Chapter 108 Commander Player
NBA is like this, when you are old and no longer capable, you have to leave. People don't care how good you were when you were young, what kind of statistics you got, or how many times you were selected into the All-Star Game. These are all past history. You can brag about it after you retire. Don't say nonsense like "Since ancient times, famous generals are like beauties, and they are not allowed to grow old in the world." The law of the jungle is the essence of competitive sports.
At this time, Pat Riley quietly sat next to Yang Mo, pointed at Gasol on the court and asked: "Yang, if this ball was you just now, how would you handle it?"
"I don't know how to hold the ball and attack the inside." Yang Mo shook his head and said with a smile: "Either I will shoot a three-pointer from outside the three-point line, or I will directly use my strength to push him away and then shoot. I won't give him a chance to block me head-on."
"Then how do you think we should defend him on the defensive end? His offensive skills are among the best among the league's inside players." Pat Riley continued to ask patiently.
"It's impossible for me to defend him on every ball with my height. This is a natural disadvantage. I can only use my strength to prevent him from getting into the penalty area and scare him with tough defense. He has already proved in the finals last year that he is not a tough player, so... it shouldn't be more difficult to deal with him than KG."
"So how do you think you would deal with Bynum if your opponent was him?" Pat Riley continued to ask.
Before he finished speaking, Bynum scored with a hook shot through a back-to-the-basket single play.
This is a technique he learned from the skyhook. The center's hook shot is very difficult to defend, and with his height and wingspan, it is almost impossible to block it.
"It's easier to deal with him." Yang Mo smiled slightly, not taking Bynum seriously at all: "Although he is tall, his lower body is too poor, and he has no strength in post-up singles. You see, he didn't even push Anthony just now, and finally chose a hook shot. If I were to defend him, he would not be able to complete any dunks. At most, I would let him shoot from the outside or a hook shot. Although everyone is praising his talent, but... I don't think highly of him. His lower body is too poor, so it is destined that his positioning and post-up will not be particularly outstanding. He may never be able to become a super center in his life."
Pat Riley agrees with Yang Mo's disapproval of Bynum. He also had the opportunity to select this 17-year-old center in 2005, but he didn't do it. At that time, he found through the tryout that although Bynum's skeleton was great, his torso was very weak and his calves were very thin, which made it difficult for him to support his huge body. So he gave up on him. Now the Lakers have been carefully training him for almost four years, but he still hasn't produced convincing data, but everyone is praising his outstanding potential.
However, potential is too abstract.
Pat Riley never believed in potential, he preferred to believe in the advantages that could be demonstrated at the first time. For example, Yang Mo, Yang Mo made him feel the majestic power right from the start, plus the abnormally excellent three-pointers and the temperament on the court shown in that video. The first two points can immediately help the team, so he made a promise to Yang Mo without hesitation. Later, Yang Mo's systematic training surprised him even more, and made him believe that Yang Mo still had a lot of potential, after all, this was a wild player who had never received systematic training.
"Haha." Pat Riley chuckled twice, paused for a moment and continued, "What do you think of me trading Marion?"
"Of course." Yang Mo did not hide his true thoughts like a hypocrite, and said directly: "I can do what he can do. He will also take up my playing time, so... trading him away is the best choice. It would be even better if we can exchange him for a center with offensive ability."
"You think so too?" Pat Riley was a little surprised. He always thought that Yang Mo was a general-type player who charged into battle. He didn't expect that his casual words would also have the demeanor of a commander. He could actually see through the overall situation and read the entire lineup.
"You see, I have outside shooting ability, and now I have very good pick-and-roll cooperation with Dwyane. But... the only thing we lack is the lethality in the restricted area. We need a big man who can score in the interior so that I can open up space for him and he can create open spots for us. I... Dwyane... and him can form a three-in-one serial offensive axis, and with the embellishment of Wright and Chalmers on the outside, our offense can form a dense firepower network. As long as it is opened... it will be very difficult for the opponent to defend." Yang Mo spoke out what was in his mind one by one .
After hearing this, Pat Riley's legs were shaking with excitement. Even though Qian Moss was intercepted by the opponent in the frontcourt, he couldn't stop being happy.
As an old man who has worked in the basketball industry for a lifetime, he deeply understands how rare it is to have a commander-type player who can read the game. There are very few active NBA players who can be called commander-type players. LeBron James is one, Jason Kidd is one, Chris Paul is one, Steve Nash is one, Tim Duncan is one, Brandon Roy is half, and then... it is difficult to find more.
Not even Kobe Bryant on the court, even though he is the best player in the league today.
Yang Mo's words surprised Pat Riley more than his increased speed. He finally understood why Yang Mo rarely made mistakes on the court. He always did the right thing, even when he provoked the fans, he had a careful plan. It turned out that it was because... he could read the game.
If a player can read the game, then the help he brings to the team cannot be measured by statistics or anything else.
After Pat Riley was ecstatic, he became a little worried. Because such a player is destined to become a leader, and Miami already has a core. Dwyane is still in his prime , and he can maintain a high level for at least seven or eight years. In other words, Yang Mo will be inferior to him for the next seven or eight years.
Pat Riley originally thought that Yang Mo could play the role of the second in command. But now he no longer dares to think so, because there is a kind of player who is a natural leader, and their edge can never be restrained. Maybe he can suppress them for a while, but he can never suppress them for seven or eight years.
Pat Riley was worried, but no matter what, it was a happy trouble!
