Almighty Coach

Entering April, the NBA regular season has also entered the last month, and this is also the time when the competition is the most intense.

Those teams at the bottom of the ranking began to perform even more frantically, desperately wanting to lose, and wanting to fight for a higher draft pick. If they accidentally win a game, they can definitely see the team manager's black face.

The results in the first few places have basically determined the home court advantage of the playoffs, and at this time they have to consider their first opponents in the playoffs, especially the first and second in the East and West, and they can try to control the rankings , to pick an opponent in the first round of the playoffs. For example, deliberately losing to a certain team, so that their rankings will rise a bit, and squeeze out those opponents who do not want to meet in the first round of the playoffs.

The teams in the middle and upper reaches of the East and West began to fight for home court advantage in the playoffs. For example, the fourth and fifth places in the East and West are only one place behind, and the difference in record between each other will not be very large, but in the playoffs, the fourth place has one more home field than the fifth place. In the case of such a small gap, the teams at the back will inevitably try to chase forward and strive for a home court advantage in the playoffs; while the teams at the front will keep their home court advantage in the playoffs. It is also very likely to win more games.

And those teams that are on the edge of the threshold of the playoffs have to work hard every game. It is very likely that if they win one more game, they will enter the playoffs, or they may lose one more game and they will fall out of the playoffs. Depending on the scope of the game, it is even possible that the two sides will have the same number of wins and losses, and the relationship between each other will also be the same. In the end, it will be determined by the division record or the record against the entire Western Conference to determine who can enter the playoffs.

As for the Clippers, they will definitely not be able to enter the playoffs, and their own first-round picks have also been traded to the Celtics, so it doesn't make sense to play badly. Whether the current Clippers' performance is good or bad is not very important. They are more like a spoiler.

Next, the Clippers will face a road trip to the East. They will go to Boston to challenge the Celtics away, and then go to New York to play against the Knicks.

...

In Boston, Celtics general manager Dennis found the team's head coach Alexander-Arnold.

"Coach Arnold, I want to know, do we have any plans to let the players rest recently?" Dennis asked.

"I was guessed by you. I will play the Los Angeles Clippers in the next game. I really plan to let several main players take turns, just like the Spurs, Rockets and Cavaliers did." Coach Arnold continued: "The regular season At this stage, the physical energy of the players is relatively large, especially the main players. If they can rest for a game or two, it will be good for the players to maintain their health and condition. Besides, the Clippers also have a Los Angeles overtime team. Nicknames, going to fight with them for a few overtimes is more of a loss-making deal for us."

"No, we can't take turns." Dennis said eagerly: "We must win the Clippers game!"

"Why?" Arnold looked puzzled, and he continued: "We are now firmly ranked second in the East, but there is a gap of four games from the first, which will be difficult to recover in the next game. Besides, Come on, the Clippers are a team in the West, and the relationship between us will basically not affect our ranking in the East."

"But the Clippers rank too high!" Dennis said.

Arnold showed an expression of "the Clippers' record is none of my business".

Dennis had no choice but to explain: "We have a draft pick from the Clippers. A few months ago, this draft pick had a 10% probability of being the No. 1 pick, but now, this draft pick has fallen to the lottery zone. Edge. If the Clippers continue to win, we will become more passive in this year's draft."

Arnold frowned after hearing this explanation.

According to Arnold's understanding, the level of rookies in the next class is still very good. Several of them are modeled on the superstars in the league, which shows that everyone has high expectations for them. I also hope to get a relatively high pick in the draft and select a favorite rookie.

"However, I am still worried that too much overtime will bring extra consumption to the players, and it will also increase the risk of injury." Arnold said hesitantly.

"Coach Arnold, the Clippers are a team in the West, so we only have two chances to play against the Clippers a year. We have already played one game before, and the next game is also our only chance to beat the Clippers. More critical The best thing is that we can set an example to other teams in the league and let other teams know that as long as they can win, there is nothing terrible about playing overtime!"

"Well, I will let the players go all out for the next game." Arnold reluctantly nodded and agreed.

...

"The Celtics actually have the entire main lineup. The Celtics really think highly of us." Dai Li said with a relaxed face as he held the Celtics' starter list in his hand.

"I also thought that players like the Kettles who wanted to compete for the championship would come to the bench to play against us like other teams. I didn't expect them to send all the starters. It seems that they are really good. Eager to win," assistant coach Cassell said from the sidelines.

"Since the Celtics value us so much, we can't let them down. Go and tell our lads that this game is going to be overtime!" The famous Devil’s home court, we haven’t won in Boston for several years, right? Everyone must work hard this time, even if they can’t win the Celtics, we must let them know that our Clippers are not a team that can be played casually. A soft persimmon that has been pinched around by others!"

...

"Unsurprisingly, the game went to overtime. The nickname of the Los Angeles overtime team is indeed well-deserved." The commentator at the scene said enthusiastically.

On the coaching bench, Celtics coach Arnold looked depressed. He obviously didn't want to see overtime.

"God bless, let us overthrow the Clippers in the first overtime, and don't have a second overtime." Arnold prayed silently in his heart.

It was also at this time that Celtics point guard Kerry broke through with the ball and collided with the Clippers' defender. Then Kerry fell to the ground, and the referee's whistle sounded, giving the Clippers a block foul.

"The number of fouls has come and it's time for a free throw." Arnold clenched his fists with some excitement. However, in the next second, he saw that Kerry fell to the ground, did not get up, and covered his left knee with his hand, his expression was very painful.

"Don't get hurt!" Arnold's expression darkened instantly, and there was even more anxiety in his eyes.

At this time, Arnold suddenly remembered that Kerry's left knee had been broken three years ago, and there were two screws embedded in the left patella. Recently, Kerry also often complained about the soreness in his left knee. After examination, it was found that it was caused by tendinitis in the left knee. Staphylococcus infection also appeared in the place where the screw was screwed forward.

It stands to reason that if you encounter this kind of situation, you should treat it as soon as possible, and perform surgery to remove the screw to avoid more serious infections. But if you do surgery now, it means reimbursement for the season. The Celtics plan to hit the championship this season, so Kerry Can only persist with injuries.

On the big screen at the scene, the slow motion of the breakthrough just now was finally shown. From another angle of the camera, it can be seen that when Kerry made the breakthrough, his left knee collided with the knee of the Clippers defender. It was this impact that caused Kerry to fall to the ground.

"Oops, it was hit head-on." Arnold's heart tightened.

Some players were injured, the game had to be suspended, and the team doctor also came on the field to check on Kerry. Kerry's expression looked very painful, he couldn't stand up at all, and he didn't look like he could continue to play.

Unable to survive, three minutes later, the stretcher team carried Kerry down and waited for further inspections. In this game, he will definitely not be able to continue playing.

As the team's core point guard, Kerry's injury also directly disrupted the team's offensive rhythm. In the next few minutes, the Celtics' offense was blocked, but they were caught up by the Clippers instead. The first overtime also ended in a tie.

...

"If it wasn't for Kerry's injury, there would be no need for a second overtime!" Arnold murmured silently in his heart, and at the same time expressed concern about Kerry's injury.

Kerry is an All-Star player and a point guard, so he is also the organizer and initiator of the Celtics' offense and the core player of the Celtics. If he is not there, the Celtics' entire tactical system will be affected, and their combat effectiveness will be greatly reduced.

"God bless, Kerry's injury must not be too serious."

While Arnold was praying to God, the Celtics were also organizing an offense. The Celtics small forward Gordon ran from the king's basket, and the outside defender threw the ball directly to the basket. Come on, ready to do an alley-oop with Gordon.

However, the Clippers' defensive players are not easy to eat. The center under the basket jumped directly and blocked the ball from the air.

At this time, Gordon had also taken off, ready to complete this alley-oop, but happened to collide with the center of the Clippers. Both of them were in the air, and neither of them could control their bodies well.

However, the weight of the center is greater after all, and the physical confrontation in the air is also more advantageous. This physical confrontation caused Gordon to lose his center of gravity when he landed. When he landed, due to the excessive impact force, his left ankle even had a nearly 90-degree valgus.

Gordon fell to the ground in pain, and the referee had to stop the game. The players who were closer to Gordon even turned their heads, not daring to see Gordon in pain.

"It must be broken!" Dai Li thought to himself, at this time the Celtics' team doctor and head coach Arnold also rushed over immediately.

"Why? Why was another one injured? It seems that Gordon's injury is much more serious than Kerry's. Could it be that he was reimbursed for the season?" At this time, the anxiety in Arnold's heart is beyond words.

Gordon is also an All-Star player. Now that Kerry's injury is uncertain, if Gordon is injured again, he will lose two cores at once, and the Celtics may lose the first round of the playoffs.

"It's a dislocated ankle and a fractured tibia! It's best to send him to the hospital for surgery immediately." A voice sounded from behind everyone.

The team doctor turned his head impatiently, thinking where did the stunned man come from, who dared to give such a diagnosis without taking an X-ray, and then he saw Dai Li standing there.

Dai Li detected Gordon, so he knew Gordon's injury immediately. He couldn't bear that Gordon had been enduring the pain, so he simply stated the diagnosis result, hoping that Gordon could be treated as soon as possible.

"Coach Li, what did you just say? What kind of fracture?" Arnold asked eagerly. At this moment, he couldn't care less about Dai Li being his opponent.

"I mean, a dislocated ankle and a fractured tibia!" Dai Li repeated, and then said, "It's very unfortunate news that Gordon will be reimbursed for this season."

"How do you know?" The team doctor asked a little unconvinced.

"In addition to being a coach, I am also an expert in sports rehabilitation training." Dai Li replied.

After hearing this, Arnold immediately remembered that Dai Li's training center does have sports rehabilitation business, and that Dai Li, as the head coach of the Clippers, must have some basis for daring to make such a judgment on this occasion.

At the same time, Arnold also realized that if Dai Li's diagnosis was correct and it was really a fractured tibia, then Gordon must be reimbursed for the season.

"Two core players were injured in two overtimes. In this damn game, why should I go all out, learn from the Spurs, Rockets and Cavaliers, and just get on some benches to deal with it casually. In this case, Kerry and Go Not only will Deng not be injured, but he can also rest for a day... I really did it to my own death!"

A strong regret rose from Arnold's heart.