Carrying an old science teacher with him

Chapter 64 The Formation of the Mad Legion

After defeating the 76ers, the Warriors improved their record to 17 wins and 8 losses, ranking third in the Western Conference.

The Warriors don't have any Christmas Day games this year, or rather, they haven't played a game on Christmas Day for many years.

Before Christmas, the Warriors only have one game left: an away game against the Pistons.

After Christmas, Don Nelson will take over as the Warriors' new head coach.

On December 23, 2005, the Warriors arrived at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

This "famous" arena became renowned both domestically and internationally after November 19, 2004. Although a year has passed, the brawl that changed the landscape of the league is still unforgettable for many.

So when Wang Kai walked into the stadium, he found that the stadium, which he had imagined to be very wild, was not actually that "scary".

There were no signs with discriminatory slogans, nor exaggerated boos and mockery. It seemed like an ordinary stadium, except that there were more security personnel than usual.

As the real economy shifts, Detroit is experiencing a slow death. The former Motor City is now just cars and the city itself, with a severe outflow of population that has even begun to affect attendance at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

When Detroit's economy was booming, this arena was packed with people from all walks of life in the industrial sector. Keep in mind, the Palace of Auburn Hills isn't located in downtown Detroit; it's a full 80 kilometers away.

As Detroit's economy began its slow decline, the arena also started to fall into a slump.

Although the attendance at the Palace of Auburn Hills was average, the Pistons were ranked first in the league at the time, with a record of 20 wins and 3 losses. Under the leadership of coach Flip Saunders, this Pistons team was very strong.

The Warriors' players were in poor form due to a series of away games, and with Christmas, the biggest holiday in the Western world, approaching, the players were eager to go home.

After the game started, the Pistons firmly controlled the situation. Wang Kai's performance was no longer magical, and Prince's defense for the Pistons was very effective.

In the first quarter, Wang Kai made only 2 of 7 shots, scoring 5 points from free throws, for a total of 9 points.

For the Pistons, Hamilton went 5-for-8 in the quarter, scoring 10 points, while Ben Wallace had 4 points and 6 rebounds, dominating the Warriors' rebounding.

Among the Warriors' other players, Baron Davis and Dunleavy scored zero points, while only Jason Richardson was relatively stable, making both of his three-point attempts for 8 points.

In the second quarter, the Warriors' bench produced a surprise weapon: Monta Ellis's powerful drives to the basket posed a threat to the Pistons.

However, with the return of key players, Monta Ellis's momentum was extinguished by Ben Wallace's consecutive blocks.

At halftime, the Warriors trailed the Pistons 42-50, down by 8 points.

In the third quarter, Wang Kai's three-pointer helped the Warriors find their rhythm, but the rest of the Warriors remained in poor form.

The Pistons, known for their defense, held the Warriors, known for their offensive firepower, to just 20 points in the third quarter, while their offense was quite consistent, scoring 30 points in the quarter.

After three quarters, the Pistons led the Warriors by as many as 16 points.

Clearly, this was not a normal match.

Although the Warriors' bench scored several baskets in the final quarter, the Pistons still won the game with a 12-point lead.

After a five-game road trip, the Warriors returned to the Bay Area before Christmas.

On December 24, the Warriors hosted a dinner to welcome veteran coach Don Nelson.

Having coached the team for seven years, Don Nelson can be considered a "legend" in Warriors history.

"Thank you everyone, thank you everyone. Although your applause may sound a bit insincere, haha, I know what some of you are thinking, that I'm just a stray dog ​​that's been kicked out."

"First of all, I don't have a championship ring, just like you guys."

At the welcome dinner, Nelson's opening remarks were quite direct and provocative.

"Of course I can call you kids, but you have to call me an old man!"

"I've been here for seven years. Like in that old movie, it's the seven-year itch. My ex and I got tired of each other. But nobody expected that I would dare to 'remarry' again, haha!"

"I've watched all your previous games, and they were very good. I'm very satisfied because I think the team's current style of play is very suitable, and the results are also very good. At least your results are better than the team that kicked me out."

Nelson was very amiable when facing this team that was somewhat similar to the team he had coached before, showing no signs of being a famous coach or having a strong presence.

"My basketball philosophy is very simple: just put the ball in the basket. That's the most basic logic of basketball. As for how you throw the ball in the basket, that doesn't matter, as long as the ball goes in."

Don Nelson has always lived up to his basketball philosophy, even though it may sound a bit crazy and counter-cultural.

The Warriors players are happy that Don Nelson has become their new head coach because they share similar views on his basketball philosophy.

Since the start of this season, the Warriors' playing style has gradually become more unified. They are a team with serious weaknesses in the paint, and they haven't had a playing style that has gained widespread acceptance in recent years.

So when Wang Kai joined the Warriors, he gained everyone's recognition with his excellent shooting ability and amazing ball-handling skills, and the Warriors' style of play gradually became centered around Wang Kai.

After the welcome dinner, Don Nelson kept Wang Kai behind for a private conversation, wanting to have a frank discussion with the team's current unsung hero.

"Can you tell me how you got into basketball? Kid, I'm really curious. I just can't understand how your country's outdated training system could have nurtured you."

Don Nelson was among the first coaches to work with Chinese players, and he was the first to choose a Chinese player. Therefore, he was well aware of the backwardness of China's basketball development system.

Moreover, after watching Wang Kai's games, Don Nelson discovered that Wang Kai's playing style was actually very American and modern, which is different from many other players.

Don Nelson's directness surprised Wang Kai and also made him a little embarrassed, since he couldn't possibly tell the old coach that he had a Kobe Bryant living in his head.

"Try telling him if you can say it; this is a good opportunity to experiment."

Old Ke in Wang Kai's soul space suddenly became excited. He felt that this was a good opportunity to test the waters. If Wang Kai could successfully tell Old Nelson about himself, it meant that there should be others who could as well.