In April, in order to maintain the third place in the East, Wang Shuo adjusted the Hornets' game strategy.

To put it simply, strengthen the defense, reduce mistakes, and increase the playing time of some of the main players.

In the NBA, the head coaches of many teams will adjust like Wang Shuo in order to win.

But these three seemingly simple requirements are far from easy to implement.

The first is to strengthen the defense.

Even though Wang Shuo has spent most of this season at the expense of defense in order to encourage offense, that doesn't mean the Hornets are a team that has a terrible defense.

On the contrary, this Hornets, who have a group of macho men in the front line, are a team that can completely rely on hand-to-hand combat with their opponents to win the game.

At the suggestion of assistant coach Schneider, Wang Shuo adopted a defensive strategy of turning from a joint defense to a four-in-one in the Hornets' final games in April.

Such a defensive strategy can not only take full advantage of the Hornets' infinite rotation on the front line, but also allow Curry to avoid being bullied by players who are always looking for him on the court.

The second is to reduce mistakes.

In the closing stages of April, Wang Shuo reduced the percentage of Curry with the ball on the court.

This change is not that Wang Shuo does not recognize Curry's ability to control the ball and the court, but in the case that Paul can control the court, even Wang Shuo, the "old father", does not think that his "own son" Curry can do better than Paul in this regard.

In addition, unlike in the past, when they were desperate to seize opportunities to switch offenses on the court, the overall pace of the Hornets has dropped significantly since April.

In the NBA, offense can win fans.

But no matter what era it is, you can't win a championship without great defense.

Finally, it is necessary to increase the playing time of some of the "main players".

In April, as the league's most senior Hornets fan, Barkley was almost immediately aware of the change when commentating on the Hornets game.

"Wang is definitely the most daring coach I've ever seen in the league today.

Because other managers will find ways to make their team's leading stars play as much as possible when it comes to the closing stages.

But what about the king?

In the last nine games for the Hornets, it has been noticeable that neither Stephen Curry nor Chris Paul has played more than 32 minutes. ”

Wang Shuo lowered Curry and Paul's playing time in the closing stages of the regular season, mainly to increase the playing opportunities of Klay and Butler.

Although neither of these two brothers has yet reached the full body of each other, in terms of defensive ability, Klay and Butler are much better than Curry, or Curry and Paul when they partner in the backcourt.

And in this regard, Curry himself can be described as depressed.

Because his confidence on the court has skyrocketed this season, he can't figure out why this Hornets looks stronger after he has played less time?

Could it be that he is the legendary "team cancer"?

In fact, Curry has not only encountered this problem.

Because almost all the superstars that Wang Shuo has coached will have such an illusion.

For example, Jordan back then, Kobe Bryant of the Lakers, and Yao Ming and Duncan during the Knicks period.

Of all the stars Wang Shuo has coached, the only player who has not questioned himself in this way is Aaron Iverson.

Because of the Suns back then, Wang Shuo had too few cards to play in his hand, so if Iverson didn't move on the court......

No matter how strong Wang Shuo's coaching ability is, it is impossible for him to lead the Sun team to win the alliance.

On the 7th, after leading the Hornets to win the Bucks on the road, Wang Shuo had insight into Curry's recent psychological changes, so he took the initiative to invite Curry to have a supper with him after the team returned to Charlotte.

During the supper, Wang Shuo asked Curry a question as soon as he came up.

That's ......

After recently reducing his playing time, Curry is happy with his recent game form.

Hearing this, he was stunned for a moment, and then stunned, Curry suddenly realized: "I understand, you want me to use my physical energy for more critical moments." ”

Seeing this, looking at Curry, who was far better than Jordan and Kobe, Wang Shuo couldn't help but sigh with emotion that the understanding of people really can't be generalized.

Admittedly, Curry's recent game time has been cut by a few minutes.

But in terms of data, Curry is more efficient on the court.

Because after getting more time to rest, Curry, who is more energetic almost every time he plays, can always use his relentless running to make the defenders opposite him scorched.

In addition, whenever Curry is off the court, his group of "Pippen" often helps him to wear off a wave of defensive strength first.

So, how could Curry not be able to play efficiently in this situation?

Previously, the reason why Wang Shuo let Curry play about 37 minutes per game was mainly to help him brush up on better data.

But now, as long as the Hornets can retain their top-three spot in the East, Curry has a good chance of being named this year's regular season MVP.

Therefore, there is no need for Wang Shuo to let Curry waste his physical energy on the court.

Paul was the same.

It's just that the only difference from Curry is ......

Regarding Paul's playing time, Wang Shuo lowered it earlier.

As for the reason?

Of course, it's because Wang Shuo is worried that Paul will have an accident in the playoffs.

On this day, after chatting with Wang Shuo, Curry's knot was immediately untied.

At the end of this night talk, Wang Shuo also said to Curry: "Stephen, in the future, I will control your playing time to about 33 minutes per game."

Because I think you should have noticed it yourself, the pace of the NBA game is getting faster and faster at the moment. ”

Looking at Wang Shuo, Curry nodded and said, "I understand what you mean, chief, in the NBA, whether a player is great or not is never a certain season or a certain game." ”

Wang Shuo smiled: "That's the case, so I want to be a really great player...... Then Stephen, you have to understand that playing time can prolong the peak of your future career. ”

Curry said: "The peak of his career ahead? Boss, in your eyes, am I not at my peak now? ”

Wang Shuo shook his head and said, "Where are you now?" In my eyes, there is still an infinite amount of potential in you. ”

Wang Shuo knew very well how high the ceiling of Curry, who was still evolving until he crossed over, so he didn't want Curry to be satisfied with the present, but hoped that he could keep exploring various possibilities in himself as he remembered.

I have to say that in this regard, Curry is indeed a lot like Jordan.

Because in the future, when the players of the same class of '09 are starting to go downhill......

Curry will work hard every year to give people a refreshing feeling in the new season.

In the history of the NBA, there are very few players who can continue to evolve beyond the age of 30.

As early as the Lakers, Wang Shuo saw Curry's heartfelt love for basketball and his heart that always remained enthusiastic.

Therefore, at the moment this schoolboy ......

Wang Shuo didn't think he had officially started the peak of his career.

……

On the 16th, after beating the Nets 112-91 on the road, the Hornets finally ended the team's 12/13 regular season with a 58-24 record.

In the final stages of the regular season, the Hornets, who had won all the way, had a chance to catch up with the Cavaliers, who were second in the East with 59 wins and 23 losses.

But alas, the Cavaliers didn't give the Hornets a chance to overtake themselves.

In the last three games of the regular season, the Cavaliers, who were going to face the Knicks, the Heat and the Pacers at home and away, successfully defended their second place in the East with a wave of three consecutive wins.

With three wins in a row, Mike Malone has fully demonstrated his coaching talent.

At the same time, it also proves that he has won the best coach twice in a row in the past two years.

On the evening of the 16th, after the game with the Nets, when asked by a reporter if he would regret not being able to lead the team to the second place in the East, Wang Shuo smiled: "I don't think there is anything to regret about this."

We've given it all in the regular season this year, and in my opinion, the place we ended up in was well worth our efforts.

Moreover, the Cavaliers are also an excellent team.

I've worked with Coach Mike Malone for a few years and I know just how good he really is. ”

As Ma Long's former mentor, Wang Shuo knows very well that blowing him is equivalent to blowing himself.

Therefore, Wang Shuo was never stingy with the praise of his former disciples.

In addition, after the Celtics defeated the 76ers in a game played earlier on the evening of the 16th to confirm their sixth place in the East......

In Wang Shuo's view, isn't the ranking of third in the east more fragrant than second in the east?

You know, no matter how far the Hornets can go this year, they will only be qualified to talk about the future if they pass the first round first.

On the 16th, after the rest of the games in the East, the rankings of the first to fifteenth places in the East this year are as follows:

Heat, Cavaliers, Hornets, Knicks, Wizards, Celtics, Pacers, 76ers, Magic, Hawks, Bucks, Pistons, Nets, Bulls, Raptors.

In April, although the battle situation in the east is still miserable, it is not difficult to find out the ranking at the end of March......

In the final closing stage, everyone is lonely.

According to the schedule, the first round of this year's Eastern Conference playoffs is as follows:

Heat vs. 76ers, Cavaliers vs. Pacers, Hornets vs. Celtics, Knicks PK Wizards.

Each of these four rounds of the series can be said to be a matchup......

For Wang Shuo, who has always led the Lakers in the West in the past three years, he is destined to be as calm and calm as he used to be this year.

After the rest of the games in the West on the 16th, the first to fifteenth places in the West this year are as follows:

Lakers, Thunder, Grizzlies, Spurs, Mavericks, Trail Blazers, Houston XX, Jazz, Nuggets, Pelicans, Kings, Timberwolves, Clippers, Warriors, Suns.

This season, although the backcourt partnership of Irving and Beal has given Phoenix fans a lot of hope......

But the ability of these two brothers to lead the team is also true to live up to expectations.

Wang Shuo feels that Stern is likely to pick the No. 1 pick again to the Suns this year.

Because the sun in this life is like a copy of the knight in Wang Shuo's memory.

Both of these teams were once in the limelight......

And then after losing his own king began to plummet.

The only difference is that Wang Shuo, the king of Phoenix, had already raised a championship banner to the Suns before leaving Phoenix, which had not changed its name at the Meixi Arena at that time.

According to the schedule, the first round of this year's Western Conference playoffs is as follows:

Lakers vs. Jazz, Thunder vs. XX, Grizzlies PK Trail Blazers, Spurs vs. Mavericks.

In addition, with the end of the regular season, this year's regular season data kings have also been released.

This season's scoring title was won by Durant, who averaged 32.4 points per game for the Thunder.

Unfortunately, Curry couldn't beat Durant in this year's scoring title race.

Because after Durant received guidance from "Sinner" Stevens, no matter how unqualified his temperament was, his Excel was destined to go to the next level.

And this year's assist champion was voted by Paul by a landslide.

In addition, Paul also set a new NBA all-time single-season assists per game record this year, as well as the NBA's all-time single-season total assists record.

In the regular season, Paul, who played in a total of 81 games for the Hornets, averaged 15.8 points, 17.2 assists, 5.8 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game.

At the same time, he has achieved an overall shooting percentage of 50.8% this season, which has also successfully set a new career high.

In the second half of the regular season, even if Wang Shuo lowered Paul's playing time, Paul's average assists per game did not decrease but increased.

This season, under Wang Shuo, Paul can be said to have fully felt the joy of playing for Wang Shuo.

Because after this year's regular season, who is now seeing him Brother Cannon and must not shout the god of point guard?

You must know that with the deepening of the regular season, even CCTV's famous "cannon black" Yang Yi has publicly stated his 20-year-old identity as a cannon secret.

In Wang Shuo's view, if it weren't for the fact that both him, Stern, and the "hook" who has great influence on the NBA want to praise Curry more at this moment, then Paul is also eligible to be elected MVP in the regular season this year.

Of course......

After Paul openly expressed at the beginning that he only wanted to be Curry's "Pippen", he was also destined to not get the regular season MVP.

Because in the history of the NBA, the only player who can get the regular season MVP when the team's head coach, general manager, and even teammates agree that he is just hired to assist the core of the team, is LeBron James.

As a man who has always had a pattern, Paul can't compete with Curry for personal glory at this time.

After all, a full meal, he, Chris Paul, can still carry it.

On the day he made history and became the NBA assist leader, Paul said in an interview: "As Stephen's deputy, I'm very happy that I can bring the Hornets to the playoffs this year with Stephen.

Stephen and I will certainly not fail to live up to the expectations of the city in the upcoming playoffs! ”

Perhaps because Wang Shuo's past coaching record was too impressive, and even people forgot on the day of the regular season, this year is the first time the Hornets have made the playoffs since the establishment of the team.

Fortunately, under Paul's reminder, everyone reacted.

So, do you want to say that Paul deserves to be the future president of the NBA's players' union?

Because on this day, it only took two sentences......

Paul avoided the conflict between him and Curry that would likely be provoked by the media, and indirectly reminded people why the Hornets and him have been so successful this season.

In addition to the scoring champion and assist champion, this year's rebounding king, steal king and block king were won by Lefou, Rondo and Ibaka respectively.

The regular season is over, and according to the schedule, the first game of the first round of the playoffs between the Hornets and the Celtics will officially start on the 19th.

The Hornets, who have the home advantage of the series, play home and away, and the format is 22111.

Regarding this round of the playoffs with the Celtics, Wang Shuo and his assistants were well prepared early in the morning.

Everyone is confident that they can beat this Celtic team.

Of course, the Hornets' opponents, the Celtics, are also confident about this series.

Because no matter how bluffing Wang Shuo's name is, in James's view, compared to the Knicks and Cavaliers, who have brought him painful memories in the past two years, and the unattainable Heat......

The Wasp is undoubtedly the only soft persimmon in the upper half of the East.

In James' eyes, this year is definitely the year he has the best hope of proving himself to the world since he entered the league.

Because as long as he can lead the Celtics to defeat the Hornets led by Wang Shuo, as long as he can pull down the god of coaching from the altar, and trample his good brother who has been crowned the god of point guard......

At that time, people are not allowed to call him a "god killer"?

……