One Year Left to Play-Chapter 135 - 43: What If Someone’s Talent Exceeds Expectations?

Zhang Hao’s mid-range shot basics are nearly perfect. At Zhang Hao’s level, it’s no longer a matter of others guiding him to become more accurate. He’s reached the point where team training or actual games are needed to find possibilities for improvement. Perhaps, at this stage, there’s no room for progress.

A skill doesn’t necessarily improve endlessly through practice. Many people reach their own limits and stop improving, and most people’s limits aren’t very high. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

But players haven’t fully returned to the team yet, and it’s implausible to demand everyone return just for a rookie. Regulations state that before training camp begins, it’s the players’ vacation time, and the team doesn’t have the authority to require them to report early. Only teams with strict discipline, or located in cities with appealing lifestyles, might exert such influence. Otherwise, if players don’t return early, the coaching staff has no recourse, like with Coleman, only trades are viable, no other options.

Originally, there was no need to consider so much. Butch Baird initially planned to start strength training upon Zhang Hao’s return, yet who knew Zhang Hao improved his strength so much over the summer.

Training team tactics isn’t feasible, and strength training seems redundant. Zhang Hao seems to have his own methods and possesses strong control over his body...

Yesterday, Randy Whitman received the task arranged by Butch Baird, which was to devise a development plan based on Zhang Hao’s current situation. He was bothered all night, unable to come up with a good plan, and tentatively asked: "Butch, why not let Aix extend his shooting range? Or have Vaughn teach him positioning movements?

Actually, I believe real games are the best method to find ways for Aix to improve.

We know so little about his gameplay, only some video clips, shot by the high school team’s videographer. The only complete game was the Adidas Elite Tournament, but few of our team’s players had the talent those high school kids have."

This precisely was Butch Baird’s headache, Zhang Hao was far more mature than anticipated.

Fortunately, it’s just half a month’s time, Butch Baird said: "Let Vaughn guide Aix in training his positioning then..."

...

In the afternoon, after lunch, Butch Baird returned to the office to review the scouts’ list and data of players who might participate in next year’s draft. Draft preparations are done in advance; initially, forecasting rising stars who might enter the draft, then monitoring them. Some teams’ draft plans span three to four years ahead.

In these matters, it’s worse to be insufficiently prepared than to waste efforts.

As he watched, he was seized by a craving, deciding to head to the arena’s smoking area to see if anyone would share a smoke. Though smoking in the office was possible, he had a habit of sharing a smoke casually with others.

Upon reaching the smoking area, he found a player who was supposed to be training.

Vaughn Fleming was there, looking bewildered and contemplating life while puffing quietly...

Butch Baird asked, puzzled: "What’s up, Vaughn? Is Aix difficult to teach? Or is he unwilling to learn?"

Vaughn Fleming shook his head: "Aix loves learning and respects me, humbly seeking my guidance."

"Huh?"

"But I can’t teach him! This kid works too hard, always researching off-ball positioning movements. He knows more positioning movement techniques than I do!"

"Does he know every type of positioning?"

"Not exactly. I mean, if he were drawing positioning diagrams, he probably knows how an off-ball shooter should move in any tactic. I can’t fathom how much time he spent memorizing these."

"Could be he has a naturally good memory?" Butch Baird realized, but soon felt something was off: "But at this point, that doesn’t seem like good news..."

Vaughn Fleming nodded: "Indeed, remembering too many positioning techniques might mean when learning our team’s tactical positioning, he thinks more than others, like me. Most times, it’s based on instinct. In games, there’s hardly any time to think about finding the best positioning route; it’s even tougher for the ball-handler.

Off-ball shooters and handlers need good chemistry. Often, the shooting opportunity from their cooperation isn’t theoretically the best, but occurs when the ball-handler’s passing timing aligns with the position of the off-ball player..."

Butch Baird, once a player who made the All-Star team alongside Rick Barry and Jamal Wilkes, understood Vaughn Fleming’s predicament... or rather, the predicament Zhang Hao was about to face.

Yet Zhang Hao’s diligence can’t be faulted, as striving isn’t wrong, but now it’s truly impacting certain aspects.

...

Listening to the explanations from the head coach and team veterans left Zhang Hao speechless yet resigned.

While learning from experienced individuals about how to position in real games, he discovered this issue too—he always overthinks!

This isn’t advantageous during games.

In Butch Baird’s words—As a coach, one complicates matters, racking brains to think up the best positioning tactic;

But as a player, one must simplify things, combining the coach’s devised best positioning tactic with actual situations to find the simplest scoring method.