"I think Sean would be more appropriate to start." Thibodeau, as the first assistant coach, expressed his views for the first time.

"Sean has been a starter since he came to the team, he has a tacit understanding with Yao, TMAC, and even Chauncey, and his fixed-point three-point shooting ability is more consistent than Michael's, not to mention the experience on the defensive end, so I think it is more appropriate for Sean to continue to start."

Tang Tian nodded after listening, what Xibodu said was not unreasonable.

He then looked at Cole.

"I also agree with Tom, and Michael playing as a substitute will help the team more, he can swing in the 23 position, while Sean can only swing in the 34 position, and it is not appropriate to let Sean play as a substitute when it is easy to play well." Cole also gave his opinion.

'Now that the team is in great shape, I don't think it's necessary to start. Lucas II followed suit.

"Michael is more impactful off the bench, and a functional player like Sean is obviously better suited to start."

"When TMAC encounters Beasley's swinging small forward at the No. 34 position, not only will it not be able to release the offense, but it will also have some trouble on the defensive end."

……

Other teaching assistants also expressed their opinions one after another.

Although the reasons vary, all of them felt that Battier was more suitable to be the team's starter.

"Then it's decided, Sean continues to start." Tang Tian finally made a decision.

At the end of the meeting, Tang Tian called Petrus to his office.

'The team is in good shape at the moment and it's not the right change to start but you don't have to be discouraged, keep a positive mindset and play well for the next game.'

After Tang Tian finished speaking, he saw that Petrus's mood was a little depressed, and then said comfortingly: "Relax, substitutes and starters are not so important, the important thing is playing time." ”

Tang Tian didn't say it explicitly, after all, he was the head coach of the team, but this hint was obvious enough.

Petrus nodded, still a little depressed, and finally left the office.

When Petrus left, Tang Tian looked at the team list and unconsciously fell into deep thought.

If Petrus insists on starting and doesn't stay at the end of next season, then Morrow will have to step up.

But there are no recruits who can fight on the battlefield, and in the second half of the season, Morrow will have to be given some opportunities to play.

That night, the game between the Rockets and the Trail Blazers began.

The Rockets started very well, and Yi Jianlian played quite tough and desperately after being selected as an All-Star starter, and he did not fall behind in the confrontation with Aldridge.

With just over two minutes left before the end of the first quarter, the Rockets led 24-17, and the two teams came off the bench one after another.

The Rockets' side is still the four kings of the bench, Gasol Jr., Scola, Petrus and Sun Yue.

On the Trail Blazers' side, Otero, Fernandez, Pulzbilla and Rodriguez came on one after another.

With the growth of young players, the strength of the Trail Blazers, whether it is a starter or a substitute, should not be underestimated.

Coming up for the Trail Blazers' offense, Outlaw received a pass from Fernandez and scored for a layup.

As a 2.06m small forward, he has a lot of impact.

However, the Rockets' bench was not vegetarian, and Gasol Jr. responded in the frontcourt by sending a second pass to Scola, who basketed Argentina and shook Pulzbilla to score.

On the offense of the Trail Blazers, Fernandez went straight to Pitrus.

Petrus seemed a little less focused, and was found by the former to score a layup.

"Michael, watch the defensive position." Thibodeau, as the team's defensive coach, walked to the sidelines at this time to remind Petrus.

The Rockets' offense, Maddy sent a second pass, and Petrus got an open three-point opportunity in the bottom corner.

"Bang!"

The shot was noticeably short, hitting the front of the basket directly, and the defensive rebound was picked up by Outlaw.

Tang Tian frowned slightly at this time, attacking and defending, and it could be seen that Petrus was still affected.

The next few offensive shots from both teams fell short and the first quarter ended with the Rockets leading 26-19.

During the interval, Cole talked to Petrus for a while, presumably enlightening him.

At the beginning of the second quarter, Tang Tian replaced Maddie with Morrow and put Billups back on the court, and Petrus remained on the court although he did not perform well.

On the Trail Blazers' side, except for Aldridge's rest, there were no major changes in the lineup.

Rodriguez's combination, Fernandez went directly to Pulzbilla to do a no-ball block, and Petrus was blocked.

Rodriguez sent a second pass, Fernandez received the ball and squeezed away Scola for a layup.

The Rockets attacked, and Morrow received a second pass from Gasol Jr. and hit a three-pointer.

It was still Fernandez who came back to form after scoring the last goal, and also scored three points after shaking off Petrus.

The two teams were at a stalemate after the start of the second quarter.

The Rockets' offense, Gasol Jr. gave the ball to Petrus, who wanted to pass the ball to Billups, but hesitated.

"Smack!"

Fernandez cut the ball off his hand directly.

The Trail Blazers played a fast break, and the follow-up Outlaw received the ball and scored a direct dunk.

The Rockets Moreau missed a three-pointer from the outside, and Outlaw came back and scored a three-pointer.

Petrus's empty three-point miss again, Fernandez grabbed a long rebound and played a fast break directly, and when he scored a difficult pull rod in the frontcourt, the Trail Blazers played a wave of 7-0 offensive and tied the score directly!

Tang Tian called a timeout, and when he came back, he replaced Petrus with Battier, who was in a bit of a bad form tonight.

The two sides were at a stalemate on the bench for a while, and when the starters returned, the Rockets were more powerful and experienced, and began to grasp the initiative on the court again.

In the second half, Tang Tian continued to give Petrus some chances, but the latter was still in poor shape, made frequent iron mistakes, and was substituted after playing for two minutes.

In the end, the Rockets were even better overall, beating the Trail Blazers 112-106 to win their 40th game of the season.

Petrus only played 12 minutes in this game, shooting 0 of 4, 2 points, 2 rebounds and 3 turnovers, playing the worst game of joining the Rockets.

After the game, Tang Tian went to the locker room to look for Petrus, only to learn that the latter had left the stadium and went home.

Tang Tian was also a little helpless, he originally planned to give Petrus more playing time, but the plan couldn't catch up with the changes, Petrus's state was so poor, it was impossible for him to give up the game for the sake of the plan.

Talking again, it is all that Tang Tian can do, and it is also the reward he did for Petrus to take a salary cut and sign with the Rockets.

No matter how much he can't do, the NBA is the most competitive basketball league in the world after all, and opportunities are all fought for by himself.