested in it, and there will naturally be follow-up.

Because there are only 2 honor points left, Tang Tian does not want to use them up in advance unless he has to, so according to Yi Jianlian's current situation, Tang Tian formulated a targeted training plan for him to improve his shooting stability and strength and confrontational capabilities.

As for the others, Dragic gained muscle, Jordan Jr. practiced free throws, and Morrow practiced defense. They also have their own plans.

With Tang Tian, ​​a time traveler, these trainings are more effective.

Tang Tian was busy, and Mo Lei was not idle either.

After listening to Tang Tian's suggestion, he communicated with the management of the Kings, and finally brought the Grizzlies in for a three-way deal before the start of the preseason.

The Rockets sent the 2009 first-round pick and Dan Gadzulic, and got the combo guard Jason Hart from the Clippers and a trade exception worth 4 million.

The Kings traded Bobby Jackson for Dan Gadzuric and the Rockets' 2009 first-rounder.

The Clippers traded Jason Hart for Bobby Jackson.

The Clippers didn't sign Baron Davis during the offseason. They changed hands and found Bobby Jackson to replace him. Although Jackson's strength is not as good as Davis', the advantage lies in the expiring contract.

The Rockets finally sent Gadzuric out and got an expiring contract of more than 2 million, which greatly reduced the luxury tax amount.

Only the King, for the sake of a garbage contract at the end of the first round, really complied with Tang Tian's words, one of the most cheating managements in history.

The training of the Rockets has been carried out steadily, and as time goes by, other players have also returned to the team one after another.

But after returning to the team, troubles followed.

Many players, including McGrady, have excessive body fat.

Many NBA players have a busy season, and they will indulge in the offseason. The more well-known one is Carmelo Anthony. He is a "little melon" during the game and becomes a "fat melon" during the offseason.

This is not a big deal, because there are professional trainers in the NBA, basically it can be fully recovered in a month or so.

But just like what Tang Tian smelled before, such a change is obviously not a good thing for the team.

"Tom, Steve, come to my office." On the first day after the team's training, Tang Tian called Thibodeau and Cole.

After entering his office, he took out two schedules and gave them to them.

"Our opponents will be very targeted in the new season, so substitutes will be more important to the team than last year. These are some arrangements we will make during the season."

Thibodeau and Cole looked surprised after a few glances. They first thought that Tang Tian called them because of the player's body fat, but they didn't expect it to be about player training.

"Cultivate Mark's ability to handle the ball and make him the axis of the offensive end like Yao?" Thibodeau read aloud.

"Yes, Mark has this potential. He has shown it in the European League and the national team." Tang Tian said, this trip to the Olympics is not without help for his new season. Gasol is likely to become a weakened version of Yao Ming.

"Train Landry's three-pointer ability?" Cole went on to say.

"Yes, the departure of Paul (Millsap) made the power forward position a lot weaker. Louis' defense is a problem, and most of his offensive areas are inside the three-point line, and he can't open up enough space. It is difficult to add age. Adjustment, so we need Landry to become the next Millsap, at least a weakened version." Tang Tian continued.

Thibodeau and Cole nodded one after another after listening. Tang Tian thought more farsightedly than them.

Because many players had to get back into shape, the team's tactical training lasted only about half a month.

During this period of time, the Rockets have successively signed some players with basic salaries and non-guaranteed contracts, and the team's preseason roster for the new season has also been released.

Centers: Yao Ming, Marc Gasol, DeAndre Jordan, Marcus Campbell (one-year non-guaranteed contract).

Power Forward: Scola, Landry, Yi Jianlian.

Small forwards: Battier, Brent Barry (one-year veteran minimum), Mike Harris (one-year non-guaranteed contract).

Shooting guards: McGrady, Pietrus, Anthony Morrow, Van Weaver (three-year non-guaranteed), D.J. Stroberg (one-year non-guaranteed).

Point guard: Billups, Sun Yue, Dragic, Jason Hart, John Lucas III (one-year non-guaranteed contract).

The list of 19 people, 16 of them have guaranteed contracts, because the other positions have been basically determined, in fact, the swingmen who will change are the forwards and guards. Jason Hart, Barry Sr., Harris and Weaver compete for the last two places. .

Tang Tian felt a little helpless in his heart. After missing Barnes, no matter who stayed with these few people, they would not be of much help to the team.

In other words, this year's team's lineup is much worse than last year's. With competitors all strengthening one after another, it is far more difficult to achieve three consecutive championships than last year.

On October 8, US time, after a long offseason, the new NBA season finally kicked off.