The preseason training camp began, and the Lakers officially signed rookie contracts with two rookies, Sam Jacobson and Ruben Patterson.

Nick Van Exel is still in the squad.

So, the timeline was turned to 1999, and the Lakers officially started preseason training with a 12-man lineup.

List of 12 people:

Point guards: Derrick Fisher, Nick Van Exel, Sam Jacobson

Shooting guards: Kobe Bryant, Eddie Jones

Small forwards: Rick Fox, Ruben Patterson

Power forwards: Robert Horry, Corey Blunt

Centres: Shaquille O'Neal, Elden Campbell, Shaun Lukes

……

In the pre-season training camp, Qiao Hai suddenly found that the situation was not as smooth as he imagined.

The entire Lakers coaching staff, except for him and Cortlambis, the other assistant coaches are all close associates of Del Harris, especially Bill Polka, who, like Del Harris, is an older generation of coaches and is more stubborn.

After the training camp began, Qiao Hai found that he couldn't intervene at all in the team's tactical arrangement and adjustment, and sometimes even if he interjected, Del Harris would not pay attention to him, which made Qiao Hai very helpless.

After the training camp really started, Qiao Hai found out that he had actually become a full-time training trainer, and he was not an assistant coach at all.

This kind of feeling of being overhead is uncomfortable, but Qiao Hai can't help it, he can only stand aside, watching Del Harris and Bill Polka organize the team to play those lame blocking tactics, and laugh secretly.

Cortlambis's situation within the Lakers is slightly better than Joe's, at least he is a former professional player, having played for the Lakers for 9 seasons, and he is not low in the Lakers' low post, so Del Harris still has a lot of respect for Cortlambis.

But this made Qiao Hai feel the contrast of different treatments.

For example, now, Qiao Hai has begun to make guest appearances as referees again, blowing the whistle and punishing the Lakers' intra-team training games.

On the sidelines, Del Harris was discussing tactics with a group of assistant coaches, and Qiao Hai stood aside, engrossed in blowing the game, obviously, Qiao Hai had been excluded from the team's tactical discussion.

Cortambis, who had just joined the company, had little to say in terms of tactics, and could only listen to Bill Polka and Del Harris exchange ideas, occasionally offering a word or two.

"Reuben, foul!" Joe Hay steals a scene, and Ruben Patterson fouls Kobe Bryant.

Qiao Hai screamed loudly, and Del Harris glanced up, only to see Ruben Patterson waving his hands in disbelief.

Del Harris's face suddenly became gloomy, what an old-school coach like Del Harris hated the most was that the players did not obey the management, so Del Harris reprimanded Ruben Patterson fiercely, and Qiao Hai watched from the sidelines.

To be honest, after being stripped of the right to discuss and suggest tactics by Del Harris's coaching staff, Qiao Hai is really a bit rebellious, since you don't let me participate in the formulation and discussion of tactics, then I just sit and watch your good show and see who can have the last laugh.

If Del Harris leaves class, the acting head coach will either be Cotterampis or Qiao Hai, so look at it, Qiao Hai's chance of becoming the acting head coach is still quite big, the key is that Qiao Hai has to find a few Lakers staff members who side with him.

Cortlambis has the opportunity to stand on the side of Qiao Hai, in the recent training days, Cortlambis has been very friendly, seems to have a good impression of Qiao Hai, usually has time to communicate with Qiao Hai a few words, and the exchanges are all basketball-related things, obviously, at the basketball level, Cortlambis thinks that he and Qiao Hai have a lot in common, and in the exchange, it seems that he also recognizes some of Qiao Hai's basketball theories.

Another one worth wooing over is Mickey Kupchak, or in other words, Mickey Kupchak has been wooing Joe.

No, as soon as the team training match was over, Michkupchak found someone to call Qiao Hai up......

……

"Joe, how's it going, is the work going well?" Michkupchak took off his glasses and motioned for Joe to sit in front of him.

Before meeting Kupchak, Qiao Hai thought about it, and he was ready to tell Kupchak all the predicament he was currently experiencing, so that after the Lakers' poor record in the new season, Qiao Hai could win an impression point in Kupchak's heart: The reason why the Lakers' poor record is because Del Harris did not listen to Qiao Hai's opinion.

So, Qiao Hai shook his head: "It's a bit troublesome, Mr. Del Harris has completely excluded me, and I have become a trainer who is only responsible for training." ”

Mitch Kupchak was stunned, obviously he didn't expect Del Harris to react so violently, without giving face to the management at all, and directly set up Qiao Hai!

Michkupchek became serious, and he frowned: "Joe...... Do you have any differences with Del? Tactically? ”

"Yes, I suggested that Mr. Del switch to a triangle strategy, but Mr. Del insisted on blocking and dismantling."

Mitch Kupchak pondered for a moment and asked, "Do you think the triangle strategy is more suitable for the Lakers?" ”

Qiao Hai nodded: "The triangle offensive tactic is a typical dual-core tactic, consisting of three players on one side and a "two-person game" on the other side, which happens to correspond to Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal. ”

"The difference between the triangle tactics and the pick-and-roll tactics is that the dual cores of the triangle tactics are equal, and the triangle tactics are full of free movement, which is not as rigid as the pick-and-roll tactics, and the bonus for star players is far greater than the pick-and-roll tactics......"

Mitch Kupchak also nodded, he felt that there was some truth in what Qiao Hai said, and as a former professional player, Mitch Kupchak also knew a lot.

Indeed, as Qiao Hai said, the blocking and dismantling tactics are too single and easy to crack, but the complex triangle tactics are very suitable for the Lakers, but unfortunately, Del Harris is an old stubborn, he has determined something, and there will be no change in the future.

"Okay Joe, don't worry, you work hard first, I'll talk to him over there......"

……

Mitch Kupchak reassured Qiao Hai, and Qiao Hai also said that there was no problem and he would continue to work hard.

The Lakers' pick-and-roll tactical drills are still ongoing, and Kobe Bryant has been given a high tactical status, at least a cut higher than last season, so Kobe Bryant is very excited, and his daily training is also working harder.

Qiao Hai saw Kobe's excitement and shook his head: Alas, if it was a triangle tactic, Kobe's tactical status would be higher, but it's a pity......

Thinking about it again, Qiao Hai sighed even more: Damn, the task of the chief assistant coach should have failed, fortunately there was no punishment, otherwise he would have to tear Del Harris.