Chapter 112: Dealing with Beasley
Most of the inside players in the team were not convinced that Yang Mo's status had skyrocketed to the core of the inside. In comparison, Sean Marion was relatively good. After being taught a lesson by Yang Mo twice, he had lost his spirit. He felt that he could not hold his head up in the team. He was always suspicious and always felt that others were laughing at his "little dick".
The most upset are Haslem and Beasley, both of whom are forwards. Haslem is a veteran player and the team captain. It stands to reason that when there is no tiger in the mountain, the monkey becomes the king, and he should be a core player in the interior. But now a rookie Yang Mo has appeared out of nowhere, not only taking his playing time, but also taking away his core position in the interior. From now on, he will have to listen to him.
Compared to Haslem who was unhappy because of his seniority, Beasley felt that he had been a core player since he was a child, and his draft pick was much higher than Yang Mo. Moreover, he played in the summer league, preseason games, and regular season games. Why did you become a core player after playing only three games? And I am still a supporting role?
It is understandable that these two people have such thoughts, it is human nature. Anyone in their position will have emotions in their hearts.
Pat Riley also knew this, but he had no choice. The pain of Yang Mo and Beasley Haslem was nothing. He was worried that Yang Mo would directly clash with Dwyane Wade in the future after he matured. This was what he didn't want to see the most, so he positioned Yang Mo as the core of the inside line from the beginning, telling him in this way: our team is a dual-core lineup, you are the same as Dwyane. But Dwyane joined the team before you, so he has to be the leader.
Only under this subtle influence can conflicts be minimized.
As for the grievances between Beasley and Haslem, he believed that Yang Mo would be able to settle them with his performance on the court. If Yang Mo couldn't do this, his painstaking planning would be in vain.
As Pat Riley discovered, Yang Mo was a natural leader, so after the players' meeting, he called Beasley to the back of the bus for a talk.
Beasley seemed a little unhappy. He was unhappy about why Yang Mo was able to catch up and get attention earlier than him.
Yang Mo called him to the back and didn't say anything pretentious. She asked directly, "Are you very unhappy about me becoming the core of the inside line?"
"Yes!" Beasley is not the kind of person who beats around the bush. With his IQ, he can't beat around the bush.
"Do you think you are an inside player?" Yang Mo did not comfort him, but asked back.
"Why not? When I was in college, I was a super inside player who averaged 30+20 points per game." Beasley said excitedly, as if he wanted to use his own college glory to suppress Yang Mo.
After hearing this, Yang Mo chuckled and said, "But why do I feel that you are so much like a super outside player? I think it's a pity if your talent is buried in the restricted area. You have a kaleidoscope of offensive means. I think you have more than a thousand ways to put the basketball into the basket. You should be a player like Paul Pierce and Carmelo Anthony, and you can even do better than them. Your talent is the strongest I have ever seen, stronger than Dwyane. But... why do you want to be in the inside?"
Beasley was a little confused by Yang Mo's praise, and when he was asked a question in return, he subconsciously asked himself: Right? Why should I go inside? Inside players have to keep colliding and wrestling every day, and I hate physical contact.
Seeing Beasley's anger slowly disappearing and his expression turning into confusion, Yang Mo lost no time to say, "I heard that you and Kevin Durant are very good friends, and you grew up together. But... he is about to become a superstar, don't you have any jealousy at all? With your height and strength, you will never be able to catch up with him in the inside. Only if you become a small forward can you shine like him . Man, now fans like to watch scoring, not positioning and grabbing rebounds under the basket. Look at what those hateful fans have scolded me for?!"
After listening to this, Beasley thought about it and felt that it was very right. He had always been troubled by his position problem. Now after hearing what Yang Mo said, he suddenly understood. However, he was still a little worried, so he asked: "But... my ball-handling skills and the skills of combining with the ball are not good, and my breakthrough pace is not as big and fast as Kevin's!"
"Carmelo Anthony's breakthrough is not sharp, but he is still a top star in the league. Besides, we don't really need your breakthrough, we have Dwyane. Moreover, I can provide you with powerful pick-and-rolls at will. You just need to use your gorgeous skills to confuse your opponents and then put the ball into the basket. I guarantee that the women on the sidelines will go crazy for you."
As soon as Yang Mo mentioned women, Beasley immediately laughed. He scratched his head awkwardly and said, "It seems that I am really not suitable for playing inside. Thank you, Yang! You have played a very important role in my career."
After expressing his gratitude, Beasley returned to the front with a bright smile on his face.
Pat Riley, who was sitting in the front row, kept walking and watching the scene behind through the rearview mirror in front. Seeing Beasley go from angry to confused and then happy, he felt that he had made an extremely correct choice. The team needs such a commander. Only such a leader can glue the team into a cohesive whole. Compared with Yang Mo, Dwyane is a little too taciturn, although he is also a qualified leader.
Soon, the bus arrived at the stadium. When getting off the bus, Yang Mo said to Pat Riley, "Sir, I have convinced Beasley that he is willing to work as a center from now on. In this way, our offensive power will be further developed. As for the rebounds, leave it to me!"
"Well done!" Pat Riley patted Yang Mo on the shoulder and said with great appreciation.
Getting Beasley to decide on a position was something he hadn't been able to do since he drafted Beasley. Beasley had been hesitating and didn't want to make a choice, so he had been playing in a half-hearted way until now, but it hadn't worked out very well. Now, Yang Mo had actually done it in just a few words, which was a huge surprise to him.
So, he quickly turned around and called Spoelstra aside, and told him: "Try to put Beasley in the three-position lineup tonight. Remember, you must have Young and Beasley on the court at the same time."
"Well, OK." Although Spoelstra was the head coach of the team, he was no different from a puppet in front of Spoelstra. He could only obey his orders. After all, when Pat Riley was a coach, he was still wearing open-crotch pants. And when Pat Riley was a player, he probably hadn't formed liquid in his father's body yet.
When the Heat players came to the court to warm up, the Nuggets on the opposite side were already practicing there. They were also determined to win tonight.
This is a game about dignity. Either George Karl's fat face will be beaten into a pig's head by failure and lose face. Or Yang Mo, who has already been lashed by public opinion, will be ruined and become a laughing stock.
No one can afford to lose, so it depends on who wants to win !
