The Godfather of Basketball

The three new recruits did not participate in the team's full-court training. Tang Tian asked Uncle Mu to take them to understand the team's tactical system and do some adaptive training along the way.

And he called other members of the coaching staff to discuss the team's tactics and rotation issues.

"Ron's competitive state has declined significantly this season. I think he can be the team's sixth man." Cassel spoke first.

"I think Sam is right. Ron's state needs to be adjusted in the game, and he has rich experience. If he serves as the sixth man, he can help our young players grow faster." Dell Curry echoed.

Tang Tian nodded.

Artest has never been the kind of player who trains hard. It is estimated that he will go out and have fun during this offseason.

Moreover, he played as the sixth man in the Rockets, so it shouldn't be a big problem to adapt.

And just like what he and Casey said before, if the Cavaliers want to maintain the speed of pushing and counterattacking on the court, Battier and Artest must have a substitute.

Battier's single function and standard 3D are obviously more suitable for starting.

"I think Jimmy can also be considered as a starter, which can improve the team's vitality on the court." Cassell continued.

"But if we play Jimmy, our average height on the court will be very low." Casey gave different opinions at this time.

Although Butler defends very hard, he is only 2.01 meters tall, and Battier is also 2.01 meters. In this way, the height of the Cavaliers' striker is too low.

"Can we consider Markieff or Chandler?" Dell Curry suggested.

Both Morris and Parsons are 2.08 meters tall. The former is heavy and more suitable for playing power forwards, while the latter is more flexible.

"We must also consider Vince, he is a veteran and has strength, he should have a starting position." Kuster said.

Tang Tian frowned slightly.

James' departure broke the original tactical system of the Cavaliers, and even made the team's starting lineup a bad problem.

In other words, the Cavaliers' fourth position has been a weakness for the past two seasons.

"Let Jimmy play the starting position 3, and Sean play the starting position 4." After discussing for a long time, Tang Tian made the final decision.

With James leaving, the original team's training plan for the third position will also change. He needs Butler to grow faster.

And Butler is the hardest defensive player among these players. He and Battier's lineup has both speed and defensive strength. It is better to make up for the lack of height by using the defense rotation method than being passed one-on-one. .

As for Carter, he has played in the league for 13 years. He must be pursuing a championship now. He must not be so eager to start or something.

The starting candidate is decided, and then there is the question of team tactics.

Defensive counterattack is indispensable, otherwise Paul and Yao Ming's first-pass ability will be wasted. Butler also has this consideration.

In terms of positional battles, Paul and Yao Ming's pick-and-roll must be the core, but without James, Yao Ming's singles support in the low post must also increase.

The victory over the Heat is just an illusion, leaving James must be hurting for the Cavaliers.

The good news is that during the period of James' truce, the Cavaliers have run in well, and they have passed the painful period in advance.

After the regular meeting was over, Tang Tian called Carter to his office and told him about being a substitute.

"Coach, as long as I can play, the starting substitute is not a problem."

As expected, Carter did not resist playing as a substitute.

In the afternoon training session, the tactics and rotation were adjusted several times, and the team got on the plane to Toronto that night.

Coincidentally, in the first game Carter joined the Cavaliers, his opponent was his old club, the Raptors.

"Toronto is the city with the most maple leaves. There is the City Convention and Exhibition Center over there. There is a flower show every year, but we are here early now, and we will not have it until March."

"Coach, you are lucky to be in Toronto. There are many kinds of Chinese food here, which is not at the same level as that in the United States."

...

Carter has played in the Raptors for 7 years, so don't be too familiar with this place. Now he keeps introducing it to his teammates, just like a guide.

Tang Tian looked at the old flying man, although it was not the first time he came back here, for the latter, every time he came back would be like going home.

Familiar, intimate, warm.

Toronto is the only overseas home of the NBA. The only meaning is that it is the only one in Canada. Toronto is the only place where the whole of Canada can watch games.

It is precisely because of this that no matter what the current situation of the team is, the popularity of the route center arena will always remain high.

After Bosh left the Raptors in the summer, this team is now headed by rookies Bargnani and DeRozan.

Such an opponent is weak, and it is obviously a very good opponent for the Cavaliers who have just undergone a blood change.

Before the start of the game, Tang came to the locker room and announced that Butler would be the starter.

Butler's usually calm face finally revealed an expression of excitement, and his teammates also congratulated him one after another.

This kind of player who is strict with himself off the court and works hard on the court can always win the favor of his teammates.

The route center arena was packed that night, because of the support for the home team, but also because the opponent was the defending champion.

Canadian English is neither American nor British, but standard Canadian English.

The starting lineups of both sides were introduced one after another while the DJ was speaking full of local English.

For the Cavaliers, the combination of Paul and Green on the perimeter, Butler and Battier on the front line, and Yao Ming at the center.

This lineup, excluding Yao Ming, has an average height of less than 2 meters, a standard small lineup.

On the Raptors side, Calderon and DeRozan are on the outside, James Johnson and Bargnani are on the front line, and Aaron Gray is the center.

Yao Ming beat Gray and gave the Cavaliers the first chance to attack.

After Paul dribbled the ball to the frontcourt, he played a pick-and-roll with Yao Ming, and after splitting, he split the corner with Battier.

Battier attracts Butler who cuts after the defense.

Butler was a little excited, took the ball and went straight to the basket.

Bargnani stands under the basket.

Butler knocked over Bargnani and scored a layup.

"beep!"

But before he could celebrate, the referee's whistle sounded immediately, indicating Butler's offensive foul.

The Raptors' offense and Green's close defense of DeRozan pushed the latter beyond the three-point line.

DeRozan, nicknamed the little prince of mid-range shooting, has no deterrent power outside the three-point line. Tang Tian has already arranged his defense before the game.

Calderon saw that there was no chance, so he directly scored Johnson, and Johnson broke through Butler with the ball.

Butler stuck tight and didn't give Johnson a chance.

Johnson's forced shot was blocked by a slap by Yao Ming who rushed over.

The ball happened to cover DeRozan's hands, and the latter took the ball straight to the basket.

Butler quickly defended the past and forced DeRozan.

"beep!"

The referee's whistle sounded, signaling Butler's defensive foul.

Less than a minute into the game, Butler had already received his second personal foul in his first start of his career.

Tang Tian stretched out his hand to call Carter up, motioning for him to replace Butler.

Carter walked over to the tech table.

A short whistle followed.

Carter touched the soles of his shoes, wiped his hands, and went on stage.

When the fans saw this scene, there was a burst of deafening cheers.

Despite longstanding rivalries, fans of the city will never forget Canada's "UFO."