"Antetokounmpo's performance in the Spanish league...... It's very average. We're not going to be a little too excited. Silas walked into Henson's office with a copy of the data from Austin, which of course was owned by the Spanish league.

Henson took the data and looked at it, compared to the Greek second division, the level of the Spanish league is undoubtedly much higher. But there is no doubt that the level of the NBA is not comparable anywhere. But even so, Antetokounmpo's stats are pretty average.

He averaged 9.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.0 blocks and 0.7 steals per game while shooting 46.4% from the field and 31.2% from three-point range. There is really nothing to note about such a guy thrown into Europe. After all, if a European player can't play at a dominant level over there, the chances of becoming a talent in the NBA are very slim.

However, instead of being disappointed when Henson looked at Antetokounmpo's stats, he nodded in satisfaction.

"It's not bad, it's not as bad as you say. How old is this guy? Born in '94, that is, he has just come of age. You have to know that he is not playing in the youth team, but in the official professional league. So, his performance is actually okay. And if you look at the data, it's very comprehensive. We can score, we can grab rebounds, we can defend, and we have a poor shot, but we don't have Frazier. Shooting is the easiest technical move to practice, but height and arm span can't be practiced. ”

Henson is well aware that the rookies and youngsters should not be judged by his immediacy but by his probability.

"So, we'll decide it's him in next year's draft?"

"Of course not, whether or not he can be selected is another matter. It's just that he's one of our main targets. Forget it, there's still half a year before the draft starts, let's not talk about the draft now, how is Paul's state? ”

Henson said, tossing the report onto the table and shifting the conversation from the future to the present.

Yesterday, at the Bankers' Life Arena, facing the Philadelphia 76ers, who were not strong, the defending champion Pacers unexpectedly lost the game.

No tactic in this world is a one-size-fits-all game, and Henson's "Death Defence" lineup is no exception. In the final moments of yesterday's game, when Henson sacrificed his death lineup, 76ers veteran coach Doug Brown. Collins made a surprise move to make Thaddeus . Yang and Spencer. Hawes's two interior shots with good shooting ability served as the main point of attack, just avoiding the Pacers' defensive strength.

It's no secret that Henson's lineup of death is aimed at the opposition's outside offense, not the interior offense. Therefore, Doug. Collins undoubtedly avoided the other's merits with his own merits. He focused on the two longs and made the Pacers' luxurious perimeter defensive chain a fixture.

Hawes and Thaddeus. Young and the others also lived up to the coach's hopes, with the former hitting two consecutive three-pointers, plus the latter's three mid-range shots, helping the 76ers to an unexpected victory.

It can be seen that the role of the spatial interior line in this league is becoming more and more important today, and even the 76ers have learned this. 98-95, the 76ers, who were swept by the Pacers in the first round of last season's playoffs, managed to regain a little face, and the 76ers players celebrated and cheered wildly on the court as if they had won the O'Brien Cup.

No way, an unexpected victory is a surprise. The 76ers originally came with the determination to "die", but they were able to go home with victory, can they not be excited?

But at the same time, people were surprised to find out. It's already halfway through December, and this is the second game the Pacers have lost this season! 21-2, in the face of such an exaggerated record, an ordinary regular season defeat seems to be not enough to worry about.

So, the loss didn't have much impact on the Pacers, and no journalists with brains would come forward and make a big fuss about it. Even if they lose, they're still the best, and there's nothing more domineering than that.

And the most critical point why people are not very concerned about this loss is that after this game, Chris . Paul is finally coming back!

"I'm excited, even though it's only been three games, I feel like I've been away for a long time. To be honest, I can't wait to get back into the game. ”

These are the words Paul said in an interview with the media after the game against the 76ers. You see, no one cares why the 76ers won and why the Pacers lost. People have long been looking at Chris. Paul.

That's why there's the question Henson asked Silas just now.

With three games away, Henson's biggest concern now is Paul's form.

Since the players are now training individually, they have their own trainers with them. So at this time, Henson is usually tinkering with his own business in the office. It wasn't until the afternoon of tactical drills and confrontational training that it was time for Henson to play.

"Chris. Paul's state? That guy's state is like the expression on Leonard's face, it will never change! ”

Hearing Silas's answer, Henson nodded in satisfaction. The core is back, and then the Pacers should go on a killing spree.

December 16, Motor City Detroit. The Pistons are as dilapidated as this dilapidated city, and it seems that there is no hope of rising.

This season, the Pistons have the lowest attendance in the league and are not even as good as the Cleveland Cavaliers. With no big-name stars, no outstanding records, and no fans willing to pay for them, the original iron-blooded Pistons have become a "three-no team".

Today, however, Auburn Hills Palace Stadium saw a season-high attendance due to the star stars of both the away and away teams.

"Chris. Paul's comeback game has received unprecedented attention, with the Pacers losing to the Philadelphia 76ers in their last game. Hopefully, today, Chris. Paul will not let the tragedy happen again. ”

Before the start of the game, Kevin . Harlan named the highlights of the game. So the reporter who interviewed Henson on the sidelines also asked Henson similar questions on this topic.

"Upset?" Henson stared at the camera. Didn't say anything, just smiled and shook his head, and left.

It means a lot.

The Pistons players were also very excited today, and they certainly didn't want to be a foil to Paul and the Pacers, so they played very hard after the opening. Monroe opened the game with a dunk, and Starkey then responded with a three-pointer. And then what? Then the game went to Chris. Paul's performance moment.

Long balls on the ground, passes, small throws, pull-up layups, three-point shots...... The players of the Pistons are excited, and Paul, who has expired his suspension, is even more excited than them!

With Paul, the Pacers' offense has been reborn. Horford is a great playmaker, but he's not as good as Paul.

With the precedent of the 76ers upset, Pistons coach Lawrence. Frank had also prepared several ways to deal with the death lineup. But as the game progressed, Lawrence found himself working in vain.

The premise of the "death defense" lineup is that in the last minutes of the game, the score is still scorching. But the Pistons trailed by 20 points after the third quarter......

Chris. Paul showed no mercy, and in the first game of his comeback, he used 25 points, 12 assists and 3 steals to help the Pacers win easily 105-83.

Upset? Fans remembered Henson's expression before the game began. Smile slightly, shake your head, don't bother to waste saliva with you at all! Possession of Chris. Paul's Pacers, how could they be upset in Detroit!

Once again, the Pacers refuse to lose streak!

After this game, Henson no longer has to worry about Paul's form, and he can already set his sights on the Christmas game in more than ten days.

But before that, Henson has one more thing to deal with. Something that has nothing to do with basketball, but is more important than basketball.