Chris. Paul's three-game suspension and $25,000 fine became the hottest topic of the game. George. The war of words between Carl, an old rascal, and Henson, a new-age rogue, has also intensified.

Even Javier. McGee, a stupid big man, received a harsher five-game ban for actively causing trouble, but that still didn't quell Henson's anger. McGee and Paul are not athletes of the same level and have different importance on the team. Can McGee's absence and Paul's absence be equal?

Of course, the most serious impact on Henson was not the anger, but the rotation problem that Paul would have to face in his absence.

In this regard, many Oklahoma fans are reminded of the experience of being deceived by Henson in the finals last season.

"During last season's Finals, Coach Henson claimed that Paul would be unavailable due to injury, but it turned out to be a lie. Well, now Coach Henson's 'dream' has come true, and Chris. Paul really can't play. ”

"Chris. Paul was banned for three games by the league, and I'm going to see how Coach Henson gets Chris this time. Paul 'raised the dead from the dead'. ”

"Don't forget, last season's Finals were 4-1 overall, and the only time the Pacers lost to the Thunder was because they lost Chris. Paul. ”

There was no doubt that Paul was suspended, and the Thunder fans became the happiest party. On the Internet, countless Oklahoma fans have begun to gloat, waiting for a return to last season's vengeance at the Chesapeake Energy Arena.

This national live broadcast game, which was already in the spotlight, was also because of Chris. Paul's absence...... And it has become more popular.

Because everybody wants to know that without Chris. Paul, Henson. How Joe will respond to the Thunder's comeback!

And this is also the reason why Henson is having a headache now.

This season, the weakest link in the Pacers' personnel pool is the No. 1 position. In addition to Chris. Outside of Paul, there is only one pure point guard like D.J. Augustin. Normally, "Funny Phifenson" is the No. 1 spot in the rotation, and Augustin has rarely played with the Pacers this season.

Therefore, in the next game against the Thunder, Henson will definitely not be able to use Augustine to control the overall situation and take risks. Take Augustine to play against Westbrook? Just thinking about it, Henson felt miserable.

But with Stephenson to play a full game of starting PG? It doesn't seem quite appropriate either. How effective is Stephenson playing point guard, scoring time period. It's okay to rotate the lineup to play, and it's okay to fight randomly, but it's definitely not calm enough as the main control.

Yes, Paul also missed a game last season due to family reasons, and the Pacers won that game without a hitch. But don't forget, last season's New York Knicks and now the Oklahoma City Thunder are not teams at the same level. Without Paul, the Pacers can win the Knicks, but it doesn't mean they can also win the Thunder.

And Paul. George, Danny. Green and others are even more unsuitable to play point guard than Stephenson...... To that end, Henson even gave himself a roster of free agents to the market.

But on second thought, there's no player in the free agent market right now who can be the Pacers' main handler. Players in other positions are injured or suspended, and they can also call for "firefighters" for help. But the special position of the No. 1 position, as the brain of the team, is not replaced by the role of "firefighter".

Since coming out of Bird's office, Henson has been thinking about hiring people. Last season, there was still a Hinrich who could be used, but this season he can't even get a backup.

Augustin's defense made Henson feel uneasy, and Stephenson's consistency made Henson uneasy. Come to think of it, only Paul is the most perfect.

Well..... Maybe Stephenson and Augustine weren't as bad as they thought, but it's just a little unfair to compare them to Paul. After all, how many point guards in this league can meet Paul's standards?

So, in the training session the day before the game began, Henson gritted his teeth and stomped his foot to confirm the Pacers' starting No. 1 spot.

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"We've done this before, but only for a few rounds once in a while...... You're still too bold to ask him to do that all the time. "On the sidelines, watching the players rehearse for tomorrow's game, Vogel couldn't help but be a little worried.

"Theoretically, this arrangement is fine, but I'm afraid that the Thunder's defense will make it difficult for us to run out of the open space. The most important point of your method is that the off-ball attacker has to run to get a chance. Otherwise, the offensive will turn into a pool of stagnant water. Stevens was half in favor and half against.

"There's no other way, won't the Thunder's Westbrook not organize an offense? You see, they are still the first in the west. Henson clasped his hands, and although he was talking to his two assistants, his eyes never took off the players who were training.

"That's because Westbrook doesn't need to play with the ball at all." Vogel sighed.

"We're the same, we don't have to use Chris every time. Paul went to organize the attack. Oklahomians can't wait for us to pass. There's no going back, guys. Become a god or lose the game! And," Henson said mysteriously, glancing at Vogel and Stephenson, "I have a backup plan for that." ”

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Become a god or lose. With such a determination to win, Henson was in Oklahoma in Will. Landing at Rogers International Airport.

No sooner had the Pacers players walked out than reporters with microphones poured in from all directions.

Wearing sunglasses and headphones around his neck, Henson didn't pay any attention to the reporters. Even when the reporters put the microphone to his mouth, he only cared about his own way.

The only unusual scene that the reporters found was when Henson patted Al Henson before he boarded the team bus. Horford's shoulder.

Of course, for journalists, this is nothing at all. But for Henson and Horford, it was all because an hour earlier, there had been a brief conversation between the two.

In the eyes of most Pacers players, Henson is a very special head coach. It's not just because of the way he coaches or his background, but because Henson has grown up pretty much with this group of players.

The Pacers players watched the scout who picked them step by step to become head coach, and that feeling of growing together is not something they can experience with other coaches.

As a result, the Pacers' players are more trusting and obedient to Henson. Most importantly, they love to communicate with Henson about anything.

"Scared? What are you afraid of? "That's why Henson will take the name from Al. Horford, an All-Star center, heard the word fear.

"If I mess up later, ...... The other side is the champion of the West after all. ”

"So you're scared of this. Don't think so much, Al. I know that tomorrow's task will be very heavy for you. But it is precisely because I think you are competent that I have entrusted such an important matter to you. There's nothing to be afraid of, we just beat them six months ago to lift the O'Brien Cup. ”

"Hmmm......"

"Hey, listen to Al. You've got the ability, you're an All-Star caliber player, you're our center! Phew, throw the frame of the center away. You're one of our top players, and it's like no one was looking forward to you pulling out and shooting three-pointers, and what happened? Your tactical role is enriched by this. This time it was the same, no one said what the centre-forward had to do, forget about those stereotypes. ”

"Okay, boss, I'll do my best."

Conversations between men usually don't need to be long, but they tend to be very efficient.

Since the Pacers arrived in Oklahoma on the day of the game, after a short break at noon, Henson led the team to the Chesapeake Energy Arena three hours early.

In normal games, there will be no one outside the arena three hours before the start of the game. But today, Henson found the Oklahoma fans enthusiastic. Some of them also held all kinds of signs in their hands.

The contents of these signs vary, but they all boil down to one sentence: "Fuck the walkers, you're going to die in Oklahoma without a place to be buried!" ”

Thunder fans cheered enthusiastically outside the arena as if they had already begun to celebrate the game victory in advance.

In addition to the fans, local journalists were undoubtedly very excited. Everyone knew how much the loss of Paul would affect the Pacers, so they all couldn't wait to get a picture of Henson, who was always beaming, grimacing.

However, as always, Henson didn't let anyone who hated him get his wish.

This guy not only had a sad face, but even a relaxed face.

"What do you think of this game? Snake eyes. First, George. Carl is a son of a bitch bastard. Second, the Thunder fans rejoiced too soon. ”

Henson smiled and nodded, then closed the locker room door.

A plan, a B plan, Henson is ready for anything. No Chris. Does Paul mean that the Pacers can't win? Then you are underestimating the defending champions.