'It's something we need to work on, I know it's going to take time to get used to a new tactical system, but one thing I ask you to do well before the start of the season, defending, it's an attitude that determines the effect compared to talent.

Stevens's tone was relatively calm in the past, but when he said this, his tone became serious.

It can be seen that he is using this way to emphasize what he said.

The most direct signal that the players can get is that the offense is not playing well, and it may be said that it is not good, but don't blame me for not doing well in defense.

The following time, Stevens began to explain the defense again.

And he's talking about systematic defense.

From the choice of defensive positions, to the mutual defense echo, and the defensive choices when dealing with different tactics.

Stevens' defensive tactical system is even more complex than the offensive system.

He's really a coach who takes defense very seriously.

"Nikolai, I know you didn't do well defensively last season, but I ask you to do well in the new season."

After explaining the tactics, Stevens also spoke to Jokic alone.

It's straightforward, but it also makes it clearer that everybody has to defend well.

Jokic nodded, having finally built muscle gain through a hellish summer, and now he's holding back his energy to prove himself on the court.

He may not be a defensive stalwart, but he will never be the one to hold the team back again.

His tough style on the field has shown that he is a very strong person in his bones.

After talking about the tactical system, Stevens went on to announce that the first day of training would be about defense.

Just like Tang Tian started with defense when he first entered the NBA, the first thing Stevens did was to improve the team's defense.

Last season, the Pelicans' defense relied more on individual defensive ability and motivation.

Among the Pelicans' starters, Davis, Ariza, Tang Tian, and Holiday are all absolute top defensive players in the league, and Biyombo and Aminu on the bench are also top-notch in the league.

Just by their ability, they also played a good defense.

Stevens' system is all about making their defense stronger.

After only one day of training, the players gained more self-confidence than they did in a season.

Tang Tian felt this change and was also a little excited.

He's a player now, unlike the coach of his last life, and even when Williams was in charge, he could only give tactical advice.

It's simply not realistic for him to use the Pelicans like a coach.

No matter how good a talkative manager is, he won't let you do that.

It's status.

But now that Stevens is here, this set of well-fitting tactical systems will really make a qualitative change in the strength of the Pelicans.

After the training session, the players hummed and shouted and walked to the locker room.

Stevens grabbed Davis alone.

"AD, when you are on the court, you have to do more off-ball moves on the offensive end, play to the flexibility of your big man, and vent your emotions reasonably after the defense is successful, that will help the team's morale."

Stevens is a small stove for Davis alone.

Tang Tian hadn't left at this time, and he nodded when he heard what Stevens said.

These are some very detailed things, but they do help Davis' performance.

The players returned to the locker room and took a shower one after another.

Tang Tian came out of the locker room after taking a shower and saw Stevens pulling Jokic alone and chatting.

"You have the ability to shoot three-pointers, you have to practice more in this area, and when you get a three-point opportunity in the game, you have to be decisive in your shot, you think of yourself as Ray Allen, as long as you shoot one or two shots, the opponent will not dare to shrink under the basket."

Tang Tian continued to nod when he heard this.

He suddenly felt that Stevens was like Popovich, who was thirty years younger, focusing on defense, having a systematic offense, and would know how to teach and make the best use of things like Davis and Jokic.

He's got some kind of treasure for the Pelicans.

Then, under the leadership of Stevens, the Pelicans were highly motivated to practice.

It's like being poured chicken soup every day.

Tang Tian saw this change in his eyes.

In the past, he was a coach and he coached a team that had this kind of atmosphere.

But the experience of being a coach and a player is completely different.

As a player, he was able to really be in that atmosphere and felt the excitement of the players being dealt with by a great tactical system.

Whether it's filling chicken soup or dealing with interpersonal relationships, it's not as good as one-tenth.

He can understand why Stevens in history can turn a group of role players from the Celtics into a playoff powerhouse, and he can understand the changes Popovich brought to the Spurs, and even why the Warriors can suddenly skyrocket.

That's the impact of a good coach.

The GDP is outstanding, Tatum Brown is very talented, and the Splash Brothers are also very talented, but without Popovich, Stevens, and Kerr, they may not be able to play like that.

Good coaches and players complement each other.

Because he used to be a coach, he felt that anyone could be a coach when he became a player, even if he had a say in the Pelicans, he didn't have any requirements for coaches.

But after a good coach, he found that the change was much more than he expected.

Now, he really thinks the Pelicans are going to make a splash in the new season.

Time flies, half a month has passed in a blink of an eye, and it has come to the beginning of October.

The NBA preseason is less than a week away.

After the Pelicans' half-month training camp, the offense has indeed not improved much.

As Stevens said, a complex tactical system cannot be built overnight.

But their defence has improved significantly from last season.

And as Stevens said, defense needs more than aggressiveness.

Of course, the defensive talent of these people is good enough.

Jokic's change is also pleased, although his physical limitations make it difficult for him to become a defensive stalwart like Whiteside.

But with his positivity and the changes he brought about by the summer muscle gains, he is no longer a leak in the team when defending alone.

Even against defenders, he has a certain chance of defensive success.

And the defensive system created by Stevens protects him very well.

Even players like Thomas Jr. and Irving can be protected in Stevens' system, let alone Jokic.

In this day's training session, Jokic gave Aminu a big hat on the defensive and roared excitedly after the end.

Just like his roar, the Pelicans are already a little eager for the new season!

ps: It's three shifts today, and it will be updated normally tomorrow, and the commander of the guarantee remembers to vote for the monthly ticket, Momoda.