บท 11: Chapter 11: Does your face hurt?
The importance of a coach to a team is undeniable. However, even in the NBA, how many coaches can respond instantly during a timeout and make an immediate impact? Maybe five, at most.
Teague's mocking words were a harsh jab at Andrew, dripping with prejudice. It was a reflection of the inherent bias towards Asians in the league—an unspoken but accepted attitude.
"Chuck, when you're on offense, I want you to handle the ball at the free-throw line and pull Sinchel out. The rest of you, focus on off-ball screens, pick-and-rolls, and backdoor cuts. This Blazers team may shine offensively, but their defense is shaky."
"Rodriguez's three-pointer is unreliable. When Roy has the ball, Will and Jose, double him. If he dishes it out to Aldridge, Paul, you're going to need to challenge him. Don't let him get comfortable. Steve, all you need to do is stay glued to Webster on the perimeter; he's nothing without a clean catch-and-shoot."
Andrew's rapid instructions flowed with the precision of a seasoned tactician, his mind sharp as a blade. The players absorbed his every word, nodding as the whistle blew, ending the timeout.
"Andrew just finished his first timeout tactical deployment in the NBA. Trevor, do you think there's a chance the Rockets will score?" Teague asked eagerly as the game resumed.
"10%? Maybe 1%?" Mike responded, barely hiding his smirk.
"Haha, Trevor, you're being brutal!" Teague chuckled, visibly pleased with the answer.
"Look, it's cruel but true. The Rockets' pick-and-roll strategy has already been exposed, and their defense isn't nearly strong enough to handle the Blazers' raw talent. This is reality, and frankly, Andrew might regret getting off the bench. Staying seated would've kept the speculation alive without giving critics any real evidence."
The two commentators laughed, along with much of the crowd, their eyes glued to the court. Everyone knew that the next series of plays would determine tomorrow's headlines.
Barria dribbled the ball up the court, but something was different. Instead of calling for the usual pick-and-roll, he passed it straight to Hayes near the free-throw line.
The unexpected adjustment left Teague, Mike, and the fans momentarily speechless. Then, the laughter erupted again.
"God! He's having a short center handle the ball! This is his big adjustment?!" Teague could barely contain his laughter.
Mike, meanwhile, shook his head, amused but disappointed. Hayes, undersized for his position, was facing the towering Sinchel. He had no vision, no handles, and no way to create offense. It seemed like a disaster waiting to happen.
But then, Millsap cut to the basket, and Hayes delivered a perfect bounce pass.
*Swish!*
The ball dropped in, and suddenly the smug grins of Teague and Mike froze mid-laugh, as if Andrew had slapped them both in the face.
"What just happened?" Fans in the stands blinked, unsure of what they had just witnessed. All their focus had been on Hayes—no one had seen Millsap slip through the defense.
The Blazers' coach, Panaggio, leapt up from the bench, his eyes wide. As a coach, he knew what had happened. Hayes wasn't just blindly holding the ball; he was orchestrating a clever off-ball pick-and-roll. Novak pulled to the perimeter, Millsap cut inside, and the quick ground pass from Hayes had split the defense.
It was tactical perfection.
Panaggio's eyes darted toward Andrew, who was calmly leaning back on the bench, a look of satisfaction playing across his face. It was as if he had orchestrated the entire play in his head, knowing it would unfold exactly this way.
"It looks like luck is on the Rockets' side," Teague mumbled, embarrassed by how wrong he had been.
The Blazers were back on offense. Rodriguez advanced the ball and passed to Roy. Having already drained three shots, Roy looked confident, but as soon as he touched the ball, he was double-teamed.
He quickly swung it back to Rodriguez, who was wide open on the perimeter.
"Boom!"
Just as Andrew had predicted, Rodriguez's shot clanged off the rim. His three-point shooting was his Achilles' heel, and it showed.
The crowd groaned in disbelief. The Rockets had successfully defended after the timeout.
Millsap snatched the rebound with his long arms, and the Rockets surged forward in transition.
On the sidelines, Panaggio was growing anxious. Andrew's tactical moves felt like a vise, tightening around the Blazers with every play.
"Watch out for the off-ball screens!" Panaggio yelled to his players as the Rockets set up on offense again.
Hayes positioned himself near the free-throw line once more. This time, the Blazers adjusted, shutting down the Rockets' off-ball action on both wings.
"They can't be this lucky again," Teague muttered, focusing intently on the game.
Andrew, watching from the bench, smirked.
*Oh, you think that's all I've got?*
Just as the Blazers shut down the Rockets' wing options, Millsap set a screen for Hayes, who made a perfect pass back to Millsap. With Aldridge and Sinchel blocked off by the screen, Millsap had a clean look at the basket.
*Swish!*
The ball went in again. Two flawless offensive possessions after Andrew's timeout.
The commentators fell silent, their earlier bravado completely wiped away. Andrew's timeout had completely turned the game around, leaving their egos bruised and their faces metaphorically slapped.
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