NBA: Warrior godfather.

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That night, Liam Gonzalez sat on the sidelines of the Chesapeake Energy Arena with a calm expression. Next to him were Curry, Butler, Azubuike, and other starters, all looking at the court with different expressions.

He gazed at the large screen, which displayed the score of the two teams: 95:105.

This significant disparity, of course, follows the NBA rule where the visiting team is listed first and the home team second. With only half a minute left in the game, the Warriors were 10 points behind the Thunder, and the game was effectively over.

On the other side of the technical table, Westbrook, Durant, and Harden sat on the bench, watching the Thunder's third-stringers play hard on the court while chatting and laughing off it.

Liam looked away, still watching the game with a calm expression, and applauded Danny Green, who had just made a three-pointer.

He had anticipated this outcome before the game and was not surprised at all. In fact, he felt that the point difference was a bit small. He had prepared well for this match, and losing by fewer points meant they had made progress. Ten points was a good result.

This season, Durant was in top form, averaging 29.7 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. His scoring ability had reached a new level compared to last season, making him an elite scorer. He had led the Thunder to a 30-15 record, ranking fifth in the Western Conference.

Tonight, he completely ignored the defenses of Butler and Matthews. He hit 11 of 17 mid-range shots, frequently made acrobatic moves, and stepped up to the free-throw line. He made 11 of 12 free throws, finishing with 33 points. A solid performance.

There's a reason the Thunder's trio worked so well together. Durant was the first "Golden Wheel Penalty King." Harden had inherited his older brother's playstyle and kept getting better at drawing fouls. He was the "son of JDZ." Even Westbrook, who had the fewest free-throw attempts among them, averaged more than 7 free throws per game over his career.

As expected, birds of the same feather flock together, and the three brothers shared a similar mindset.

Durant wasn't the only one to shine that night. Westbrook and Jeff Green faced the Warriors' interior defense, guarded by the aging Big Z. They showcased their skills, frequently attacking the Warriors' paint and almost tearing down the Chesapeake Energy Arena rim, scoring 21 and 17 points respectively.

Harden, who hadn't yet fully embraced the "flying and bombing" style, was flying high when he first entered the league. In this game, he took the ball to the rim, finishing with 17 points.

Despite the standout performances of the Thunder's four young players, Curry managed to hit 6 three-pointers and scored 29 points with 7 assists, but it was in vain, and all he could do was watch his team lose the game.

Bip--

Soon, the game ended. Liam walked to the technical stage and shook hands with Brooks. Brooks smiled politely and said:

"Sorry, I'm a bit overwhelmed."

Liam understood what he meant, shook his head, and replied:

"No, this was a wonderful game. I'm convinced we lost."

In this game, Brooks implemented a very effective strategy that directly attacked the basket after a pick-and-roll.

Although the Thunder team had an average amount of space and the Warriors' players tried their best to reduce the interior line under Liam's instructions, there was no real interior defense in the formation, and no amount of space adjustment would help.

You couldn't expect Butler, Azubuike, and Curry to protect the rim when the Thunder's talented group attacked. After all, they were perimeter players limited by their height and could only serve as background fillers under the basket. Brooks had pinpointed the Warriors' weaknesses and attacked them relentlessly with great results.

However, for the Warriors, this game wasn't without its benefits.

Liam had seen the Thunder's playing style and discovered their weaknesses. If the two teams met again, he would definitely surprise the Thunder's young players, a surprise they would remember for the rest of their lives.

...

After defeating the Thunder, the Warriors rushed to Houston to face the Rockets on the road.

With less than two weeks until the All-Star Game, the Warriors had 5 games left before the All-Star weekend. Their opponents were the Rockets, Mavericks, Thunder, Mavericks, and Clippers.

Although the Rockets were currently ranked ninth in the Eastern Conference, the playoff situation in the Western Conference this season was very clear. The records of the top eight teams were very close to the Lakers, who ranked first in the Western Conference. Ahead of the eighth-place Trail Blazers, the Rockets were 6 games behind, forming a significant gap. Although the season was only halfway through, the Rockets' hopes of making the playoffs were slim.

This game also revealed the true power gap between the two teams. Even though the Warriors didn't have a starting center, they easily defeated the Rockets by relying on running and shooting. Curry easily put up a double-double with 24 points and 10 assists. Six Warriors players scored in double figures, and they defeated their opponents 118-98.

However, the Warriors suffered another loss on the road against the Mavericks, losing to their opponents 96-103.

Liam still arranged a small-ball lineup, wanting to continue the tactics that had worked in their previous win over the Mavericks and have Butler face off against Nowitzki.

But Carlisle wasn't foolish. Brooks' job was clear, and he directly took charge and replicated the strategy. Nowitzki and Kidd ran the pick-and-roll and executed high-efficiency mid-range shots while attacking the rim. Nowitzki single-handedly dominated inside, scoring an impressive 37 points and grabbing 14 rebounds, leading the team to victory.

Liam frequently made substitutions at center, including Big Z and Liam's teammate Ronny Turiaf, but the results weren't good. He even created an extreme small-ball lineup with Anthony Tolliver at center to counter the Mavericks.

But tonight belonged to Nowitzki. The German superstar matched the Warriors' firepower by himself. Jason Terry and Kidd also performed well, rendering Liam's efforts futile.

In the end, the Warriors returned to Oakland with a record of 1 win and 2 losses. They had two days of rest before facing the Thunder and Mavericks again.

However, unlike the previous two games, Tyson Chandler successfully passed his physical exam and came to Oakland to report that the Warriors would welcome their new starting center.

...

February 4.

At 10 in the morning, Liam drove to the Oracle Center. After last night's game, the Warriors flew back to Oakland overnight. He had given the players a day off to rest and prepare for their last three games before the All-Star weekend.

Liam didn't like organizing heavy-volume practices during the season. High-intensity games and long-distance travel were already very tiring. If the training volume was too high, it would increase the risk of injuries.

When Pat Riley, the "Magical Calculator," used to coach the Lakers, he implemented a brutal one-week closed-door training before the 1989 Finals. As a result, Magic Johnson and Byron Scott were injured, and the Lakers were easily swept 0-4 by the Pistons in the Finals, losing the chance to win three consecutive championships.

Liam had a different philosophy. He didn't believe that cruel training could help keep the players in shape. Only reasonable rest would allow them to focus on the game. Systematic training should be conducted during the long offseason.

The Warriors didn't train today, so Liam still came to the arena, naturally to meet with Tyson Chandler, who was reporting to Oakland.

He entered the conference room, where Tyson Chandler and his agent were already waiting, accompanied by Larry Riley.

As Liam entered, everyone stood up. Liam smiled and said:

"Sorry, I'm a little late."

After a few greetings, Liam turned his attention to Tyson Chandler. The big man had a beard and a tough face. His dark suit was slightly bulky but fit him perfectly.

"Tyson, you're finally here. Do you know how I've been feeling after these three games? The Warriors' interior is impressed!" Liam said excitedly.

Tyson Chandler laughed and said:

"I couldn't wait to join the Warriors. Trust me, coach, you made the right decision."

Facing Liam, Chandler wasn't nervous at all. Instead, he showed an older-brother attitude, as if Liam wasn't his boss and head coach, but a regular young guy.

The agent quickly winked at Chandler, who calmed down a bit but still didn't show the level of respect players usually have for their coaches.

Liam looked at Chandler with interest but wasn't angry at all. He had learned about Chandler's character from Larry Riley and knew that Chandler would later play for the Knicks and the Suns, and his performance was widely expected.

Tyson Chandler had a "big brother" type temperament. He wanted to be the leader of any locker room he entered. He also liked to air out internal team matters to the media. A player who relied on defense and was not quite a star, but more of a blue-collar worker. Even Nowitzki had pushed Chandler during a game.

But since Liam wanted to use Chandler's defense, he naturally found a way to resolve this issue.

He smiled and said:

"Tyson, let's talk about your role on the team."

Chandler and his agent immediately perked up and focused

on Liam.

"I think you also know that I paid a high price to bring you here to Oakland. I didn't just bring you to play ten minutes per game, score a few points and grab some rebounds, then rest. You will be the starting center of the Warriors," Liam said.

After saying this, Chandler and his agent visibly relaxed, and their doubts were gone.

Chandler's contract was about to expire in a year. Though they knew this possibility was unlikely, both were concerned that Liam was using Chandler's expiring contract to free up salary space. Now that Liam had personally committed, they had nothing to worry about.

Liam paused and continued:

"I know what you're capable of, and I believe you will recover fully from your injury. You will be the core of our defense. And everyone knows how good your screens and rolls are. The pick-and-roll between you and Stephen will be a key part of our offense. Stephen's passes might not be as sophisticated as Paul's, but his shooting threat is greater. You'll soon realize how great it feels to run the pick-and-roll with him."

Chandler laughed and said:

"I don't want to downplay Biedrins, but I guarantee I can do everything he does… and I can do it better!"

Liam smiled and nodded. He believed what Chandler said; otherwise, he wouldn't have made this deal.

Chandler not only had uncommon size and bulk for today's game but also possessed excellent individual post defense. He was incredibly athletic and had great mobility after frequently running pick-and-rolls, quickly descending to the paint for alley-oops. He wasn't just a protector of the paint but could also extend his defense to the three-point line. His help defense was exceptional.

In Liam's past life, Chandler had been signed by the Knicks after helping the Mavericks win the championship. He formed an attacking trio with Anthony and Stoudemire. Chandler supported the Knicks' defense single-handedly, elevating their defensive efficiency from 22nd in the league to 5th. They became a dominant defensive team and earned the title of the league's best defensive unit.

Liam believed that Chandler could show that same defensive effect in a Warriors team with a strong frontcourt.

With Chandler's addition, complemented by forwards like Butler and Matthews, the Warriors' defense would reach new heights, moving into the top ranks of the league. Chandler would become the Warriors' best defensive player!

"Not only that, aside from Big Z, the Warriors are a young team lacking experienced veterans. You'll be the leader of the locker room. I hope you can use your rich experience to help Stephen and Jimmy improve," Liam said.

When Chandler heard this, he smiled even more. Liam's words were exactly what he wanted to hear.

"Coach, don't worry, since you trust me so much, I won't let you down."

He had initially felt a bit embarrassed calling Liam coach, someone younger than him, but that feeling had disappeared.

Larry Riley looked at Liam in surprise. He hadn't expected the boss to trust such an important task to a player who had just been traded. But after thinking for a moment, he understood Liam's thinking and glanced at Chandler with a hint of sympathy.

Silly kid, you really believe what the boss says. He's both the boss and the head coach. Who would dare to not listen to him? You, the locker room leader, can only lead yourself, right?

Liam, of course, didn't know what Larry Riley was thinking. He suppressed a smile and said seriously:

"But I have one request: you can't discuss internal team matters with the media. You can't say anything unless I allow it. This is the Warriors' rule. Can you do that?"

Chandler nodded cheerfully:

"No problem, don't worry, I won't accept media interviews in the future!"

Liam was momentarily stunned. He hadn't expected Chandler to agree so easily.

What he didn't know was that Chandler liked to complain to the media when conflicts with teammates couldn't be resolved. Now Liam was asking him to be the locker room leader, and Chandler could maintain his position by not complaining to the press.

"How's your physical condition? We've got three games before the All-Star Game. I need you to start. Is that okay?" Liam changed the topic and asked.

Chandler immediately responded:

"I'm ready and can play at any time!"

"Great, the Thunder beat us twice. This time, I won't give them another chance to be arrogant!"

End of this chapter

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