Chapter 19 - New season begins
When Tang Tian returned to the Rockets and started preparing for the new season, there was some unpleasantness between Yao Ming and the national team. The national team did not agree with his request to participate only in world-class competitions. Yao Ming’s original plan to play in the World Championships has also failed.
The Chinese men’s basketball team without Yao Ming played in the Japan World Championships. As a result, they lost all five games in the group stage, averaging 30+ losses per game, ranked first among all teams, creating the worst record in the World Championships and a complete defeat. .
After the end of the World Championships, the basketball director in charge of the basketball management center was transferred away, and the director of the basketball association was forced to resign.
The newly-appointed director of the Basketball Association first found Yao Ming, and the two sides finally reached an agreement. In summary, it is a sentence. As long as Yao Ming is willing to play in world-class events, everything is easy to say.
As Tang Tian said, there is no one in China’s men’s basketball team, but Yao Ming is irreplaceable.
Failing to reach the World Championships is a bit regrettable for Yao Ming, but it is a great thing for the Rockets.
This is Yao Ming’s first offseason since he joined the Rockets.
Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady returned from injury and both went to the arena to train a month in advance.
随着 As players successively arrived at the Toyota Center, the Rockets’ preseason roster has gradually surfaced.
Centers: Yao Ming, Dikembe Mutombo, Chuck Hayes.
Power forwards: Juwan Howard, Bunge Wells, Paul Millsap, Ryan Bowen.
Small forwards: Tracy McGrady, Kirk Snyder, Scott Padgett, Steve Novak, Cassie Jacobson.
Shooting guards: Sean Battier, Luther Hyde, Vassil Spanoris.
Point guards: Raf Alston, John Lucas III, Jose Barria, Bob Sura.
名单 A total of 20 people’s congress list, because Sula has been in a state of injury and illness, in fact, 18 people fight for the 14 people’s congress list.
Among them, Ryan Bowen, Scott Padgett, Cassie Jacobson, and Jose Barria are all unsecured contracts and are the four most likely to be laid off.
The first opponent of the Rockets’ preseason game was the Minnesota Timberwolves.
In the preseason, although Tang Tian was the first assistant coach, but just like Thibodeau’s position in the summer league, he just made suggestions, and it was Van Gundy who led.
森林 The main point of attack for this Timberwolves team is the post. Garnett and Mark Blunt both post players like to play their backs. In response to this feature, Tang Tian proposed a strategy to play faster, but was not adopted by Van Gundy.
In the game, he still gave Yao Ming and McGrady the freedom to attack as they did last season, letting them take turns inside and outside to play singles.
The strength of the Timberwolves is weaker than the Rockets, and the Rockets took the advantage in the first half.
But in the second half, Garnett fully defended Yao Ming, Yao Ming played a few times without success, McGrady anxious to attack, the feel also fell sharply.
In the end, the Rockets unexpectedly lost the first game of the preseason 81-90. Millsap and Novak, who performed well in the summer league, did not get playing time.
This situation is still going on. The Rockets faced the Pistons in the second leg. Facing an iron barrel opponent, Van Gundy still insisted on his strategy. As a result, the team scored less than 70 and suffered a 66-82 defeat to the opponent. Two-game losing streak in the preseason.
In the third game, against Yuyu and the Trail Blazers who also played in the Summer League, the combination of Yao Ming and Uncle Huo took Randolph and there was not much to do. The two consecutive high-time McGrady games revealed that Tired, only 6 of 23 shots, the Rockets also lost opponents 81-83.
After encountering strong rivals Spurs and Cavaliers, the Rockets also lost successively. Only against the Eagles, Barria, a fringe man, suddenly broke down and scored 20 points to help the team win a victory.
In the last game, weary McGrady and Yao Ming both ended the truce. Millsap and Novak got performance opportunities, scored 16 points and 9 points respectively, but the team defeated Anthony led the Nuggets 77-108.
In the end, the Rockets ended the preseason journey with 1 win and 6 losses. Although there are many opponents, the Rockets’ performance is hardly satisfactory.
The offense, which has been criticized in the past few years, has become increasingly fierce.
After the preseason, the NBA official also announced the new season strength rankings, the Rockets ranked 12th in the West, UU Kanshu www.uukanshu.com 23rd in the league.
Although Yao Mai returned to health, the poor performance of the preseason made the officials very pessimistic about them.
随着 With the Rockets’ losing streak, the American media, which has been stunned for a few months, can finally raise its eyebrows and exhale.
“The worst decision of the Rockets offseason, it turned out that the fired former first assistant coach Nick Ward was the key point of their offense. Without his Rockets’ offensive constipation, the newly joined Tang Tiangeng Is useless. “
“The Rockets’ Summer League win proved their vision of the draft, helping that team win Millsap and Novak, but has little to do with the team’s coach Tang Tian.”
“Fortunately, you can make a moment, but you can’t stand the test of time. Maybe a senior executive of the Rockets should be anxious.”
Uh …
All of a sudden, American media criticized Tang Tiankou, and a storm of public opinion swept over Houston.
It’s not just the media, it’s the Rockets that are also heart-warming and complaining.
During the preseason, only 12 players were allowed to play in the 19-man roster. This was counted on the occasion of Yao Mai ’s double truce. This arrangement made those role players feel particularly unfair.
The new season has not officially started yet, the Rockets are already in a situation of internal and external problems.
Rockets general manager Dawson also put pressure on the Rockets management, sitting on the double giants but played such a bad performance, he does not want to leave the biggest stain on his career before he retires.
Under pressure, Van Gundy was forced to organize an internal meeting.
对象 The targets of this meeting include the coaches Van Gundy, Tang Tian and Thibodeau, general manager Dawson, player representatives McGrady, Yao Ming and Shane Battier.