One Year Left to Play-Chapter 204 - 68: New Learning Objectives
Zhang Hao arrived at the gym and started practicing position play and shooting under the guidance of Chris Owen.
Shooting practice was easy and efficient with guidance.
While Zhang Hao was practicing his shooting, in the head coach's office, Butch Baird and Randy Whitman were discussing the issues of each player, but when it came to Zhang Hao, they had differing opinions.
Randy Whitman shook his head and said to Butch Baird, "Aix is young, there's no need to rush. We can wait until mid-season to strengthen his development; he hasn't even played a real game yet."
Butch Baird had anticipated Randy Whitman would say this. Although Randy Whitman seemed indifferent to every player, including Zhang Hao, Butch Baird noticed that Randy Whitman paid no less attention to Zhang Hao. Initially, it wasn't like this, but as time passed, things changed.
Now, Randy Whitman truly sees Zhang Hao as a junior and wants to carefully nurture his growth.
However, regarding Randy Whitman's comment, Butch Baird had another perspective: "Precisely because he hasn't played real games and hasn't developed the habit of being a shooting black hole, we should correct it early. Didn't you say Aix often ends the attack whenever he gets the ball? Alvan shares the same view as yours, and so do I. I believe Aix has talent."
"He is talented, but he's currently developing new shooting techniques. Adding him to the team's offensive coordination training would be too much pressure for him."
"We can try. If it affects his shooting training, we can temporarily stop. If he learns early how to fit into tactics instead of merely becoming the final phase of a tactic, it would be beneficial for his shooting, wouldn't it?"
Randy Whitman was persuaded indeed. Butch Baird made a valid point.
Only, this would mean Zhang Hao's training pressure...
Seeing Randy Whitman no longer insist on stopping, Butch Baird said to Alvan Adams, "Alvan, Aix is all yours."
"Aix is a very talented kid. I hope he can exhaust my techniques," Alvan Adams responded positively.
Throughout Butch Baird and Randy Whitman's argument, Alvan Adams stayed silent. The head coach had given instructions, so he followed them, even though he shared Randy Whitman's opinion.
...
At 10 o'clock in the morning, two hours of shooting practice ended. Zhang Hao was about to take a shower when a staff member found him: "Aix, Coach Adams wants you to go to the conference room to learn passing."
Conference room for passing practice? Zhang Hao took the towel handed to him by the staff and walked toward the conference room with a puzzled expression.
Knocking on the door, he pushed it open and saw Alvan Adams scribbling on a small blackboard.
Zhang Hao, wiping his sweat, asked, "Alvan, aren't you teaching me passing? Why the conference room?"
Alvan Adams picked up his notebook and went to the small blackboard, saying, "It's quieter here. Passing is practiced on the training field, which you'll need to do this afternoon. For now, I'm teaching you offensive organization, not just passing."
Passing and offensive organization often get mixed up. Alvan Adams' first statement distinguished the two to ensure Zhang Hao understood right from the start.
This sentence was easy to understand, and Zhang Hao nodded, putting the towel aside after drying his sweat, sitting attentively in class.
Like a good student, Zhang Hao sat up straight for the lesson, a gesture that Alvan Adams appreciated.
Without wasting time, Alvan Adams explained while drawing pathways: "As a player in the paint, our passing must have a purpose. Goals of passing are not to rack up assists but to improve the team's offense, helping the core ball handler on the perimeter organize the team attack.
This is similar to your position play and shooting style; its major function is to draw the defense off your teammates or leverage double teams to seize shooting opportunities, not solely trying to find positions to shoot. No player can outscore the opposing entire team.
Offensive organization operates similarly. Passing directly to a teammate for a layup is great passing, but the purpose shouldn't end there. Opportunities for direct assists are fewer; knowing just this limits a player's game-time contribution.
Especially with your style, if you receive the ball and your shooting opportunity is blocked, and there's no one in your passing range able to receive assists directly, often you'll opt for a risky pass, ignoring genuine opportunities for team benefit..."
As he said this, Alvan Adams finished sketching on the blackboard, attracting Zhang Hao's attention before continuing: "For example, last night's game, you got the ball at the right elbow with Garnett sticking to you. PJ was cutting from the baseline, but your passing angle was blocked; eventually, you returned the ball to Kenny—a solid choice. However, you missed seeing Kevin pulling out to the left; had you passed there, he'd have had a good angle for a direct pass, assisting PJ cutting at the baseline."
