basketball pope

Chapter 52 [Tough guy wants to take a break? 】

In the locker room, Van Gundy said solemnly: "Jerry, come to the press conference with me in a while. I plan to tell the media that it is your idea to reuse the bench. You can win the game today, and you deserve the most credit."

Yang Rui smiled. Although Van Gundy is stubborn, he also has many advantages.

First of all, he is a workaholic. He often eats and sleeps in the arena. Everything he does has a great influence on the players.

Second, he is chivalrous.

In Yang Rui's previous life, on May 1998, 5, the Knicks had a conflict with the Heat players, and Van Gundy ran into the field for the first time to fight.In order to protect the players, he hugged Mourning's thigh in a desperate situation, and was dragged several meters away from the floor by the mighty Mourning.Since then, Van Gundy has been nicknamed "The Hammock".

On January 2001, 1, in the Knicks game against the Spurs, Camby was stabbed by Spurs forward Ferry with his hand.In a rage, Camby rushed towards Ferry at the recording table, but when he was about to punch, Van Gundy had stopped between the two. As a result, Camby punched in the air and his iron head firmly touched. On Van Gundy's left eye socket.In the end, the Knicks beat the Spurs, but Van Gundy had 15 stitches in his injured left eye.

Now Van Gundy has not made a heroic feat of pulling the frame, but he is also loyal enough.He dares to take responsibility when he loses, and he won't take the credit for himself when he wins.

Yang Rui asked with a smile, "Is there anything I should pay attention to? What can't I say?"

"Low-key, the question about grades is vague." Van Gundy sighed.

Without Yang Rui, he would never have dared to use rookies like this. The results of the game were unexpected. The Knicks won very simply, and the rookies also had many bright spots.

The press conference became a compliment meeting.Van Gundy praised Yang Rui, and players Atkins, Ewing, and Houston praised even more.

"Jerry is my spiritual mentor. He taught me how to play the ball correctly, give full play to my strengths and make up for my weaknesses." Atkins, who scored a career-high 22 points in 25 minutes, is very grateful to Yang Rui. verbal expression.

If Atkins was born in the Ming Dynasty, he would definitely build a shrine for Yang Rui and call him nine thousand years old...

Van Gundy was embarrassed at the press conference.I really want to ask Atkins, is he the head coach or am I the head coach?
Many reporters interviewed Yang Rui, most of whom asked boring tactical questions.

Yang Rui answered easily, without saying anything arrogant, nor showing pride or complacency.They are only a quarter into the season, and they have yet to secure the top spot in the regular season.

Focusing on offense, the Knicks started winning again, beating the 76ers, Pistons, and Cavaliers one after another.After winning 4 games in a row, the Knicks will challenge the Bucks back to back.

The coaching staff held a meeting on the morning of the 21st, and there were serious differences. Yang Rui proposed that the core take a rest for the entire game.

"Have Patrick rested, this is not a fight? He's not hurt because he's back-to-back? Are you crazy?" Van Gundy asked.

Yang Rui said sternly: "I'm not crazy, I just want to give Patrick a break. He played too long yesterday."

Ewing played 38 minutes and scored 28 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 blocks in a quasi-triple-double, which was very eye-catching.However, in order to prevent "Big Z" Ilgauskas and "Rain Man" Sean Camp, Ewing spent a lot of physical strength.The Knicks won 104-97, and it wasn't easy.

Van Gundy hummed: "If you tell Patrick, he will definitely be angry and won't agree to rest."

"I can talk to him and convince him to rest. Otherwise, he will not be efficient in this game. Don't forget that his stats this season are very important. After two days of rest, he will be in the best condition when he returns to the home court to play the Mavericks. . Then the Christmas break took four days to play a game, which is his protection." Yang Rui explained.

"You think of him too fragile. He is the core of the team. Have you forgotten that the Knicks label is iron-blooded? You don't dare to play back-to-back games. What kind of tough guy?" Van Gundy did not give in.

Yang Rui knew that, in any case, Ewing could not take risks in this game.

In his previous life, on Dec. 12 against the Bucks, Ewing suffered a career-destroying injury.

Bucks 2.7 points and 2.7 rebounds per game backup center Andrew - Long to prevent Ewing from catching the ball, shoved him from behind.

Ewing fell to the ground and fractured his right wrist. Along with torn ligaments, his bones even pierced the skin. One of the four center forwards, he was abandoned by a poor guy.

After Ewing's surgery, the recovery period was long, and his right wrist was unable to fully move for a long time. Even if he rehabilitated with determination and returned to the court next season, he also lost his precise jumper.

Yang Rui has seen that things have "historical inertia" and knows that the Bucks center Andrew Lang is not a good thing.

"Jeff, I suggest calling the management and asking them what they think. Our goal is not to break the Bulls' 72-win record in the regular season. As long as we take the top spot, Patrick's data is enough." Yang Rui made a big move. , take advantage.

Xibodu was silent for a while and decided to side with Yang Rui.

"Jeff, I also recommend calling management, if Patrick is tired in this game, the numbers will drop. The Bucks' Ervin Johnson is a big man who is good at defense."

The two assistant coaches said so, and Van Gundy was reluctant and unable to do it alone and called Ernie Grunfeld to report to work.

Ernie listened to the narration, thinking about it in less than five seconds. "Then let Patrick have a truce. The Mavericks are the underdogs on the 23rd. That game will increase Patrick's playing time and help him brush the data."

"Will this affect Patrick's image?" Van Gundy said: Boss, you promised too simply, right?Does the coaching staff have the final say on Jerry?

Ernie smiled and said: "This is easy to handle, I will contact the media to publicize that Patrick has always had a knee injury. This is very uncomfortable, so he can't play with the injury. In addition to his knee, he has to endure a bone spur in his right foot... No Some people say he's soft, it's okay to take a break."

Van Gundy was speechless, and management cared about Ewing's numbers.

This is the most basic means of publicity. In the future, there will be stars who will pierce their shoes with bone spurs, walk on crutches, and basically say goodbye to bicycles, but they can play for nearly 40 minutes when they are on the court. Pass the ball to an able-bodied teammate.

Van Gundy hung up the phone and sighed: "Jerry, you won, Ernie agreed to take a rest, you are responsible for convincing Patrick."

"No problem, thank you." Yang Rui smiled.

Xibodu also laughed. He is now on the same front as Yang Rui, thinking that Yang Rui's decision is all right, and the record speaks for itself.When it came to taking a break, Thibodeau wrote it down in the coaching experience notebook when he was going to go home, and learned a new trick.

During lunch, Yang Rui invited Ewing out to chat alone.

Ewing was really tired. He played 30 minutes per game to ensure efficiency, but he averaged more than 35 minutes per game. As soon as he heard that he was taking a break to ensure data, he immediately agreed.

To say who cares most about data and honor, it is naturally the parties involved.Tough guy Ewing, for the first time in his career, was rested for brushing data!
PS
(End of this chapter)