Chương 142: Shaking Up the Bulls' Coaching Tactics in 2023
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"Wang Chong also aims to compete for the scoring title this season. As the Bulls' undisputed leader, he'll get the shots he needs to accomplish this. But without a superstar like Kobe drawing the defense, will he be able to maintain his efficiency?"
As expected, Wang Chong's interview dominated the sports headlines. Fans and analysts were already curious about how Wang Chong would perform after joining the Bulls. Would he shine as a lone leader, or was he merely a product of playing alongside legends like Kobe and Shaq?
What caught everyone off guard was Wang Chong's bold proclamation, even before the season had started. People questioned his claim to All-NBA First Team honors and his aspirations for the scoring title.
Some fans, especially James' supporters—who've long felt their favorite has been overshadowed by Wang Chong—mocked him, dismissing his confidence as arrogance.
"Does this guy seriously think he's unbeatable in the NBA? Wait until the season starts. He'll see how tough the league really is without Kobe and Shaq drawing defenders!"
But others took a more balanced view. After all, when Kobe was sidelined last season, Wang Chong's leadership and performance were undeniable. Without Kobe, the Lakers weren't far off from the Bulls' current roster, and Wang Chong had kept the team competitive in the fierce Western Conference. Why couldn't he do the same in the East?
Among his most vocal defenders was Charles Barkley, a well-known fan of Wang Chong, who passionately supported him on TNT.
"I think Wang Chong's skills back up his words. People criticizing him probably haven't even watched him play properly!"
"At 2.10 meters tall and playing small forward, Wang Chong has a huge height and wingspan advantage over most of his defenders. He's a mismatch every time—those taller than him aren't as fast, and those quicker aren't as tall."
"When a regular small forward guards him, Wang Chong doesn't need any fancy moves—just a simple mid-range jumper, and the defense can't touch him. And if a big man tries to defend him, he uses his agility to blow past them and attack the basket. He's nearly impossible to stop offensively."
"I'm telling you, Wang Chong is a legitimate contender for the scoring title this season, and the Bulls will have a strong season with him leading the charge!"
Barkley, who had previously lost several bets because of Wang Chong, had become his biggest advocate. After seeing Wang Chong shine while Kobe struggled last season, Barkley hadn't held back in criticizing Kobe's selfish play, even bringing up how Kobe drove Shaq away for personal glory.
Despite the criticism, the Bulls' media day drew significant attention.
Interestingly, Wang Chong himself felt his goals were modest. After all, he knew what the Bulls' lineup was capable of. To most, their roster seemed weak, but as a time traveler, Wang Chong knew that the Bulls had potential, at least in the Eastern Conference, where only a few teams, like the Pistons and Heat, could compete with them.
The Bulls' starting lineup included Monta Ellis at point guard, Raja Bell at shooting guard, Luol Deng at small forward, Wang Chong at power forward, and Tyson Chandler at center. This group had solid potential.
Both Bell and Chandler were seasoned veterans. Bell was a tough defender, while Chandler was a defensive anchor in the paint. Luol Deng and Ellis were young, but Wang Chong knew they had potential. Deng, in particular, was already a rising star, and Ellis, though inexperienced, had the speed and scoring ability to grow into a formidable player.
Wang Chong hoped that Ellis could break defenses with his speed and give the Bulls an extra scoring threat, especially in transition.
In the Bulls' locker room, as players changed and chatted, Tyson Chandler joked about Wang Chong's confidence.
"We don't know how strong the new guy is yet, but if he lives up to his words, we'll all benefit from it," Chandler said, laughing. He had just signed a six-year, $75 million contract with the Bulls, so his future was already secured, regardless of the team's performance.
Meanwhile, Luol Deng sat quietly, feeling uneasy about Wang Chong's arrival. As a small forward himself, Deng feared losing his starting position to the Bulls' new star. Last season, Deng had shown promise, but Wang Chong was an All-Star, and it was clear he would start.
Feeling conflicted, Deng decided to focus on working hard. "I'll just keep improving. Gold always finds a way to shine," he thought to himself as he headed to the training gym.
When Deng entered, he was surprised to see Wang Chong already there, drenched in sweat, practicing hard. Wang Chong noticed Deng and waved him over.
"Come on, let's play a little one-on-one," Wang Chong said with a smile.
Deng was taken aback. NBA players rarely challenged each other in private one-on-one games due to the risks of affecting team unity. But Wang Chong seemed eager, so Deng agreed and stepped onto the court.
Wang Chong passed Deng the ball and signaled for him to start.
Unsure of what to expect, Deng attacked the basket, using his size to score a layup. But he noticed Wang Chong hadn't really tried to stop him. Was Wang Chong letting him win?
Then, it was Wang Chong's turn. Deng moved closer, expecting a mid-range shot. But with a series of quick dribbles, Wang Chong shook Deng off and sprinted to the basket for an easy dunk. Deng barely had time to react.
"Be serious," Wang Chong said with a grin. "Let me see what you've got!"
As more Bulls players arrived at the gym, they gathered to watch the one-on-one showdown. Wang Chong dominated with an array of offensive moves, from pull-up jumpers to explosive dunks. He was too quick and too skilled for Deng to handle. On defense, Wang Chong used his superior defensive skills and awareness to disrupt Deng's rhythm.
In the end, the one-on-one ended without any suspense—Wang Chong easily won. But for the rest of the Bulls, this exhibition was a powerful statement. Their new star was not just talk; he had the skills and the work ethic to back it up. The Bulls were in for an exciting season.
Got it! I will keep all the original names and details intact while continuing in English. Here's the next part of the story:
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Wang Chao had assessed Luol Deng's performance objectively. The young forward had good individual skills, though his one-on-one offensive game wasn't fully developed yet. However, Deng's defense had impressed Wang Chao. It was unreasonable to expect him to completely shut down someone like Wang Chao, who was an offensive powerhouse.
Comparing Deng to Wang Chao, a player with an almost glitch-like offensive ability, wasn't fair to Deng, who was still evolving. In fact, when considering the league at large, Deng's defensive abilities were already at a high level, similar to what Wang Chao would be without his enhanced abilities.
Wang Chao understood that Deng was still growing as a player. Over the course of the regular season, Deng's skill level would continue to improve. His potential was evident, and the 2005-2006 season stats of 14 points and 6.6 rebounds per game proved it. However, Wang Chao had wanted to test this for himself, knowing that Deng wasn't recognized for his defensive prowess early in his career. It wasn't until Tom Thibodeau's arrival in Chicago that Deng became known as a top defender in the league.
But after personally testing Deng, Wang Chao was convinced that Deng had a strong defensive foundation, one that would be essential for his future development.
Wang Chao's matchup with Luol Deng during practice was just a small event, one that didn't impact the rest of the team's training. No one fully understood his motives. Most thought Wang Chao was just killing time or showcasing his abilities. No one knew that Wang Chao had deeper reasons for testing Deng.
Later that day, Wang Chao sought out head coach Skiles for a discussion.
"Coach, I've got an idea about our starting lineup for the upcoming season," Wang Chao said, getting straight to the point.
As the team's head coach, Skiles held considerable authority, but he was well aware of Wang Chao's unique position within the organization. The team's owner and management placed great value on Wang Chao, and in any conflict between the two, the team would undoubtedly back their star player.
So, instead of dismissing Wang Chao's input, Skiles listened patiently. "Alright, let's hear it."
In truth, Skiles had his own concerns about the team's lineup. The roster felt unbalanced, lacking a strong point guard and a solid power forward. But Skiles doubted that Wang Chao, a young player with only two seasons under his belt, would have the solution.
"I think I should play power forward this season," Wang Chao said confidently.
Skiles blinked, surprised. "You want to play power forward?"
Suddenly, the idea made sense. If Wang Chao shifted to power forward, it could address the team's glaring gap in that position. Luol Deng could then continue playing small forward, allowing the team to maximize its talent.
Why hadn't Skiles thought of this before? The reason was simple—he hadn't expected Wang Chao to volunteer for such a position change. Though Wang Chao had occasionally played power forward during his time with the Lakers, it was usually due to lineup adjustments. Most of the time, he was a small forward, a typical perimeter player.
Looking at Wang Chao's build and playing style, he was clearly suited for the outside game. Moving him to an interior role seemed risky, especially against teams that relied heavily on inside play. Forcing such a change could frustrate the player, but Wang Chao's willingness made all the difference.
"Are you sure about this? The role of a power forward is very different from that of a small forward," Skiles cautioned. "And once we commit to this, we'll have to restructure our strategy around it. You won't be able to switch back if things don't work out after a couple of games."
Wang Chao, though, had no doubts. His height, wingspan, and overall ability—now rated at 94—gave him confidence. Though his inside game wasn't at the level of elite big men, he wasn't trying to be a traditional power forward. Instead, he envisioned himself playing a modern stretch-four role, similar to Dirk Nowitzki or Chris Bosh.
His stats in key areas like rebounding (75), shot-blocking (71), inside defense (74), and positioning (74) were sufficient for his new role. Plus, the Bulls had Tyson Chandler patrolling the paint. At 2.16 meters tall, Chandler could anchor the defense, allowing Wang Chao to focus more on offensive mismatches.
There were only a few power forwards in the league, like Tim Duncan and Amare Stoudemire, that Wang Chao might struggle against. But even then, they often played as centers for their teams, meaning Chandler would be tasked with defending them.
Meanwhile, Wang Chao's offensive versatility would give him an advantage over most power forwards, who lacked the mobility to keep up with him. He recognized that it might lead to more contested shots, but it would also open up better opportunities for driving to the basket.
The real benefit, though, was that both Wang Chao and Luol Deng could now share the court as starters, something Wang Chao had wanted to test.
"Of course I've thought it through," Wang Chao said firmly. "I've been considering it all offseason. With our current lineup, it's the best solution for the team. Luol Deng has a ton of potential and deserves to start. I don't want to see him wasted on the bench."
Wang Chao had more than just his role in mind. He had tactical suggestions for both offense and defense that he shared with Skiles.
When Wang Chao left the coach's office, Skiles was left in a daze. The young player had just given a detailed breakdown of team tactics, covering everything from offensive sets to defensive rotations. Skiles was so impressed that he briefly considered offering Wang Chao a coaching position.
"Is this guy even real?" Skiles muttered to himself, still processing the conversation.
Wang Chao's insights weren't entirely polished, but they were well beyond what Skiles had expected from a player in just his third year. His tactical thinking, coming from his knowledge of the game in 2023, gave him a unique edge in the 2005 era.
The next day, the Bulls' training plan saw major adjustments. Players were surprised to see Wang Chao training as a power forward, while Luol Deng took the small forward position. On the backcourt, the team was experimenting with rookie Monta Ellis and Raja Bell, who had recently been acquired.
Veteran players began to piece together what was happening. It seemed the Bulls were seriously considering this five-man lineup as the team's starting unit.
Soon, the preseason arrived, and the Bulls wasted no time testing out Wang Chao's recommendations. However, the results were mixed, especially on offense.
With Wang Chao on the floor, things ran smoothly. He had become the focal point of the offense, either attacking or dishing the ball to teammates. His passing ability, now rated at 85, made it easy for him to set up basic plays. But the team struggled when he was off the court, with Monta Ellis showing signs of inexperience at point guard.
End of this chapter
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