NBA: Duncan feels uneasy coaching Warriors

Chapter 230 Clippers’ new lineup

Two days later.

Both Rondo and Jeff Green completed their physical examinations and came to the team to report.

Both joined in the training that day.

The two of them are in good shape. Jeff Green is very motivated and works hard to integrate into the team.

Suchen doesn't have any thoughts about Jeff Green. After all, he has changed more than ten teams, and every team is a conscientious type who has no complaints.

But Rondo's state is a little different.

During today's training match, it was obvious that Lillard was the official starter for this team.

And Rondo also knew Su Chen's coaching style. Although he had different systems, Su Chen never came up with a traditional point guard system.

Trading away Paul at the beginning of the season is the best proof.

But Rondo doesn't understand. Since Su Chen doesn't play the traditional point guard system at all, what's the point of calling him by name?

Rest time after training.

"Would you like to come to my office and chat?"

Su Chen smiled and extended an invitation to Rondo.

Rondo was stunned for a moment, but still nodded in agreement.

No matter what, Su Chen is the head coach and president of this team. He is the one who really made Su Chen angry and suffered even more.

Maybe Su Chen can't just sit on the bench for Lillard for a season, after all, it was traded with the team boss as a bargaining chip.

But Rondo also knows his worth, so he just changed Clarkson or Dinwiddie. After all, it is rumored that Su Chen wants a striker, so Jeff Green must be worth a good price.

In the final analysis, he was just one of Clarkson and Dinwiddie who was used as a bargaining chip. The Clippers, who were stacked at the back, had one of them slowly failing to play.

Although Rondo was unhappy, if he had a falling out with Su Chen, it would be easy for him to lose his worth.

CEO's office.

"sit."

After Su Chen reached his position, he signaled to Rondo.

Rondo found a seat and sat down.

"Rondo, I know what you are thinking. Do you think you can't be in the starting lineup?"

Su Chen asked Rondo first.

"I think it's obvious from today's training position and the situation of the team."

Rondo also doesn't mince words and speaks directly when he has something to say.

"I really can't guarantee you a starting position, but we will hit the championship in the playoffs, and you are an important piece of the puzzle."

"If Lillard causes us to lose, then you will replace him. Are you willing to temporarily accept a substitute status for the championship?"

Su Chen slapped Rondo directly.

Hearing Su Chen's words made Rondo hesitate.

"I've done it in the past two seasons. It depends on whether you believe it or not. If you don't believe it and don't accept the role of substitute, I won't make it difficult for you."

"As long as it doesn't affect the team's ability to win, I will still give you playing time and try to trade to a team you want to go to next season."

Seeing Rondo hesitate, Su Chen gave him another pie painting.

What Su Chen said is also very straightforward. He has given Rondo enough respect. Whether he wants this respect or not depends on Rondo himself.

However, Rondo was stunned for a moment when he said this, as if Su Chen could win if he wanted to.

Instead, it seemed like he didn't want to win and was holding the team back.

Su Chen's words were beautiful, but his meaning was also very straightforward. If you can accept the substitute, then play well.

If he doesn't accept a substitute, then don't think about how much playing time he will have. He will be traded next season.

As for saying that he would try his best to trade to whichever team he wants to go to, that's a bit nonsense.

To put it bluntly, you have to have the right chips.

"Winning has always been my goal, so why not if there is a better way to substitute?"

Rondo thought for a while and then said.

Su Chen was not surprised at all by Rondo's answer.

Rondo's impression on the outside world has always been that he is unruly and unruly, and no one is convinced.

But in fact, after moving to the Bulls in the 16th season, Rondo has accepted the role of substitute and has been working hard.

Rondo and Paul, good brothers, actually have the biggest conflict here. Pao pays more attention to personal interests while Rondo just wants to win.

If a player has the same view on the championship, no matter how unruly he is, at least it can be discussed.

Regardless of their personalities.

After all, Paul is more valuable. If he causes trouble, it will be a huge blow to the team.

Rondo is almost a rookie replacement. If Rondo wants to cause trouble, even if he is on the bench, it will not affect him at all.

On the contrary, it is precisely because of problems with Rondo's character that Rondo's value has become lower, and he can be exchanged for the price of a rookie.

Rondo's cost-effectiveness is too high, and his actual ability is much higher than his value.

After chatting casually with Rondo for a while, Rondo consciously went to the gym to train.

At this time, the Clippers' season lineup can basically be determined.

Clippers starting lineup: Nikola Jokic (C), Nicolas Batum (PF), Paul George (SF), Reggie Jackson (SG), Damian Lillard (PG)

Clippers bench lineup: Clint Capela (C), Kyle Anderson (PF), Marcus Morris (SF), Jeff Green (SF), Torrey Craig (SF), Jay Ramy Grant (SF) Rajon Rondo (PG)

There are some other water-cooler members on the roster, but Su Chen hasn't been included yet, so that doesn't matter.

Su Chen is quite satisfied with the current lineup.

You can keep this starting position in the regular season, and then in the playoffs, you need the support of a forward to put Morris up as the starting lineup.

Or whoever performs well among Anderson, Craig, and Grant will start.

In fact, the three positions of PF, SF and SG in this lineup are relatively blurred.

Jackson and Lillard can guest star as SG, and even George can guest star as SG.

As for SF and PF, there is no specific distribution. The team now has a lot of forwards, many of whom can play SF or PF.

Except for the two relatively clear positions of PG and C, the Clippers do not have many other specific positions.

Su Chen no longer wants to make too many changes to this lineup.

I'll probably make it to the playoffs with this lineup.

Minnesota.

Target Center Arena.As the defending champion, the Timberwolves' record at this time ranks fifth in the Western Conference, which seems a little embarrassing.

Compared with last season, as the defending champion Timberwolves, the turnover of personnel is actually not too big.

Except for Luol Deng, who was poached, the Timberwolves retained most of their championship lineup.

It is worth mentioning that after Rivers was refused a contract extension by the Clippers, the Timberwolves extended an olive branch to recruit the former championship coach.

As a small ball market, the Timberwolves are still not attractive in the free market even if they win the championship.

There are no capable veterans with basic salaries to invest, and no famous coaches taking the initiative to apply for vacant coaching positions.

If Rivers hadn't agreed to coach the Timberwolves, then this summer, the Timberwolves would probably hire an experienced coach with a mediocre record.

Although Rivers is often scolded by fans, in fact, Rivers' ability to maintain the minimum limit is not bad, and it is not without reason that he was selected as a top fifteen coach.

In addition to the Celtics' Big Three, Rivers' coaching of the civilian lineup is considered top-notch.

Rivers has his way.

But Rivers only has one set.

Regardless of whether the team is a superstar team or a civilian team, their records are similar.

Unless they are as crushing as the Celtics' Big Three.

It can be said that he is a coach with a high lower limit and a low upper limit.

In fact, Rivers also had his own ideas when joining the Timberwolves. Since Su Chen took away his team, he would use Su Chen's former team to win it back.

Moreover, he also felt that the overall lineup of the Timberwolves was very suitable for his coaching style, so when the Timberwolves invited Rivers, he agreed without much hesitation.

However, the current performance of the Timberwolves is the same as that of Rivers' career, which seems to be neither up nor down.

By this time both teams had entered the field.

Su Chen returned to Minnesota. When he returned to the court, most of the Timberwolves fans on the court gave Su Chen applause.

Minnesota fans are just forgiving.

Unless he was like Butler later, who made trouble when he was on the team and then made various remarks against the team.

Garnett, who left the team, returned to this land, and Rubio, who had been wandering for a long time, returned to this arena and was cheered and applauded.

Compared with Garnett, Suchen at least brought this city the first championship in team history.

Even though Su Chen went to the Clippers, a large number of fans in the arena gave Su Chen respectful applause.

This made Rivers feel a little uncomfortable.

Not only the team that stole him, but also the fans of the current team are biased towards him.

What made Rivers even more unhappy was that his players didn't even warm up and went to hug Suchen and reminisce about old times.

Do you still have him as the head coach in your eyes?
However, with so many cameras, Rivers couldn't get angry and could only stand on the sidelines with his arms folded.

After reminiscing for a while, the players went to warm up.

Now that everyone is an opponent, naturally we still have to go all out.

After warming up for a while, the game is about to begin.

Timberwolves starting lineup: Serge Ibaka (C), Giannis Antetokounmpo (PF), Andre Iguodala (SF), Jimmy Butler (SG), Patrick Bay Foley (PG)

Clippers starting lineup: Nikola Jokic (C), Nicolas Batum (PF), Marcus Morris (SF), Paul George (SG), Damian Lillard ( PG)

In the Timberwolves' lineup, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Butler's status is relatively stable.

Although Giannis Antetokounmpo seemed like he didn't know how to play at the beginning of this season, after all, Giannis Antetokounmpo has proven himself in the playoffs.

Rivers also patiently gave him adjustments. Now Giannis Antetokounmpo has returned to some form, but it is still far behind last season.

On the other hand, Butler has not changed much. Although his skills have increased less, this is offset by Butler's increase in goals during the offseason.

This season Butler has the intention of becoming the team leader.

However, compared to Su Chen who likes to use Butler as a point guard and come up with a five-forward combination, Rivers does not like to use Butler who is biased towards scoring ability to play point guard.

But Beverley's organizational skills haven't been developed yet, so it's more up to Butler to complete the scoring task. Beverley's so-called organization is to carry the ball through half the court.

As for the Clippers' lineup, Su Chen made certain changes.

Suchen knows the Timberwolves too well. Giannis Antetokounmpo is just a second-year rookie, so he doesn't need to pay too much attention to Batum's one-on-one defense.

Even last season, Giannis Antetokounmpo, who had fixed ability values, was used, but his efficiency plummeted after the Trail Blazers used Batum's defense.

The rookie second-year Giannis Antetokounmpo is more than enough for Batum to handle.

The most critical thing for the Cavaliers is Butler. It seems a bit difficult for Reggie's defense to defend Butler, so George should be left to defend.

With this lineup, Su Chen felt that it was quite able to suppress the Timberwolves.

Ibaka's low-post defensive ability is still fresh in Su Chen's memory.

Due to Ibaka's weak lower body strength, Duncan Sr. was able to score points on Ibaka when he played with the Spurs last season.

And Jokic's tonnage plus his back-up skills, as well as the fixed ability skills given by Su Chen, are enough for Ibaka.

At the same time, Beverley's independent offensive ability is weak, and Lillard will not be too broken.

Even if you want to name Lillard, Beverley and Iguodala's three-point accuracy, you may not be able to consistently name Lillard.

Although Beverley is very capable in single defense, the core of the Clippers is Jokic, not Lillard.

Jokic attracts the defense and can naturally assist Lillard or other teammates.

The development of the game at this time is similar to the plan formulated by Su Chen.

It's very difficult for Butler to attack George. He doesn't get it every time he wants to name Lillard, and he wastes attack time by clicking here and there.

At the same time, since Giannis Antetokounmpo has no shooting ability, Batum can perform some sweeping defense in the interior.

In addition, Batum has serious forward agility. It is not easy to attract Batum's defense and assist Giannis Antetokounmpo inside.

Giannis Antetokounmpo wants to storm Batum, which is also inefficient.

Batum has a way of defending this kind of breakthrough power forward.

Giannis Antetokounmpo who doesn't shoot, and Towns who can shoot, it's very difficult to beat Batum.

Ibaka also doesn't have the ability to attack Jokic. Although Jokic doesn't seem to be very defensive, it's not easy to beat Jokic in the paint.

Ibaka standing in the bottom corner, not to mention how much of a threat he can pose to Jokic.

On the contrary, Jokic succeeded on the offensive end, frequently beating Ibaka in isolation.

This made Rivers a little anxious and arranged for Giannis Antetokounmpo and two strikers to help defend.

But what Jokic is waiting for is help in defense.

No matter how tricky the defensive angle is, Jokic can find the Timberwolves' current flaw through the gaps.

Batum, Morris, and George got open three-point shots one after another.

(End of this chapter)