Chapter 44: Mastering the Art

Reggie Miller had turned down the Rockets' offer. After all, he'd just begun his commentary career. Similarly, Glenn Rice and Dale Ellis politely declined due to personal commitments.

But the call Thibodeau had been waiting for finally came. The caller? None other than Steve Kerr, who had been working as a TNT commentator for the last three years. Kerr, a former key player in the Bulls dynasty, was known as one of the most accurate three-point shooters in NBA history. Across his 15 seasons, Kerr had set records, including a staggering 50% three-point shooting rate over four seasons and more than 40% accuracy in ten seasons.

Andrew knew Kerr all too well. This man wasn't just a sharpshooter; he would later become one of the greatest coaches in NBA history, even leading the Warriors to break the Bulls' record for the most wins in a single season.

"Tom, you really pulled off a miracle this time," Andrew said with a grin, giving Thibodeau a thumbs-up.

Thibodeau smiled modestly, but his calm demeanor hid the excitement of securing such a talent. He knew three-point shooting alone wouldn't be enough, but with Kerr on board, the Rockets were about to take it up a notch.

Two days later, Kerr walked into the Rockets' facility. He looked younger than Andrew had remembered, still in his early forties, just hitting his stride in life.

"Steve, welcome to the Rockets," Andrew said, reaching out to embrace Kerr in a warm handshake.

Kerr smiled and returned the hug. "Don't thank me—thank Thibodeau. He's the reason I'm here."

"Really?" Andrew raised an eyebrow, surprised. Thibodeau hadn't mentioned that detail before.

Kerr nodded. "Yeah. I've been watching what you're doing, Andrew. I see something in your vision for basketball in this era—something new."

Andrew was momentarily taken aback but then smirked, giving Kerr a pat on the chest. Kerr's arrival was like speeding up destiny. Andrew remembered how Kerr had revolutionized the game with the Warriors, ushering in a three-point revolution. Now, he was going to help the Rockets achieve that greatness early.

At Kerr's first training session, Andrew introduced him as the newest member of the coaching staff and the second assistant coach. Kerr would focus on refining the team's shooting skills, while the other coaches shifted to different responsibilities.

Andrew trusted Kerr's expertise, and his methods were a revelation. Before Kerr's arrival, the team had focused heavily on stationary three-point shots under Andrew's guidance. It was a traditional approach, but the results weren't as effective. Kerr, however, shook things up immediately.

"Forget standing around. I want movement—real game situations. Three-pointers with a hand in your face. Speed, agility, pressure. That's what we need!" Kerr shouted as the players watched, wide-eyed.

Andrew saw the brilliance in it. Kerr was right—vacant shots were rare in an actual game. It was all about creating space, moving fast, and taking shots under duress.

Yet Andrew had one final input. "We'll also need some stationary threes, Steve. Don't forget, we have Yao and McGrady—there'll be plenty of moments when we need clean, open shots."

Kerr paused for a second and then nodded in agreement. "You're absolutely right. We'll make sure to balance it out."

Andrew felt a wave of satisfaction. A harmonious coaching team was the key to unlocking the full potential of the Rockets, and now they had it.

After a two-day break, the Rockets embarked on a relatively easy road trip. They first took on the Orlando Magic, followed by the Charlotte Hornets, and then traveled to the quiet town of Milwaukee to face the Bucks. Back at home, they faced the Knicks, Clippers, and the New Orleans Hornets at the Toyota Center.

With the newly refined offensive tactics, a sharpened defense, and a stretch of moderate opponents, the Rockets pulled off an impressive record of 5 wins and 1 loss. Andrew's coaching record now stood at 8-2—remarkable for someone so new to the helm.

But it wasn't just the wins that excited Andrew; it was the visible improvement in his players' three-point shooting. Just two weeks under Kerr's guidance had made a world of difference.

Sensing the momentum, Andrew proposed a bold adjustment at the team's regular coaching meeting: increasing the three-point attempts from 30% to 40% of their total shots.

Though the change seemed sudden, the team had spent the last weeks focusing on three-point practice. No one opposed the shift. After the meeting, Andrew returned to his office, but his thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door.

"Come in," Andrew called out, looking up to see Thibodeau enter, his face tight with concern.

"Tom, what's on your mind?" Andrew asked, sensing something was off.

Thibodeau hesitated, then shut the door behind him. "Andrew, I don't think now's the right time to change our tactics."

Andrew raised an eyebrow, motioning for Thibodeau to continue.

"I mean, the players have finally adapted to your offensive system. They're playing well. We've made a strong start—why risk shaking things up now?"

Andrew leaned back in his chair, contemplating Thibodeau's point. "You're not wrong, Tom. This change is risky. But that's exactly why we need to do it."

Thibodeau looked confused. "What do you mean?"

Andrew's eyes gleamed. "We've been playing great, yes. But good isn't enough. I'm aiming for dominance, and we have the talent to make it happen. If we settle now, we won't push through the ceiling."

Thibodeau studied Andrew, sensing the fire in his words. Though his instincts screamed caution, he couldn't deny Andrew's logic. Change was risky, but sometimes, risk was necessary to achieve greatness.