Chapter 13 Walker

Back at Kansas State, when Walker suffered an ankle injury, Tang Tian spoke to him with the tone of a godfather.

It seemed that Walker still remembered those words.

But it was indeed very useful. The competition in the NCAA wasn't as brutal as in the NBA, and there would be coaches and teammates who would genuinely help you carry the load.

But in the NBA, it was like colleagues at work who couldn't really help much; you had to rely more on yourself.

Walker realized at this time that the injury back then was actually a good thing for him. At least in terms of mentality, he had become more mature than the average rookie.

"Keep it up, see you at the All-Star Rookie Game." Tang Tian sent a message back.

Because they were in different conferences, they would only play each other twice a season.

Plus, with the lockout season's dense schedule and not much personal time, they didn't have many opportunities to meet.

"Yes, you too."

After reading Walker's reply, Tang Tian put his phone down.

The next game was against the Heat.

For him, it was a game with a different meaning.

Back at the Spurs' training session, Tang Tian began to try catch-and-shoot three-pointers in the scrimmage.

The Spurs were known for their tactics, and there was already a lot of teamwork between the teammates. Plus, after playing almost ten games, he and Splitter had developed a rapport.

He seized the opportunity and made two catch-and-shoot three-pointers after off-ball movement.

"He can do that too?"

Popovich was a little surprised when he saw it on the sidelines. Although Tang Tian had been training before, it was all extra training at night, and Popovich didn't know about it.

"Yes, I heard Engelhardt mention it once. It seems he's been doing extra practice on that."

Budenholzer said. Popovich was in charge of the big picture, and he, as an assistant coach, knew more about these minor details.

"Interesting." Popovich nodded with a smile after listening. He really didn't know about Tang Tian's extra training.

Moreover, one could imagine the sweat and effort behind a person developing a skill from scratch.

The day before the Spurs' game against the Heat, the entire Heat team arrived in San Antonio.

Unlike the Spurs, whose form had fluctuated, the Heat's performance this season could be described as incredibly hot.

They had played 9 games so far, and except for losing to the Hawks, they had won all the other 8 games, with an 8-1 record, the best in the league.

LeBron James was playing even better in his second season with the Heat, with 3 games scoring 30+ points and a shooting percentage as high as 55%.

Wade and Bosh were also playing consistently, and most importantly, the team had two veterans.

Mike Miller had regained his touch, with a three-point shooting percentage of over 45%, and new addition Battier had also brought strong perimeter defense to the team.

This team was balanced on both offense and defense, giving people the feeling that they had already locked in the championship in advance.

However, teams with LeBron James were always subject to scrutiny, and some people still felt that the Heat's current record was related to their opponents and schedule.

The game against the Spurs was a true litmus test for them.

The Heat organized a routine training session on the day they arrived in San Antonio, which showed that Spoelstra also attached great importance to this game.

The Heat's training attracted a lot of reporters, and when the training ended, James was besieged by reporters.

After being defeated by the Mavericks last season, the team had faced a lot of criticism.

However, after a long offseason, James, as the core of the team, had obviously adapted somewhat.

He was already responding fluently to the usual topics such as "What changes have been made to the team in the new season" and "Is the team ready to win the championship this season."

"The Heat worked out Tang in the summer, but the team ultimately didn't choose him. He's performing very well in San Antonio now. What are your thoughts on this?"

A reporter asked a relatively fresh question.

James glanced at the reporter who asked the question, obviously not expecting someone to ask this.

But after all, he had experienced a lot and reacted quickly.

"Yes, Tang is great. He can shoot threes, his defense is also very good, and he plays very smart. He's a good player, but I won't interfere with the team's management. I'm a player, and I'm only responsible for playing the game."

James' answer seemed to have no problems.

After the interview, James returned to the locker room to take a shower. His teammates hadn't returned to the hotel yet, and they were sitting there chatting and laughing.

The team had won consecutive games, and the players were relaxed and in a good mood.

However, Battier and Wade had serious expressions when they spoke, as if they were discussing some serious topic.

James came out wrapped in a towel, smiled, and walked over to sit next to the two.

"What are you guys talking about?" James asked after sitting down.

"The game," Wade said with a smile, looking at James with a hint of affection between friends.

"Tell me about it," James continued.

"We're talking about Green and Tang. The Spurs have developed a tactic this season, with the 2-3 position receiving the ball and shooting. The effect is very good."

Battier said. He was a Duke product and was more sensitive to tactics.

The Spurs' wings have been playing well this season, especially Green and Tang Tian, ​​both of whom are averaging over 10 points per game.

You know, Green only played seven or eight games last season, and Tang Tian is just a rookie.

Although the two have good strength, the tactical bonus is also obvious.

"Yes, with those three guys there, their defensive pressure isn't great. If they can make those shots they should, they're a big threat."

Wade said with a wry smile.

He appreciated Tang Tian when he worked out for the Heat.

He also said good things when the management made the decision, and he knew about the draft promise.

It's just that he didn't know why the management changed their minds in the end, and now Tang Tian has become a point of concern for them.

"No, no, there's really nothing to worry about." James' reaction was unexpected.

Wade and Battier looked at him curiously.

"Green does need to be guarded against, but his three-point consistency isn't that good. You can see if Mario (Chalmers) needs to stick close to him. As for Tang, he's just a spot-up shooter. Just don't give him open looks. Shawn is the best at doing that."

James said casually.

Battier smiled after listening. James was a little embarrassed to praise him so much, but what he said was indeed not a big problem.

Green's shooting percentage in the first few games of the season did fluctuate a lot, especially when he was only around 30% during the five-game road trip.

Tang Tian, ​​on the other hand, has only been shooting spot-up threes and the occasional backdoor cut since the start of the season.

"So guys, enjoy the game. Tonight, we'll dispel all doubts." James smiled and patted the two on the shoulders.