Behind Every Strong Team Is a Mature and Efficient Coaching Staff

Guys there is already content on patreon, if anyone wants to become a chunin or jonnin.

patreon.com/Chuga320 (More 50 chapters)

—————————————————————————————————————————————

At eight in the evening, the Bankers Life Arena was packed with over 18,000 fans eagerly awaiting the matchup between the Warriors and the Pacers.

Unlike in the past, the arena was no longer dominated solely by Pacers fans. Many attendees wore blue Bulldogs jerseys or championship shirts, shouting the names of Liam and Curry.

The cheering reached its peak when Curry entered the arena.

The DJ, as usual, introduced the visiting players in a neutral tone, but when Curry stepped in, the lights dimmed, and the DJ's voice boomed with passion:

"Now introducing: Number 30, Steph Curry! Standing six feet, two inches tall, the second overall pick in the 2009 Draft, hailing from Charlotte, North Carolina—the point guard who brought two championships to the Butler Bulldogs!"

All eyes were on Curry, and the crowd erupted in cheers. Even loyal Pacers fans clapped for him.

Unfortunately for those in attendance, the NBA doesn't host entry ceremonies for coaches.

But when the Pacers players entered the arena, the camera focused on Liam, and the crowd broke into warm and prolonged applause.

Indiana, a state with a deep basketball culture, hadn't tasted championship glory in too long. Liam was not only the championship coach for the Butler Bulldogs but also a symbol of success in Indiana basketball.

The Indianapolis Star reported that after Butler University won back-to-back championships, public perceptions toward Hispanic Americans improved significantly thanks to Liam, and the quality of life for the Hispanic community in Indiana notably improved.

Today, many Hispanic Americans filled the Bankers Life Arena, there specifically to support the Warriors.

In this unusual atmosphere, the game began.

The Warriors started with their usual lineup: Curry, Azubuike, Butler, Varejao, and Biedrins.

The Pacers countered with TJ Ford, Brandon Rush, Danny Granger, Dengta Jones, and Roy Hibbert.

Granger was the cornerstone of the Pacers. Last season, he played 67 games, averaging 25.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game, shooting 40.4% from three-point range.

He was a versatile scorer and solid on both ends, one of the league's top small forwards. However, his narrow vision limited his playmaking ability. While effective in isolation, his struggles to connect with teammates diminished his overall impact.

This flaw relegated Granger to being primarily a scorer rather than a playmaker. Coupled with an incomplete roster, the Pacers hadn't made the playoffs in three straight seasons.

At the start of the game, Granger displayed his individual brilliance, scoring six straight points against the still-maturing Butler.

Seeing this, Liam quickly instructed Azubuike to double-team Granger.

This exposed a weakness in the Pacers' offense. Granger, though steady under pressure, was not quick enough to pass effectively, and his teammates couldn't exploit the Warriors' defensive gaps.

Although Granger continued to score, his efficiency dropped significantly, and Liam effectively neutralized the Pacers' sharpest weapon.

Liam wasn't the only one responsible for this; Ron Adams, strategizing on the sidelines, was a significant contributor.

Under Nelson, the Warriors had paid little attention to defense, and player habits reflected this neglect. Ron Adams devoted extensive time to defensive training, enhancing the team's awareness and skills. He designed detailed strategies tailored to each player and drilled them repeatedly.

Azubuike's seemingly simple double-teaming of Granger was a product of careful planning—timing the double-team, positioning Butler to funnel Granger to the sideline, and coordinating other defenders to close passing lanes. Without meticulous preparation, reckless double-teams would have left the Warriors vulnerable.

Modern basketball is no longer the era of one-man coaching legends like Red Auerbach or Chuck Daly. Even championship-winning coaches like Phil Jackson and Popovich owe much of their success to their coaching staff.

For example, the triangle offense, synonymous with Phil Jackson, wasn't his creation but that of Tex Winter, his assistant coach.

The Warriors' success under Liam followed a similar pattern. Liam orchestrated the overall strategy, managed the roster, and made in-game adjustments. Silas and Ron Adams took the lead on detailed tactical preparations.

Thanks to this teamwork, the Warriors executed their defensive schemes flawlessly, isolating Granger from the Pacers' offense and effectively stifling their scoring efforts.

The Pacers struggled to find reliable secondary scorers. TJ Ford contributed with his speed but couldn't organize the offense effectively.

Taking advantage of their defensive stops, the Warriors launched a series of fast breaks. Exploiting the Pacers' slow transition defense, they quickly built and extended their lead.

Roy Hibbert, a strong rim protector, was overworked and ineffective in transition.

At halftime, the Warriors led 64–53. Only the Pacers' efforts to control the pace kept the Warriors from surpassing 70 points.

During the break, Pacers coach O'Brien adjusted by replacing Hibbert with more mobile forwards Solomon Jones and Tyler Hansbrough.

However, their increased mobility wasn't enough to counter the Warriors' relentless pace.

Curry, spotting his old college rival Hansbrough, targeted him in pick-and-roll plays, further widening the gap.

O'Brien hesitated to embrace a small-ball lineup, limiting the Pacers' ability to keep up.

Ultimately, the Warriors defeated the Pacers 101–83, marking a strong start to their fifth game of their Eastern Conference road trip.

Curry led the charge with 27 points and 12 assists. Butler added 14 points, Azubuike 18, Biedrins 14 points and 12 rebounds, while Matthews contributed 12 off the bench.

On the Pacers' side, Granger scored 27 points but shot inefficiently at 41.2% from the field and 34.7% from beyond the arc.

After the game, the atmosphere at the Bankers Life Arena remained cordial. Fans who had long given up on the Pacers cherished the opportunity to cheer for Liam, a figure who had brought championships to Indiana in the past.

During the post-game interviews, many journalists, still loyal to Butler, focused on celebrating Liam's achievements rather than criticizing his team.

Later that evening, Liam received a call from Stevens:

"Liam, congrats on the win. Too bad I'm stuck in Louisville and can't take you out for dinner."

"Even if you were here, you couldn't. I've got a flight to New York tonight for the Knicks game," Liam sighed.

"Isn't this the NBA life you always dreamed of? No regrets, right?" Stevens teased.

"As long as we keep winning, I'm fine with living on airplanes every day," Liam replied.

"Good. Then keep winning, and maybe one day you'll buy yourself a private jet."

Ignoring the joke, Liam countered, "How about you bring the Bulldogs another championship while I aim for the playoffs with the Warriors?"

"I'll get the Bulldogs their title—and then the NBA will be next. You might've beaten me in the NCAA, but I'll grab the O'Brien Trophy first!" Stevens declared.

End of this chapter

Note: Hi if you really like NBA novels, you can support me either in this pg with stones, reviews etc, or in patreon since the niche of sports and specially NBA is very small is Webnovel since people prefer to read Naruto, Pokemon, comics etc.