The Godfather of Basketball

Reggie Miller declined the Rockets' invitation because he had just started working as a commentator.

Glenn Rice and Dale Ellis also rejected the Rockets for their own reasons.

At this time, it was Steve Kerr, who had retired for three years and had been a special commentator on TNT, who opened the phone for Thibodeau.

Cole, a super role player of the former Bulls dynasty, is the first person in NBA history to make three-pointers.

In 15 seasons, the three-point shooting percentage exceeded 50% in 4 seasons, and the three-point shooting percentage was above 40% in 10 seasons.

He is not the one with the most three-pointers in NBA history, but he is the one with the most accurate shots.

Tang Tian is naturally more familiar with him. One must know that Cole, as the head coach of the Warriors in the future, will achieve unprecedented success, even breaking the Bulls Dynasty's regular season win record.

He didn't mention Cole before because he thought Cole would not come out of the mountain, but he didn't expect to be moved by Thibodeau.

With Cole, the Rockets' three-pointers will definitely be able to take it to the next level.

"Tom, you made a great contribution this time." Tang Tian gave Thibodeau a thumbs up.

Thibodeau nodded with a smile, but he didn't appear very excited. He understood that no matter how well the three-pointer is practiced, it cannot be used as a conventional weapon.

After the game with the Mavericks, the Rockets ushered in a rare two-day rest.

On the second day off, Tang Tian met Cole who had completed the resignation procedures from TNT.

Much younger than I remembered. At this time, Cole was in his early forties and had just entered middle age.

"Steve, welcome to the Rockets' coaching staff." Tang Tian stretched out his hands to Cole, welcoming him in the warmest way.

Cole also greeted Tang Tian with a smile, and hugged him hard.

"Don, Steve came to the Rockets because of you." At this moment, Thibodeau said from the side.

"Really?" Tang Tian looked very surprised. Thibodeau had never mentioned this matter to him before.

"Yes, I see your different understanding of basketball in this era." Cole took the words himself.

Tang Tian paused, smiled and reached out to pat Cole's chest.

The Warriors team in my memory, it was because of Kerr's entry that it set off a three-point frenzy in the league. It seems that his arrival made all this earlier.

Back at the first training session in Houston, Tang Tian introduced Cole, a new member of the coaching staff, to the players. He was also the second assistant coach of the coaching staff. He was transferred to other things.

Tang Tian didn't interfere with Cole's training method, and Cole's training method also caught his eye.

Tang Tian's emphasis on three-pointers can be seen as soon as he came to the Rockets. Rose also focused on fixed-point shooting at his request, but the effect was not obvious. He thought it was a frozen three-foot shot. It was a cold day, so I didn't interfere much.

But after Cole came, the first sentence completely negated Rose's training method, making the whole team give up the standing three-point training, and changed to mobile and interfering three-point training, and added an additional opponent. Shot speed requirements.

Tang Tian also understood the difference at once. There are very few open opportunities in official games. In contrast, three-point shots with confrontation and movement are the most frequently seen in games.

Sure enough, he has a specialization in the art industry, and he asked Thibodeau to find a three-point shooter and came back. It was really the right one.

At the end of Cole's training subjects, Tang Tian still let him add an appropriate amount of fixed-point three-pointers.

With the two strengths of Yao Ming and McGrady, there is always a need for open three-pointers.

"Yes, I forgot about Yao and T-mac. This is indeed necessary." Cole did not appear unhappy when Tang Tian corrected him, but accepted it humbly.

Tang Tian nodded in satisfaction. Only a harmonious coaching staff can make the team play its best.

After two days of rest, the Rockets ushered in a relatively easy schedule.

They first went to Orlando to challenge the Magic, then went to Charlotte to face the Bobcats, and finally went to the remote town of Milwaukee to play a game with the Bucks.

After returning to the Toyota Center with a wave of three consecutive visitors, they played a game against the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Clippers and New Orleans Hornets at home.

With increasingly mature offensive tactics, targeted defensive system, and average opponent strength, the Rockets have achieved a record of 5 wins and 1 loss.

After this wave of games, Tang Tian's coaching record has become 8 wins and 2 losses, which is quite outstanding.

However, compared to the record, Tang Tian was more pleased to see the progress of the players in the three-point training, and after half a month, they were already looking good.

Strike while the iron is hot, he proposed adjustments to tactics at the regular meeting of the coaching staff. The biggest change is the proportion of three-point shots, which has increased from the original 30% to 40%.

Although this change came a bit suddenly, everyone guessed it from the focus of the team's training, and no one raised any objections.

The regular meeting ended, and Tang Tian returned to the office.

Not long after he sat down, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in."

Tang Tian raised his head as he spoke, and then saw Xibodu.

Thibodeau looked sad, and when he came in, he turned around and closed the door.

"Tom, what's the matter?" Seeing Thibodeau's mysterious behavior, Tang Tian showed doubts.

Thibodeau walked to the seat opposite Tang Tian and sat down, hesitated for a while, and then said, "Tang, I don't think it's good to make tactical adjustments at this point in time."

"How do you say it?" Tang Tian looked at Xibodu suspiciously.

"I think it's been about a month and a half since you started taking over the team's offense. Our players have adapted to your offensive system, and they're playing well." Thibodeau said, looking at Tang Tian.

"Yes, we made a very good start." Tang Tian nodded.

"Then you still... Let me tell the truth, I have been in the NBA for so many years, and this is the first time I have seen a change in team tactics under such circumstances. This is a bit risky." Thibodeau said bluntly.

"So you think we shouldn't change?" Tang Tian asked back.

"At least not now." Thibodeau expressed his thoughts.

"Tom." Tang Tian looked at Thibodeau, "Your suggestion is correct. It is indeed a bit risky, but there are reasons why we should do it."

Xibodu looked at Tang Tian suspiciously.