"Is Harden playing a little too easy?"

The game went as everyone expected, and even though the score was just over halfway through the first quarter, the score was already 19:5, and the 14-point margin announced that the game was basically over. However, after seeing Harden once again hold the ball outside the three-point line and step back to the defender to hit a three-point iron, Kerr's brow couldn't help but furrow.

This is the fourth time Harden has used the same trick in the half-quarter, facing defenders to step back to shoot a three-point jumper, but except for the first time against Arenas, the next three times have been ironed.

It's not just Kerr, but both Kuchi and Budenholzer don't look good, obviously dissatisfied with Harden's offensive selection, feeling that he didn't follow the established tactical routine, and the offensive selection was too simple.

Chen An didn't answer, just frowned slightly, he could see that Harden was actually quite excited about today's game, as for using such three points in a row, there must be some calculations in the middle.

Chen An knows very well that this simple move of stepping back to three points is actually not simple, this is a trick for Harden to use his footwork and dribbling to bring about a change in rhythm, deceive the defender to win the reaction time difference, and then combine the step-back step to open up the space for shooting.

In the future, this trick will become one of Harden's signature stunts, in the original history, in the 17-18 season, after the league introduced Harden's rule, that is, after the law of touching porcelain, Harden in the case of a significant reduction in the number of free throws, that is, relying on this trick, to maintain an average of 30 points per game, it can be said that this is Harden's most important scoring weapon, and even once for a period of time he could defend 5 or 6 balls per game and score more than 15 points.

But obviously, it has only been 12 years now, and due to Chen An's emphasis on three-point shooting, Harden began to develop this trick in advance along the original trajectory, but this trick is not proficient at the moment, and the scoring efficiency is not stable enough, just like Duan Yu's six-vein divine sword.

Based on his prophetic gaze, Chen An can certainly be patient with Harden's cultivation, after all, there is no overnight mastery, but others don't know that in the eyes of Kerr and Kuchi and others, Harden uses a large number of shots in this way, which not only destroys the team's tactical execution, but also may affect the offensive enthusiasm of other players.

As the head coach, Chen An knew that he could not remain indifferent, and he had to strike a balance between trusting Harden and the coaching staff's objections, so should he pour some chicken soup into Harden?

Thinking like this, Chen An stood up and gestured to the referee, just as Arenas missed the jumper, JJ. Hickson picked up the rebound, and the referee's whistle sounded into timeout.

"It's all good, just relax and show the level you had in training, and you should be careful to protect yourself and never get hurt."

Facing the players who walked to the bench, Chen An clapped his palms to encourage slightly, and then emphasized the players' self-protection, he didn't want an almost showy game to make the team have more injuries.

After saying this, Chen An grabbed Harden, who was about to walk to the bench to rest, and said: "James, you developed your step-back jumper outside the three-point line, I think it's very good." ”

"Really?"

Harden smiled and said, "The coach emphasized the minimum number of three-point shots, so I naturally have to focus on adjusting the attack outside the three-point line to set an example for the whole team." ”

Chen An nodded, and said with a natural expression: "Three points is our most important weapon, and you also know that our tactics are based on the ball holder as the starting point, using throwing, rushing, grabbing, and revitalizing the entire offense, I believe that your ability to read the game can make the most correct choice when attacking." ”

Harden was very smart, and immediately grasped the meaning of Chen An's words, and said: "I know that some of my previous offensive options are not very good, but I want to focus on practice in such a game..."

Chen An waved his hand to interrupt Harden's words, and said with a smile: "I don't blame you, you are the team's primary tactical initiator, you also have the most balls and shots, how you choose to attack, how to execute tactics depends on your reading of the game, I believe in your ability in this regard, and I firmly believe that you will be able to do a good job."

In my mind, you're going to be a strong contender for some honours this season. ”

"All-stars?"

Harden is happy, he is not an All-Star now, and his biggest desire is to be an All-Star. Chen An compared the height with his hand and said: "I don't think you can't become an All-Star, I believe in your strength, and I believe that you will have super popularity under my command, look at this full of fans, this is a big country with a population of more than one billion, there will be many people who support you."

I expect more from you than just an All-Star, and I think you're going to be a strong contender for scoring and assists this season! ”

Chen An's tone was very firm, Harden was stunned, he knew that Chen An had high expectations for him, but he didn't expect it to be so high, this was his first season with the Magic, the Magic is also a new team, and he was only the best sixth man last season, no matter the score, the assist is still a big gap compared to the top ten players on the data list.

"I believe in your abilities, and I believe you won't let me down."

Chen An once again expressed his affirmation, and then changed the conversation and said: "I have never worried about your honor in statistics, I believe that as long as you play well like this, there will be surprises at the end of the season, and compared to these, I actually want you to become an excellent team leader, a leader who can lead the team to compete for the championship."

Remember what I said in that Las Vegas Summer League game where I got angry? ”

Harden nodded, he was very impressed by that game, obviously the team was ahead, but Chen An was furious and reprimanded him and Turner heavily.

"My perception of team leaders has never changed, a qualified and excellent team leader is the pillar of everyone on the pitch, and at the beginning of the game, he will be responsible for revitalizing the team's attack and mobilizing the enthusiasm of his teammates; When the team is in trouble and can't score points, he can stand up and rely on his personal ability to solve the problem; And when the game was scorching, he was able to resist the pressure and push the team forward; When it's time for the decisive moment, he can step up and kill the match!

I want you to be a leader like that, and I believe you can be a good leader. ”

Controlling players is never a simple thing, Chen An speaks around the bend, he just doesn't want to use his own tactical framework to limit the genius and creativity of the players themselves, tactics are for the players, this is his coaching philosophy, which can be said to be contrary to the philosophy of many other coaches, such as Popovich, Spurs' basketball is to use players as chess pieces, tactics as the core, and players to serve tactics.

There is no superiority or inferiority between the two, it is only up to the respective coaches to strike a balance between players and tactics, so that the team runs according to the tactical framework, and the talented players can shine in the tactical execution.

In addition, Chen An does have high hopes for Harden, since Harden came to the team, he has been handling and pouring chicken soup, on the one hand, it is a long psychological construction, on the other hand, it is strict supervision and spurring, he just hopes that Harden can grow as soon as possible, reach the peak as soon as possible, and take the Magic team to compete for bright glory.

Listening to Chen An's words, Harden fell into deep thought, and after a long time, he raised his head and gave Chen An an affirmative look when the referee blew the whistle to announce the end of the timeout, and then turned around and walked to the court.