Capital, U18 National Youth Team Training Centre.

"Get moving, get moving!"

Inside the stadium, a group of tall young people who look like good basketball seedlings are practicing switchback and running back and forth.

Several of them were already out of breath, and every step seemed extraordinarily heavy, apparently reaching a physical bottleneck.

"This year's goal is to win the championship! Any other results are not acceptable! ”

On the sidelines, a young marshal had a serious expression, looking like a hardliner, and was loudly admonishing the players, not knowing if something had happened before that made him dissatisfied, and his mood seemed a little impatient.

"Our team, we don't need stars, we don't have unlimited firing rights, we don't have guys who can't stand on top of the world. We only have iron discipline, and iron tactical arrangement! ”

This young coach is the current coach of this year's U18 national youth team, Liu Gui.

When Coach Liu was a player, he was also a player in the national team, with a tough style, sharp breakthroughs, and a three-point shot in the domestic basketball world, and was one of the main scorers of the national team at that time.

Perhaps it was because of the experience of the player days that Coach Liu formed a different basketball idea. Unlike other domestic coaches, Coach Liu is not a "champion" of interior players, in his opinion, Chinese basketball started from a small and fast start, and finally won the best record in history.

If it weren't for the birth of the Three Great Walls, the Chinese team should continue to stick to their own style and stick to the fast and agile style of play to the end.

And now, due to the strong performance of the three Great Walls, especially the sudden rise of the absolute core Yao Ming, Chinese basketball is permeated with an atmosphere of "height only". From the selection of materials to tactics, all of them are close to the inside players, and on the court, they spare no effort to create singles opportunities for the inside players.

"We don't want to play alone, we don't show off our skills, we don't want to fight hard, we don't want to play against the team. We must regain the essence of Chinese basketball, use speed and shooting to find opportunities, and attack through the outside! ”

Although this statement sounds very reasonable now, with the continuous development of basketball, the role of outside players is gradually surpassing the traditional big center and becoming the mainstream of world basketball.

However, for the Chinese team, in several consecutive World Series, the inside line has been the absolute core of the battle, and the initial results have been achieved. Director Liu's tactical thinking seems to be a little inconsistent.

In this case, why can Coach Liu still become the coach of this national youth team?

This question is not unrelated to his success in the CBA.

"In the CBA, even with a strong interior line like the UAE, we are still playing small and fast tactics and using speed to decide the loser. The league championship is the best proof of the success of this tactic! ”

That's right, under the guidance of Liu, the new generation of power forward Yi Jianlian played the best performance of his career and almost swept the domestic arena.

The UAE's mobility and shooting crosshairs are in line with Liu's tactical thinking, even if it already has enough singles strength to blow up most of the opposing players, the UAE still does not get unlimited firing rights in the league team.

"Times have changed, what you need on the inside is mobility and energy, what the team needs is discipline and tactics! You players, don't think that if you grow tall, you can play as much as you want with the ball under the basket. Maybe in the regional team, your coach will tell you to do it, but in my case, there are none! ”

When Chen Mu and Lao Hu, who were belated, stepped into the court together, what they saw was such a scene.

"Wow, he deserves to be the top coach in China, this style is really tough!"

Seeing Director Liu's sharp style, Chen Mu couldn't help but nod his head in praise.

Theoretically, according to Liu's tactical ideas, Chen Mu is the best inside candidate that this national youth team can find.

In addition to Chen Mu, this national youth team also has many young talents, who will shine in the CBA league in the near future.

Chen Jianghua, an outside player, has both speed and impact, and although the overall situation still needs to be polished, he is already a small star who can take charge of one side alone.

Xie Libin, Han Shuo, Zhang Bo, Zhou Peng...... On the flanks and at the back, this team has a lot of players with explosive bodies and tough styles, and the team's outside line is amazingly thick.

On the inside, Li Xiaoxu can be three or four, and Dele can be inside and outside, which is also very in line with Liu's tactical thinking.

Only Su Wei in the center forward position is a traditional big center who can no longer be a traditional one, although he is tall and has long arms, his feet are slow, he has no accurate head in the middle distance, and his mobility is insufficient, and he does not meet the requirements of Liu Gui in all aspects.

"Looking at this posture, I should have a good chance of being a starter and helping the team win the inside advantage!"

In fact, there is no need for Chen Mu to fight, in the eyes of the outside world and the media, this young man who has played well in the NBA has long been the top name of this year's national youth team.

Especially with Liu's guidance of Xiao Kuailing's play, many critics believe that this cup will be the foundation battle for Chen Mu to completely lay the "core of the new generation of domestic insiders".

For this point, not only Chen Mu himself is full of confidence, but even the rest of the players are mentally prepared, knowing that this guy who "returned from abroad" will completely occupy the position of the team's trump card.

It's just that Director Liu doesn't seem to think so.

"Director Liu, I brought this stinky boy here~"

Lao Hu stepped forward, pushed Chen Mu to Director Liu's side with a smile, and said, "How about it, now your small ball tactics can be implemented more thoroughly!" ”

In fact, there have always been some disagreements between Lao Hu and Director Liu in the choice of offensive tactics.

The old-school Lao Hu likes to use the inside line to decide the winner, believes in the principle that "the closer you get to the basket, the easier it is to score", and takes the traditional line of the inside line to dominate the offense.

Coach Liu, on the other hand, is deeply influenced by Western tactical thinking in recent years, coupled with his own player experience, and his dependence on the outside line is obviously heavier.

From this point of view, Chen Mu is undoubtedly the best choice for Director Liu, but unfortunately Director Liu also has his own persistence.

"Hello Director Liu, I'm Chen Mu, I'm sorry to report a few days late, because the NBA schedule is very tight, and I can't get out of the way for a while."

Chen Mu stepped forward and stretched out his hand in a friendly manner, ready to shake hands with the trendy thinking Director Liu.

“…… Hum. ”

Glancing back at Chen Mu, Director Liu did not say hello, let alone shake hands and hug, but snorted coldly rather dissatisfied, which caused Chen Mu and Lao Hu to be a little puzzled.

"Director Liu, you are ......"

Before Lao Hu's words were finished, Director Liu interrupted with a wave of his hand: "If you like the United States, then stay in the United States!" What are you doing back? ”

"Director Liu, what do you mean by that?" Chen Mu asked puzzled.

"Dazhi also likes the United States very much, look at him, how resolute he is, just stay there and not come back, how good!"

Director Liu's words were as if they were squeezed out of between his teeth, although they didn't sound inappropriate, but anyone with a discerning eye knew that there were needles hidden in these words, and they were very stinging.

"At a young age, my basic skills were a mess, and I couldn't even play the most basic back-body singles, so I went to the United States in a hurry. It's good to go! After all, the United States has advanced basketball technology and mature tactical thinking, where is what we can compare with China! ”

"This ......"

Director Liu's words were not good, and Chen Mu was stunned when he heard it, and he didn't understand at all, he didn't do anything, how could he provoke this young marshal.

"Director Liu, what you said is a bit heavy."

Lao Hu couldn't listen to it anymore, and frowned slightly: "Yes, Chen Mu missed the training camp at the beginning, but that is also a contract, and there is no way to do it, how can you blame him?" ”

"Besides, with Chen Mu's talent and hard work, as long as you run in with your teammates, you will definitely be able to understand your tactical ideas very well. I haven't delayed anything in the past few days, and as soon as the country calls, won't he come back immediately? ”

I don't know if it was out of the psychology of protecting the old generals, or because he was dissatisfied with the unfriendliness of Director Liu, Lao Hu defended Chen Mu a few words, and finally said: "You are also an old player, an old senior, can't you be polite to newcomers?" ”

"I'm polite to him, is he polite to me??"

Director Liu burst into a nameless fire, turned his head to glare at Chen Mu angrily, and said loudly: "What did the notice say at the beginning?" When will the training camp begin? What time is it today? You said lightly, you didn't delay anything, am I the head coach or are you the head coach? Delay or not, am I clear, or are you clear?? ”

Lao Hu, who said something from Director Liu, was even more dissatisfied, and retorted: "So didn't I say it too, Chen Mu is a contract and lacks skills, so he was only a few days late, and I didn't say that he did the right thing, what are you yelling at him?!" ”

"Hmph."

Hearing this, Director Liu snorted coldly again, and said disdainfully: "That's good, you should ask him, how many months does this training camp last?" Will he be able to participate in them all until the end of the race? ”

"This ......"

At this time, Chen Mu finally understood the origin of Director Liu's anger.

It's April, and there are still more than four months left before the Asian Youth Championships start in September. According to the notice of the national youth team, Chen Mu should have a closed training camp with his teammates for more than four months, and he cannot have a half-day vacation.

However, due to the expiration of his contract with the 76ers, around July, Chen Mu was bound to go to the United States to negotiate a contract extension with the team.

If the contract renewal negotiations go well, then everything is easy to say, at most a week, Chen Mu can return to the team to continue training.

But if there is a problem in the renewal negotiations, Chen Mu will also have to test the free agent market. When the time comes, it will be difficult to say the timing.

And Director Liu, it was when he took over the team that he understood the ins and outs, and knew that Chen Mu would not only be late, but would also "slip" for a few days halfway, so he would accumulate resentment in his heart and give Chen Mu a dismount.

You must know that at the Busan Asian Games just a few years ago, Wang Zhizhi, a former wind-chasing teenager, almost turned his face with the Basketball Association precisely because he wanted to practice more in the summer and strive to stay in the NBA. It wasn't until April 06 that he returned to the embrace of the motherland.

In the 2001 CBA League, Coach Liu, the first head coach, suffered a lot from Wang Zhizhi, and he couldn't say that he hated Dazhi, but he definitely didn't like it.

In this context, Director Liu, who was in charge of the national team for the first time, immediately exploded as soon as he heard about Chen Mu's situation, and he was determined to embarrass Chen Mu.

For all this, Chen Mu can be said to be innocent, but the accumulated resentment and the pressure of "quitting class if you don't win the championship" given by the leader made Director Liu have nowhere to vent, and his anger finally burned on Chen Mu's head.

"Alas, I said Xiao Liu, I can understand your grievances, and I can understand your pressure better." Lao Hu also understood, and said with relief: "But Xiao Chen is innocent, if he doesn't have a contract, he has to fight for the contract next season, and he also wants to return to the team as soon as possible and train with his teammates!" You said yes, Chen Mu! ”

Lao Hu gave Chen Mu a look, Chen Mu immediately understood, and said like a villain: "Yes, yes, Lao Hu...... Ah no, what Director Hu said is right, I am like an arrow, and I can't wait for an arbitrary door to report directly to you! ”

"Hmph, contract, know contract!"

Who knows, Director Liu is a little unable to get down the stairs after the fire is over, and continues to say with a black face: "If you care so much about the contract, then hurry back to your American father to sign your contract!" Our team is not your backyard, you can come and go if you want! ”

After finishing speaking, Director Liu walked a few steps away, and kept muttering: "Contract contract, is the contract important or the country important?" What about Xiao Liu, can't you tell who is the head coach and who is the assistant coach now? Hum! ”

"You, you, you......!"

Director Liu's words were ugly, Lao Hu was angry for a while, his old face was red, and he didn't know what to say when he pointed at this junior.

Seeing this, Chen Mu on the side knew that he would not be able to avoid Ma Wei no matter what, so he simply stepped forward and said: "Director Liu, let's also make it clear, for me, the contract is indeed very important, but the national honor is equally important." I don't want to leave one behind. ”

"I don't know what you have in mind, but since I'm back, I'm naturally ready to serve the country."

Seeing that the players on the field had been attracted by the quarrel on the sidelines, Chen Mu simply walked in front of Director Liu in a few steps and said condescendingly: "Tell me, what do you want me to do to stay in this national youth team and fight with my brothers!" ”

"Heh~ I've been in the United States for a year, and my temper has grown a lot!"

Director Liu sneered when he heard this, raised his eyes to look at Chen Mu, and said provocatively: "Do you mean that without you, I, Liu, would not be able to lead the team to win the championship?" ”

"You have to understand it that way, I can't help it." Chen Mu was too lazy to argue, shook his head slightly, and said, "I just want to win your trust and the least respect." ”

As he spoke, Chen Mu pulled Lao Hu behind him to his side, and said with a straight face: "Also, Lao Hu is your senior, no matter what your current position relationship is, you should apologize to Lao Hu for what you just said!" ”

"Yo~!"

Director Liu looked Chen Mu up and down with interest, and said with a disdainful smile: "The young man is very angry, okay, since you are so confident, then come on, try to open my eyes as a domestic turtle and see how you play American basketball!" ”

"Su Wei, Delehei, Li Xiaoxu, Yang Genglin, come over to me!"

Director Liu waved his hand to the court, and four big men with an average height of 210 cm hurriedly trotted forward, standing respectfully beside Director Liu, and no one dared to say anything.

"Come, 'big star' Chen Mu, as long as you have the ability to defeat the four of them in turn, I will admit that you are our strongest inside player, allow you to join the team, and allow you to come whenever you want, and leave whenever you want!"

"Just defeat the four of them?"

Chen Mu couldn't help laughing, threw away the backpack on his body and said: "But then again, if I win this wheel battle, in addition to letting me join the team, you have to apologize to Lao Hu!" ”

"Hehe, it depends on whether you have the ability to do this~"

Director Liu was noncommittal, clasped his hands in front of his chest, and sneered.

"Good ......"

Chen Mu's eyes burned with a burst of anger, and while moving his hands and feet, he said: "I haven't touched the ball for a few days, my forehand is itchy, brothers, I'm sorry!" ”

After saying this, Chen Mu didn't even take off his coat, and walked directly into the court, ready to have a wheel battle with these four talented inside players.

In the arena, all the players were attracted and were looking forward to the competition.

Only Chen Jianghua was still practicing alone on the other half of the court, and finally glanced back at the situation here, shook his head helplessly and said with a wry smile: "This is troublesome, this Chen Mu, I'm afraid I don't know that I have fallen into the trap of Director Liu......!" ”