The Godfather of Basketball

The Nets' first game after Christmas was an away game against the Raptors. Not long ago, they had just lost to their opponents by 30 points.

The game is on the third day after Christmas.

But on the first day after Christmas, the Nets organized training.

"If you want to change, you don't have to just shout slogans. Hard work requires practical actions." These are the last words Tang Tian said to the team members at the Christmas luncheon.

Now, they are practicing.

The tactics are still the ones at the beginning of the season, and the players are actually familiar with them very quickly.

This set of tactics is also conducive to changing the atmosphere of the team. Compared with blindly playing singles, this running tactic can make the players on the field feel involved, and there are opportunities at every point, and it can also mobilize the enthusiasm of the players.

The training was done step by step, and Tang Tian poured a bowl of chicken soup at Christmas. The team is really full of energy now.

Tang Tian and Frank sat on the sidelines.

"It's not easy to play the first game after Christmas." Frank couldn't help but said at this time.

Tang Tian's chicken soup is very effective, but the team has just experienced 10 consecutive losses, and then meets a strong team like the Raptors. If they lose another 11 consecutive losses, the blow to the team's morale will still be the same as before.

"The Raptors, are they strong?" Tang Tian looked at the field and asked suddenly.

"They..." Frank originally wanted to say that they were very strong, but when he thought about it carefully, compared with the Cavaliers, Thunder, and even the Heat and Eagles, the Raptors didn't seem to be considered a strong team.

"If you go to check the data carefully, including DeRozan and Lowry, their shooting percentages are only in the early 40s. Their performance is not stable, and they are not very good at fighting tough battles. They are not a strong team. An ordinary team." Tang Tian said lightly.

When Tang Tian said it so calmly, Frank was stunned, and then he thought about it, and it seemed to be the same.

The current record of the Raptors is only fifth in the East, and it is not really a team in the top half of the playoffs.

Seeing the change in Frank's expression, Tang Tian smiled inwardly, and didn't say anything else.

Although the Raptors are not strong, they are definitely stronger than the Nets at the moment, but they are not much stronger, so what he said is half true, and the other half is to give Frank confidence.

If you lose psychologically before the start of the fight, half of the game is already lost.

After three consecutive days of training, the players have been familiar with the original tactics for a long time, and their confidence has also improved a lot.

After training that day, they also got on the plane to Toronto.

Tang Tian has been to Toronto many times, and he has experienced all the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter.

But this time, it is a critical time for him and his team.

Losing and winning have completely different impacts on this team.

"Believe in yourselves, believe in me, no matter what happens in the game, stick to what we trained and we will win the game."

In the locker room before the game, Tang Tian made the final mobilization for his players.

"The Nets!"

"come on!"

After yelling out all the tension in their hearts, the players ran out of the locker room excitedly.

Before the opening ceremony, someone came over to say hello to him. It was Chuck Hayes and Louis Williams, two of his old teams, who are now playing for the Raptors.

Even after the opening ceremony, when Tang Tian and Casey shook hands, they chatted a few words.

After so many years in the NBA, his contacts are already among the top ones.

The pre-match warm-up is over, the two sides started to play one after another, and the game will start soon.

For the Raptors, Lowry and Terrence Ross are on the perimeter, DeRozan and Amir Johnson are on the front line, and Valanciunas is at the center.

For the Nets, Deron and Joe Johnson are on the outside, Bojan Bogdanovic and Yi Jianlian are on the front line, and Lopez is the center.

Tang Tian also crossed his hands at this time, and looked at the court with some excitement.

I haven't coached for a year and a half, and it's such a challenging team, this feeling is really strange.

The jump ball of Yi Jianlian and Valanciunas, the former dialed the ball back to the half court, and the visiting team got the chance to attack first.

After Deron advanced to the frontcourt, he handed the ball to Lopez's high position support.

The teammates continued to pick and roll and run back, and Joe Johnson took the mid-range opportunity. Lopez passed the ball, but Johnson's shot was a bit too big, and the rebound was accepted by Valanciunas.

The Raptors advanced to the frontcourt with the ball, and DeRozan took advantage of Valanciunas's pick-and-roll breakthrough to hit the basket and caused Lopez's thug foul.

He made two free throws and gave the Raptors the lead.

Lopez continued to support at a high position, but Joe Johnson failed to secure the ball and the ball was directly intercepted by DeRozan.

The Raptors counterattacked, and Lowry squeezed past Deron's layup and missed, but DeRozan followed up with a tip-up to score the ball. Joe Johnson was just over halftime.

Lopez was a little anxious to turn around and break through from a high position, and his shot was directly blocked by Valanciunas.

Another sideline kick was sent, Joe Johnson's three-point shot popped out of bounds, and he shook his head helplessly.

The Raptors attacked the frontcourt, DeRozan's breakthrough stopped suddenly, Lopez did not dare to reach out, and watched the opponent send the ball into the basket.

6 to 0.

The Raptors gave the Nets a big blow from the very beginning.

The fans at the scene also whistled.

Many people think that Tang Tian's coaching will make the Nets reborn, but now it turns out that it is all a lie. After all, the coach is just a coach. They could win the Nets by 30 points in an away game before, and they will only win more when they return home.

Tang Tian directly called a timeout.

"I don't need team members who don't go all out and are timid! If there are, just sit on the sidelines for one night!" Tang Tian scolded angrily as soon as he got off.

The performance of Joe Johnson and Lopez at the beginning was too disappointing for him, especially Joe Johnson. He felt that he had no fighting spirit on the court, and he really wanted to kick his ass directly.

"Bogdan, Nikolai, you go on stage." As soon as Tang Tian finished yelling, he turned around and called out Bogdan Bogdanovic and Jokic.

This approach caused a burning pain in the faces of Joe Johnson and Lopez, which is short of naming names.

Tang Tian didn't care about their reaction, and then picked up the tactical board to arrange tactics.

When the arrangement was finished, he glanced at the five players who were going to play: "This is not an ordinary game, it's your last stand, show me your courage and determination, kick your opponent's ass hard, and take it down!" This damn game!"

Several young players were stunned when they heard this. Before Tang Tian only poured chicken soup and said good things to them, they were a little confused and excited after this training. Basketball should always be a sport full of trash talk.

"Guys, put in 100% effort, we can do it." Yi Jianlian showed the stability of an old player at this time. He had played under Tang Tian and knew Tang Tian's character.

Deron also reacted and stretched out his hand: "For the victory, the Nets."

The team members nodded one after another, then put their hands on top of each other and shouted loudly.

"Let's.go!! (Come on)"