Chapter Twenty-Three: Three Consecutive Defeats in the Season
The loss in the opening game seemed unexpected, but it was understandable. After all, the first game put two freshmen in the starting lineup, which seemed to many to be an adventure. So in terms of team integration, it seems that more time is needed.
Every newly formed team will have more or less squad pains, and these pains are usually caused by unfamiliarity with each other, tactics and team culture.
Everyone in the NBA is known as the Houston Rockets in the 1994-1995 season. In 1995, the Rockets got the "glider" Drexler from the Trail Blazers, and many experts were full of expectations for this team with two legendary stars, but the defending champion struggled in the regular season, with new players and changes in tactics that made the Rockets' players unable to find their form for a long time, and only finished the regular season with a 47-35 record, and finally only entered the playoffs as sixth in the West. However, in the playoffs, they suddenly found their form. The tacit cooperation between the players, especially the inside and outside cooperation of Drexler and Olajuwon, burst out with great energy.
The end result is known, as they became the lowest-ranked team to win a championship in NBA history, and the first team to eliminate four teams with a 50+ regular season record in the NBA playoffs. And, of course, the words that resounded around the world, "Don'teverunderestimatetheheartofachampion!" were born! (Never underestimate the heart of a champion!) )”
Although Yale University at the moment is far from being comparable to the Rocket team, their problems are indeed the same. The run-in problems caused by the addition of new players, and the question of whether the team's original system has been changed accordingly, have become things for Coach Heywood to think about.
If you lost the first game to Harvard University, it was because the season just started! Holiday syndrome! It is also possible to make the fans forgive and understand the words. Well, losing Game 2 to Dartmouth College is incomprehensible. Not to mention that Yale University managed to sweep its opponents last season, even last season was a sweep of opponents. But now it lost to the opponent 88-94, and it was almost not a home loss.
For Sun Xiaotian, these two games were simply terrible. Although he sent back very well in these two games, he averaged 25 points, 9.5 assists and 6.5 rebounds per game, and his average shooting rate was close to 55% per game, and even his 3-point shot, which he was not good at, was close to 45%. However, if you look at the statistics of the whole team, they only averaged 76.5 points per game, shooting only 42% from the field and 32% from 3-point range, which is a lot lower than last year's average per game.
However, the local media unceremoniously pointed the finger at head coach Haywood, saying that he should be responsible for the team's selection and loss, and even suggested that Yale University should change its head coach.
The opening two consecutive defeats, and basically all of them can be called complete defeats. Compared to last season's four consecutive wins, it is indeed a pity for the audience. Whether it's the school's athletic department, the coaching staff, or the team members, everyone is actually under a lot of pressure in their hearts.
In the face of doubts from fans and the media, Sun Xiaotian, as the captain, actually did not receive too much blame. However, in an interview, he also clearly expressed his feelings.
First of all, he expressed his support for Coach Heywood. Secondly, for the sluggish performance of his teammates, he also said that it was just a problem of system running-in, and there were no other problems.
……
As time went on, the talk of Yale's two-game losing streak gradually fell silent, after all, it was only two games, and it did not mean that Yale had performed like this throughout the season.
However, the subsequent 20-point defeat in the away matchup between Yale University and the University of Pennsylvania completely cooled the hearts of Yale fans. The criticism of the pit bull by the media and fans hit like a torrential rain. There were even some emotional fans who openly blamed and abused the players on the school forums, saying that they were all "!" ”
In this game, the University of Pennsylvania actually made 15 three-pointers, just like three-point drilling.
Some of the most well-known people who praised Yale last season also believed that Yale was indeed lucky last season, and also predicted that Yale would be at the bottom this season, despite the fact that they had "children of the sun" because the other players were too weak. In particular, Yale University's high hopes for Kevin. Marshall, in the first three games, he averaged only 5.4 points per game, and averaged 5 turnovers, which is simply too bad to be bad. However, this is not his true strength.
The opening three consecutive defeats, although they were all away, were pressed and beaten by others in every game, and each time Sun Xiaotian was basically beating the other 5 people, and the others stood in place. What the hell is going on with this team? The directors of the athletic department could not sit still any longer, and they approached Coach Heywood.
"The situation of the team is not optimistic, and I want to hear your thoughts." The athletic director publicly questioned Heywood at the meeting.
"I've said this question many times, the change of blood in the team, the pain is inevitable, those traditional strong teams are like this, and we are even more so." Heywood explained.
"But the pressure of public opinion is already very high, after the end of last season we thought that the media would promise that this season would be closer, but now it is such a start!"
"I know! And it's also working towards this goal! It's just that the team is in a bit of trouble right now, but at least my players are not messed up now, and you guys are messing up first. Coach Heywood retorted.
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Sun Xiaotian is actually under a lot of pressure because he has to face next year's draft. If the team has a poor record, then it may directly affect their draft pick. If that's the case, then what I said in front of those two agents a few months ago will inevitably become a laughing stock.
Although the poor record bothered Sun Xiaotian, Selena would call him every day to comfort him and encourage him to lead the team out of the predicament as soon as possible, so that Sun Xiaotian's mood always remained optimistic and did not affect his confidence because of consecutive defeats. On the contrary, he often organizes his teammates to practice and constantly encourages them not to be discouraged. From time to time, he will also organize everyone to watch the game video together and carefully analyze the reasons for the team's defeat.
For Sun Xiaotian's efforts, Heywood is in his heart, he knows that the team urgently needs a victory, not only for the fans, but also for himself. Because the athletic department has issued an ultimatum, if Yale's next game can't stop the losing streak, then it is likely that the next game will be the last game of Heywood's tenure at Yale.