basketball pope

Chapter 329 [Hire a new teaching assistant, and then find a death light gun]

The players reported to Washington on the same day, held a press conference, showed off the new jerseys and accepted media interviews.

Yang Rui greeted everyone and made comments to everyone, all of which made everyone very happy.

The history of the Wizards has quietly changed.Yang Rui was in control and unceremoniously shut out several veterans who wanted to join.

Bear the brunt of the brunt of the veteran Charles - Oakley, he was almost immobilized, thinking of the Wizards and his old friend Jordan play side by side.

The Wizards still have a place. Jordan wanted to sign Oakley, but Yang Rui made it clear that the Raptors who ruined him lost the chance to build a dynasty. He was not pleasing to the eye, even if he signed O'Neal's grandmother, he would not sign him. (O'Neal's grandmother: Time to discuss the old body's place in history.)
Jordan had no choice but to give up. He found that Yang Rui just seemed to talk well, and he was as stubborn as him in his bones. He decided that one thing was difficult to change.If someone like this is not pleasing to the eye, there is little room for relief.

Jazz veteran small forward Brian Russell also wanted to join the Wizards, but Yang Rui rejected him, citing that Russell couldn't run, and he didn't need a veteran with poor athletic ability in his system.

Yang Rui reserved the No. 15 spot for Barnes, and no one else could take it away.Even if Barnes doesn't come in the end, he still has other candidates, such as the swingman Anthony Parker who currently wants to return to the NBA.

In Yang Rui's previous life, Parker was an excellent role player, a ball-free player who was good at shooting three-pointers, but he only returned to the NBA in 2006 and joined the Raptors.

As a 97st-round rookie in the first round of 21, Parker suffered consecutive injuries in the first three years of the league and became a famous glass man, and was then forced to move to Europe.It's hard to say what his level is now, so Yang Rui is more inclined to sign Barnes, who is brave and defensive.

The next day, Yang Rui and the new players made an appointment to go to the arena for a test, mainly to examine the players' three-point ability. The test results disappointed him a little.

David Wesley and Donyell Marshall have no problem, although not every position is accurate, at least three open threes are guaranteed.

Alston and Bell can shoot [-]-pointers, but they are inconsistent, especially in the corners.

The only accurate point for Maggette's long shot is between 50 degrees and 70 degrees on the right side. He can hardly shoot from other positions, and he is only able to make a mid-range shot. At this time, he has not reached his peak.

Gerald Wallace is even worse. His mid-to-long-range shots are completely unreliable, and his ability to break through with the ball is also poor.Fortunately, Gerrard is a hard worker and he will keep improving.

Jordan also participated in this training, and the mid-range shot was stable, and there was no hope for three-pointers.With his age, Yang Rui can't let Jordan spend a lot of time practicing three-pointers.

The rookie did not participate in the test. In the summer league, Boozer played well. His anti-cannon shooting is now accurate, and after the pick-and-roll, he is very threatening to catch the ball in the middle.Stoudamire is not good at shooting. He is good at hitting the basket with his body. He can break through to the frame. His first step is very fast, and he is not like an insider.

The others who didn't come, except for Hamilton, couldn't even shoot.Tai Lun can shoot and won't get too much playing time, and can only be a marginal person.

Yang Rui arranged tasks to let everyone take time to practice long shots during the holiday, and determined the shooting point of the head coach, and announced the holiday.

The only good news is that Jordan didn't get angry at players, and the Wizards didn't have a three-point shooting point last season. The most accurate Hubert averaged 1.1 three-pointers per game, even if the shooting rate was as high as 45.2%, it was a drop in the bucket.

It's just practice, and the root cause of Jordan's anger last season was the Wizards' incessant losses.

On the way back to the hotel, D'Antoni said with some concern: "Jerry, it was easy for the Raptors to win the championship last season, relying on more shots from beyond the three-point line, which can attract defenses and help the stars create offensive opportunities. The Wizards' current lineup meets the opponent. If you shrink, it will definitely be difficult to fight, you have to find a way.”

Yang Rui nodded. "I know that if the regular season can improve the shooting percentage, it will be fine. Only two stable three-pointers are really a headache, but the lineup is best like this."

The two stable three-pointers are too much to say. Marshall’s three-point shooting rate was less than 40.8%, while the Raptors’ overall three-point shooting rate reached [-]% last year.

D'Antoni asked: "In addition to the trainer, there are only two of us on the team. Do you have to find another assistant coach? If you find a retired player who is good at shooting as an assistant coach, can you solve this problem and improve the team's strength? "

Yang Rui clapped his fists and said with a smile, "Mike, you're so right. It's a good idea to find someone to teach you how to shoot. Is there a choice?"

D'Antoni smiled: "Yes, Jeff Hornacek, I don't think there is a retired player who shoots better than him, and he is an acquaintance. He should be interested."

"Well, he is indeed the best candidate..." Yang Rui paused. "Mike, do you know any place that sells knee pads? There are also chest pads. If I go to Salt Lake City to ask him, I might be beaten."

"..."

Yang Rui took a deep breath. "Before going to Salt Lake City, let the scouts find out what Jeff has been up to lately and whether he is willing to be an assistant coach."

It is easy for the uniform team to find out about Hornacek's current situation, not doing any work and being idle at home.The Jazz had asked him to be the team's shooting coach, but he declined.

Yang Rui called Hornacek. "Jeff, how are you doing?"

"Hello Jerry, I'm fine."

"What have you been up to lately?"

"It's just the little things in life every day. I heard that you recently joined the Wizards. Are you looking for me for basketball?" Hornacek asked with a smile.

"Well, there is only one assistant coach Mike in the team. I need to find another assistant coach. Are you interested in working together again? Let's win the championship together." Yang Rui said straight to the point.

"I'm interested, but I have to ask my family if I want to go to Washington. I've only retired for two years." Hornacek smiled wryly.

The two chatted, and after retiring, Jeff Hornacek has not been idle.He was with his family in Salt Lake City, picking up his daughter to and from school.He also volunteered at children's basketball games and coached Abby's team.

In life, he has to clean up the backyard, garage and room at home; school is off, and he has to travel with his two children.He is too busy, much busier than he was when he retired. He can say NO to a lot of miscellaneous things while playing, but he can't now.

Hornacek complained: "If conditions permit, I really want to disappear for a month and have a good rest."

Yang Rui knew that there was a drama, and laughed: "Why don't you join the Wizards? I plan to lead the Wizards to win the championship in the next two years. As long as it is successful, I will often praise your role in the team. It will not take long for you to become a regular head coach. You're still young, there's no reason to retire so early, is housework your job? You're wasting your talent."

Hornacek thought for a while and smiled: "If you can convince Abby to transfer to live in Washington, I will join the Wizards. I don't know how to tell my family, especially when Abby is young."

"This... I have to think about it, there will be a way."

Hornacek couldn't play basketball, and now his father is still a coach. He stayed in Salt Lake City purely for his family.

Yang Rui knew that to get this done, he had to start with his family.

(End of this chapter)