"Puppy footwork?"

After changing their clothes, the two returned to the arena, and after Kobe Bryant sat down, he shared his defensive skills with Xu Yong, but this skill surprised Xu Yong.

"Yes, it's not in any textbook, but it's in Gary's and my mind." Bryant said and pointed to his head.

"Gary? Gary Payton? ”

Bryant nodded.

Immediately, Kobe Bryant talked to Xu Yong about the details of this footwork.

The basic step of basketball defense is called the sliding step, which is similar to Michael Jackson's space step, which is moved by moving close to the ground.

The difference, of course, is that it's certainly not a single step backwards.

Generally speaking, there are side sliding steps, forward sliding steps and back sliding steps, which are actually several directions of retreat when defending, combined with turning the hip to maintain the defensive position and defensive center of gravity.

The puppy footwork that Kobe said is an advanced footwork invented by Payton on the basis of sliding steps, summing up his game experience.

It's no longer just a defense against the ball carrier, but also a defense without the ball.

It may come as a surprise to say, but in basketball, players play far fewer rounds against the ball carrier than they do without the ball.

Or to put it another way, if you're not assigned to defend the opposing team's star, you could be defending off the ball the entire game.

This is also the fundamental reason why Peyton invented this footwork.

In this theory, according to Kobe, first you have to squash your body.

In human terms, it means that you have to shrink your body when defending, and if you stretch your body too widely, you will easily collide with the opposing player, and then you will be forced to stop, and then you will lose the defensive threat.

Secondly, it is important not to take big strides, but to move with small sliding steps and broken steps.

In Bryant's brilliant description, it was "like a page through a door." ”

To put it bluntly, it's about keeping the movement and high speed on the defensive end, like a puppy, and can move back and forth.

For example, let's say you're following a defender and his teammates have set up a pick-and-roll on his defensive lane, and if you follow straight and take a big step, it's easy to get blocked.

Don't think about being able to keep up after a collision, because basketball games, especially NBA-level games, are very fast, and your defender may already be catching and shooting the ball in the next second.

Conversely, if you take a small and fast step, you can take a sideways step to dodge in the moments before contact and then go straight through that cover.

Because even if the pick-and-roll guy sees you doing this, he can't do anything about it, because he can't turn sideways or move because that's a move to cover the foul.

After listening to Kobe's description and recalling some scenes when he played against Kobe, Xu Yong quickly realized that this was indeed the case.

He has the impression that Kobe's defense is basically against the ball carrier, and it is rare to see his defenders get easy shots away from him, including himself.

With the theory, then it's time to train.

To train this kind of footwork, Kobe Bryant also has a systematic approach, which is also the key to helping him win the 7-time Defensive Team.

By the time the training was over, the two energetic people were finally exhausted.

Kobe Bryant looked at Xu Yong at this time, and there was a hint of appreciation in his eyes.

He has seen many players over the years, but Xu Yong is still the first to persevere in such a series of tosses.

"You know, James Harden and I are college teammates." Xu Yong said after taking a sip of water.

Kobe nodded, Arizona State University Devils, Satan and Barr, he had heard this story before.

"But we're still good friends, so I saw the training video and the game advice." Xu Yong continued.

Kobe Bryant was a little surprised at first, but then smiled and patted Xu Yong's shoulder.

This kid has changed, he was still hiding from him at the beginning, but now he is so honest.

But don't say it, this kind of honesty makes him feel that the distance between the two has narrowed a lot.

"Honestly, that game suggestion, combined with today's puppy pace, has improved my understanding of the game a lot." Xu Yongfa said from the bottom of his heart.

It may seem strange to say, but the truth is that many things are not necessarily better than others because you see more, and these understandings require ability.

He can expect that next season, he will not only improve on both offensive and defensive ends, but will also read the game further.

This is also the reason why he is honest with Kobe, because this time, he really benefited a lot from Kobe, either indirectly or directly.

"I'm honored." Bryant said with a smile.

This answer surprised Xu Yong again.

He couldn't help but look at Kobe Bryant and ask the question that had already popped up before: "I'm curious, why are you willing to share these things, I mean, it should be something like an exclusive secret book." ”

"No, I'm not always generous, and I look at people." Bryant corrected Xu Yong.

"I don't skimp on young people who have potential and want to improve, because I used to be like that." Bryant continued.

Xu Yong suddenly understood: "Just like Gary Payton to you?" ”

Bryant smiled and nodded.

He wasn't really good at defense at the beginning, but after an All-Star break, he approached Payton and came up with the idea that he wanted to learn the opponent's defensive skills.

Peyton at that time had the same choice as he did at this time, and he was taught it unreservedly.

"We're all competitive guys, and having a strong competitor just makes us stronger." Bryant continued.

At this point, Xu Yong completely understood.

A really strong person won't worry about what I taught you, and you became stronger and replaced me or something like that.

On the contrary, as Kobe Bryant said, when you get stronger, you stimulate him to become stronger.

This is how basketball will continue to develop to a higher field through competition.

"I see." Xu Yong nodded, he not only understood, but also knew the meaning of this.

If it's a legacy, then he's part of it.

Perhaps this inheritance can allow him to develop basketball in the world after his rebirth and move in the right direction.

……

Xu Yong returned to Tempe after spending a week in Los Angeles.

By this time, the draft was over.

The Bulls, who have given away both first- and second-round picks because of several trades last season, are returning visitors this year.

Their main event is the free market after the draft.

The Bulls were full of details about their operations last season, and in addition to the contracts they sent away, Brad Miller, Nate Robinson, Kwame Brown, Damion Wilkins, Jerome Pargo, and Richard all had contracts expiring in the summer, and Bill Walker was also a team option.

Now there are only 8 people on the team's roster who have contracts, such as Rose, Hinrich, Xu Yong, Deng, James Johnson, Gibson, Noah, and Aaron Gray, with a total salary of $37 million for the new season.

According to the data released by the league before, 58 million US dollars in the 2010~2011 season.

Simple math, the Bulls have $21 million in salary space for the new season.

There is a little knowledge point involved here, this version of the collective bargaining agreement does not yet have a so-called super maximum salary contract, so the maximum salary is the same, 25% of the salary cap for those who have played for 0-6 years, 30% of the salary cap for those who have played for 7-9 years, and 35% of the salary cap for those who have played for more than 10 years.

Like James, the starting salary of the highest salary, which is 30% of 58 million, is 17.4 million.

So now the Bulls have two plans, one is to trade Hinrich (salary of 9 million in the new season) and strive to sign two top-salary players, in one step.

Another option is to keep Hinrich and then strengthen the original lineup.

As for which option to choose, it will depend on the situation of the free market this year.

Yes, it's time for a comprehensive introduction to this crazy free market.

First pot: Kobe Bryant (player option), James (player option), Wade (player option);

Pot 2: Yao Ming, Bosh (player option), Stoudemire, Nowitzki, Pierce, Ray Allen, Joe Johnson;

Pot 3: David Lee, Boozer, Rudy Gaye;

Others: Maddie, Iverson, Tyson Chandler (player option), Richard Jefferson, Scola, Al Harrington, Redick, Korver, Tony Allen, Mike Miller, Ronnie Brewer, O'Neal Jr., Big Z, O'Neal, Ben Wallace, etc.

Even Xu Yong had to turn his gaze away.

Because of the Bulls' operation in the summer, it will have a greater impact on his new season.

Really sign giants, the right to shoot, run-in, and team status, all of which need to be run-in.

……

As the gates of the free market approached, rumors began to fly.

In addition to believing that Kobe Bryant will definitely stay in Los Angeles, the rumors that other free agents have broken out have made it difficult to distinguish between truth and falsehood.

Some say James will go to New York, and after seven years in a small city like Cleveland, he yearns for life in the big city.

Some say Wade is trying to recruit other players to Miami and that he has no plans to leave the East Coast.

There were even people who had a falling out with Nowitzki and no longer believed that Nowitzki could win the championship.

With the rumors of truth and falsehood, the time came to July 1, and in the expectation of fans, the door to the craziest free market in NBA history was officially opened.

Then, fans realized that this free market was not at all like in previous years.

In previous years, a large number of contracts were signed on the first day, but this year it was exceptionally quiet.

Except for James and others who announced that they would jump out of the player option as previously exposed, there was no big-name signing.

Obviously, the whereabouts of James, Wade and others will determine the direction of the entire free market, and the teams that have worked hard to free up salary space over the past year are waiting for the decision of the protagonists this summer.

Chicago, Union Center Meeting Room.

Foreman is receiving two guests, Dwyane Wade, and his agent, Henry Thomas.

"It's still Chicago that makes people feel comfortable." Wade sat down and said to Foreman with a smile.

Gang-infested Chicago is more cosy than beautiful Miami, and anyone can hear it.

That's right, just like what Xu Yong and Wade felt when they were engaged in activities during the All-Star Game, Wade had the idea of returning to Chicago to play.

And, he's exploring that possibility.

"Of course, this is your home." Foreman said with a smile.

Wade laughed happily after hearing this: "Before I came, I told my mother that I planned to buy a house here, and she missed her time here. ”

"Yes, I'm sure Chicago fans will be looking forward to the return of a wanderer." Foreman replied with a smile.

The conversation between the two went well, and Wade even mentioned the scene where the All-Star Game and Seo Yong did the event together.

"We're a good fit." Wade's words surprised Foreman a little.

At the end of the conversation, Foreman also asked his assistant to take out a No. 3 jersey of the Bulls, with Wade's name printed on the back of the jersey.

Wade was very excited when he saw this, and immediately put it on.

"It fits so well." Wade smiled and posed.

Foreman gave a thumbs up there.

Their exchange lasted about an hour.

After smiling and sending Wade away, Foreman was in a good mood.

The meeting was requested by Wade on his own initiative, and was finalized earlier than they would ever meet Bosh.

That's right, as Xu Yong expected, the Bulls' first target for the summer was Bosh.

With Seo's rookie stellar performance, they plan to build a lineup around the backcourt combination of Ross and Seo.

In the current lineup, the performance of Noah and Deng is in line with expectations, and they want to strengthen, and the big forward is the first target.

Bosh is their Plan A.

But Wade was so enthusiastic that he couldn't turn people away.

And the main thing in the free market is that a plan can't keep up with the changes, and if it really can't sign Bosh, it's not impossible to sign Wade.

So you will find that the communication between Foreman and Wade is just staying at home, hometown, these topics seem to be very happy on both sides, but it does not involve real team building.

As for the jersey, it was also Foreman's test of how interested Wade was in joining the Bulls.

Judging from Wade's reaction, Wade is here for real this time.

And he was surprised to know that Wade and Xu Yong also got along well.

So after this meeting, he can make Wade the team's plan B.

"By the way, what's going on Chris's side?" Foreman then asked his assistant beside him.

By the time it goes, Bosh should be in Chicago by the end of the day.

"I called just now, and the plane is turned off, maybe the plane is late." The assistant spoke.

Foreman nodded, the flight from Toronto to Chicago is an international flight, and it is normal for it to be late.

"I went to take a break and contacted me with news." Foreman said and went back to his office.

……

Wade didn't leave Chicago immediately after leaving the Union Center, he went to a home buying center.

He really wants to buy a house in Chicago, and even if he doesn't end up joining the Bulls, he needs to have a property in his hometown.

He was drinking coffee and listening to the agent introduce the house when his cell phone rang.

He picked it up and saw that it was James calling.

"Dwayne, what did you think about what the All-Stars talked about before?" As soon as the phone was connected, James asked directly.

Special thanks to me for coming to see the genuine 20,000 reward!!

(End of chapter)