No.1 in basketball scoring-Chapter 155 - 99. Training begins, 2012 finals (10,000 characters combined into one)_2

After the game, back in the office, he praised his colleague, "Jack is just different from the others. The day he got back, he said he wanted more ball handling against the Clippers, and he played right away, helping Raymond and Gerald relieve a lot of ball handling pressure."

Little Bickerstaff said, "Yeah, and he chooses the timing for his ball handling very well..."

While speaking, he pulled out a small notebook, flipped through it, and continued, "Jack understands the offensive rhythm of Raymond and Gerald very well. He steps up when those two need a break, truly sharing the burden of ball rights, rather than diluting his teammates’ possessions. That’s very rare, and I usually only see that in seasoned veterans."

Bickerstaff said, "Yeah, Jack is just too good in these areas, it’s just..."

Randy Brown said jokingly, "Bernie, are you still dissatisfied with a Jack like this?"

Bickerstaff replied, "I’m not dissatisfied, it’s just that Jack’s style of play when he’s in possession is different from what I had imagined."

Randy Brown asked, "Different how?"

Bickerstaff answered, "I thought he would stand up and help organize the attack when Raymond needed a rest, but his first choice when he has the ball is still to create shooting opportunities.

Against the Clippers, when facing Livingston, who is taller than him but can also keep up with his speed, he always chose to shoot off a screen or make a pull-up jumper after a screened drive.

Against the Bulls, when facing Hinrich, Gordon, and Parker, who were of similar height or shorter, he consistently went for high-post backdowns, pivots, pull-ups, or attacks on the rim..."

Confused, Randy Brown said, "What’s the problem with that?"

Bickerstaff was stumped by the counter-question and, after regaining his composure, complained, "I almost forgot you and the boss were former teammates."

Little Bickerstaff chimed in, "Actually, Jack does pass. I recorded his passes these last two games, and they’re much higher than before. Before, when he passed, it was usually because he had no opportunity left and would protect the ball waiting for a teammate to come help; now, he actively passes to teammates who have a chance.

Of course, the premise is that his own shot opportunity isn’t good; otherwise, between an open teammate and taking a shot himself, he would choose to shoot first.

When he doesn’t have a good opportunity and a teammate is open, he will pass, like tonight’s long pass he made from the left baseline to the right 45-degree angle—it was bold, but too bad Karim broke away, resulting in a turnover."

Randy Brown also expressed regret, "Yeah, that pass was very imaginative. If Karim had caught the ball, he’d have had a clear shot, and if it went in, it would definitely have made the top five!"

Little Bickerstaff said, "Jack’s passing during fast breaks has become more obvious. Before, when Brevin was around, Jack always chose to take the shot during fast breaks, and he seldom passed. Now, as long as a teammate has better conditions to attack the basket than he does, he will pass.

We can’t see this change in the number of assists because Jack’s fast break passing habits are different from Brevin’s. He doesn’t wait for his teammate to reach the shooting spot before passing; as soon as he feels his teammate has a chance to make a play, he will pass it directly.

This type of passing results in fewer assists, but it can seize more opportunities... It’s simply unbelievable that he wasn’t influenced negatively by playing fast breaks with Brevin.

However, there are still regrettable aspects; during fast breaks, he rarely coordinates with trailing shooters or wingmen, which was almost nonexistent these last two games. If he did, his assist numbers would definitely improve, as shooters typically shoot directly off a fast break pass without dribbling, and if it goes in, it counts as an assist."

Finally, Ingles had a chance to interject, "It’s not that Jack fails to see his shooter teammates, but rather he’s cautious and doesn’t pass. Trail shooters and wing catch-and-shoot players are generally slower, there’s always a defender nearby, and the requirements for the timing of the pass and the rapport for the catch-and-shoot are higher."

Randy Brown speculated, "Is it because Michael yelled at him to control his turnovers, and he got scared?"

Bickerstaff remarked, "How could that be? Do you remember how Jack responded to the boss that day?"

Randy Brown answered, "Uh... why are you so loud? Ouch?"

Bickerstaff stated, "Jack just has a mature style of play and a prudent approach; he probably thinks that since there’s a chance for a turnover, he might as well drive in for a one-on-one."

Little Bickerstaff, Randy Brown, and Ingles were collectively speechless. Jack’s style of play is mature and prudent? That seems fine.

But it feels strange when applied to a scoring maniac...

Ingles, the professional responsible for player development, said, "Then during team practice, we should arrange more cooperative fast break training for Jack with Matt, Karim, Jumaine... to build their understanding. But we shouldn’t expect Jack to change much in the short term; his passing is still too poor. Though there’s been significant improvement these three weeks, it’s based on just how poor his passing was to begin with."

Bickerstaff affirmed, "Certainly, even though Jack has better habits and a more selfless attitude now, his ability to push the fast break is far from reaching Brevin’s level. Brevin has a talent for finding teammates and delivering the ball in transition that can be compared with Nash and Kidd, a shame he doesn’t have Nash’s scoring capability or Kidd’s defense."

Randy Brown observed, "Nash and Kidd are once-in-a-decade geniuses. If Brevin could be compared to them, why would he be left off the eight-man protected list? By the way, did you all notice another change in Jack tonight? He was more aggressive in driving to the basket!"

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