Forty: Your Teammates Are Very Gentle

Lionel Hollins, a former NBA player, is one of the most well-known defensive gates in NBA history, especially with a deep understanding of zone pressing.

As a player, he won the championship with the Blazers in 1977, and was selected to the All-Defensive Team in 1977 and 1978.

Today, Lionel Hollins is the head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies.

In fact, Lionel Hollins' coaching career started in 1999. But in the beginning, Hollins' coaching career was not smooth. It wasn't until the 08-09 season when the Grizzlies rehired Hollins as their head coach that he really got a firm foothold in the NBA as a head coach. In the past three years, the Grizzlies' record is also soaring.

The arrival of Lionel Hollins laid a foundation for the Memphis Grizzlies' playstyle -- a defense-focused approach.

When it comes to the Memphis Grizzlies, the first thing that comes to mind is an unbeatable defense. From Mike Conley at the 1st position to the "black and white bears" in the interior, the Grizzlies' five positions are defensive stalwarts.

In this era of more and more offensive rounds and faster and faster offensive speeds, Lionel Hollins' Grizzlies are undoubtedly going further and further on a unique path.

Hollins likes to defend, it's a well-known thing. No matter what kind of player you have, as long as you're good on defense, you're going to get a chance with the Grizzlies. Just look at how well that guy, Tony Allen, who can barely shoot, is doing well in Memphis to see how unique Hollins' perspective on players is.

Because of this, Lionel Hollins recently took a fancy to the Chinese who was fired up. The 2.03-foot-tall, slightly thin forward is exactly the kind of player Hollins needs.

People may only see Link's 52-point night, ignoring the fact that he never had his matchup score high in the G League. Whether it was Luke Babbitt, Lance Stephenson or DeMarre Carroll, they were all overshadowed by Link.

Even in those three games with the Rockets, Link's defensive performance in limited time was very good. In fact, that's the real reason the Grizzlies are interested in Link.

A prospective 3-and-D player, nothing fits the Grizzlies better. Originally, the Grizzlies were planning to trade their old star Shane Battier back. But compared to Shane, Link is younger, and he doesn't have to pay a price to get him.

Why not do this kind of business?

So this afternoon, in the training hall, Lionel Hollins got his wish to see his new player, the guy who dominated the entire G League in just 3 games - Link.

"Link, glad to see you reporting so soon. I'm Lionel Hollins, the head coach of the Grizzlies." Hollins politely shook hands with Link, which flattered Link.

Since his first day with the Rockets, Adelman didn't even look at him.

"Hello, sir, I'm glad to have the opportunity to train here." Link also shook hands with Hollins politely. "When do we start?"

Link is naturally very active, and he wants to play earlier than anyone.

"Start? Start what? Adversarial training? Hahahaha, don't worry, Link. You don't know anything about the Grizzlies' tactics. After you're familiar with our playstyle and what you need to do, You start practicing with the team again. But I believe that with your basketball literacy, you should be fine."

Hollins patted Link on the shoulder, and four years in college wasn't all bad. In the past four years, the NCAA must have cultivated Link's basic basketball qualities very solidly. It shouldn't be difficult for a senior to get used to tactics or something.

"I will work hard,

Mr. Lionel Hollins. "

"Hahahaha, you don't have to call me Mr. Sir. I'm the team coach, and you're the team player. We need effective communication, not superfluous etiquette, understand?" Hollins smiled, didn't he? Is every Chinese player so polite?

"I see, coach."

"Well, that's right. Warm up, and I'll have Turner explain the tactics to you in the afternoon. You may need to get on the court and try running. Don't worry, I'll allow you to make mistakes now. And, yours The teammates are also very gentle. So let's go."

After speaking, Hollins walked back to his office. Link stayed where he was, scratching his head.

Grizzlies teammates are all mild? You're probably thinking I haven't watched the NBA...

※※※

At two o'clock in the afternoon, Link's most worrying moment finally came. The Grizzlies' afternoon practice has officially started, which means it's time for the Grizzlies players to enter the field one by one.

And Link is the most special existence in this training ground.

The first person to walk into the training hall was Mike Conley. Although this guy who has become the Grizzlies' head point guard in just the fourth grade has a clear mind and has deep feelings for the Grizzlies, he is not someone who can express his warmth on his face. people on top.

"Hello." After Conley found Link, he just greeted him and warmed up to himself, as if Link didn't exist at all.

The second person who came in was Marc Gasol, a "European fortress" who used to be too fat to be a professional player, but is now extremely lean.

Pau Gasol's personality is more cheerful than his brother Paul, but in the face of unfamiliar people, Pau Gasol is not very enthusiastic as a European player. The Spanish center just nodded lightly at Link, even if he had said hello.

The third person to step onto the court is Tony Allen, who is currently the most enthusiastic of the three. As soon as he came in, he walked up to Link in surprise, "You're really here!? Haha, didn't expect that Wallace guy actually brought you to Memphis! Hey, you know what? Just scored 52 in the G League! You're great man, sorry about Zeke. Hey, play well, you're going to love Memphis, trust me."

Tony Allen's enthusiasm was something Link did not expect. As a fan in his previous life, he only knew that Tony Allen was a defensive gatekeeper, a defensive fighter who made LeBron James' level athlete a headache.

I just didn't expect this tough guy to be so easy-going in private.

"Thank you for your encouragement, Tony, I'll do my best."

Link smiled awkwardly. Link really couldn't learn such a familiar character of a black buddy.

Then, the Grizzlies players came one after another. Some of them greeted Link, while others simply ignored Link. And the likes of O.J. Mayo looked at his new teammates with very arrogant eyes.

In addition, the Grizzlies backup No. 3 Sam Young looked at Link with some anger in his eyes. After all, everyone knew that if Sam Yang performed well, the Grizzlies wouldn't need to recruit Link. Link is here to compete with Sam Young, so it's no wonder that the competitors can chat in a friendly manner.

Over time, more and more people are in the training hall. Link was starting to get nervous because one of the Grizzlies' most "bear" guys had yet to show up.

"Bang!" At this moment, the door of the training hall was slammed open, and a lump of "Roshan" walked into the training hall and waved to everyone, "Good afternoon, everyone."

Link looked at the black version of Joan Brockman and couldn't help swallowing.

Zach Randolph, the most "moderate" teammate in the Grizzlies, has appeared!

When Link stared at Randolph, Randolph just turned his gaze. The two looked at each other, and then Randolph showed an evil smile and walked towards Link.

"You're Link? The guy who set a single-game scoring record in the G League?" Randolph asked as he approached.

"Hello, Zach."

"Our team doesn't need soft guys, so if you want to stay, it's best to be tough on the training ground. Memphis' in-team training is not like playing in the G League, hahahahaha." Randolph laughed. When he got up, Sam Yang also smiled.

"I know how to play tough games better than you, Zach. I've seen too many big guys like you. In the G League, a big guy like you threatened me." Tough response to Randolph.

"The result?" Randolph approached Link, he thought the newcomer would be too frightened to speak. But now, he had to admit, he kind of liked the yellow-skinned guy.

What the Grizzlies need is that fearless backbone.

"As a result, you'll know right away."

"Oh!!!!!" Hearing Link's response, the Grizzlies players who were watching the lively around roared.

Randolph also laughed, he grabbed Link's shoulders and secretly forced, "I expect you to let me know the result, boy."

After Randolph walked away, Link let out a sigh of relief. It seems that dealing with different people requires different methods.

The unspeakable Conley and Gasol, the arrogant Mayo, the enthusiastic Tony Allen, the angry Sam Young and the unpredictable Randolph... The Grizzlies and Memphis Just like, it is really a chaotic place where all kinds of third-rate and nine religions gather.

But for his first training, Link was looking forward to it even more. This special group is actually quite interesting.